Currituck Beach Lighthouse, NC, photo courtesy lighthousefriends.com
Addie Tate, postmistress of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, didn’t know what to make of the letter that came that day in September, 1900. But she knew who could – her husband William. An employee of the U.S. Life Saving Service and future keeper of Currituck Lighthouse, Captain Tate read the letter addressed to “the man in charge of the surrounding territory, to learn whether there are any sand hills” from a man named Orville Wright. Mr. Wright said in the letter that he and his brother were looking for a place to test their gliders.
Captain Tate had recently read a magazine article about gliders and attempts to fly them, so he eagerly responded, giving the Wrights a detailed description of the area including sketches and weather conditions. According to Orville, Tate gave them such thorough information they decided Kitty Hawk was the right place to test their equipment.
The Wright brothers arrived in Kitty Hawk and stayed at the Tate home, where William and Addie learned about the flying machine the brothers planned to launch at nearby Kill Devil Hills. The brothers’ excitement was contagious, and the Tates offered to lend help any way they could to see the dream come true.
With prefabricated pieces from their Ohio shop, the Wrights assembled their first experimental glider in the Tates’ yard. An adjustment had to be made to the sateen wing coverings and new ones were sewn on Mrs. Tate’s sewing machine. In addition to helping the brothers with many experimental launches of the glider, William and Addie provided encouragement as well, even at the risk of ridicule from others in the community.
According to William, the mental attitude of local citizens toward the Wrights was that “they were a simple pair of harmless cranks wasting their time at a fool attempt to do something that was impossible.” The chief argument heard at local stores and the post office was that “God didn’t intend man to fly. If He did, He would have given him a set of wings on his shoulders.”
When William attempted to defend the Wright brothers, citing the fact that other things as wonderful had been accomplished, he was quickly told that he was “a darned sight crazier than the Wrights” for believing in them. William never gave up his enthusiasm for the project, though, enlisting the help of his cousin and co-workers from the Kill Devil Hills Life Saving Station.
Wright Brothers’ first flight
Then on December 17, 1903, Orville Wright accomplished the first flight of a heavier-than-air flying machine. William Tate became a confirmed aviation enthusiast himself, a member of the National Aeronautical Society and in 1920, made an inspection of lighthouses in an airplane flown by his aviator son-in-law.
The Wrights and the Tates remained close friends and in 1928, on the 25th anniversary of their first flight, a plaque to the Wright Brothers was unveiled in the Tates’ front yard on the spot where the glider was first assembled.
No doubt the Tates’ encouragement provided support to the Wrights when most people thought their idea ridiculous, impossible, and impractical. However, in addition to giving their support, the Tates also benefitted from being part of the experience, enjoying the success as well.
Everyone likes to be encouraged, yet how often do we give encouragement to others? Is it easier to be negative and think of reasons to fail or give a word of praise and cheer them on?
Here’s a good idea from the Bible: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 NIV
Thanks for a wonderful post, Marilyn, and a reminder to encourage one another, even when things seem impossible. Being a Carolina girl, I especially love history about that area. Glad the Wright brothers didn’t give up!
Hi Sandra, thanks for your comment. Encouragement is something we could all use a heavy dose of.
What an interesting story. We often forget how encouraging words can offer such hope in all walks of life. They help us to feel better, work harder, and do more than we normally would. Thanks for a good reminder to be more positive and encouraging to others.
I didn’t know much about the Wrights’ effort to fly. Just that they flew. Like the Tates, you never know when you may be touching history.
I am Bill Tate, age 85, an Alabamian now residing in Georgia. If I were a believer in reincarnation I could make myself quite a man! Not only myself, but my brother Tom, read about HIM! It is humorous to me that a fellow with my name aided the Wright brothers in man’s first flight. Bill Tate took one wing and Wilbur or Orville, I can’t remember now which, took the other wing and set the machine high on a sand dune for the flight. That is true. It is said that Tate also helped to repair the vessel the many times it crashed, and his wife resewed the plane’s fabric. Oh, what would the world do without us Tates? You couldn’t even have states! And sadly, no imitates, rotates or taters! How dull a world! Not to mention a world without planes! No,no….you can hold your applause till later.
Interesting take on ‘tates.’