‘This is American history’: Atlantic Beach properties receive national historical markers

ATLANTIC BEACH, SC (WMBF) - Three properties in the town of Atlantic Beach received new historical plaques on Friday.

The plaques mark their place in the town’s historical significance, which earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places earlier this year.

Two homes on Ocean Boulevard and the Woods Villas Motel were the first properties to receive the markers.

The entire town has been recognized as a historic district, and 72 properties have been recognized for making significant contributions to the town’s history.

“We still remain predominantly African American-owned, and we’re absolutely the only African American-governed municipality on the beachfront in the country, and so it became clear that documenting our history would be important,” says Denise Gibson-Bailey, who assisted the town’s Historical Committee as a volunteer as the committee submitted a proposal to the Register.

Gibson-Bailey also owns one of the homes on Ocean Boulevard that has received a plaque.

The properties and town were deemed historically significant because of their role in history as a vacation spot for African Americans during segregation.

Titus Leaks, who owns the Woods Villas motel, says he’s proud to see a building and business his grandfather built be recognized for its history.

“My grandparents they built this place, and they worked here in Atlantic Beach their whole life. This is where they built all of their businesses, and they made their money,” says Leaks. “To be able to have one of their buildings listed on the National Registry for Historical Places, it’s a great feeling, because it’s like I’m continuing something they started.”

Leaks’ grandfather, Lenon Evans, was a bricklayer and stonemason who built multiple buildings and ran several businesses around the town, including Gibson-Bailey’s historic home.

Gibson-Bailey told WMBF News she’s proud to see her town receive national recognition.

“The federal government is saying that the history of Atlantic Beach is important, an important part of American history,” she says. “That’s why we continue to emphasize and showcase what happened here, because this is American history.”

Leaks says he’s inspired by the recognition to continue his family’s legacy in Atlantic Beach.

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