Davis Shore is a community that lives, works and worships together throughtout the year and serves as a leader is carrying on traditions and community spirit to the next generation.
Davis Shore was shortened to Davis when the US Post Office was chartered. Many local people still refer to Davis as Davis Shore.
Davis was home to the most hunting and fishing guides at one time Down East. Their homes served as lodges during the season. Babe Ruth and other notable people hunted with Davis Shore guides.
There was a World War II US Army Camp located in Davis.
The Carteret Gun & Rod Club, now the Core Banks Club, was formerly located on Core Banks across Core Sound from Davis. It was built by people from Davis and staffed by people from Davis and Stacy. “The Clubhouse” is presently located in Davis. The large photograph located in the display shows North Carolina artist Bob Timberlake hunting with several Davis citizens and members of the Club.
Many well known decoy carvers lived in Davis, including Ammie Paul and Henry Murphy.
Davis Shore was also a crossroads community for Down East with several businesses. Today the Davis Shore Provision Company has been established, formerly Johnny Davis’ store.
Davis is also known as the home of the “Crab Pot Christmas Tree,” a folk art adaption of a working crabpot and a Christmas tree created by Down East native, Nicky Harvey.
Several vehicle ferries have operated out of Davis to access south Core Banks. Currently, there are two in business. Several Core Banks fishing camp businesses were run by the people of Davis. Presently Cape Lookout National Seashore runs the camps, formerly known as Alger Willis Fishing Camps.
James Styron’s Fish Company is the last remaining fish house on Davis. The second community harbor in Carteret County is located here.
*Davis Ridge and Davis Island*
Davis Ridge is a part of mainland Davis Shore and was home to an African-American family of Davises who were former slaves. They lived in their own community, built menhaden boats and had their own menhaden plant. Sutton Davis built his boat, the Shamrock (1899) a menhaden boat, on Davis Island. After the Storm of 1933, they moved to Beaufort where they became the first African-American menhaden captains in the county’s formerly vast menhaden fleet.
Dr. David Cecelski’s book, The Waterman’s Song, [for sale in the gift shop] documents slavery and post-slavery North Carolina, including the Davis Ridge Community.
Davis Island is located between Davis Ridge and Williston and Smyrna. Davis Island is home to a large private residence, caretaker’s home and several barns. The main house was built by the men of Davis Shore around 1920 and is patterned after a French Chateau. It once served as a private hunting club.
Davis Island was settled by Joseph and Mary Wicker in 1723. Joseph left the island to his daughter and her husband, William and Mary Wicker Davis, where they lived until they died. (William’s will was probated in 1756.) Davis Island is named after them.