Kleiner’s Korner: Part 2 - The Vanderbilt (Willie K.) Connection and the Rise of the Automobile in my New Home State - North Carolina
While Willie K. spent time in both North and South Carolina the majority of his time was spent some 30 miles south of Wilmington, NC in the port city of Southport where he docked his many yachts throughout the years.
Southport is located on the coast in Southeastern North Carolina, where the Cape Fear River meets the Atlantic Ocean. Its known for stunning scenery, history and the maritime heritage of its founders.
Art Kleiner
Willie K's Visits
Willie visited Aiken, SC in 1909 which was established in the late 19th century as a wintering spot for wealthy people from the Northeast. The Aiken Winter Colony was established by Thomas Hitchcock, Sr. and William C. Whitney and included many famous and notable people including George H. Bostwick, James B. Eustis, Madeleine Astor and William Kissam Vanderbilt (Wikipedia, Charlotte Evening Chronicle Dec. 27, 1909)
Willie K., an executive of the New York Central Lines and a Wall Street stock broker met in Wilmington in 1916 at the estate of Pembroke Jones, a Wilmington social and financial leader. (Wilmington Dispatch Apr. 14, 1916)
Pembroke eventually moved to NY and accumulated a large fortune in railroad securities thanks to his friendship with railroad magnate Henry Walters. (Wikipedia, Charlotte News Apr. 17, 1916)
Docking at Southport: The Tarantula - 1907
Over a span of 30 years, Willie K's. visits to Southport with his yachts were always a newsworthy event. In 1907, the Tarantula stopped on its way south. (Wilmington Morning Star, Nov. 30, 1907)
Antonio Jacobsen, 1907
1910
Description of the Tarantula (Knoxvillage.com)
The Eagle - 1921-1922
During a trip from Miami to New York in the spring of 1921, heavy weather caused the delay of several yachts in Southport including Willie's Eagle. While the delay was not expected to delay the Eagle much longer, Willie and party decided to take the northbound NY train. (Wilmington Morning Star Apr. 19, 1921)
The Eagle was one of the ships used by Vanderbilt to collect maritime specimans. In 1925 Willie traded the Eagle to Carl Fisher for ownership of Fisher Island in Florida.
However, three years earlier in 1922 it was reported to have been used as a Cuban rumrunner, having been previously used as a gunboat by the US Navy in the Spanish-American War. Which account is correct? (Brooklyn Daily Eagle Dec. 19, 1922)
The Ara - 1928
Another speciman collecting yacht, the Ara, was also delayed in Southport in 1928. Willie, his wife and a friend were guests at the summer residence of Henry Walter, Chairman of the Board of the Atlantic Coast Railroad Company. (The New York Times Mar. 30 1928)
In 1926 this carving of the ship's name and flag were made in the Galapagas Islands, which Willie K. came to regret. Wonder who the other initials were for.
The Alva - 1935-1941
Another of Willie's yachts, the Alva, visited Southport many times.
During this trip in May of 1935, Willy K. also spent time at Walters' estate but had to use a speedboat to get there after his twin-motored amphibian flying craft was damaged crashing into a boat. Luckily no one was hurt. (The State Port Pilot May 8, 1935)
May, 1936. (The State Port Pilot May 6, 1936)
October, 1936. (The State Port Pilot Oct. 21, 1936)
August, 1939. (The State Port Pilot Aug. 9, 1939)
August, 1939. (The State Port Pilot Aug. 16, 1939)
Fact or fiction during one of Alva's visits? (The State Port Pilot Aug. 20, 1941)
One final connection with Willy K.! An original Motor Parkway post and piece of roadway resting along a golf course outside of Wilmington (e.g., the 18th fairway looking from my backyard). Wonder if I can find other Parkway relics nearby. Probably not, but I would be happy to find some golfballs, preferably not near my house!.
Part 3 of this series will detail the purchase of land in the central and western parts of North Carolina by Willie's uncle, George Vanderbilt, in order to build Biltmore, the largest private residence in the United States.
Comments
Remaining post from the Wilmington spur of the Motor Parkway! We all know the Parkway needed more business over the years, but who knew how far they’d go to bring cars on it!
And how coincidental and lucky you are that it just so happens to be in your backyard!
Art, I had forgotten about what you call the Wilmington spur. Actually it was known as the Southport Spur. It ran from the harbor to the golf course behind your home. Willie liked that course… played it anytime he was in the area, said it reminded him of the one at his home in Centreport. I believe your home is built on the end of the spur. Do some digging, believe some porcelain parkway plates were disposed of in the area.
Thanks Al for the great suggestion to see what else I could find in my backyard! Lo and behold - just found a Motor Parkway plate and a racer! Wonder if George Robertson ever drove this one on the Southport Spur! Can anyone identify the racer?
And not so coincidental, Greg. I paid extra to get a home lot on the spur! I was going to build a garage for the racers in my backyard but the HOA wouldn’t permit it!
Art, I cant believe it…. you found MY Motor Parkway plate # 52 !!!! Let me explain, #52 was first issue to Shelby Tucker. It fell of of his auto while the way to a round of golf with Moss Stang, Kaiser Frazier and Willie K. on the course behind your home. Shelby reported the loss to the local Motor Vehicle Dept. and asked to have returned to him if ever found. The North Carolina Motor Vehicle Code has a “if ever found” clause which states that if an item has been reported as lost and later found….. it must be returned to the party that reported the loss or to his heirs. I purchased the rights to the plate from Shelby’s heir, Loco Mobile. So, please sent it to me insuring for $5000, willing to contribute a dollar toward shipping costs.
Al, Section 4, Paragraph 12 of the Code states the lost item has to be returned in person. (its in the small print, very small print)! So let me know when I can expect you. And are you sure you’re not the Loco person? We can take this offline if you’ld like - don’t want others to put in claim for the plate now that its been found as well!
Hmmmm…I had a plate very similar to that one. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find it in a few months!
Art, Section 4, Paragraph 12, has been temporally suspended because of Covid. So OK to send, my sense of fairness allows me a to add another dollar toward shipping costs. Please send it same- day- delivery.
Here are 2 pages from Willie Ks detailed logs of his yachting trips down the east coast indicating stops in Wilmington, NC. The first is from April, 1908 and seems to indicate the “Tarantula’s” journey started in Wilmington. On board were friends R.C. Watson (see mystery photo #35, Aug. 30, 2021) and Sydney J. Smith.
The second is the “Eagle’s” journey starting in November, 1920.
Both are from the Vanderbilt Museum Collections.
Good stuff as always Art,
Aiken SC. This needs to be investigated. Seems like everyone in Old Westbury would go there in the winter. Thoroughbred and polo zones….these were the spots. You have to make your way down to Aiken one day and check this out, find the houses where Hitchcock, Whitney and Bostwick lived. Probably some cool stuff to see there.
And of all the places…how did they choose that location? Apparently the “grounds” there are perfect for horses, whatever that means. Jekyl Island, GA is another spot to investigate one day. I can’t wait till I have free time one day!
Thanks Dave, yes additional research is necessary on Aiken, SC and Jekyl Island, GA. Will report back! And possibly new blog material!