The Lee Robinson General Store in Hatteras Village is sponsoring a combination wine-tasting with a book signing event by U.S. Life-Saving Service reenactor, author and Hatteras Island resident James D. “Keeper James” Charlet on Wednesday, July 19 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Keeper James’ book, Shipwrecks of the Outer Banks: Dramatic Rescues and Fantastic Wrecks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic, Globe Pequot Press has been highly successful, selling nationally as well as internationally. “Although the publisher’s title begins with ‘Shipwrecks,’ the true stories chapters are primarily about the daring and dramatic real rescues of the 178,000+ shipwreck victims by the United States Life-Saving Service,” says Charlet.
It was the idea by Belinda Willis, co-owner of the General Store with husband Virgil, to combine the now-frequent Keeper James book signings with a wine tasting. Charlet thought it was a great idea. He will be in his full-dress Keeper’s uniform and accompanied by his wife, Linda Molloy, in her elegant period attire. The event is open to the public. For more information, call the store at 252-986-2381.
“The Lee Robinson General Store is a truly unique, one-of-a-kind experience,” said Charlet. “It is not only a retail and social experience, but also an Outer Banks history experience. I learned from their website (https://www.leerobinsonhatteras.com/) that Mr. Lee Robinson, the original store owner, was born in 1890. That was at the height of the activity of the United States Life-Saving Service (1871-1915). There was an LSS station right here in Hatteras Village called Durants. He was only 25-years-old when he saw that transition to the United States Coast Guard. Now there is a Coast Guard station here called USCG Motor Lifeboat Station Hatteras Inlet.”
The store is located at 58372 on NC-12 on the way to the ferry docks.
Keeper James Presentations TM is a series of live programs presented by local historians, historical interpreters and performers Keeper James Charlet and Miz Linda Molloy. Each program about the U.S. Life-Saving Service consists of appetizers of true, exciting, highly dramatic Outer Banks stories of ‘America’s Forgotten Heroes.’ For more information, see www.KeeperJames.com/programs.