Ken McAlpine is a writer who lives in California. In the fall of 2004 he visited Ocracoke as he was traveling up the East Coast. Ken was collecting stories for his first book, Off Season, Discovering America on Winter's Shore. Chapter 8, "The World According to O'cockers," tells of his time on the island. If you haven't read it, I suggest you go to your local bookstore or your library and get a copy.
Ken has never forgotten the palpable sense of community he discovered on Ocracoke. In a recent on-line article he recounts his experience at an island Thanksgiving weekend concert a decade ago. You can read his article here: http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/commentary/west-is-eden/my-town-your-town-our-towns-community-lives-in-america.html.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter documents the day telephones came to the island. The article includes
images of Ocracoke's first telephone directory which lists a total of
63 subscribers. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Lazy Susan
Many of our readers know that Ocracoke is home to many talented musicians and a number of excellent artists, craftsmen & craftswomen. For years I have owned a beautiful Lazy Susan dining room table that I purchased from the estate of Sam Jones. Over the years the table's finish had deteriorated, leaving unsightly rings and other stains. Recently I contracted with island native, Clifton Garrish, to re-finish the table. Clifton is a very talented wood worker who builds cabinets and other fine furniture. In this photo you can see the beautiful job Clifton did.
In 2011 I mentioned Lazy Susan tables in my article about Sam Jones. I wrote, "In addition to his home, Sam had a state-of-the-art woodworking shop built on the estate. There he employed two of Norfolk’s best known furniture makers, Rosario Cicero and George Houmis, who constructed, among other items, impressive five-foot and six-foot diameter lazy-Susan tables of walnut and cherry." (I think my table is made of mahogany and pine.)
You can read more about Sam Jones here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012111.htm.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter documents the day telephones came to the island. The article includes images of Ocracoke's first telephone directory which lists a total of 63 subscribers. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm.
In 2011 I mentioned Lazy Susan tables in my article about Sam Jones. I wrote, "In addition to his home, Sam had a state-of-the-art woodworking shop built on the estate. There he employed two of Norfolk’s best known furniture makers, Rosario Cicero and George Houmis, who constructed, among other items, impressive five-foot and six-foot diameter lazy-Susan tables of walnut and cherry." (I think my table is made of mahogany and pine.)
You can read more about Sam Jones here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012111.htm.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter documents the day telephones came to the island. The article includes images of Ocracoke's first telephone directory which lists a total of 63 subscribers. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Not a Shipwreck
Over the centuries many interesting objects have washed up on the beaches of the Outer Banks: bunches of bananas, top hats, crates of shoes, thousands of bags of Doritos, vegetables, marijuana, messages in bottles, and ships -- brigs, sloops, schooners, yachts, even a decommissioned Naval vessel.
Shipwrecks have become part of the mystique of the Outer Banks. However, by the early years of the 20th century the era of grand wooden sailing vessels had come to an end. Since then the ravages of storms and high tides have carried away or buried the remnants of most shipwrecks.
Nevertheless, various objects continue to find their way to Ocracoke's beach. This heavy treated beam was probably part of a dock that was torn apart by a hurricane. Today it lies just south of the Lifeguard Beach. It is too heavy to put in the bed of a pickup truck, so it will probably remain with us until the next storm that washes over the island.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter documents the day telephones came to the island. The article includes images of Ocracoke's first telephone directory which lists a total of 63 subscribers. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm.
Shipwrecks have become part of the mystique of the Outer Banks. However, by the early years of the 20th century the era of grand wooden sailing vessels had come to an end. Since then the ravages of storms and high tides have carried away or buried the remnants of most shipwrecks.
Nevertheless, various objects continue to find their way to Ocracoke's beach. This heavy treated beam was probably part of a dock that was torn apart by a hurricane. Today it lies just south of the Lifeguard Beach. It is too heavy to put in the bed of a pickup truck, so it will probably remain with us until the next storm that washes over the island.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter documents the day telephones came to the island. The article includes images of Ocracoke's first telephone directory which lists a total of 63 subscribers. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Daffodils
"Polar Vortex," "Bitter Cold," "Snow," "Ice" -- the US, including the South, has had more than its share of winter weather this year. As our readers know, we even had 5 inches of snow on Ocracoke.
But signs of Spring are apparent on the island. I took this photo in my front yard Sunday afternoon:
Maybe where you live the ground is still covered with ice and snow. If so, start planning your Ocracoke vacation today! Most island businesses will be open in March, ready to help you enjoy springtime on the Outer Banks.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter documents the day telephones came to the island. The article includes images of Ocracoke's first telephone directory which lists a total of 63 subscribers. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm.
But signs of Spring are apparent on the island. I took this photo in my front yard Sunday afternoon:
Maybe where you live the ground is still covered with ice and snow. If so, start planning your Ocracoke vacation today! Most island businesses will be open in March, ready to help you enjoy springtime on the Outer Banks.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter documents the day telephones came to the island. The article includes images of Ocracoke's first telephone directory which lists a total of 63 subscribers. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm.
Monday, February 24, 2014
After the Storm
Late Friday afternoon a band of storm cells moved across the Outer Banks. After about 20 minutes of wind, thunder, and lightning the skies began to clear. The sun was low in the west. I stepped outside and snapped these two photos. They were taken about 15 minutes apart.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter documents the day telephones came to the island. The article includes images of Ocracoke's first telephone directory which lists a total of 63 subscribers. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter documents the day telephones came to the island. The article includes images of Ocracoke's first telephone directory which lists a total of 63 subscribers. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
WAVERLY
Two days ago we published our latest Ocracoke Newsletter. This month's article is about the day in 1956 when telephones came to Ocracoke. The article included images of Ocracoke's first telephone book. Here is the link again: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm.
In 1956 Ocracoke's "exchange name" was WAVERLY. Younger readers of this blog may not know that in the 1940s the Bell Telephone Company assigned every area an easy to remember word + a number. Ocracoke's exchange thus became WAVERLY 8. To dial a number it was necessary to dial the first two letters of the exchange + the single digit...then the subscriber's unique four digit number.
Beginning in 1958, in response to the growing number of telephones in the US, the exchange name system was gradually changed to "all number calling." WAVERLY 8 thus became 928, the exchange that is still in use today.
If you look again at the telephone numbers in the 1956 Ocracoke directory you will notice that every four digit sequence begins with a 3 and ends with 1. In order to be a "walking local telephone directory" it was only necessary to remember the middle two digits of all 63 numbers. And to call locally it wasn't even necessary to include the WA (or 92). Dialling 8-3431, for example, was sufficient to call Jake Alligood.
In addition, even as late as the early 1980s, every Ocracoke number was essentially part of a modified party line system. Our family used this information for practical purposes. Dialing a local number as listed in the directory resulted in a series of discreet single rings; dialing a 2 for the last digit created a distinctive "double ring"; a 3 resulted in a "triple ring," and so forth. Our son's friends learned to dial a final 2 to let us know the call was for him; a final 3 meant the call was for our daughter.
Today island telephone numbers include any combination of the final four digits, and there are no longer distinctive rings. In addition, cell phones using various carriers have created a bewildering variety of ten digit number combinations...and caller ID displays have almost replaced the old-time art of remembering telephone numbers.
Again, our latest Ocracoke Newsletter documents the day telephones came to the island. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm
In 1956 Ocracoke's "exchange name" was WAVERLY. Younger readers of this blog may not know that in the 1940s the Bell Telephone Company assigned every area an easy to remember word + a number. Ocracoke's exchange thus became WAVERLY 8. To dial a number it was necessary to dial the first two letters of the exchange + the single digit...then the subscriber's unique four digit number.
Beginning in 1958, in response to the growing number of telephones in the US, the exchange name system was gradually changed to "all number calling." WAVERLY 8 thus became 928, the exchange that is still in use today.
If you look again at the telephone numbers in the 1956 Ocracoke directory you will notice that every four digit sequence begins with a 3 and ends with 1. In order to be a "walking local telephone directory" it was only necessary to remember the middle two digits of all 63 numbers. And to call locally it wasn't even necessary to include the WA (or 92). Dialling 8-3431, for example, was sufficient to call Jake Alligood.
In addition, even as late as the early 1980s, every Ocracoke number was essentially part of a modified party line system. Our family used this information for practical purposes. Dialing a local number as listed in the directory resulted in a series of discreet single rings; dialing a 2 for the last digit created a distinctive "double ring"; a 3 resulted in a "triple ring," and so forth. Our son's friends learned to dial a final 2 to let us know the call was for him; a final 3 meant the call was for our daughter.
Today island telephone numbers include any combination of the final four digits, and there are no longer distinctive rings. In addition, cell phones using various carriers have created a bewildering variety of ten digit number combinations...and caller ID displays have almost replaced the old-time art of remembering telephone numbers.
Again, our latest Ocracoke Newsletter documents the day telephones came to the island. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Teenagers & Knives
A reader commented on our post for Thursday...a reader who has been following this blog for more than five years. The anonymous commenter referred to a classic Ocracoke Journal post, "Teenagers & Knives" which was published in August, 2008.
Every once in a while, even five years later, neighbors, friends and/or family will mention that blog...and the two dozen comments it generated. The comments always bring chuckles.
If you missed that post, here is the link: http://villagecraftsmen.blogspot.com/2008/08/teenagers-knives.html#comment-form. Enjoy.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter documents the day telephones came to the island. The article includes images of Ocracoke's first telephone directory which lists a total of 63 subscribers. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm.
Every once in a while, even five years later, neighbors, friends and/or family will mention that blog...and the two dozen comments it generated. The comments always bring chuckles.
If you missed that post, here is the link: http://villagecraftsmen.blogspot.com/2008/08/teenagers-knives.html#comment-form. Enjoy.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter documents the day telephones came to the island. The article includes images of Ocracoke's first telephone directory which lists a total of 63 subscribers. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm.
Friday, February 21, 2014
The Telephone
Telephones came to Ocracoke in 1956. On the first day of telephone service islanders made more than 1,700 calls!
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter documents that historic day, and includes images of Ocracoke's first telephone directory which lists a total of 63 subscribers. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter documents that historic day, and includes images of Ocracoke's first telephone directory which lists a total of 63 subscribers. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news022114.htm.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Laughter -- The Best Medicine
This is a photo of my Uncle Marvin clowning around one evening with a makeshift wig and a twig mustache. He loved a good laugh. One afternoon, after his wife left the house to walk down the sandy lane to attend a Ladies Missionary Society Meeting at the Methodist Church Marvin went right to her closet. In a few minutes he had donned one of her dresses, positioned a fancy Sunday hat on his head, and draped an old purse over his arm. To everyone’s delight, Marvin joined the other ladies at their meeting, and even stayed for refreshments.
To this day Ocockers tell stories about the old-timers and their great sense of humor -- Monk Garrish, Danny Garrish, Lum Gaskill, Oscar Burrus, Wallace Spencer, Oscar Jackson, Lawton Howard...and many more.
And the tradition continues. Just spend a little time with David, Earl & Robbie, who work at the Water Plant...and you will know what I mean!
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Pine Cones
In 2006 & 2010 I wrote about the Fibonacci Sequence. This mathematical sequence is quite dramatic in seashells, but it is also evident in the structure of pine cones. When I walk the Hammock Hills Nature Trail I pass numerous pine cones lying along the path, and I always think of this fascinating sequence. You can see it in the spiral pattern in the photo below.
To read the other two blog posts, and learn more about Fibonacci and his sequence, just click on this link: http://villagecraftsmen.blogspot.com/search?q=Fibonacci.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
To read the other two blog posts, and learn more about Fibonacci and his sequence, just click on this link: http://villagecraftsmen.blogspot.com/search?q=Fibonacci.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
The State, 1942
"Look at your map of the state and you'll observe the
location of Ocracoke, a long, narrow strip of sandy land, timbered in some
places, with Hatteras at its northern end and Portsmouth to the south. It is
separated from each of these places by narrow inlets. Ocracoke! To our way of
thinking, it is one of the romantic places in North Carolina. It was here, in
Silver Lake, that the pirate Teache was captured
by Lieutenant Maynard of the British navy. The
story is that while waiting for daylight to come, in order that be could get
out of the harbor, Teache kept beseeching, 'Oh, crow, cock! Oh, crow, cock!' And that's how the place got its
name. But the cock didn't crow. Maynard appeared
on the scene. Teache was captured, beheaded, and
his head placed at the end of the bowsprit. In this fashion the Lieutenant
sailed his craft up to Bath. The story goes that after being beheaded, Teache's body was thrown overboard and it swam around
the boat three times before it finally disappeared from view. We don't believe,
however, that this could have been possible, unless somebody had rigged an
outboard motor on him. Come to think of it, they didn't have outboard motors in
those days, so you can just forget that part of the story."-- from The State magazine, April 11, 1942.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Hospital
Our August, 2011 Ocracoke Newsletter, a 1991 article by Dr. Martin Rozear, recounts the history of the mid-19th century marine hospital on Portsmouth Island: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news082111.htm.
Although the hospital did not open until 1847, the government signed a contract in 1828 with Dr. John W. Potts to establish the hospital.
"A small house has been rented and occupied for the purpose at $30 to $40 per year. The house stands about two feet above the level of the ocean and not too far from its margin, upon the Portsmouth Banks and on the naked sands, without the benefit of shade. The house itself is 16 to 18 feet by 20 or 22 feet in size, without plastering or as I believe glass windows. About six cots, a pine table or two and a few benches or chairs, and the furniture of the hospital has been described. There being no cistern to contain fresh water, the water used is gotten out of a hole about a foot depth in the sand..."
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
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| Front View of Hospital |
Although the hospital did not open until 1847, the government signed a contract in 1828 with Dr. John W. Potts to establish the hospital.
Potts rented a small house on Portsmouth which Joseph B. Hurtow described in a letter to the Collector of
Customs, Ocracoke District, February 24, 1831. The Cape Lookout National Seashore, which manages Portsmouth village,
has published on its website the account below of Dr. Potts' first "hospital."
The National Park Service states that "Hurtow likely exaggerated the conditions at this first hospital, as he proposed to personally take over the hospital contract and move the location ho his home in Ocracoke village. Collector Joshua Taylor wrote to the Secretary of the treasury on March 14, 1831, saying that the hospital was well situated and consisted of three rooms upstairs and two rooms downstairs"
The National Park Service states that "Hurtow likely exaggerated the conditions at this first hospital, as he proposed to personally take over the hospital contract and move the location ho his home in Ocracoke village. Collector Joshua Taylor wrote to the Secretary of the treasury on March 14, 1831, saying that the hospital was well situated and consisted of three rooms upstairs and two rooms downstairs"
Nevertheless, careful reading of this brief passage provides a rare peek into life on Portsmouth Island almost 200 years ago.
"A small house has been rented and occupied for the purpose at $30 to $40 per year. The house stands about two feet above the level of the ocean and not too far from its margin, upon the Portsmouth Banks and on the naked sands, without the benefit of shade. The house itself is 16 to 18 feet by 20 or 22 feet in size, without plastering or as I believe glass windows. About six cots, a pine table or two and a few benches or chairs, and the furniture of the hospital has been described. There being no cistern to contain fresh water, the water used is gotten out of a hole about a foot depth in the sand..."
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Letter from Portsmouth
The following letter was written June 14, 1861 from Portsmouth Island by Sgt. John Wheeler (CSA):
"...Having finished dinner I shall continue my letter. We had crabs, bluefish, spots, and mullets besides ham for dinner. Our table was made of plank unplaned set on legs of unhewn timber. Our utensils of tin made up our soldierly table quipments. But Oh! the water such stuff I never attempted to drink! Out of our tin drinking cups we strain it through our lips. Our cake today we saved for hard times which we expect at most any time. Out company is of good cheer and their only solicitude is sympathy with the feelings of those at home. We are very well situated. Better by far than we expected. Portsmouth has about 500 inhabitants. Joshua Taylor [Collector of Customs] is dead and his family removed. All this region is called Ocracoke. Most of the troops are on this; the fort is on Beacon Island. We are ready.
"Goodbye, Your son John"
Sgt. Wheeler (1841-1861) died July 7, 1861 of typhoid fever.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
"...Having finished dinner I shall continue my letter. We had crabs, bluefish, spots, and mullets besides ham for dinner. Our table was made of plank unplaned set on legs of unhewn timber. Our utensils of tin made up our soldierly table quipments. But Oh! the water such stuff I never attempted to drink! Out of our tin drinking cups we strain it through our lips. Our cake today we saved for hard times which we expect at most any time. Out company is of good cheer and their only solicitude is sympathy with the feelings of those at home. We are very well situated. Better by far than we expected. Portsmouth has about 500 inhabitants. Joshua Taylor [Collector of Customs] is dead and his family removed. All this region is called Ocracoke. Most of the troops are on this; the fort is on Beacon Island. We are ready.
"Goodbye, Your son John"
Sgt. Wheeler (1841-1861) died July 7, 1861 of typhoid fever.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Law Comes to Ocracoke
I thought our readers would enjoy this glimpse into Ocracoke Island history, from The Coastland Times, January 2, 1953:
"...For a period of 30 years Ocracoke has been known as the one
place in North Carolina without any form of law. It received much publicity due
to the fact that it did not have a jail, any law enforcement officers, and
there are no license plates on the cars and no licenses for driving. The fact
that the problems of civilization were slowly encroaching this island of legend
became evident in 1950 following the construction of Scott's Highway [NC Highway 12]. The
citizens were faced with the problems of speeders along the narrow highway
which had been called the road which 'started from nowhere and ended at
the same place.' In order to check the speeders and the Saturday night
celebraters, Ansley O'Neal was appointed Deputy Sheriff. Additional problems
appeared when it was discovered that following an arrest the defendant and all
witnesses were forced to travel through four counties to get to Swan Quarter,
the county seat of Hyde County. This trip, due to the boat and bus schedule,
requires a period of four days. As the result, the deputy sheriff didn't have
too much business. In order to offer a solution to the problem, Harvey Wahab, a
retired Coast Guardsman, was appointed Justice of the Peace...."
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count.
You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Arrowheads
Every now and then someone finds evidence of Native American presence on Ocracoke. This 2 1/2" X 1 1/2" flint arrowhead was discovered in 1993.
In 2007 a neighbor found this Clovis Point on the edge of the surf.
I found this quartz arrowhead in January, 2013:
At this time we have no evidence of any permanent or semi-permanent Indian villages on Ocracoke Island. Coastal Indians seem to have made only brief visits to the island to fish, gather clams & oysters, and collect other seafood.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
In 2007 a neighbor found this Clovis Point on the edge of the surf.
I found this quartz arrowhead in January, 2013:
At this time we have no evidence of any permanent or semi-permanent Indian villages on Ocracoke Island. Coastal Indians seem to have made only brief visits to the island to fish, gather clams & oysters, and collect other seafood.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
A Tale of Blackbeard
Latest news from Ocracoke Alive!
The audition parts from A Tale of Blackbeard script have been posted on the home page of Ocracoke Alive at http://www.ocracokealive.org.
The auditions are from 3-5 PM on Saturday, Feb 22 at the Ocracoke Community Center. Directors Desiree Ricker and Charles Temple are requesting that everyone arrive at 3 PM for group movement and singing.
The cast is listed below. We are also looking for other volunteers in addition to the performers. Please contact Ocracoke Alive at info@ocracokealive.org if you have any questions.
CAST:
BLACKBEARD – Captain of the Adventure
WILLIAM HOWARD – Blackbeard’s quartermaster
EZEKIEL JONES – ship’s cook
RICHARD EVANS – a young pirate
HELMSMAN
SAILORS – three or four required
CABIN BOY
OLIVER FARTHINGHAM – watchman of Ocracoke village
VICTORIA FARTHINGHAM – Oliver’s wife
ELIZABETH FARTHINGHAM – Oliver’s older daughter
KATHERINE FARTHINGHAM – Oliver’s younger daughter
MISS EUPHEMIA – Ocracoke boardinghouse proprietress
MARJORIE O’NEAL – boardinghouse cook
RACHEL, ABBY, SUZANNAH, ELLEN - boardinghouse girls
SCULLERY MAID
N.B. Additional VILLAGE GIRLS (non-speaking roles) may be cast; likewise, the number of SAILORS may be increased.
If you can't be in the performance, we'll be looking for you in the audience this spring and summer!
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
The audition parts from A Tale of Blackbeard script have been posted on the home page of Ocracoke Alive at http://www.ocracokealive.org.
The auditions are from 3-5 PM on Saturday, Feb 22 at the Ocracoke Community Center. Directors Desiree Ricker and Charles Temple are requesting that everyone arrive at 3 PM for group movement and singing.
The cast is listed below. We are also looking for other volunteers in addition to the performers. Please contact Ocracoke Alive at info@ocracokealive.org if you have any questions.
CAST:
BLACKBEARD – Captain of the Adventure
WILLIAM HOWARD – Blackbeard’s quartermaster
EZEKIEL JONES – ship’s cook
RICHARD EVANS – a young pirate
HELMSMAN
SAILORS – three or four required
CABIN BOY
OLIVER FARTHINGHAM – watchman of Ocracoke village
VICTORIA FARTHINGHAM – Oliver’s wife
ELIZABETH FARTHINGHAM – Oliver’s older daughter
KATHERINE FARTHINGHAM – Oliver’s younger daughter
MISS EUPHEMIA – Ocracoke boardinghouse proprietress
MARJORIE O’NEAL – boardinghouse cook
RACHEL, ABBY, SUZANNAH, ELLEN - boardinghouse girls
SCULLERY MAID
N.B. Additional VILLAGE GIRLS (non-speaking roles) may be cast; likewise, the number of SAILORS may be increased.
If you can't be in the performance, we'll be looking for you in the audience this spring and summer!
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Aliph, Connie, & Philip
I know I have published this photo before, but since it is one of my favorites, I am sharing it again.
I was about six years old, sitting with my mother on my grandmama Aliph's porch. Notice how close to the ground the house sits. My father told me the sea tide washed through the downstairs windows during the great September storm of 1933. But the house still stands (now raised several feet!).
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
I was about six years old, sitting with my mother on my grandmama Aliph's porch. Notice how close to the ground the house sits. My father told me the sea tide washed through the downstairs windows during the great September storm of 1933. But the house still stands (now raised several feet!).
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Snow at Hatteras Inlet
Two more snow photos (thanks to David Tweedie), taken as he was stranded on Hatteras earlier today. The ferries were not running because the snowstorm has reduced visibility.
More Snow
Here we go again! More snow...even on Ocracoke. This is the second snowfall for us this season.
I haven't been able to get out and take photos, so I borrowed this one from the Ocracoke Preservation Society. Many more pictures of the island under a covering of snow are available on various Facebook pages.
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| Courtesy, Ocracoke Preservation Society |
I haven't been able to get out and take photos, so I borrowed this one from the Ocracoke Preservation Society. Many more pictures of the island under a covering of snow are available on various Facebook pages.
Eliza & Job Wahab
Eliza Bradley Howard Wahab (1808-1870) and her husband Job Wahab (1802-1860) had 15 children. Several of their children died young; many of the others eventually moved to the mainland. Eliza, Job, and several of their children are buried in the large George Howard cemetery near the British Cemetery.
I know many of our readers have seen Eliza & Job's tombstones which are close to the paved road, near their three sons, Jonathan, Job, & Warren. Now, thanks to the photographs above, perhaps you will have a mental image the next time you visit their cemetery.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
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| Eliza Bradley Howard Wahab |
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| Job Wahab |
I know many of our readers have seen Eliza & Job's tombstones which are close to the paved road, near their three sons, Jonathan, Job, & Warren. Now, thanks to the photographs above, perhaps you will have a mental image the next time you visit their cemetery.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Monday, February 10, 2014
The Spanish Casino
Today's post takes us back more than three quarters of a century for a glimpse into island life just prior to WWII.
In 1935 Stanley Wahab built an inexpensive replica of a Spanish style building on the island, near where the Back Porch Restaurant sits today. Made of plywood strewn with gravel while the earth-colored paint was still wet, the 400 square foot Spanish Casino mimicked an adobe hacienda. The flat roofed structure had extended and crenelated exterior walls with gently curving main sections. Windows were topped with decorative trim, and crosses within circles painted near the roof line suggested a southwestern theme. An open porch on the ocean-facing side was supported by peeled cedar posts, adding to the Spanish motif.
The interior was one large room with a raised platform on the western wall to accommodate a piano and musicians. Benches were placed along the walls, leaving a sizable dance floor in the middle. Island natives, Edgar and Walter Howard, brothers who had moved to New York City to play vaudeville in the 1920s and 1930s, came home periodically to entertain their fellow islanders. The popular music of the day included cowboy and western songs and ballads. Once in a while Edgar's banjo and Walter's guitar accompanied nationally popular entertainers who followed the Howard brothers to Ocracoke. At times, other island musicians played at the Spanish Casino. When live music was unavailable a jukebox served nightly to provide tunes for round dances, jitterbug, and traditional island square dances.
Although the Spanish Casino is long gone music continues to be an important part of twenty-first century island life.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
In 1935 Stanley Wahab built an inexpensive replica of a Spanish style building on the island, near where the Back Porch Restaurant sits today. Made of plywood strewn with gravel while the earth-colored paint was still wet, the 400 square foot Spanish Casino mimicked an adobe hacienda. The flat roofed structure had extended and crenelated exterior walls with gently curving main sections. Windows were topped with decorative trim, and crosses within circles painted near the roof line suggested a southwestern theme. An open porch on the ocean-facing side was supported by peeled cedar posts, adding to the Spanish motif.
The interior was one large room with a raised platform on the western wall to accommodate a piano and musicians. Benches were placed along the walls, leaving a sizable dance floor in the middle. Island natives, Edgar and Walter Howard, brothers who had moved to New York City to play vaudeville in the 1920s and 1930s, came home periodically to entertain their fellow islanders. The popular music of the day included cowboy and western songs and ballads. Once in a while Edgar's banjo and Walter's guitar accompanied nationally popular entertainers who followed the Howard brothers to Ocracoke. At times, other island musicians played at the Spanish Casino. When live music was unavailable a jukebox served nightly to provide tunes for round dances, jitterbug, and traditional island square dances.
Although the Spanish Casino is long gone music continues to be an important part of twenty-first century island life.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Sunday, February 09, 2014
Three Island Women Remembered
In July of 2010 I published a post about the Captain William & Eliza Thomas house, an iconic two story, cross gable house on the south side of Silver Lake Harbor.
Capt. Thomas died in 1930. Eliza Thomas died in 1946. The following year Ms. Susan Barksdale purchased the property. Susan, a painter and professor of art at the University of North Carolina, began visiting Ocracoke before WWII. After she bought the Thomas house she began spending summers on the island with family and friends. Susan Barksdale appreciated island culture and traditions, and made many friends on the island. Susan died January 22 at the age of 96. You can read her obituary here.
Two days after Susan Barksdale died, Ocracoke resident Eugenia "Jean" Fletcher died. Long time visitors to Ocracoke may remember Jean. For seven years she operated Eugenia's Bed and Breakfast. Jean's obituary is available here.
On January 10 [2013] Rosemary Wetherill, a spunky island resident with a touch of gutsy irreverence, also died. Rosemary was an active participant in Ocracoke community life. She volunteered regularly at the Preservation Museum and the Ocracoke Library, and was a major contributor to the Ocracoke Needle and Thread Club. You can read Rosemary's obituary here.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
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| Photo by Lou Ann Homan |
Capt. Thomas died in 1930. Eliza Thomas died in 1946. The following year Ms. Susan Barksdale purchased the property. Susan, a painter and professor of art at the University of North Carolina, began visiting Ocracoke before WWII. After she bought the Thomas house she began spending summers on the island with family and friends. Susan Barksdale appreciated island culture and traditions, and made many friends on the island. Susan died January 22 at the age of 96. You can read her obituary here.
Two days after Susan Barksdale died, Ocracoke resident Eugenia "Jean" Fletcher died. Long time visitors to Ocracoke may remember Jean. For seven years she operated Eugenia's Bed and Breakfast. Jean's obituary is available here.
On January 10 [2013] Rosemary Wetherill, a spunky island resident with a touch of gutsy irreverence, also died. Rosemary was an active participant in Ocracoke community life. She volunteered regularly at the Preservation Museum and the Ocracoke Library, and was a major contributor to the Ocracoke Needle and Thread Club. You can read Rosemary's obituary here.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Saturday, February 08, 2014
A Tale of Blackbeard
Twice yesterday (in the afternoon & in the evening) various islanders gathered at Deepwater Theater to view video screenings of the 1987 & 1991 productions of the musical, A Tale of Blackbeard. Written by Julia Howard in 1974, and performed on the island nine seasons between then and 1994, this engaging and entertaining story of adventure, machination, and love combines spirited dialog with lively musical numbers guaranteed to have you whistling the tunes for weeks.
Ocracoke Alive, our island non-profit organization dedicated to sponsoring cultural, artistic, educational and environmental activities is working on bringing back Julie Howard's A Tale of Blackbeard Musical. They would love your involvement. Auditions for the cast will be on Saturday, February 22 from 3-5 PM at the Ocracoke Community Center. Stay tuned to Ocracoke Alive for script audition pieces and details. Contact info@ocracokealive.org or call 252-921-0260 if you have questions.
The Ocracoke Current has published an informative article about the musical here: http://www.ocracokecurrent.com/81560.
Please leave a comment if you remember attending a performance those many years ago!
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
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| 1987 Photo Courtesy of Amy Howard |
Ocracoke Alive, our island non-profit organization dedicated to sponsoring cultural, artistic, educational and environmental activities is working on bringing back Julie Howard's A Tale of Blackbeard Musical. They would love your involvement. Auditions for the cast will be on Saturday, February 22 from 3-5 PM at the Ocracoke Community Center. Stay tuned to Ocracoke Alive for script audition pieces and details. Contact info@ocracokealive.org or call 252-921-0260 if you have questions.
The Ocracoke Current has published an informative article about the musical here: http://www.ocracokecurrent.com/81560.
Please leave a comment if you remember attending a performance those many years ago!
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Friday, February 07, 2014
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse
The following paragraph is from the history page of HatterasGuide.com:
"In 1773 a teenager named Alexander Hamilton was a passenger on a ship that nearly sank off Cape Hatteras, and he experienced first hand the danger of the cape’s dreaded Diamond Shoals. Seventeen years later, when Hamilton was the second-ranking member of George Washington’s cabinet, he still heard terrifying tales of shipwrecks at Cape Hatteras. In 1789 Hamilton, who is reputedly the one who coined the moniker “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” urged Congress to investigate the possibility of establishing a lighthouse on the Hatteras Sand Banks. The lighthouse wasn’t authorized until 1794, and it wasn’t constructed until 1802. Mariners were not impressed with the lighthouse, which they said was not sufficiently bright or reliable."
In 1868 Congress appropriated funds to construct a new lighthouse at Cape Hatteras. The new beacon, with the iconic black & white spiral design, was first lighted in 1871.
In 1872 the original lighthouse was demolished.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
"In 1773 a teenager named Alexander Hamilton was a passenger on a ship that nearly sank off Cape Hatteras, and he experienced first hand the danger of the cape’s dreaded Diamond Shoals. Seventeen years later, when Hamilton was the second-ranking member of George Washington’s cabinet, he still heard terrifying tales of shipwrecks at Cape Hatteras. In 1789 Hamilton, who is reputedly the one who coined the moniker “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” urged Congress to investigate the possibility of establishing a lighthouse on the Hatteras Sand Banks. The lighthouse wasn’t authorized until 1794, and it wasn’t constructed until 1802. Mariners were not impressed with the lighthouse, which they said was not sufficiently bright or reliable."
In 1868 Congress appropriated funds to construct a new lighthouse at Cape Hatteras. The new beacon, with the iconic black & white spiral design, was first lighted in 1871.
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| Image by Henry Hartley |
In 1872 the original lighthouse was demolished.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Thursday, February 06, 2014
James & Zilphia
On Sunday morning (Jan. 26, 2014) I published a photo of my great-grandfather on our Village Craftsmen Facebook page. Capt. James W. Howard was the first keeper of the Cedar Hammock Life Saving Station. The station was located on the north end of Ocracoke Island, at Hatteras Inlet. He served from 1883-1903. This is a picture of Capt. Jim and his wife, Zilphia, taken about 1895. Zilphia bore twelve children, eight of whom died in infancy.
One of the most dramatic shipwrecks on Ocracoke, occurred on Christmas Eve, 1899. You can read the story of the wreck of the British steamship, Ariosto, here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news122007.htm.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
One of the most dramatic shipwrecks on Ocracoke, occurred on Christmas Eve, 1899. You can read the story of the wreck of the British steamship, Ariosto, here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news122007.htm.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Wednesday, February 05, 2014
Cross
Yesterday I posted information about the sinking of the Caribsea in 1942. Here is a photo of the cross which stands on the altar of the Ocracoke United Methodist Church.
This wooden cross was fashioned by my grandfather, Homer Howard, from wreckage of the Caribsea.
You can read a history of the Ocracoke United Methodist Church here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102603.htm.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
This wooden cross was fashioned by my grandfather, Homer Howard, from wreckage of the Caribsea.
You can read a history of the Ocracoke United Methodist Church here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news102603.htm.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Tuesday, February 04, 2014
Caribsea
On March 11, 1942 the steam powered freighter, Caribsea, was struck by two torpedoes from a German U-boat off the coast of North Carolina. Ocracoke Native James Baughm Gaskill, one of the crew members, was killed in the attack. The ship's nameplate now hangs in the NPS Visitors Center.
From Village Craftsmen's History of the Ocracoke United Methodist Church:
"A hand-made wooden cross rests on the altar in the sanctuary of Ocracoke's united church building. The cross was constructed by Homer Howard, and painted gold by his wife, Aliph. The cross was made out of salvage from the ship on which island native, James Baughm Gaskill, served and lost his life. Jim Baughm's ship, the "Caribsea," was torpedoed and sunk offshore by a German U-boat on March 11, 1942, little more than a year before the new church was dedicated. Shortly after the sinking, Christopher Farrow, James Baughm's cousin, found his framed license cast up on the ocean beach. Later, the ship's nameplate and other debris washed up at his family's dock, at the old Pamlico Inn. The cross stands today as a memorial to James Baughm Gaskill, 3rd mate in the USS Maritime service."
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
From Village Craftsmen's History of the Ocracoke United Methodist Church:
"A hand-made wooden cross rests on the altar in the sanctuary of Ocracoke's united church building. The cross was constructed by Homer Howard, and painted gold by his wife, Aliph. The cross was made out of salvage from the ship on which island native, James Baughm Gaskill, served and lost his life. Jim Baughm's ship, the "Caribsea," was torpedoed and sunk offshore by a German U-boat on March 11, 1942, little more than a year before the new church was dedicated. Shortly after the sinking, Christopher Farrow, James Baughm's cousin, found his framed license cast up on the ocean beach. Later, the ship's nameplate and other debris washed up at his family's dock, at the old Pamlico Inn. The cross stands today as a memorial to James Baughm Gaskill, 3rd mate in the USS Maritime service."
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Monday, February 03, 2014
The Anna R. Heidritter
In May of 1942 one of the last great coastal schooners, the four masted Anna R. Heidritter, wrecked on Ocracoke beach. Captain Bennett Coleman was the youngest of the eight crewmen. He was 63 years old!
You can read more about the Heidritter here: http://northcarolinashipwrecks.blogspot.com/2012/05/schooner-anna-r-heidritter-3-march-1942.html.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
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| The Anna R. Heidritter in the Breakers at Ocracoke |
You can read more about the Heidritter here: http://northcarolinashipwrecks.blogspot.com/2012/05/schooner-anna-r-heidritter-3-march-1942.html.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Sunday, February 02, 2014
The Gulf Stream
Ben Dixon MacNeill, in his 1958 book The Hatterasman, remarks that the volume of the Gulf Stream (he calls it "the Great River"), "is equal to that of 1,000 Mississippi Rivers."
I know the Gulf Stream is a colossal body of moving water that originates at the southern tip of Florida and flows along the eastern seaboard. The Gulf Stream influences our weather here on the Outer Banks, not only regarding storms and hurricanes, but more generally. The warm waters of this "Great River" help moderate Ocracoke's temperatures. And they provide great off-shore fishing!
I wasn't sure how accurate MacNeill's assessment of the size of the Gulf Stream was, so I did a bit of research. According to The Gulf Stream as a Graded River by R.M. Prall of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts (http://aslo.org/lo/toc/vol_11/issue_1/0060.pdf), "The gulf Stream carries a volume of water north through the Straits of Florida that is more than 70 times the combined flow of all the land rivers of the world"
I can't comprehend such large numbers (1,000 Mississippi Rivers, or 70 times the combined flow of all the land rivers), but I know it is huge...and totally awesome. What a remarkable planet we inhabit!
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
I know the Gulf Stream is a colossal body of moving water that originates at the southern tip of Florida and flows along the eastern seaboard. The Gulf Stream influences our weather here on the Outer Banks, not only regarding storms and hurricanes, but more generally. The warm waters of this "Great River" help moderate Ocracoke's temperatures. And they provide great off-shore fishing!
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| The Blue Waters of the Gulf Stream |
I wasn't sure how accurate MacNeill's assessment of the size of the Gulf Stream was, so I did a bit of research. According to The Gulf Stream as a Graded River by R.M. Prall of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts (http://aslo.org/lo/toc/vol_11/issue_1/0060.pdf), "The gulf Stream carries a volume of water north through the Straits of Florida that is more than 70 times the combined flow of all the land rivers of the world"
I can't comprehend such large numbers (1,000 Mississippi Rivers, or 70 times the combined flow of all the land rivers), but I know it is huge...and totally awesome. What a remarkable planet we inhabit!
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
Saturday, February 01, 2014
Slavery
In September, 2011 our monthly Ocracoke Newsletter related the story of Slavery on Ocracoke.
The article points out that "[a]s on other islands of the Outer Banks and in coastal areas of the mainland, the institution of slavery on Ocracoke Island was somewhat different from slavery on large southern plantations."
David Cecelski writes authoritatively about this theme in his 2001 book The Waterman's Song, Slavery and Freedom in Maritime North Carolina. Cecelski's book is divided into two major sections, "Working on the Water" and "The Struggle for Freedom."
In his second section the author writes, "Coastal ports like Bath, Ocracoke, and even New Bern may have outwardly resembled backwater outposts on minor trade routes, but a tour of those harbor districts would have belied any notion of provincialism. There a visitor would have met black sailors from many nations, swapping the latest scuttlebutt from Boston, San Juan, and Port-au-Prince in a half dozen languages.... [B]lack sailors...kept coastal slaves informed about the political climate beyond the South and offered practical details about coastal geography, sea traffic, and sympathetic captains."
David Cecelski's book is an invaluable resource for understanding the complex issue of slavery in coastal North Carolina.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
The article points out that "[a]s on other islands of the Outer Banks and in coastal areas of the mainland, the institution of slavery on Ocracoke Island was somewhat different from slavery on large southern plantations."
David Cecelski writes authoritatively about this theme in his 2001 book The Waterman's Song, Slavery and Freedom in Maritime North Carolina. Cecelski's book is divided into two major sections, "Working on the Water" and "The Struggle for Freedom."
In his second section the author writes, "Coastal ports like Bath, Ocracoke, and even New Bern may have outwardly resembled backwater outposts on minor trade routes, but a tour of those harbor districts would have belied any notion of provincialism. There a visitor would have met black sailors from many nations, swapping the latest scuttlebutt from Boston, San Juan, and Port-au-Prince in a half dozen languages.... [B]lack sailors...kept coastal slaves informed about the political climate beyond the South and offered practical details about coastal geography, sea traffic, and sympathetic captains."
David Cecelski's book is an invaluable resource for understanding the complex issue of slavery in coastal North Carolina.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an account of the 2013 Portsmouth Island Christmas Bird Count. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012114.htm.
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