Oliver’s Grill was born on March 21, 1949 at 306 Howe Street. In attendance were Edward L. Oliver, the father, and Antoinette Oliver, the head nurse. On that day no one in Southport realized that a tradition had just been born that would live on in the memory of people from Ohio to Florida for several generations to come.
Just going in to Oliver’s Grill was an exciting experience- the oiled wooden floors that bore the aroma of grilled hamburgers, the pleasant odor of Budweiser spilled from the long-necker brown bottles that Ed always demanded from his suppliers and, of course, the all knowing wisdom of Ed Oliver himself who, as many old-time Southporters will attest, was certainly an authority on any subject that came up, made this a visit to be remembered and cherished.
More meetings of the Board of Alderman were held in Oliver’s Grill than were held in City Hall, and Ed Oliver, who was not even an alderman at that time had as much, or more, influence on the important issues of city government as did the mayor. After Ed closed the grill at about 5:30 or 6 p.m. each afternoon, the real business of the day would begin as Pierce Horne, Al Trunnell, Harold “Gumstump” Spencer, Bobby Jones, and various city officials gathered to reduce the inventory of long-necker bottles of Budweiser and decide what next needed to be done from city hall to the halls of Congress. Any time they were stumped they turned to Ed for advice.
Ed’s hamburgers gained fame far and wide. There was one banker who lived in Morehead City who made weekly trips to Southport to gorge himself on these famous sandwiches. There was one little Southport boy who demanded that he be taken to Oliver’s Grill every Saturday morning so he could have a hamburger with “collards” on it, meaning lettuce of course. And then Ed had one steady customer with four legs and an unlimited charge account. Every morning this canine customer would come to the grill’s back door and bark until Ed carried him a hamburger on a bun with tomato ketchup and mustard, but no lettuce on it. His master came by every week to pay the bill.
There was another customer who did odd jobs for Ed- washed the windows, swept and mopped, or cleaned up behind the grill. No matter what job he did, he always charged $1.69 which, incidentally, was the price Ed charged for this fellow’s favorite brand of wine. As soon as Ed paid him he would buy a bottle of the wine with the money he had just earned, and trot off happily toward Taylor Field.
Many yachtsmen, motoring down the Intracoastal Waterway, between New York and Florida, made regular stops in Southport to buy a bag of Ed’s hamburgers. But the strangest incident of all was the day a prominent Deacon Emeritus of the Baptist Church fell headfirst out of the front door of Oliver’s Grill and sprained his wrist- it took him awhile to live that down, but he always claimed that the ketchup on the hamburgers had fermented.
Oliver’s Grill lived the life of a grand old lady. She passed away on April 25, 1985 after 36 years of meritorious service “above and beyond” the call of duty. Everyone was saddened, but the pall-bearers dutifully gathered together in the empty grill to do their share of helping Ed eliminate the final inventory of long-neckers. The tombstone in the window attests that she died a virgin.
Originally published in the The Pelican Post June 1996 issue.
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by Mike Watson
Well, Rafe,
We are hear at the ocean finally. Someone axed me how we came to be here. I told him I toted the snow sled until a man wanted to no what it was and I decided the only ice he new anything about was what goed in tea so I decided it would be a good place to live. The water is salty an you can’t mix it with bourbon but feesh live good in it. The toied was so hoi last week the sharks got in me collard patch. I et an oyster but didn’t now how to peel him and he gave me the most amazing stomek ache. What they calls crabs here don’t look like they do at home. There bigger and you can eat them. The chickens are wild here. They are white and skinney. They are everywhere. They can swim. They taste like fish. The turkies are grey or white with long legs and eat fish. Some people live in houses in the water. They tried to plant a tater patch on a little hill next to the oean but a man came out and called me an ugly name and made me dig it up. They got coconut trees what ain’t got no coconuts on them.
Me and Ma went on a picknic yesterday but sat in a bad place. The ants are terrible. Little biddy devils but they are mean. Skeeters carried off one of the cats. You ought to see the lizzards here. One tried to git in the boat but mistook the dynamite I throed him for something to eat. We eat him.
I saw a topless girl on the beech yesterday. She had oil all over her. She had blue eyes and blonde hair that was long and curly. She looked at me stretched and yawned and giggled and batted her eyes and ran down to the water looking over her shoulder. Her Mama said, “Come and take your bottle, Samantha Lynn.”
A porky pine has left little eggs all in the backyard that stick you when you go out barefoot.
The road here ain’t sand but hard and there ain’t no land to plow so I’ll be send the John Deer home first passing.
Rite soon.
Bubba Junior
Originally published in The Pelican Post May 1996 issue.
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The Friends of the NC Maritime Museum at Southport are sponsoring a Family Pyrate Night at the Southport Community Center on Tuesday, July 21. Dress up like a pirate and enjoy the tales of children’s author, Marsha Tennant. The event will start at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Reservations are recommended. Call the museum at 457-003 or check out the website at www.friendsncmmsouthport.org.
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July 1 - 4, 2009
Arts, crafts, parade, 5K run, food, entertainment, children’s games, naturalization ceremony and more. See “Events & Activities” page for more information and link to the preliminary schedule. Check out the festival’s new website www.nc4thofjuly.com
Southport & Oak Island
Contact: Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce
4841 Long Beach Road, SE Southport, NC 28461
910-457-5578
Admission/Fees: Most events are free.
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Friday, July 4, 2009
9:05 pm
The largest choreographed fireworks display in the State explodes over Battleship NORTH CAROLINA. View from historic downtown Wilmington. The Battleship closes at 6pm for fireworks. For information: 910-251-5797 Ext. 2048.
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June 27, 2009 - 8:00 AM
5K Freedom Run/Walk & 1 mile Freedom Run/Walk. Shirt Pickup & Registration will take place on Friday, June 26th from 6pm-8pm & Saturday, June 27th from 6:15am-7:55am on race day.
Southport Waterfront Park Bay Street, Southport
910/457-5578
Admission/Fees: $20.00
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009
8:00 pm
Join us for the 9th annual Battleship Hootenanny, a concert of folk and pop favorites, on the Fantail under the stars. Auditorium if inclement weather. John Golden and friends head up a fine cast of local musical groups. Tickets are $10 (cash only) at the door (does not include a tour of the Ship). Fresh popcorn and sodas available for $1 each. Proceeds to benefit Friends of the Battleship. For information: 910-251-5797 Ext. 2045.
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June 20 - 21, 2009
Pier based Fishing Tournament. www.oakisland.piertournament.com
Ocean Crest Pier & Oak Island Pier
Contact: Oak Island Parks & Recreation Department
910/278-5518
Admission/Fees: Fee Charged
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Southport, NC
