Topsail Island, NC - “The people here make you fall in love with Topsail Island. You can’t find better people anywhere…especially in the early days.  They didn’t care what you had or where you came from. If they liked you, they liked you.”

Those are the words of long-time resident and commuity advocate, Sterling Bryson, of Bryson and Associates in Surf City.  In 1982, he came to the island to build a small cottage for one of his clients.  It didn’t take long until he made Topsail Island his home.

“Topsail Island was laid back, quiet, calm and didn’t have many people,” says Sterling.  “The one stoplight in town was cut off right after Labor Day and not turned back on until Memorial Day weekend.”

Working in the summer, people held most of their social events in the winter.

“You could invite everybody from the south end along with the ones you knew in Surf City to a function or a cocktail party in the winter time and you may, on a good night, get forty people.”  And a lot of those events were held in the Topsail Beach community center—today’s rescue squad building.  Back then, the few year-round residents couldn’t fill it up.

 

Fishing was the highlight of the island.  For the first couple of winters Sterling lived here, he lived off of fresh fish, and eventually became passionate about fishing.  Piers were everywhere, but sadly, many are now gone, including the Dolphin Pier which was located where Queen’s Grant sits today.

“You could walk along the pier in the fall and people would give you fish, they were catching so many.  I did a lot of fishing,” he added, “pier fishing, surf fishing, even charter fishing.”

Now he finds it “easier and cheaper to fish at Doug Thomas’ (Seafood).  They have it all and it’s ready to cook.”

Shopping has certainly changed over the years.  Hunter Tilghman owned the “Red and White” grocery store in Surf City, where IGA is now.  On Sunday, the store would open early for the locals.  “Back then, I remember the only two vegetables you could buy here in the winter time were broccoli and cabbage.”

Over the years, Sterling constructed several beach homes, having been a commercial and residential builder.  He was the first to build the now popular “reverse” floor plan where the living room is on the top.

He also became a realtor.  “When I first got in business, I was told by the other realtors there were too many realtors here already.  I was probably number six or seven on the island.”  At that time, they were members of the Jacksonville Board of Realtors, but, it didn’t take long for the locals, including Sterling, to want their own association which they succeeded in forming after a two-year struggle.

Sterling eventually built the offices where they are now, right over the bridge on the mainland.  “This building is probably the best day’s work I’ve ever done.”

For decades, Sterling has been a member and leader of many local organizations, including the steering committee for Autumn With Topsail and a committee to save Topsail Beach’s Assembly Building.  He was also one of the first members of Kiwanis of Topsail Island—an organization to help children.

“I am the last of the surviving charter members. We started with 11 members.”

During his term as president, Sterling started the first Kiwanis golf tournament and fundraiser, which is still held annually, benefiting the local youth.  He also helped to start the Key Club at Topsail High School where he served as Kiwanian adviser for several years.

The Key Club is a great educational opportunity for innovative children.  In the beginning, nine students received an invitation to travel to Greensboro for their first Kiwanis convention.  At the time, six of them had never been out of Pender County.  “It was really an eventful trip,” smiles Sterling.

Thanks to his dedication to Kiwanis, Sterling went on to become the first “Distinguished Lieutenant Governor” in his district.  In the past, he also served on the board of governors for Emma Anderson Memorial Chapel and has been named a “Kentucky Colonel,” which is an honorary title bestowed upon individuals who make exceptional efforts to enrich the lives of others.  He was also on the committee that started Topsail Island’s Chamber of Commerce, and, in fact, was “Chamber Man of the Year.”

“That was the real dark ages,” laughs Sterling.

However, in 1996, when Hurricane Fran came along, Sterling’s focus changed.  So did everyone else’s.  Fran was a destructive Category 3 hurricane that literally put people out of business.  At the time, Sterling was president of the Topsail Association of Realtors.

“I flew over the island a couple of days later in a chartered plane.  We couldn’t distinguish what street was what. There were houses in the street and washed out into the ocean.”

Housing fourteen of their employees into sister, Sterleen’s, house at North Shore Country Club, they would work during the day and go back in the evenings to rest.  “I thought it would take five to six years to recover,” says Sterling.  “Basically, by the next spring, we were able to open the island back up for the tourists.”

A good many people left after the storm but Sterling, Sterleen, and the staff stayed.  “It was really devastating. We considered it but, my theory was, if we can hang on, we’ll stay. I was always blessed to know a couple of good bankers for especially the lean times,” he laughs.

Through it all, he continues to see great things in Topsail Island.

“It takes a special person to live here year round.  I can’t get over what some of the first families here had to go through.  No power. No electricity. No water.  But, regardless, there was always an opportunity here. I saw potential for development. A great opportunity for a lifestyle. I think anybody does when they move here.” 

SHEREE’ L. ALDERMAN is a professional writer and is the publisher of www.topsail-island.info, a website focused on the Topsail Island area.  Her free time is spent with her beautiful granddaughter Mari or directing the Hampstead Chorus.