Miss Euphemia

[Sorry about no post yesterday. I did not have Internet access most of the day.]

Although Julie Howard's musical, A Tale of Blackbeard, is not entirely historically accurate, it is loosely based on Blackbeard's last days and his 1718 battle with Lt. Robert Maynard at Ocracoke Inlet. There are other snatches of truth and facts woven into the mostly fanciful tale. For example, Miss Euphemia is based on a real-life islander who ran a boarding house on what is now School Road (although her establishment operated in the mid-1800s, not the early 1700s).

Miss Euphemia & William Howard
Photo by Eakin Howard

The real Miss Euphemia (Euphemia Curtis, 1819-1887), daughter of Simon Henry Garrish and Jane Simpson Harvey, is buried behind the Village Craftsmen.

Her tombstone reads,

Religion filled her soul with peace

Upon a dying bed

Let faith look up

Let striving cease

She lives with Christ our head 

"Euphemia's Boarding House" is one of the musical's most memorable songs. Come out to the play one Monday evening, and you'll return home singing this catchy tune! 

We're the village girls, and we're here to please.

We can make you laugh, entertain, or tease.

It is clear to see that our specialty

Is providing fun and variety!

So come down by the lake if you think you can take

All the action in this place!

Any hour of the day, any time that you say,

We'll be glad to see your face!

We like sailors the best, and we must confess

We'd be glad to get a spouse!

If you'll just come on around, there's a lot to be found

At Euphemia's boardinghouse!

We can dance and sing, tell a story too.

There is really not much that we can't do!

So when you're around, why don't you come on down

To the most relaxing spot in town!

So come down by the lake if you think you can take

All the action in this place!

Any hour of the day, any time that you say,

We'll be glad to see your face!

We like sailors the best, and we must confess

We'd be glad to get a spouse!

If you'll just come on around, there's a lot to be found 

At Euphemia's boardinghouse!

This month's Ocracoke Newsletter relates the story of the prohibition-era rum runner Messenger of Peace that brought much pleasure to the residents of Portsmouth. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news062115.htm.