Category Archives: Progress Made

The dedication of the Brunswick County WWI Memorial is planned for Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11, at 11am.

Clean up work has started. About one foot of water remains inside. Updates will continue to be posted when available.

Bright and early Saturday, March 31, Ethan Pannkuk, the Eagle Scout Candidate, and fellow Boy Scouts from Troop 210 in Carolina Beach returned to the 1918 Fort Caswell Rifle Range to resume the work Ethan had planned for his Eagle Scout Service Project.

Several from Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range stopped by to observe the hard work, including Caswell Dunes HOA President Joyce Crabtree. It was exciting watching the floor of the target pit emerge from beneath the dirt and debris.

The Scouts went above and beyond removing very tough roots that were attempting to destroy the walls and floor. This wasn’t standard weed pulling!

Ethan made lunch, and the work continued. After a day of work, they were able to completely clear both the floor and the drainage ditch. It looked like all of the work was complete but Ethan reminded the group that clean-up was still needed. They smoothed away the dirt they removed, then Ethan announced that they were done.

On Tuesday this week, the State Historical Preservation Office returns to inspect the work and guide the Friends of Fort Caswell on the next steps.

We wish Ethan and all of the Scouts best of luck in their future endeavors. President of the HOA, Joyce Crabtree, President of Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range, Norma Eckard, and all of the Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range thank Ethan Pannkuk for choosing the rifle range and target pit as his project, as well as the Scouts and friends for helping!

Thank you, Ethan and friends!
Ethan is first on the left. The names of the other Scouts will be added if/when permission is obtained.

Day 2, continuing the clearing of the floor. Notice how thick the roots are among the dirt.

Taking a break. Ethan, in yellow.

The floor is almost clear.

Clearing the narrow drainage ditch is difficult work.

Ethan makes lunch. HOA President Joyce Crabtree thanks the Scouts for their hard work, and thanks Ethan for choosing the 1918 Fort Caswell Rifle Range as his service project.

Floor and drainage ditch are clear! This may be the first time since WWII when the War Department sold the land.

Ethan leads the Scouts in the final cleanup of the site.

Ethan Pannkuk, the Eagle Scout Candidate from Troop 210 in Carolina Beach, arrived yesterday with his fellow Boy Scouts and friends for two days of grueling work at the 1918 Fort Caswell Rifle Range. They quickly began the work he has been planning for many months. The two Caswell Dunes maintenance employees, Joe & Dee, and even Dee’s husband pitched in some to help.

Those from Friends of Fort Caswell Rifle Range watching them heave shovelful after shovelful of wet dirt over the wall were amazed at their energy. This work is something the Friends have been anticipating since Ethan began his proposal.

The Scouts left at the end of the day for a night at Fort Caswell. Did they imagine themselves as Doughboys from 1918, returning to the fort after a hard day of practice at the rifle range?

They returned bright and early today, Saturday, at 8:30am to resume the work. Read about Day 2.

Thank you, Ethan and friends!

 

Ethan, in blue, observing the work.

All hard at work with shovels.

Exposing the back wall for stabilization.

Progress. The remains of the targets can be seen on the floor of the target pit.

Ethan preparing dinner on the clubhouse deck.