Page "Holden Beach, North Carolina" Paragraph 5

Benjamin Holden in 1756 bought four mainland tracts and the island between his plantation and the ocean.

This island extended from Lockwood's Folly Inlet west six miles ( 10 km ) to Bacon Inlet.

Benjamin and his sons used the island for fishing and cattle grazing.

During the Civil War Holden Beach and Lockwood's Folley Inlet became the resting place of several shipwrecks: the Confederate blockade runners CSS Elizabeth and CSS Bendigo and the Union blockade ship USS Iron Age ( 1862 ).

The remains of the USS Iron Age can be seen on most eastern end of the island during the periods of low-tide.

It's wreck is marked with a orange navigation warning buoy and is located between Holden Beach and Oak Island.

While the vessel's wreck is roughly 200 feet long only the base of the engines exhaust funnel and a small portion of superstructure are visible above water.

The ship is easily reached during low tide by swimming but the wreck is extensively covered in abandoned fishing hooks and gear that may present potential hazards.