Jack Dudley is a Carteret County resident an the area's most popular local historian. He spends his free time pursuing his interest in coastal history and folklore, and applies his avocations for photography and historical research towards documenting the history and traditions of North Carolina's coastal communities.

Down East: Portraits of the Past

Coming in November! Call 800-DEEGEES

A photographic history of Down East from the early 1900s through the 1960s. Before the early 1900s, Down East was not considered isolated, it was the link for Carteret County and much of central Norh Carolina with the outside world by way of maritime traffic through Ocracoke and Beaufort inlets. After the days of sailtrains, however, roads and automobilesbecame the arteries for transportation in mainstream North Carolina. Down East had no major roads, consequently it was isolated and remote even by the standards of the era. But by 1930 a road had been built from Beaufort toAtlantic, paving the way (literally) for numerous adventurous photographers.

In Down East, Dudley has collected the best examples of the work from these early recorders, creating a pictorial history that documents life in a bygone era. Maritime scenes, churches gatherings, schools, post offices and other landmarks preserve the memory of a community now lost to the past. Many of the structures in the photographs have long since gone, but in Down East, their images will remain unforgotten. 

MOREHEAD CITY: A Walk Through Time

The most popular "coffee table" book on the area, Dudley's Morehead City is the standard reference for people interested in the history of the town, and the most sought-after keepsake for visitors who want to remember their time on our coast. Dudley's books stand apart from other local histories for their attention to detail and the care taken to reproduce the many vintage photographs they contain in the highest possible quality.

Our Story

I was the fall semester of my junior year when it hit me that there was actually an end to college and after that the beginning of, well, of something else. I immediately ran to Kenda’s room and when the hyperventilation subsided asked, “What could I possibly be happy doing for the rest of my life?”

“Hmm.” She responded. “I don’t know. I was thinking about owning a bookstore.”

“Sounds good to me,” I said. “I’m game.” And perhaps I just said it because I needed some sort of direction, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I actually would be happy spending my life doing that. We began to make plans.