From the Hyde County Historical & Genealogy Society

SWAN QUARTER — The Swan Quarter Volunteer Fire Department will host the Hyde County Historical & Genealogy Society for a sale of Hyde County’s newest history book, “Olde Wickham, Little Kingdom by the Sea,” written by Swan Quarter native Richard B. Lupton.

Autographed copies of Lupton’s book as well as other HCHGS publications will be available.

The book compiles a comprehensive history of Hyde County, including the eastern part of Beaufort County and the Cape Hatteras area — both of which formed part of Hyde County at one time. As Lupton phrased it in the book’s preface: “This is a history of the people and places that have formed Hyde County over four centuries and counting, making it ancient by American standards.”

Lupton has developed individual histories of the county’s distinct regions and included the rich Native American and African-American heritage of the area. The evolution of the county from the 1600s to the 20th century, through wars and many economic and social changes — it’s all in here in 500-plus pages.

The event will take place during the SQVFD’s monthly fundraiser lunch/dinner on Sept. 30. The meal will be held at the station at 25 Oyster Creek Road, Swan Quarter, from 11:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. The price is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.

From 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., members of the HCHGS will be on hand with signed copies of Lupton’s book, as well as numerous other society publications. Also of special interest to Hyde County history buffs will be the 2016 publication, “Early Hyde County, North Carolina Marriage Records: 1735-1899,” edited by Linda Gray Mayo. Credit cards, cash or checks are all accepted.

Also on display during the day will be the SQVFD’s Ag & Grain Bin Rescue Project equipment. The project, begun in 2015, is a plan to form the first accredited agri-rescue team of its kind in eastern North Carolina. Perdue AgriBusiness donated a grain-entrapment rescue tube and a portion of the additional equipment needed to safely perform agri-related rescues was acquired through a matching fund grant from the North Carolina Department of Insurance’s Volunteer Fire Department Fund and generous donations from the community. The remainder of the equipment necessary to perform agri-related rescues on mainland Hyde has been acquired.

“Once we are up and running, this project will be another first of its kind in Hyde County,” Fire Chief Jeffrey Stotesberry said.

The 21-foot Parker fiberglass boat, along with a 200HP Mercury outboard motor, and a trailer, were recently purchased from the State of North Carolina as surplus property. The boat will be outfitted with a fire pump and other emergency rescue equipment and be utilized in the bays and waters of the Pamlico Sound. The SQVFD will partner with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission to train SQVFD personnel in water rescues.