My granddad, Noel D. Johnson (Poppa-D), moved to the Wilmington area in 1964. Driven by a love of nature
and wildlife, he began building purple martin houses as a hobby as far back as 1972. Starting with a
homemade design and refining over the years, the all aluminum and stainless steel construction has
proven to be very successful in attracting purple martins in the coastal areas of North Carolina.
As Poppa-D began to age, I began to tag along after school to help him put up new houses and cleanout
existing houses in the area. Soon I began to learn the details and skills necessary to build
houses along with my granddad. This continued throughout my Jr. High and High School years.
I would help out as needed, installing martin houses around the Wilmington area, and assembling
them back at his workshop. Poppa-D passed away in 1998 and I have continued to carry on the tradition,
handcrafting the best martin houses available.