Rough Delivery

As most of our readers know, Ocracoke does not have a hospital. Island women are often asked what they do when they are about to have a baby. Usually women leave the island a week or so before their delivery date, but sometimes nature has a way of thwarting their plans. Following is a newspaper announcement from January 21, 1971:

"Mrs. Dorothy Williams [1944-2005] of Ocracoke had what could be called a very rough delivery. A 30-foot Coast Guard Boat, which had picked up Mrs. Williams to take her to Hatteras to have her baby, was immobilized in heavy seas after running onto shoals. An open 17-footer tried but was unable to get along side the boat due to heavy seas and wind. Finally, an amphibious vehicle of the Coast Guard rolled aboard the Coast Guard boat, bringing Dr. Dan Burroughs who delivered the baby in knee-deep water."

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is about islanders who worked on the water, and lost their lives at sea. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012116.htm. 

Boat Building

Wooden boatbuilding has long been an important cultural tradition in coastal North Carolina. But nowhere has it had more of an impact than on Harkers Island. UNCTV, North Carolina's public broadcasting station is airing a documentary on this tradition tonight at 8 pm. Click on the link above to see various ways to watch this program.


Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is about islanders who worked on the water, and lost their lives at sea. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012116.htm.

On This Date, 1842

 From The Republican (Carthage, TN) - Friday, March 4, 1842; pg. 2; column 1:

"The bark Astoria Mitchel[l], which sailed hence on the 16th of January for New York with a cargo of molasses, flour, whiskey, etc., struck on the Round shoal of Cape Hatteras on Saturday night, January 27th, at 9 o'clock and soon after beat over the breakers and at 10 sunk. The captain, crew and passengers were all saved. 

A bark (also spelled barc or barque) is a sailing vessel with three or more masts. The foremast and mainmast are square rigged (the sails are hung from spars [or yards] that are perpendicular to the ship's keel), and the mizzen mast (the aft mast) is fore and aft rigged (the sails are rigged parallel with the line of the keel).

Below is a Wikipedia photo of a typical bark.

By Unknown (Gift; State Historical Society of Colorado; 1949)
[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Astoria Mitchell is just one of many ships lost off the Outer Banks of North Carolina. 

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is about islanders who worked on the water, and lost their lives at sea. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012116.htm.

Oysters

In December I published a post about the annual Oyster Roast sponsored by the Ocracoke Working Watermen's Association. Unfortunately I missed this event. However, the day after I returned home I had the good fortune to join friends for oysters, beer, dip, chocolate cake, and congenial conversation.

Other than reuniting with Amy, David, & Lachlan, there is hardly a more fitting "Welcome Home" than a get-together with fresh steamed North Carolina oysters and close friends.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is about islanders who worked on the water, and lost their lives at sea. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012116.htm.

Ocracoke Take-Out

Ordering take-out food usually means dealing with Styrofoam containers and plastic knives & forks. Sitting down to eat can be more utilitarian than elegant. Not so the other day when I ordered chicken enchiladas and tropical tacos from Eduardo's.When he called me up to the window I was presented with my order artistically arranged on two beautiful hand-painted china plates. 

Amy and Lachlan were joining me for dinner (David was off the island with Molasses Creek). This feast called for a bottle of wine, pottery plates, and a candle.

What a delight to have Eduardo on the island. Excellent food even if it is presented in Styrofoam containers. Be sure to patronize Eduardo soon. You will be glad you did!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is about islanders who worked on the water, and lost their lives at sea. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012116.htm.

Art Auction

It is almost time for another Ocracoke Preservation Society Art Auction. This coming Saturday, January 23, from 5 to 7 pm, numerous original works of art by Ocracoke Island residents, friends, and visitors will be on display at the museum, and available to be auctioned. This is a silent auction, and bids start at $10. You can view photos of the offerings and read information about on-line bidding here).

Their are many items to choose from. The following three examples were created by Nancy Carlson (top), Bob Ray (middle), and Nancy Hicks (bottom):

For detailed information and to see the art work please go to to the OPS Facebook Page.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is about islanders who worked on the water, and lost their lives at sea. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012116.htm.

January Newsletter

We have just published our latest Ocracoke Newsletter. As most of our readers know, seafaring and fishing were major occupations for many islanders, and working on the water was often dangerous. This month we share a list of Ocracoke residents and others connected with our island who lost their lives at sea, from the early 1800s through the mid-1960s. For some we only have the briefest of information e.g. lost at sea"), for others we have newspaper accounts and family stories. You can read the Newsletter here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012116.htm. 

Blowfish, Puffer Fish, Sea Squab

I spotted this puffer fish washed up on the beach this winter.

Sometimes called blowfish or sea squab, many people refuse to eat them because of their reputation for being poisonous. However, blowfish caught in Carolina waters are generally non-toxic and delicious. According to the web site Examiner.com, puffer fish are perfectly safe to eat once the roe is discarded.

Here is a short video showing how to clean North Carolina puffer fish:


And here is a recipe. As islanders say, "they are good eatin'!!"

Breaded Blowfish

20 blowfish strips from 10 fish
½ cup flour
½ cup cornmeal
1 egg
½ cup milk
seafood seasoning
olive oil

Season blowfish with seafood seasoning. Break open egg and mix with milk, stirring until egg is beaten. Combine flour and cornmeal. Heat olive oil in a pan, just covering the bottom. Dip blowfish in milk and eggs then roll in flour and cornmeal. Sauté quickly over medium high heat until fish is golden brown, 7 to 9 minutes. Serves 3.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Capt. Horatio Williams and his schooner, the Paragon. You can read the story here: www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112115.htm. 

1718 Brewing Ocracoke

Many of our readers were disappointed when one of the island's most popular restaurants, the Cafe Atlantic, closed its doors more than a year ago. If I remember correctly, the Cafe, owned and operated by Bob & Ruth Toth, opened in 1988. Amy recently found these photos of the building when it was brand new.

This winter Garrick & Jacqui Kalna have been having the former Cafe Atlantic remodeled and expanded, and have plans to open a new venture there, the 1718 Ocracoke Brew Pub, in the spring.

I will publish more information about the 1718 Brew Pub as the grand opening approaches.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Capt. Horatio Williams and his schooner, the Paragon. You can read the story here: www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112115.htm. 

Tube Sponge?

As some of our readers noticed, I was off the island for a couple of months this winter (I was in Berlin, trying to improve my German). When I returned home last week I noticed that someone had left what looks like a tube sponge in my yard by my front steps.

The item is flexible, but not especially fragile. Can any of our readers provide a more precise identification of this marine specimen?

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Capt. Horatio Williams and his schooner, the Paragon. You can read the story here: www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112115.htm.

Spencer House Update

On November 30 of last year I published a post about the Spencer House on Lighthouse Road. 

Photo by Henry Raup

At that time I wrote "The house on the right, a traditional island "story and a jump," was built in the early 20th century by Andrew Spencer. The last resident was his cousin, Caswell Spencer (1886-1905).

An alert reader left this comment: " Philip - I'm wondering if the death date for Caswell Spenser, 1905 at age 19, is correct. The numbers don't add up. The story and a jump house was built in early 1900s, he was the last resident. That's a maximum of 4 years he lived there before dying, after which the house stood empty for 85 years before being torn down? A death date of 1965, plus or minus, would fit the numbers you have given."

I replied, "I think I did make a mistake, but I am not sure of the correct dates.... [C]heck back now and then [and I will try to find the correct dates]. Thanks for the keen observation!"

According to the National Register of Historic Places' list of Ocracoke's contributing structures, the house in question is referred to as "the Andrew Spencer House." It was built in the "early 20th century" on "land belonging to John Spencer." I am guessing the first owner of the house was Andrew Spencer, Jr. (1885-1947), who received the land from his first cousin, John [William] Spencer (1859-1927). 

I believe the last resident of the house was William Caswell ("Caswell") Spencer (1912-1979), grandson of John William Spencer (1859-1927). Caswell Spencer (1886-1905), whom I mistakenly listed as the last owner, was William Caswell Spencer's uncle. Neither Caswell nor William Caswell ever married or had children.

Many members of this extended family continue to live on Ocracoke. If I am wrong, I hope someone will correct me. 

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Capt. Horatio Williams and his schooner, the Paragon. You can read the story here: www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112115.htm.

Fish Camps

Occasionally in this blog I have mentioned "fish camps." In December a reader left this comment: "Where and what and when were the fish camps?"

In August of 2012 I wrote this: "Fish camps are part of a long tradition on Ocracoke. Primitive camps [constructed of bull rushes] were erected "down below" (that's the part of the island north of Ocracoke village) many years ago. More recent camp buildings from the early and mid twentieth century were simple wood frame constructions.

"Alton Ballance, in his book Ocracokers, quotes old timers who described the original camps. They were constructed from black needle rushes near the tidal creeks. Alton's source, Sullivan Garrish, says they were A-frame huts, but at least some of them were shaped more like yurts. Cooking was done outside whenever possible. If it rained they would cut a hole in the roof to let the smoke out."

An Early 20th Century Fish Camp

The photograph above is from "The Fishes of North Carolina," by Hugh McCormick Smith, North Carolina Geological and Economic Survey, plate No. 20, published by E. M. Uzzell & Co., Raleigh, North Carolina, 1907. The other structure is a net drying rack.

In his book, The Waterman's Song, Slavery and Freedom in Maritime North Carolina, David Cecelski comments on the integrated 19th century mullet camps at Davis Ridge in coastal North Carolina. Cecelski writes, "Out on those remote islands, black and white mullet fishermen lived, dined, and worked together all autumn, temporarily sharing a life beyond the pale of the stricter racial barriers ashore."

He reproduces an engraving of mullet fishermen at their camp on Shackleford Banks ca. 1880.

Engraving by George Brown Goode, ca. 1880

"Look closely," he writes, "and what stands out immediately are the equal numbers of black and white fishermen, their intermingled pose, their close quarters, their obvious familiarity -- one might say chuminess -- and the unclear lines of authority."

By the 20th century most fish camps consisted of small wood-frame buildings.

In December of last year I published a mid-1970s photo of two small rental cottages which I mistakenly believed were built from lumber salvaged from the old Navy Base. Ocracoke islander Charlie O'Neal made this correction: "They were moved from the fish camps by Stanley Wahab. There were a total of four moved there!"

"Fish Camps" moved to Ocracoke Village after WWII

Since the mid-1950s, when the National Park Service purchased most of the land outside Ocracoke village, the old fish camps have been demolished or moved. However, a number of small, current day "fish camps" with boat docks have been erected along a boardwalk on the marsh bordering a tidal creek at the end of Cuttin Sage Lane in the Oyster Creek area. They have been described as the original "man caves."

Ocracoke Fish Camps, 2016

For a description of modern mullet fishing (not all that different from the 19th century method) read this paper from the North Carolina Maritime Museum (a "stop net," also called a "set net" is a type of seine): http://ncmaritimemuseums.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Stop_Net_Fishing_for_Mullet.pdf .

For more information about renting a coastal North Carolina fish camp, read this 1996 article on the web site of the Philadelphia Inquirer: http://articles.philly.com/1996-07-21/news/25621715_1_outer-banks-20-knot-winds-bait.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Capt. Horatio Williams and his schooner, the Paragon. You can read the story here: www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112115.htm. 

24 Acres

Many of our readers may already have learned of the acquisition of 24 acres of undeveloped land on Ocracoke Island by the North Carolina Coast Land Trust. I was out of the country late last month when Camilla Herlevich, Executive Director of the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, issued a press release. But I want to share it with our readers now because the land is a significant parcel that should provide many benefits to island residents and visitors.  

Coastal Land Trust acquires land on Ocracoke Island

The North Carolina Coastal Land Trust announced that it has recently acquired 24 acres of barrier island hammock and marshes on the east side of Ocracoke Village. Located between Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the Ocracoke Community Ball Field, its preservation is a critical conservation addition to the island. Conservation of the property protects habitat for bird species such as Seaside Sparrow, Saltmarsh Sparrow, Black Rail, Yellow Rail, and Painted Buntings, and also protects the scenic view from N. C. Highway No. 12.

The property was conveyed to the Coastal Land Trust by the Ocracoke Preservation Society, a community-based organization dedicated to Ocracoke Island’s historical and cultural heritage. Philip Howard, President of Ocracoke Preservation Society, said “We are delighted to be able to partner with the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust in preserving this significant tract of undeveloped land, both because of its environmental importance, and because of its potential to provide islanders and visitors with an appreciation for the beauty and significance of a pristine Outer Banks marsh.” The property was originally donated to Ocracoke Preservation Society by Ross Lampe and family of Smithfield, NC.

The Coastal Land Trust hopes eventually to construct a nature walkway and interpretive signage on this newly-acquired property to enhance its enjoyment by the community. An additional management goal will be eradication or control of an invasive plant species, Phragmites, along one boundary of the property. 

The Coastal Land Trust also owns and manages the island’s largest nature preserve, Springer’s Point Nature Preserve, located on the west side of Ocracoke Village. “Ocracoke Island is such a special place,” said Lee Leidy, Northeast Director of the Coastal Land Trust. “We are delighted to be involved in preserving one of the largest remaining tracts of undeveloped land in the village. This conservation tract will be a great asset to the community, especially because it adjoins the exciting new Community Ball Field, which is the island’s first sports field. We are so pleased to work with the wonderful residents of Ocracoke Island once again.” With this new tract, the Coastal Land Trust becomes the largest non-government land owner on Ocracoke Island.

The Coastal Land Trust received two grants that helped defray, in part, its acquisition expenses; one from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and one from the Conservation Trust of North Carolina; additional funds are being sought in the amount of $5,000.

About North Carolina Coastal Land Trust:

The North Carolina Coastal Land Trust works to save the lands you love at the coast, for the benefit of all North Carolinians.  A membership organization, the Coastal Land Trust has helped save 65,000 acres of land in 22 coastal counties of the state since 1992.  The Coastal Land Trust has offices in Elizabeth City, Wilmington and New Bern.

For more information on North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, please visit www.CoastalLandTrust.org and join the email list. 

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Capt. Horatio Williams and his schooner, the Paragon. You can read the story here: www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112115.htm.

Ocracoke Inlet

Ocracoke Inlet is the only Outer Banks inlet that has been continuously open since Europeans began keeping records. Numerous other inlets have opened and closed in the last 450 years. Because of its strategic location and navigable status Ocracoke Inlet saw considerable shipping traffic. In the early 19th century as many as 1400 sailing vessels passed through Ocracoke Inlet in a year's time.

Historic Inlets
From Place Names of the Outer Banks
by Roger L. Payne

In 1846 the situation changed. In that year a hurricane opened Hatteras Inlet, and mariners soon discovered that the new inlet was less dangerous and more easily navigated. As shipping moved to Hatteras Inlet, so did many of the pilots from Ocracoke and Portsmouth who guided ships from the Atlantic into Pamlico Sound.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Capt. Horatio Williams and his schooner, the Paragon. You can read the story here: www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112115.htm.

Blanche Howard Jolliff

Regular readers of this blog know that my cousin Blanche has been both an inspiration for my passion to collect and document Ocracoke history and traditions, and also a wealth of information about the island, its people, and its culture. She lives on Howard Street, in the house in which she was born. Blanche recently received the Ocracoke Cultural Heritage Award from the Ocracoke Preservation Society.

Photo by Peter Vankevich, October, 2015

I happened to be in Berlin on December 8, which was Blanche's 96th birthday. Unfortunately, she stumbled and fell five days earlier, and broke a bone in her leg. Surgery to repair the break was successful, and she is currently undergoing rehab in Nags Head. Amy and I stopped to visit her on my way back from the airport last week. She was in good spirits, and hoped to return home as soon as she is able.

I know Blanche would enjoy receiving belated birthday cards, get well cards, and/or congratulatory cards while she is mending. You can send her a card at P O Box 176, Ocracoke, NC 27960. Be assured, the cards will be delivered to Blanche in Nags Head.

The latest issue of The Mullet Wrapper, Ocracoke Preservation Society's Newsletter, included this information about Blanche:

"We are pleased to announce that Blanche Howard Jolliff  is our 2015 Ocracoke Cultural Herigage Award recipient. This award was created to honor the people or organizations that have been active in preserving the unique qualities of Ocracoke's history and culture.... [Blanche] has always had a strong interest in the past and a remarkable memory for stories she has heard; down to minute details such as what day of the weed the incident occurred or what color shoes someone was wearing.

"In addition to her vast store of knowledge about Ocracoke history and people, she has a kind generosity and graciousness that endears her to everyone she interacts with.... Because she has been so interested in Ocracoke history since she was a young girl, she knows not only the stories from her lifetime, but also the stories of her parents and grandparents. And, because of her copious notes to go along with these stories, much of Ocracoke's cultural life and history has been preserved for future generations...."

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Capt. Horatio Williams and his schooner, the Paragon. You can read the story here: www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112115.htm.

Uncle Homer

My grandson, Lachlan, is now eleven years old. He loves to hear stories about his colorful family members and ancestors. When I was Lachlan's age I was fascinated with my Uncle Homer (1917-1966). For a time he served in the United States Navy, and he had acquired numerous tattoos, mostly of anchors, ships, and other nautical symbols. But my favorites were the naked ladies inked on his legs (those are the stories Lachlan most likes to hear, of course!).

Homer R. Howard,
courtesy of Earl O'Neal

When Uncle Homer stopped by to visit, he delighted in rolling up his pants legs, and flexing his calves to make the ladies dance for me. Cousin Dallie recalls Uncle Homer's exceptional patience. When he visited her home, she says, he would sit for an hour or more, allowing her to tape various paper doll outfits on the naked ladies!

Every family needs a quirky or unconventional relative to provide stories for future generations. My Uncle Homer is just one of many!

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Capt. Horatio Williams and his schooner, the Paragon. You can read the story here: www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112115.htm.

Was & Weren't

On Ocracoke you might here someone say, "Oh, they was on the island for his birthday; except Jimmy, of course, he weren't here."

Walt Wolfram & Natalie Schilling-Estes address this usage in their book, Hoi Toide on the Outer Banks. As they point out, "a widespread tendency among English speakers is the attempt to regularize the verb to be by taking one form and using it for all subjects. In a number of American dialects, we hear you was, we was, and they was along with I was and she was."

British speakers, on the other hand, may use were, rather than was, for all subjects.

More common in British dialects, as Wolfram and Shilling-Estes point out, is the use of was for all positive statements and were for all negative statements. "Interestingly," they write, "Ocracoke English...[is] among the few in American English that use [that] agreement pattern...."

Here is the Ocracoke English conjugation of the verb to be in the past tense (affirmative and negative):

Affirmative:

I was
you was
s/he was

we was
you (you all) was
they was

Negative:

I weren't
you weren't
s/he weren't

we weren't
you (you all) weren't
they weren't

So..."They was here," but "He weren't here." One more clue to the British origin of Ocracoke Island's earliest European settlers.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Capt. Horatio Williams and his schooner, the Paragon. You can read the story here: www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112115.htm. 

Shopping

Visitors to the island often wonder where we do much of our off-island shopping. Many islanders drive to the mainland (Norfolk, VA, or Greenville, NC, for example) or to Nags Head to make major purchases. Of course, in the age of the Internet, it is now possible to order almost anything on line.

In years past, Ocracoke residents often relied on mail-order firms (Sears & Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, and Charles Williams) for clothes and household items. Sometimes, island boat captains and merchants made regular trips across the sound. This excerpt from the Morning New Bernian [New Bern, NC], February 10, 1932 offers a glimpse into island commerce in the early part of the twentieth century:

"Capt. W[illiam] D[aniel] Gaskill, one of Ocracoke’s most progressive citizens, has just returned to the island with a cargo of foodstuffs and building materials after having spent two days here disposing of a large quantity of sea food. Capt. Gaskill is now a regular visitor to New Bern, coming here every ten days to make purchases for the families on the island…. “[T]he variety of foodstuffs is what appeals to me so much,” [said Capt. Gaskill]. Capt. Gaskill conducts the hotel on the island and is now making plans to build a dance hall over the water which will be open by the time the summer season rolls around, every piece of lumber for this work to be hauled from the mainland.”

Capt. Bill's Pamlico Inn

 Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Capt. Horatio Williams and his schooner, the Paragon. You can read the story here: www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112115.htm.

NC State Reptile

In 1979 the Eastern Box Turtle was designated the official North Carolina State Reptile.

A friend spotted this fellow crossing the road near the Island Inn last fall. We stopped and moved him out of the traffic lane. I snapped this photo just before he vanished into the underbrush.

The Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) is the only terrestrial turtle found in North Carolina. You can read more here: http://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Learning/documents/Profiles/Eastern_Box_Turtle.pdf.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Capt. Horatio Williams and his schooner, the Paragon. You can read the story here: www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112115.htm.

Back Again!

Well, after a short break, we are back...with more history of Ocracoke, insights into daily island life, vintage photos, stories, information about island culture & heritage, and more. We hope all of our readers enjoyed the Christmas holiday with family & friends, and are looking forward to a New Year filled with all good things.

The Dezzie Bragg House

Above is a 1942 photo of the Frederick and Dezzie Bragg House, which was built ca. 1900.

Today the Dezzie Bragg house is home to the island's delightful independent book store, Books to be Red and Deepwater Pottery.

This building is  contributing structure in the Ocracoke Historic District, and is one of a small number of 1-story double-pile pyramidal roofed houses with a front shed porch, interior corbelled chimney, wood shingle siding, and rear ell. It is located on School Road. Thomas Bragg (1797-1884) acquired this property in two separate transactions: one in 1827 and the other in 1830. He had a house on the property but it is believed that his grandson Frederick demolished the house to build this house about 1900. Dezzie Bragg (1876- 1955) inherited the property from her second husband Frederick Wilson Bragg (1876-1930). The house sits on a large lot with traditional landscaping.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of Capt. Horatio Williams and his schooner, the Paragon. You can read the story here: www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112115.htm.