April 21st, 2021
The Keeper's Times 

The Old Baldy Foundation Community Newsletter
Spring Operations at Old Baldy!

Hours and Operations:

Tuesday- Saturday:10-4
(last lighthouse climb at 3:30 pm)
COVID-19 Operation Details
 The lighthouse and museum remain open in compliance with local and state COVID-19 regulations. We have enforced the following regulations to ensure a safe experience at our facilities! 
Face coverings will be required.
Hand sanitizer will be available for all shoppers.

The Old Baldy Foundation
Welcomes Three New Board Members!

The Old Baldy Foundation Board of Directors governs all the decisions of current and future operations of the organization. As the Old Baldy Foundation continues to grow, we have three new board members that bring a variety of knowledge and experience to assist in all aspects of leadership at Old Baldy. Meet our new board members!
The Old Baldy Foundation welcomes Mrs. Kristin Henson as a new Board Member. Originally from Arizona, Kristin comes to us after a career in Space Systems as an Air Force officer and defense contractor. She and her daughters have vacationed on BHI since 2005, and Kristin became a full-time resident in 2018 after she and Steve Henson were married. Kristin now works alongside her husband supporting Henson Building Corporation and Maritime Mosquito Misting, as well as serving on the Village Chapel Outreach Committee, the BHI Yacht Club Board and our own Old Baldy Foundation Board. When we asked what Bald Head Island means to her, Kristin’s own words say it best:
“The freedom to wander and dream, sand underfoot and sunshine overhead, was imprinted on my soul at a young age. My fondest memories growing up are of exploring the Southwestern desert with my dog, listening to nature, watching the wildlife, and soaking up the solitude. Life and work took me to many beautiful places through the years, but it was Bald Head Island that rekindled those childhood feelings. The island is a culmination of many dreams for me, where I found true love and a place to truly love. From beach to marsh, forest to marina, the island calls to be explored and enjoyed. The live oak trees, the mighty ocean, and the soaring birds remind us to be humble and still, yet adventurous and free. There is something for everyone here- thinkers and dreamers and doers alike- and Old Baldy lighthouse stands watch over us all. Old Baldy is the crown jewel of the island- the silent sentry, a symbol of strength and endurance, and the keeper of island memories. Bald Head Island is a place of renewal and refreshment, to be treasured for its rich history and its peaceful simplicity, and I am excited to play a part in protecting its legacy as a member of the Old Baldy Foundation.”
Long-time Old Baldy supporter Jenny Becherer also joins the Old Baldy Foundation as a member of the Board of Directors. As a married mother of two, Jenny lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband. For over twenty years, the Becherers have spent their summers on Bald Head Island and own a home in the harbor. Jenny is an executive at a company founded fifteen years ago by her and her husband, Tom. 

In addition to work she has done to champion Old Baldy, Jenny has also been an avid supporter of the Bald Head Island Conservancy. Her love of Bald Head Island shines through with the missions she fosters. The Old Baldy Foundation is eager for both the professional expertise she will bring to the Board of Directors, along with her love for Bald Head Island. 
The third new board needs no introduction to the Keeper's Time readers. Travis Gilbert, Old Baldy's previous educator and now Executive Director of the Historic Wilmington Foundation, joins Old Baldy in a new capacity within the Board of Directors! For two years, Travis served Old Baldy as a staff member who brought a freshness to the historic stories and importance of Bald Head Island and the Cape Fear. In addition to his time at Old Baldy, he served on the Board of Directors at the Southport Historical Society and Thalian Hall. He couldn't leave Old Baldy behind altogether and is thrilled to be a member of our board! 
Events at Old Baldy return!
Old Baldy's legacy has allowed it to become a place of gathering for the Bald Head Island community. The Old Baldy Foundation curates a series of events every year to honor this gathering place while fundraising for the historic preservation of our iconic lighthouse. Due to the hardships of 2020, many of our celebrations were put on hold. We are eager to bring back these occasions in a safe fashion this year. More events will be announced in the coming weeks and months. For now, we are pleased to announce the following festivities are confirmed! 
North Carolina Marketplace
Sunday, June 13th 12-3pm

Spend the afternoon strolling the grounds of Old Baldy while shopping for local goods from NC artisans, & artisanal food purveyors! 
Old Baldy Annual Duck Race
Saturday, August 7th pm

Adopt a duck and win $500 if your duck is the first across the finish line! While we invite you to join in for the festivites, you do not need to be present to win! 
Historic Happy Hour
May 19th at 5pm

Join us at Old Baldy on May 19th for our next Historic Happy Hour, featuring a lively tribute to the colorful life of Benjamin Smith. A Revolutionary War veteran, one-time owner of Bald Head Island, enslaver and survivor of a duel, Smith lived large enough for a few lives. For the happy hour event, we will have Jim McKee, the site manager of Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site, on hand to tell of Smith's exploits, achievements and influential contributions to the history of Bald Head Island. Event starts at 5pm. Admission is free, reservations required.
April History Moment
By Hunter Ingram

All it takes it is a good hearty swing and bang!

As soon as the ceremonial champagne bottle smashes on the bow and its name is spoken aloud, a new ship is imbued with its destiny and granted permission to make its maiden voyage.

As far back as the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Greece, the christening of a new or renamed vessel is a tradition done without a second thought. In fact, many see it as more of a sacrificial superstition to be paid before giving oneself and their new boat over to the open water.

Historically, the payment was often wine, the blood of a sheep or, in the case of the Vikings, a person. But today, all it takes is a bottle of champagne – the cheaper the better. Save the good stuff for the celebration afterward when you’ll actually drink it.

Whether it is a military vessel or a private boat, the process doesn’t change. It’s all about respecting the tradition and appeasing the gods that lord over the oceans.

At the Old Baldy Foundation’s first Historic Happy Hour of 2021 on April 6, Katy Menne, the curator of education for the N.C. Maritime Museum at Southport, spoke to a crowd of history lovers seated in the shadow of the lighthouse about this time-honored tradition of vessel christenings.
A Navy brat herself, Menne detailed for the crowd the precise ways in which christenings have been and still are completed today. For instance, a woman is always tasked with breaking the bottle on the bow of the ship. But it’s an honor she can only do once, so accepting the invitation is a big deal.
Menne also detailed how the process of a christening is intertwined with other strange superstitions seen on the water.

Did you know bananas are seen as bad luck onboard? Or that a baby can be christened on a military vessel? Christenings are a curious but constant fate all vessels must endure at the outset of their life. In fact, every Navy vessel that passed through the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company in Wilmington during World War II had champagne spilled over its bow before settling into the Cape Fear River bound for the war.

As Menne revealed, this month marks 75 years since the yard’s last ship was honored with such a tradition. The Santa Isabel was the final warship completed and christened in the Cape Fear in April 1946.
However, it certainly wasn’t the last to receive the bubbly beginning all vessels get to enjoy.

Join us live for the following:

Virtual History Corner with Old Baldy

Wednesday, April 22nd at 11 am Live on Facebook

We promised we would be back with more virtual history in 2021 with our new staff! Our educator Hunter Ingram and collections coordinator McAllie Givens are preparing live history programs to bring you throughout the season. Join them for our first virtual History Corner on Thursday, April 22nd, at 11 am to bring you an in-depth look at the Frying Pan Tower! 
The Frying Pan Tower is a decommissioned light tower 30 miles off the coast of Bald Head Island. The current owner of the tower rents it out for thrill-seekers to spend the night at sea. Learn more about this unique structure and its legacy! 
The video will be available after the presentation and on our youtube channel if you can not make the live program!
  Visit us at www.oldbaldy.org and the following platforms!