Creeds Hill Lookout Tower replica in Frisco reaches new milestone as tower house is installed

The long-awaited replica of the historic Creeds Hill Lookout Tower, located just south of Frisco, reached a major construction milestone on Thursday, when the tower house was lifted into place atop its pilings.

The replica project, which has been steadily progressing over the summer, is designed to honor the original U.S. Life-Saving Service and later Coast Guard tower that once stood in the same area in the early 20th century.

The new tower, spearheaded by P.G. Harris Construction Co., has been meticulously researched to capture the authenticity of the original. Every detail was considered, from the 24-foot-wide base supported by pilings driven 50 feet into the ground, to the 10-foot-wide observation room at the very top.

“We set the tower house this morning, which has been long anticipated by all of the team.” Said Matt Hemmis, President of P.G. Harris Construction Co. “We will be completing the electrical, lighting, and interior finishes over the next three weeks or so.”

Hemmis noted that the project has been a unique experience for the crew, in large part because of the passion of the property owner.

“The owner is extremely excited about the project,” Hemmis said. “We do a lot of large projects and we rarely have the opportunity to work with clients who are this passionate about something, so it has been a fun project to do.”

That passion has been evident throughout the process, as the owner and his family spent months at the National Archives, researching the history and design of the Creeds Hill Lookout Tower to ensure the replica stayed as faithful as possible to the original.

“He bought this property to preserve it, and he really cares about keeping the historical integrity of the building and property intact, down to every detail,” Hemmis explained. “His love of this area, and the history of the [Creeds Hill Lookout Tower] has made this possible.”

A Brief History of Creeds Hill

The first seven U.S. Life-Saving Stations in North Carolina were established in 1874 – Chicamacomico, Little Kinnakeet, Bodie Island (later named Oregon Inlet), Nags Head, Kitty Hawk, Caffey’s Inlet, and Currituck’s Jones Hill – and the original Creeds Hill Station was built shortly after in 1878.

These stations provided a protective chain along the shoreline at a time when shipwrecks were tragically common, and were manned by surfmen who conducted thousands of rescues during the Life-Saving Service’s heyday.

The first Creeds Hill Station followed a similar design to its island neighbors, and was a one-story building that sat on a patch of raised terrain, known locally as “Creeds Hill.”

1930 image of Creeds Hill Station house, with later lookout tower at left
(Source: Chenery, Old Coast Guard Stations, p.57)

After 30 years of service at this original site, a new location and a new design were implemented shortly after the Life-Saving Service became the U.S. Coast Guard.

The deed of the present-day Creeds Hill site was acquired by the government in 1917, and plans were drawn using a two-story Chatham-Type design, created by architect Victor Mendleheff.

While many of these stations were erected in Chatham, Massachusetts – hence the name – only seven of North Carolina’s life-saving stations were Chatham-Types, including the Hatteras Island stations of Big Kinnakeet, Hatteras Inlet, and Creeds Hill.

Eventually, by the mid-20th century, many of the Hatteras Island stations, including Creeds Hill, were decommissioned or dismantled as advances in communications, navigation, and motorized rescue craft made the isolated watchtowers less essential. Today, only a handful of the original Life-Saving Stations remain, which includes the current Creeds Hill structure.

Looking Ahead

The new Creeds Hill Tower replica is expected to be fully completed in just a few weeks, offering a visible reminder of the Coast Guard’s and Life-Saving Service’s presence and service on the island.

When the tower is complete, it won’t be open to the public as the home remains a private residence, but it will certainly be a striking attraction to anyone driving along N.C, Highway 12 on southern Hatteras Island.