King's Krest

HISTORY of Kings Krest
The King Family
“King’s Krest”
4215 Highway 17 Business

Prior to 1906, Archie Woodward purchased this property for $150 and built the house around 1909. In 1920, J.W. King of Raleigh, NC and his wife, Capitola Holiday King of Galivants Ferry, bought it as a summer home at an auction for $1,985. “King’s Krest”refers to the family surname and the high point on which the home sits.

The King’s three children shared time at their parents’ summer home through the late 1930s. In 1941, one son, Dr. William King, and his wife, Mary Catherine Carter King, (Mama Kate) took title to “King’s Krest.” Together with their children and grandchildren they spent many summers at the family home well into the 1960s. Today, it is the 50 members of the fourth, fifth and sixth King family generations who enjoy “King’s Krest.” For generations, the kids have swung on the wisteria vines, jumped off the dock’s railing, bounced on Oliver’s joggling board, begged for hush puppies at the Oliver’s Lodge back door, ran in the creek with Roosevelt “Rooster” Pickett and Bubba Love, hung out at the old government dock, visited Eason’s store and enjoyed the July 4th family reunions.

“King’s Krest” is filled with generations of family memories, including old water skis, fishnets and pencil sketches. Many of the black and white photos hail from Chip Smith, local photographer who lives in the tree house apartment over the garage, circa 1930, once home for the King’s servants. The tree is estimated to be 150 to 200 years old.

In the dining room is Mama Kate’s writing desk, which used to face south in the family room towards the sitting porch. The bell on the fireplace was used by Viola, the family cook, to summon the Kings for breakfast. Viola, who daily walked from her home in Brookgreen Gardens to work for the Kings, remained with the family into the early 1980s.

Though there is an eating porch off the kitchen, the dining room table, two green chairs and buffet date back to the first generation King matriarch. The table is set with Mama Kate’s everyday china from the 1940s.

The upstairs sleeping porch was screened in after WWII and filled with army cots to accommodate Dr. King’s own growing army of grandchildren, who slept here until the 1970s, when A/C arrived. Recently the upstairs and downstairs porches were remodeled.

The Inlet side of “King’s Krest” has always been the front of the house given an old road that ran between the creek and the houses. Notice the rope swing that has been hanging from the old oak tree since WWII. The boys nailed steps to the tree, making climbing easier. Over the past 60 years, the tree has grown over one of those steps.

Christmas mornings for Dr. King’s grandchildren at “King’s Krest” means a visit to Belin’s church service followed by a romp in the Inlet to gather seafood. King’s Krest Christmases set the tone for a warm, cozy, creek side holiday, adorned with natural magnolia, cedar and cypress greenery and shells.