March 7th, 2023
The Keeper's Times 

The Old Baldy Foundation Community Newsletter
2023 Event Calendar is here!

We are excited to announce our 2023 Calendar of Events. Make sure to save the dates and plan to celebrate and support the legacy of Old Baldy! 
Bring Home the Light

Old Baldy campus expansion illuminates history for the next generation.

The Old Baldy Foundation recently unveiled its plans for a new Interpretive Center to better display its historic artifacts and educate islanders and visitors about the rich history of the lower Cape Fear.

"What we’re really looking to do is preserve and protect Old Baldy for the next generation and leave something better than we found it in terms of our little piece of island paradise here,” summarized Mark Prak, Old Baldy Foundation President.
Collections Spotlight
Rudder from La Rosa de Bilbao
Written by Jake Grossman
Last month we highlighted a small and precious button from the American War for Independence. This month we are going to switch gears and feature one of the largest, yet maybe overlooked, objects we care for, the wooden rudder from the Spanish Merchant Vessel, La Rosa de Bilbao.

In November 1804, the Spanish merchant ship La Rosa de Bilbao ran around about 1.5 miles off of Bald Head Island. The 140 ft. long ship carried 1,616 boxes of sugar from Havana, Cuba, to Bilbao, Spain. The only deaths were the captain and mate, who allegedly, died at sea before things went awry. The crew claimed that without anyone to pilot the ship they rode the wind until they ended up aground. Officials from Fort Johnson were suspicious of mutiny and decided to imprison the crew until they sent them to Charleston. The court dropped the case due to lack of evidence, even though the accused were apprehended with silver coins stuffed into their attire. The crew did not leave enough evidence behind to be convicted, however, they did leave behind the Bilbao (quickly being buried under water, clay, and mud) to be discovered by divers years later.
In November 1987, Kent and Mark Mitchell hired Dr. Dennison Breese to do an underwater dive 1.5 miles off of Bald Head Island (likely near beach access 15) seeking a possible shipwreck. After diving 20 feet and removing 4 feet of mud the crew unearthed Bilbao. They secured a host of small objects as well as the 16ft. 1,500 lb. oak and white pine with copper bands ship rudder. Breese highlighted that it was recovered in remarkably good shape, perhaps because it was double coated in lead. Although the Mitchells funded the dive they knew anything recovered within 3 miles of the beach belongs to the State, including the rudder.
Subsequently, NC DNCR (Department of Natural and Cultural Resources) Underwater Archeology Branch at Fort Fisher restored the rudder. Upon completion, however, the State came to terms with Old Baldy Foundation to loan it to us to be displayed. Unsurprisingly, displaying a 16 ft. tall (must be displayed upright for stability) 1,500 lb. rudder is not easy. The only appropriate location was (still where it remains today), inside of Old Baldy tucked underneath the stairwell. Unfortunately, each year thousands of excited visitors enter Old Baldy and breeze right past the rudder to begin their climb. Not only is the gigantic rudder somehow hard to notice, it is also in and uncontrolled climate not favorable for preservation. Thankfully, there are plans in motion at the Old Baldy Foundation to construct a new interpretive center across Lighthouse Wynd. In this new space we will safely and prominently exhibit the rudder alongside hundreds of other objects that are currently resting in our warehouse waiting to be appreciated by our future patrons!

If you are really excited about these changes (aren't we all though?) feel free to donate to our fundraising campaign and help usher Old Blady into our next chapter!
Lighthouse Learner's Program
Every year (with the exception of 2020 & 2021 due to COVID cancellations), hundreds of fourth grade students take a field trip to Bald Head Island, North
Carolina, to visit Old Baldy, the state's oldest standing lighthouse. Field trips to Old Baldy Lighthouse are an unforgettable educational experience!

The Old Baldy Foundation subsidizes ferry tickets and admission fees for classes taking a field trip to Old Baldy Lighthouse through the Lighthouse Learners Scholarship Program. This scholarship program awards funds up to $800 to qualifying, North Carolina fourth grade classrooms.
Preference is given to Title I schools; however, other schools may qualify. Scholarship funds are available through grants and private donations. The availability of scholarship funds varies year by year.

We are thrilled to be scheduling and reviewing scholarship applications for 2022! Cancelled field trips were one of the many casualties from the COVID impacted years. We can't wait for the return of this program and share some of the history and magic of BHI with our community!
By donating through this link, 100% of your donation goes to helping bring over a record - breaking number of students!
2023 Sponsorship Opportunities! 

The events hosted by the Old Baldy Foundation have become a highlight of many islanders' year! View our sponsorship opportunities to take your support of Old Baldy to the next level. 100% of your sponsorship contributions will go to mission based work.

By supporting the Old Baldy Foundation as a sponsor, not only will you be directly helping the Old Baldy Foundation work to preserve Old Baldy as a beloved monument to North Carolina, but you will receive exclusive access to the events and unique marketing opportunities.
Reach out to stacy@oldbaldy.org to discuss customizing a sponsorship package to meet your needs or if you have a service to provide for an in-kind sponsorship!
Have you heard?!

Old Baldy Book Club is here!

Old Baldy staff and historians have craftily selected books over many years to create an inventory relevant to BHI and its robust Maritime History available in our gift shop. To highlight these selections, we will be selecting a book every month to feature in 2023! If you are a bookworm, history buff, or looking to connect with the community, consider taking part in our upcoming book club.

Each month a new book will be selected. Some will be history books telling heroic tales of lighthouse keepers, pirates, soldiers, and more! Other selections will highlight North Carolina culture, including some cookbooks. Staff members will highlight unique stories, recipes, and passages from the book of the month and lead discussions about them! To participate, follow Old Baldy on Instagram and Facebook. There will be multiple posts, videos, and talks about the book throughout each month. Join the discussion! Let us know in the comments how these books have impacted and inspired you! 
This Month's Selection-

March is Women's History Month!

We will kick off our monthly book club selection with a book from our collection. Join Old Baldy as we dive into these wonderful stories of courageous women and their adventures on the sea.
Women Were Pirates, Too

by C.T. Anthony

From women who fought alongside men in dastardly high-sea robberies, to an Irish heroine who plundered British ships, to women unfortunate enough to fall amongst thieves. This book explores some long-overlooked characters in the
history of piracy.
Join the Old Baldy staff as we explore the lives and stories of our selection.
 for the month of March.
  Visit us at www.oldbaldy.org and the following platforms!