DAVID A. STALLMAN – PRESERVING COASTAL HISTORY
David A. Stallman was researching, documenting, and preserving coastal North Carolina history long before the internet made information easy to find. His work was built on in-person interviews, handwritten records, newspaper archives, and firsthand accounts from the people who lived the stories. He believed history should be preserved
through the voices of the community, not just through dates and documents.
Through decades of careful research, David captured the heritage of Topsail Island, Wilmington, and the surrounding coastal region. His writing reflects a deep respect for local culture, military history, and the everyday lives that shaped these places. His most well-known book, Echoes of Topsail: Stories of the Island’s
Past, stands as a lasting tribute to the island’s people, traditions, and transformation over time.
Beyond coastal Carolina, David’s work spans military aviation history and small-town America. His tribute to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) at Camp Davis illuminates the courage of women who broke barriers during World War II. His documentation of Operation Bumblebee reveals how Topsail Island became the unlikely site of top-secret Cold War rocket testing. And in Holmesville, Ohio: Our Home Town, he turns his historian’s eye to his own roots, preserving the heritage of rural America.
His work continues to be used by historians, educators, residents, and visitors who want to understand the real story behind the shoreline.
A promise from all of us to you
David Stallman’s legacy is built on accuracy, respect, and preservation. Every book, story, and research project reflects a commitment to honoring history the right way.
To preserve local history with honesty and integrity
To tell stories using real voices and verified research
To keep coastal heritage alive for future generations
