Recently we received a donation of a 1979 Southport Phone Directory, covering Southport-Long Beach-Yaupon Beach-Caswell Beach.

This vintage phone directory came from the home of Mrs. Alice Lucille (Morris) Gore. Alice was born in January 1925 in Northwest, NC. Miss Alice made Southport her home in 1945 when she married Southport native and WWII veteran, Edgar Gore.

Edgar’s career spanned 31 years in Brunswick County. He served as an educator at Lincoln High School, then as an Administrator at North Brunswick High School, before retiring as Science Supervisor for all of Brunswick County Schools. Edgar and Alice lived at 510 N. Lord Street until Edgar built a new house for them at 411 N. Lord St. Alice and Edgar raised four children in Southport. Their daughter, Alexis Gore Graves, lives in the family’s historic home at 510 N. Lord St.

Alice was a member of Mt. Carmel AME Church for more than 70 years. Church service was an important part of Alice’s life. On the front of the phone directory, “Reverend Henley 628-6558” was handwritten for quick reference. Reverend Henley was the pastor of Mt. Carmel AME from 2012-2015.

We appreciate this donation which offers insights into daily life over forty years ago, such as:

• This was the first year that a local Southport directory was created. 15,000 copies were published and distributed for free to permanent residents, businesses, motels, and summer cottages.
• The entire directory which includes business and personal numbers, is only 66 pages long.
• Only two exchanges were used: 457 for Southport numbers and 278 for Oak Island
• Although the first 911 service was established in 1968, it had yet to reach the Southport area by 1979. Residents who were in need of help had to dial different 7-digit numbers to reach police, fire, or ambulance assistance. Each town had its own set of numbers.

Here’s a link to the directory. Let us know what memories it inspires!