Genealogy & Island History

A couple of weeks ago a reader asked if any of my grandchildren were interested in island history and genealogy. My oldest granddaughter, Zoe, periodically asks for information about our ancestors. And, this summer, my oldest grandson, Eakin, was on the island (you may have seen him selling his birdhouses along NC 12). He was interested in knowing about our family history. One afternoon we rode our bikes around the village, visiting graves of long-departed ancestors. Lou Ann took this photo of Eakin and me at the kitchen table perusing Earl O'Neal's book about the Howard family of Ocracoke.

Last month the Ocracoke Preservation Society hosted a get-together on the front porch of the museum to celebrate Earl O'Neal's 85th birthday. Family and friends gathered to wish Earl a Happy Birthday, and to chat with him about island history and his on-going research.

Earl has contributed an unprecedented volume of local research about our community: history, stories, photographs, documents, and extensive genealogies of several island families.

Thank you, Earl! And belated birthday greetings.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is an article about the Ocracoke Crab Festival which was held each May from 1984 to 1989. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news072114.htm.