Monday, December 02, 2013

Pony Cart

Sometimes visitors to Ocracoke wonder how residents got from place to place before WWII, when the first paved roads came to the island. The lanes and footpaths were often deep, soft sand. Usually islanders simply walked, although a few automobiles were brought to the village in the 1920s. As you might imagine, the cars frequently got bogged down. This photo below is of my Uncle Evans in a two-wheeled pony cart. This is the only type of horse drawn vehicle I've ever known to be used on Ocracoke.    













Pony carts were employed when freight was unloaded from incoming vessels, and whenever other heavy loads needed to be carried from one area of the village to another. Sometimes, as it appears in this photo, pony carts were used for recreation. It looks like Evans might be on his way to meet a young lady.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a 1921 letter written by a former slave, Harrison Williams, to Ocracoke native, Martha Ann Howard Wahab. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112113.htm.
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7 comments:

  1. Jackie Coleman - Author8:39 AM

    Would this be the same Uncle Evans made "famous" in 'Digging up Uncle Evans'? I asked for ... (and received!) ... that book for Christmas a few years back, and enjoyed it immensley :)

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    Replies
    1. Philip9:38 AM

      The one and the same Uncle Evans. If you enlarge the photo you can see that someone (I think it was my father) wrote "Evans Howard" on the picture.

      Thank you for the kind words.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous12:37 PM

    I noticed that Evans died in 1923. Can you tell what he died from?

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    Replies
    1. Philip1:11 PM

      Uncle Evans died of pneumonia. He was just 17 years old.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous5:14 PM

    Philip,

    I gave you that picture a few years ago. My mom wrote Evans Howard on that picture. She wrote on all of the pictures that she had.

    Juanita

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    Replies
    1. Philip8:04 PM

      Thank you, Juanita. I remember now, that the photo came from you.

      Delete
  4. Anonymous9:11 AM

    Passing at such a young age, I'm so sorry. The picture with the signature looks like a publicity still, I think it is an image to treasure, as it no doubts embodies the spirit of the young man on a day all was promising for young Mr. Uncle Evans.

    ReplyDelete

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