Bumblebee Buzz May /June 2020
Preserving the Past, Enjoying the Present, Building the Future.
A Note From The President...

Thank you for your support during my term as president of HSTI. Without our dedicated, hardworking volunteers none of our programs and events would be possible. It has been a privilege to work with you.

I would especially like to thank our HSTI Board members. Many challenges were met well by this Board: a key structural roof truss system upgrade, Hurricane Florence major recovery, and more recently, health and safety issues regarding COVID-19. I appreciate the Board’s courage, insight, and commitment to preserve our historic Assembly Building, Missiles and More Museum, and the programs with which we serve this community.

I hope you will join us at many of our exciting activities when we can safely gather again. All the best for a safe and healthy summer. Please take care of yourself and others. 

Edna C. Smith
Welcome to New HSTI President -John Morris
John Morris and his wife, Carol moved to a new home in Olde Point community in Hampstead in October of 2015 after having spent the last 30 years visiting the area while vacationing on Topsail Island. Prior to that, John and Carol lived in the suburbs of Washington DC for over 45 years.


John worked as a consultant civil engineer on private and public sector projects worldwide. John is a licensed Professional Engineer in six states and a retired U. S. Army chopper pilot.Since moving to North Carolina, John has become active in a number of organizations including joining the Topsail Turtle Patrol with his wife where you can find him walking the Topsail Beach or sitting turtle nests with Carol. He is a docent at the Missiles and More Museum, has served as an active volunteer at Autumn with Topsail for the last three years, and is currently serving on the Board of Directors as the Vice President for the HSTI. He is also active in his local community serving on the BoD of the Olde Point HOA and as Chairman of the Architectural Control Committee.
Every Membership and Donation
helps us fulfill our Mission!

This year your membership is more important than ever before since our summer programs have been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We do plan to have some virtual activities which are now in development! Information about these activities, as well as our fall and winter events, will be posted on our website and social media in the near future. 

Please Join or Renew your membership with the Historical Society of Topsail Island today. By renewing now, your membership will be good until May 31, 2021.Your donations will also help keep us in the black until we are again fully open and operational!

Become a part of this active & meaningful organization!
Click on the button below to Volunteer!
HSTI Awards Scholarships
Each year the Historical Society presents scholarships to impressive seniors. This region is abundant with talented and knowledgeable students and we are pleased to honor three deserving students this year.
Our top scholarship winner is Christopher Spillane, from Topsail HS, for his presentation of a LEGO Stop-motion Animation of the "Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge".
Bailey Wells from Topsail HS and Matthew Mills from Dixon HS tied for second place.
Bailey's project was a poetry presentation of "The Battle Cry”, an original poem about The Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge.  
Matthew's presentation was an essay titled, "The History and Impact of the Jacksonville USO".
A major part of HSTI's mission is the education and sharing of our local history with future generations. Our education committee is privileged to receive, read and blind score all of our scholarship applications and projects each year. Thank you to Albert Meyer, chair of the scholarship/education committee and his committee members for your time and hard work!
Mark your calendars and plan to attend!
I hope this message finds everyone safe and healthy as we continue to face the challenges of COVID-19. I remain extremely optimistic that the Autumn with Topsail Festival will occur as scheduled on 16, 17 and 18 October 2020. I do not believe there have been any confirmed cases of the virus in Topsail Beach, but we will need to remain vigilant prior to and during the festival. At some point we hope to move back to a normal and the festival is still 5 months from now. Social distancing may be a challenge and we may all be wearing a mask, but the festival will go on.

Rick Stidley
Chairman – 32nd Autumn with Topsail Festival

Events
Thank you for your continuing support of the many activities hosted by HSTI at the Historic Assembly Building and the Missiles and More Museum. For the well-being of our community, all HSTI sponsored public events scheduled for the months of June, July and August have been cancelled. This action is in line with the Governor’s recommendations concerning COVID-19.

These events have been cancelled:
Bingo | Summer Aquarium Program
Closed Until further notice: Missiles and More Museum


We will continue to evaluate this situation during our virtual Board meetings and keep you informed. The decision to postpone our HSTI public activities was not easy, but we share your concern about our communities’ safety and well being.


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Mission Statement
 
The Historical Society of Topsail Island is dedicated to the collection, preservation and promotion of the history of the Greater Topsail Island Area.