 |
Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum given lifesaving medal
Photos courtesy of Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum |
|
|
The
heirs of surfman Edward J. Midgette of Buxton have donated his silver
Life Saving Medal of Honor, won in 1909 for his part in the rescue of
the crew of a wrecked steamer, to the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum.
Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum given lifesaving medal
An
important silver medal representing lifesaving heroics has been donated
to the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras village.
Almost 100 years ago, on Nov. 29, 1909, Edward J. Midgette of Buxton and eight other surfmen under the command
of E. H. Peel and No.1 Surfman B.B. Miller of the Creeds Hill U.S.
Life-Saving Station rescued the 33-member crew of the steamer Brewster,
which had
run aground on the southeast point of Diamond Shoals in a severe
nor’easter. For that act of courage, Midgette and eight
other surfmen were each awarded the Silver Life Saving Medal of
Honor. The Midgette heirs have donated his medal to the
museum.
The
medal was passed from Edward Midgette to his wife Carrie Midgette
Midgette, to their son Dallas, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard on
Hatteras Island. Dallas also served along the New Jersey shore and married a local woman. At the age of 93, he lives there
today, as do his son, grandson, and great-grandson. Although
Dallas, who is the last living child of Edward, and his sons live in
New Jersey, many of Edward J. Midgette’s descendants live on
Hatteras Island today.
“This
generous donation is a significant addition to the collections and will
further the museum’s mission of interpreting coastal North
Carolina history,” said Joseph Schwarzer, executive director of
the museum.
The
Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum is in the final stages of a transfer
to state ownership, which was approved by the state General Assembly in
August. The last step in that transfer is an agreement with the
National Park Service, which owns the seven-acre museum site in
Hatteras village near the ferry docks and which is expected soon.
The
museum was established to celebrate the shipwreck history and maritime
heritage of the Outer Banks and its inhabitants. There are more
than 2,000 shipwrecks off the coast of the Outer Banks -- ships that
wrecked on the dangerous shoals now known at the Graveyard of the
Atlantic.
The
museum opened to the public in 2003 with limited exhibits. It has
been popular with visitors, who are charged no admission at this point.
Among the exhibits is the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse’s historic
first-order Fresnel lens and pedestal.
The museum’s winter hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 until 4 p.m.
|
  |
|
|
|
