From the Arcadia book "Carolina Beach" by Elaine Blackmon Henson.
For the 1888 season, Captain Harper purchased the steamer Sylvan Grove which could carry 600 passengers on its three decks. On July 4, 1888, it made two trips from Wilmington, bringing over 800 people who swam in the surf, looked for shells and took a hack (carriage) to Fort Fisher. That evening, fireworks were shot off from the bow of the ship.
In 1889, the Sugar Loaf pier was moved to Doctor's Point which had deeper water for the new steamer and because of it, the railroad was lengthened a mile. New cottages were built along with a windmill and reservoir.
In 1889, 19 more cottages were built, making a total of 34. Lots were selling for $1 a foot. That winter, a fire of unknown origins destroyed the Sylvan Grove. Captain Harper went loooking for another steamer and found one in Wilmington, Delaware, which was already named the Wilmington. It made its first trip to Carolina Beach in 1891.
The next few summers, more steamers began bringing people to the thriving resort: the Clarence, Murchison, Italian and Lillie. Baseball became very popular and many teams formed playing the game on the beach
In 1910, a fire destroyed the Pavilion, Kure's Bathhouse and Smith Cottage in 1910.A new pavilion opened in 1911.
Carolina Beach Was On Its Way. --Cooter
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