The Old Man’s Boy Turns 100

Capt. Adkin's home (Ruark's grandfather)

  Today, the Old Man’s Boy in Robert Ruark’s classic childhood memoir, The Old Man and the Boy, turns 100.  (Click here for my review of the book.)  Robert Ruark was born on December 29, 1915 in Wilmington, NC.  Although he grew up in Wilmington, graduating at the age of 15 from New Hanover High School, but he spent much time growing up with his grandfather (the Old Man), in Southport.  His grandfather, who was a pilot on the river, taught him how to fish and hunt, along with many other lessons in life which he conveyed in his childhood memoir.  Ruark attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, graduating at the age of 19.  He served a bit in the Merchant Marines and as an editor and reporter for a variety of newspapers.  When World War II broke out, he joined the Navy as an Ensign on a gun crew on a merchant marine ship and later held a desk job censoring private correspondence between those fighting in the Pacific and their families and friends, making sure no military secrets were contained in the letters.  Always a lover of the outdoors, he  spent much time hunting big game in Africa, and become a leading columnist for Field and Stream.  Like his father, Ruark had a drinking problem (his death was partly due to cirrhosis of the liver) and died in 1965.

The Star News had a major article about him today (from where some of the above information came from, although I knew some of his history from having read several of his books).  Interestingly, I did learn that his first published book, Grenadine Etching, is a spoof on Gone with the Wind.  It sounds interesting but is supposedly hard to find.  Much of Ruark’s writing is now seen as macho and out-of-date (and somewhat racist), but I still highly recommend the The Old Man and the Boy (I first read it in the 8^th Grade) and The Old Man’s Boy Grows Older, which I read a fifteen or so years ago. 

ferry from Southport to Fort Fisher

There was a birthday party/open house at the Robert Ruark Inn (his grandfather’s home) in Southport this afternoon.  Since I’m in Wilmington, I decided it was time for a road trip.  After lunch, I drove across the Cape Fear to Leland, and turned south on NC 133, driving along the west bank of the river, crossing Town Creek and passing Ft. Anderson (a Civil War era fort), Sunny Point Ocean Military Terminal (it's off-limits), the Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant (ditto) and on into Southport.  I visited the Inn, which appears to be a great place to spend a few nights, and looked around a bit at the memorabilia.  Then I then walked around this seaport town before heading back to Wilmington via the Southport/Fort Fisher Ferry.  It’s a great round trip—the ferry ride is 30 minutes long and cost $5 for a regular sized vehicle.

Looking from Southport to the mouth of the Cape Fear
Baldhead Lighthouse on the horizon, left side
Navigation light on the right side

Thanks to everyone who asked about my father.  I'm back up in North Carolina and staying at his home.  He will get out of rehab on Thursday and is doing much better.  

Mid-channel and passing the ferry heading to Southport