Donation aids rifle pit project

November 25, 2015. Courtesy of The State Port Pilot. http://stateportpilot.com/

DAR contribution honors deceased member Barlowe

By Lee Hinnant
Staff Writer


Brunswick Town Daughters of the American Revolution treasurer Nancy Mazzei (right) presents a check to Norma Eckard in memory of Harriet Barlowe, a member of the chapter and chair of historic preservation. Barlowe is shown with a painting of Chicamacomico, a lifesaving station and museum in Rodanthe. When a local fire department asked to use the site as a burn practice in the 1970s, Chicamacomico Historical Association formed to save the historic structure. Restoration has continued since.

Members of the local chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution recently donated $1065 toward preservation of a historic structure in honor of Harriet Barlowe.

Barlowe chaired the DAR Historic Preservation Committee and had worked to help preserve the World War I-era rifle pit at Caswell Beach. She died in October from cancer.

“She was my right arm, working with me on the rifle range project, the derby fundraiser and on DAR projects,” said Norma Eckard, who has spearheaded efforts to save the rifle pit used to train soldiers. “Harriet Barlowe was a strong believer in preserving history, so it was important to her as chair of the Brunswick Town Chapter DAR, Historic Preservation Committee, to support the preservation of the rifle range.

“Her husband Russ, vice-president of our non-profit Friends of the Fort Caswell Rifle Pit, felt the same,” Eckard continued. “Russ saw fit that in lieu of sending flowers in memory of Harriet that people donate to the DAR, Hospice, or their church in Wilmington.”

Eckard said that the group intends to place an educational tablet display at the rifle pit in Barlowe’s honor. To learn more about the project, email Eckard at ftcaswellriflerange@gmail.com.