Wednesday, August 20, 2008

1887

It is warm and beautiful this morning, and mostly sunny, with a few clouds passing by. A slight breeze is barely rustling the leaves and small branches outside my window. It must not have been so one hundred and twenty-one years ago. On this date in 1887 two schooners, the Cherybin and the A.J. Marine, both wrecked at Hatteras Inlet. Although no lives were lost then, thanks to the bravery of the Ocracoke life saving crew, over the years, especially before the station was established here in 1883, many seafarers died when their vessels fetched up on our beach in stormy weather. Most of the dead were buried in unmarked graves in the dunes near where their bodies washed ashore. It is a part of our maritime history that most tourists on the Outer Banks never think about. On your next visit to the beach take a moment to reflect on the many sailors who lost their lives here in gales and hurricanes, and whose bodies lie under the blowing sand. They are a significant part of our long seafaring heritage.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is "One Reason to NOT Move to Ocracoke." You can read it here.

3 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:19 AM

    Do you know if the Coast Guard ever opens their doors to visitors? I have regretted that I did not seek the CG in my earlier years. I would love to visit their location sometime. I have always had respect for that branch of the service. Thanks. Terrie @ Walkertown, NC

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  3. The old Coast Guard station on Ocracoke is now the island campus for the NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching. The CG presence here just includes some basic housing (and docking at the Center) for a small crew from the Hatteras Station. I do not know if other stations open their doors for visitors.

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