In
1973, Mary Doll wrote in the first town newsletter she called “News and Notes
from Pine Knoll Shores, “Let’s face it—Pine Knoll Shores is coming of age. The
beautiful lots are almost all sold to beautiful people.” One of the “beautiful”
couples she listed as new neighbors were the Bezuyens.
In1973,
the fledgling town received its North Carolina State Charter of Incorporation.
Simon Bezuyen, with his much-needed accounting experience, was appointed to be
temporary town clerk. He later took Bill Doll’s place as a town commissioner.
Simon was also a dedicated town volunteer, offering his labors in many needed
capacities, including helping to clear trees and thick underbrush on land
donated by the Roosevelts to build a new town hall. Again, according to Mary
Doll, the commissioners “met every little while” at the Atlantis Lodge where
lodge manager and Pine Knoll Shores Commissioner Ruth Bray graciously offered
them space to operate. In actuality, based on minutes of the commissioners’
meetings during this time period, “every little while” really meant regular
monthly meetings as well as many special meetings. The town police and building
inspector were also housed at the Atlantis.
 |
| The State magazine, 1967 |
In
October of 1973, Aileen Adams was appointed as Pine Knoll Shores town clerk.
According to an early town newsletter, Aileen had worked for eight years in
Morehead City as tax collector, temporary town clerk and treasurer. Originally
from Statesville, Aileen came to Morehead City to visit her sister, mether
husband here and stayed. The town newsletter, then called
the “Pine Knoll Shore-Line” and edited by Mary Doll and Betty Hammond,
indicated that a good part of Aileen’s job involved recruiting resident
volunteers to do many needed jobs, one of which was studying feasibility plans
for a proposed bridge from Pine Knoll Shores to the mainland.
On
January 10, 1974, Aileen recorded a town resolution to accept from the
Roosevelt developers a tract of land designated as a town hall building site.
Town commissioners discussed with the planning inspector a decision to move
and use the former office of Roosevelt employee Don Brock as a temporary town
hall. After careful planning and consideration of the deed transfer and cost of
moving, which was estimated to be $3,500, the building was moved to the west
corner of Bridge Street, now Pine Knoll Boulevard, near
what was to be the south side of the driveway leading to the planned
Pine Knoll Shores town hall. A well-attended dedication ceremony of the new
town hall building was held on September 7, 1974.
 |
| Photo of the original photograph taken by Kathy Foy |
Due
to illness, Aileen had to leave her job as town clerk in 1978. During her
employment, she made an impression on town residents with the friendly, caring
manner in which she carried out her duties.
Corinne
Webb Geer came to the job of town clerk in
February 1979 with experience in business and county government, which was most
fortunate for this young town. Everything about running a small town was still
new, and everything about running a municipal government was entirely different
from working in county government. Working with Corinne in what she fondly
refers to as “the little green shingled cottage” were town employees Connie
Reese and Margaret Wylie. Corinne was very grateful when the town provided
training she would need by sending her to the School of Government at
UNC-Chapel Hill. During her role as town clerk, the town earned certification
in Municipal Administration, which included tax collection, and as a result, a
Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting. The Board of Commissioners
also supported her service as president of the North Carolina Association of
Municipal Clerks. It seems that Corinne wore many hats while serving as town
clerk from 1979 to1995: finance officer, tax collector and budget officer.
Doing all of these jobs necessitated obtaining approval from the Department of
the North Carolina State Treasurer. According to Corinne, municipalities with
populations of fewer than 5,000 could apply for and be granted special
operational status.
 |
| Corinne Geer—Photo by Dan Law |
During
Corinne’s tenure as town clerk, there were many “firsts.” She believes a
contributing factor to achieving these firsts was the expertise and experience
newly elected commissioners and resident volunteers brought to their various
jobs. These town firsts included establishment of a volunteer fire and rescue
department, a civil preparedness plan and an evacuation and reentry plan. The
feasibility of using personally owned boats in an emergency to get people
across the sound to the hospital was examined. A land use plan and flood map,
as well as a plan for numbering homes to aid police and the fire and rescue
department, were put in place, and a town property map was produced. Other
things worked on were plans for building inspection, development of a Planning
Board and codification of ordinances. The filing system for the town’s records
was something Corinne is most proud of implementing to preserve town records.
It was, at that time, a laborious, time-consuming task, which has now become
easier with modern technology. Corinne indicated that Pine Knoll Shores also
had the first municipal computer system in the county.
In
my many conversations with Corinne, she had only praise for the high caliber of
residents choosing to make this new town their home and their willingness to
volunteer to serve the town. Corinne indicated that many of these early
residents were worldwide travelers who still chose this rather wild and
isolated place to make their home when they could have lived anywhere. There is
no doubt, early residents enriched our town with their skills, knowledge and
talents.
In
a recent interview, Corinne said, “Thinking back brings happy memories.” She
expressed her wish that Pine Knoll Shores’ future goals hold onto the values
and vision of the Roosevelt family and the legacy of Alice Hoffman.
Corinne
Webb Geer remains an intelligent, vibrant woman who still keeps up with the
town of Pine Knoll Shores, where she spent so many dedicated hours doing an
enormously important job. Many current residents remember Corinne well, and
some remember Aileen, too.
Simon
Bezuyen, Aileen Adams and Corinne Geer are the early town clerks who helped the
town prosper and grow. They were sometimes called upon to do unique jobs, such
as driving the fire truck to a fire when the driver was unavailable—as Corinne
did.
Post Author: Barbara Milhaven
Previously publishedd in The Shoreline, September 2014
To
contact the author or the History Committee