Irvin Scott Garrish

Irvin Garrish and his wife Elsie Ballance Garrish were both born and raised on Ocracoke. Irvin's mother was a direct descendant of Agnes Scott for whom Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, is named. For a time Irvin & Elsie lived and worked off the island, but later returned to their island home on Howard Street. Irvin was a ferry captain and the island’s first representative to the Hyde County board of commissioners. NC Highway 12 (Irvin Garrish Highway) is named for him. Elsie was the island’s nurse. Their daughters, Agnes and Martha, as well as other members of their family, live on the island today

In 2011 Kathy and Bob Phillips purchased their island house and completed a restoration project. The house was featured in an article on the Ocracoke Current.

Irvin was born April 20, 1916, and died in 1997. On Saturday, April 16, Bob & Kathy Phillips will be remembering Irvin by celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth. You are invited to come to their home on Howard Street to remember Irvin and his many contributions to our community.

This month's Ocracoke Newsletter is about the 1977 recording of traditional Outer Banks folk music. You can read the article here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news032116.htm.