"Despite their comparative isolation, the people of Ocracoke seem normal in every way. I had expected to hear many localisms of speech and some Shakesperean English, but neither was noticeable [editors note: I don't know how that could have been possible in 1932!]. The local school, housed in a modern white painted building, includes the eight primary and grammar grades. For higher education than this, the pupils are sent to board at towns on the main land to attend the High Schools. Many go away each year and we were told that most of them, after attending the mainland schools for several years, find work on the mainland and return only for vacations and visits. Many drift to Baltimore and Philadelphia and other northern cities, as there is no livelihood other than fishing on the island."
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| Ocracoke School, built 1917 |
This month's Ocracoke Newsletter is an essay by Philip Howard explaining why he decided to stay on the island as Hurricane Florence approached. You can read it here: https://www.villagecraftsmen.com/why-i-stayed/.
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