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The Night Capt. Ben’s Restaurant Burned, by Jimmy Creech
By Philip HowardSeptember 10, 2023Capt. Ben’s Waterfront Restaurant was established by Ocracoker Ben Mugford in the early 1970s. Situated on the end of a dock overlooking Silver Lake harbor,Community Store Warehouse Move, October, 1978
By Philip HowardAugust 26, 2023The Community Store was established in 1918 by Amasa (Mace) Fulcher. Under Fulcher’s management, the general store soon became a focal point of community activityWahab Industries
By Philip HowardAugust 8, 2023Wahab Industries Ocracoke Island, Ocracoke, NC In 1958 Robert Stanley Wahab had letterheads printed promoting his business interests on Ocracoke Island. These interests includedHatteras Inlet Life-Saving Station
By Philip HowardJuly 6, 2023The United States Life-Saving Service established the first station on Ocracoke Island in 1883. The station was located on the north end of Ocracoke, onNot the Conventional Tourist Place
By Philip HowardJune 6, 2023Chester Lynn, proprietor of Annabelle’s Antiques on Ocracoke’s Back Road, recently came into possession of a 1947 missive written on the letterhead of the NorthMy Most Memorable Climb to the Top of the Ocracoke Lighthouse
By Philip HowardMay 19, 2023PDF (Remarks delivered by Philip Howard May 18, 2023, at the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the construction of the Ocracoke lighthouse.) TheThe Wreck of the Schooner Richard S. Spofford
By Philip HowardSeptember 15, 2022PDF The following story is based on the Wreck Report submitted by Keeper James W. Howard of the US Life-Saving Service about the wreck ofThe Ponder Hotel,1890
By Philip HowardAugust 11, 2022PDF Some time ago I obtained a transcript of an 1890 advertisement on the back of the stationery for the Ocracoke Ponder Hotel (1885-1900). TheSpringer’s Point
By Philip HowardJuly 15, 2022PDF Sometime between 1000 and 500 years ago, Native Americans settled in what is now eastern North Carolina, and began frequenting Ocracoke to fish andThe August Storm of 1899
By Philip HowardJune 15, 2022PDF In September, 2005, we published a Newsletter about the 1899 hurricane. I included a brief account about 17-year-old Elisha Ballance, and a report by1978: Ocracoke Island – Sheriff Stops Nudity Arrests Awhile
By Philip HowardMay 18, 2022PDF The following article is from the Virginian-Pilot, Wednesday, July 12, 1978: Ocracoke Island – Sheriff Stops Nudity Arrests Awhile By Doug Gardner, Virginian-Pilot StaffA Town with No Mayor, No Jail–And Only Six Automobiles
By Philip HowardApril 15, 2022PDF The following newspaper clipping (from the May 3, 1942, Times-Herald of Washington, DC) was discovered in a box of papers in the home ofThe Big Gut and the Little Gut
By Philip HowardMarch 15, 2022PDF Before WWII Silver Lake Harbor was a wide, shallow tidal creek. Older islanders still refer to the harbor by its traditional name, Cockle CreekSand Barriers
By Philip HowardFebruary 15, 2022PDF On one of Amy Howard’s Ocracoke Ghost & History Walks a number of years ago she was explaining to her group that the highwayThe Ocracoke Years, May 1936-November 1938
By Philip HowardJanuary 15, 2022PDF Last year I published a short account of Ocracoke Island burials gleaned from the notes of Rev. William Crow who served as the MethodistAnother Story from Rev. William Crow
By Philip HowardNovember 15, 2021PDF Rev. Crow served the Ocracoke Methodist Church in 1936-1938. Below is one of his stories: I had a lot of company when I livedCoins on Tombstones
By Philip HowardOctober 7, 2021PDF Several years ago, on a busy summer day, a customer stepped up to the counter at Village Craftsmen with an unusual question. “Can youThrough The Years: Something of a Life Story
By Philip HowardSeptember 15, 2021PDF The following account describing life on Ocracoke in 1929 was written by Hyman Leroy Harris (1897-1995) in 1975. In the introduction, Mr. Harris expressedIsland Burials
By Philip HowardAugust 15, 2021PDF Earlier this summer I had the good fortune of meeting Dave Crow and his family. Dave’s father, William A. Crow, served as the pastorUnlocking the Mystery of an Island Ballad
By Philip HowardJuly 15, 2021PDF Earlier this year my friend Doug asked me about the 1977 Folkways recording of Outer Banks music, “Between the Sound and the Sea.” He1718 Indictment of William Howard, Quartermaster
By Philip HowardJune 15, 2021PDF I recently received an email from historian Megan Dohm. Megan had been conducting research in the archives of Richmond, Virginia, and located the originalLost Colony Wasn’t, Old Tradition Says
By Philip HowardMay 15, 2021PDF The following article by Ralph Pool was published in The Virginian-Pilot, Sunday, July 3, 1960: The Lost Colony never was lost. When Governor JohnBeachcomber: The Exciting Card Game
By Philip HowardApril 15, 2021PDF Recently a long-time visitor to Ocracoke sent me an email. She had received an unexpected birthday gift from a friend. It was a vintageGive ‘im a Hair of the Dog that Bit Him
By Philip HowardMarch 15, 2021PDF Almost any time a group of musicians gets together to play sea shanties someone will break out with “The Drunken Sailor.” It is oneOcracoke and the Outer Banks, 1956
By Philip HowardFebruary 15, 2021PDF The following article (author unknown, but with the explanation,“information and photos supplied by George Tichenor”) is copied from Junior Natural History magazine, February, 1956.The Homeplace
By Philip HowardJanuary 15, 2021PDF One of the oldest houses on Ocracoke Island is tucked away at the end of an unpaved lane. You would have to be intentionallyThe Ocracoke – Washington Freighters by Blount Rumley
By Philip HowardDecember 12, 2020PDF The Ocracoke – Washington Freighters: The Last of an Era of Maritime Commerce (Reprinted from the Newsletter of the Historic Port of Washington Project,Things You Will or Won’t Find on Ocracoke
By Philip HowardNovember 16, 2020PDF On a recent ferry ride back home to Ocracoke after a trip “up the beach” to Nags Head, my daughter Amy, our friend JeniferThe 1905 Rescue of Six Mariners from the Schooner Sarah D. J. Rawson
By Philip HowardOctober 8, 2020PDF The United States Life Saving Service was established in 1871 to come to the aid of stricken and shipwrecked sailing vessels and mariners. TheThe Concrete Turtle
By Philip HowardAugust 18, 2020PDF Ocracoke did not get official street names until 1999. Street signs appeared in 2005. For most of Ocracoke’s history islanders simply used landmarks orHouse Raising and Moving on Ocracoke Island
By Philip HowardJuly 18, 2020PDF After the catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Dorian on September 6, 2019, at least fifty island homes, businesses, and rental cottages were demolished due toBill Askren
By Philip HowardApril 14, 2020PDF “Dear Sir: A 16 oz. BOTTLE CONTAINING NOTE, DATED 12 OCTOBER. 1956 was FOUND ON THE WINDBLOWN SANDS OF OCRACOKE,,ISLAND. SOUTH OF HATTERAS &First Time Clamming – A Fond Remembrance of Lawton Howard
By Philip HowardFebruary 9, 2020PDF Just a few hours before my father’s funeral in March of 2002 I received this message from Captain Rob Temple who was unable toHurricane Dorian and the Hunting Scene Persian Rug
By Philip HowardNovember 4, 2019PDF My German-speaking maternal grandfather, Joszef Guth, immigrated to the United States from Hungary in 1912. He was 21 years old and had trained asMr. Stacy’s Cool House
By Philip HowardMay 29, 2019PDF Long before the electrification of villages on the Outer Banks, islanders built small screened “houses” that they mounted on posts in their yards. CalledCapt. Myron A. Garrish
By Philip HowardApril 21, 2019PDF As early as 1785 records indicate that Ocracoke residents were concerned with education. On August 20 of that year the estate of Jobe WahabThe Ocracoke School Song
By Philip HowardMarch 25, 2019PDF A few days ago, Sundae Horn, our local community librarian, sent me a copy of the sheet music for “The Ocracoke School Song.” ArnoldThe 1837 Wreck of the Steamboat Home
By Philip HowardNovember 20, 2018PDF The following account is taken from the book, Digging up Uncle Evans, by Philip Howard. In October of 1837 the Steamboat Home wrecked onThe Fresnel Lens
By Philip HowardOctober 23, 2018PDF Essay by Lachlan Howard Since its invention in 1822 by the French physicist Augustin Fresnel, the Fresnel lens has been changing the world aroundWhy I Stayed
By Philip HowardSeptember 20, 2018PDF By Philip Howard September, 2018 Hurricane Florence, a Category 4 storm packing 140 mph winds, was churning away in the Atlantic. The forecast indicatedMrs. Godfrey’s Ghost
By Philip HowardAugust 18, 2018PDF This story is an edited version that was originally published in the book, Digging up Uncle Evans, by Philip Howard, © 2008. I didn’tOcracoke Street Names
By Philip HowardJuly 22, 2018PDF Ocracoke streets did not have official names until 1999. Street signs appeared in 2005. Prior to that time the names of Ocracoke’s streets wereMy First Island Patient, by Dr. Warren Silverman
By Philip HowardJune 20, 2018PDF In the summer of 1981 Warren Silverman, M.D. moved to Ocracoke. It had been four decades since Ocracoke had a resident doctor. Dr. Silverman’sOcracoke Lighthouse
By Philip HowardMay 20, 2018PDF Ocracoke’s 75’ tall white tower with a steady beam is the island’s most recognizable landmark. Built in 1823/1824 by Noah Porter of Massachusetts, theThe Island Inn and Lodge No. 194, Independent Order of Odd Fellows
By Philip HowardApril 20, 2018PDF The story of Ocracoke’s Island Inn begins with the construction of a meeting house for Lodge No. 194, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, inA History of Village Craftsmen on Ocracoke Island
By Philip HowardMarch 21, 2018PDF Village Craftsmen…49 years offering fine quality American handcrafts on Ocracoke Island. Lawton Howard was born on Ocracoke Island October 10, 1911. When he wasQuaintest Town in America on a N.C. Island
By Philip HowardFebruary 21, 2018PDF The following article is from The Deming Headlight (Deming, New Mexico) · Fri, Oct 5, 1923. No author is cited. Although there are aOld Christmas in Rodanthe
By Philip HowardJanuary 19, 2018PDF In 46 BC, Julius Caesar decreed that the Roman world should adopt his new calendar. Based on the solar year, rather than lunar cycles,A Description of Occacock, 1795
By Philip HowardNovember 18, 2017PDF In New Bern, North Carolina, in 1795, Francois-X Martin published an eight-page pamphlet by Jonathan Price titled A DESCRIPTION OF OCCACOCK INLET*. Jonathan Price,The Hurricane of 1944
By Philip HowardOctober 21, 2017PDF Following is a transcript of a personal letter re. the 1944 hurricane on Ocracoke Island. It was written by the wife of one ofIsland Stairsteps
By Philip HowardSeptember 21, 2017PDF Instead of using the common terms “staircase” or simply “stairs,” older Ocracoke islanders are more likely to say “stairsteps.” I live in a typicalHoward’s Pub of Ocracoke Island
By Philip HowardAugust 21, 2017PDF In 1978 Ron Howard, direct descendant of an early colonial owner of Ocracoke Island, decided to build a pub on his property at theThe 1899 Wreck of the Ariosto
By Philip HowardJuly 21, 2017PDF The following account comes from the Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 98, Number 126, December 25, 1899 (illustrations added): TWENTY-ONE OF THE CREW DROWNED British SteamshipRex O’Neal Gigging Flounders
By Philip HowardJune 21, 2017PDF This link will take you to a Coastal Voices audio of Rex O’Neal telling about the night that he fell overboard while gigging floundersThe Story of the Mailboat Aleta
By Philip HowardMay 21, 2017PDF Follow this link to find out all about the Mailboat Aleta that began running trips between Atlantic and Ocracoke in 1938.Ocracoke’s Condomed Nautilus
By Philip HowardApril 21, 2017PDF The World Submarine Invitational 1996, a human-powered submarine race pitting design teams from around the world, was held in San Diego, California, 3-12 AprilThe Ocracoke Water Tank Caper
By Philip HowardMarch 21, 2017PDF The Ocracoke Water Tank Caper….or…That’s No Swimmin’ Hole – A Dingbatter’s Tale By Michael Mincher When I was in college I was fortunate enoughThe Electrification of Ocracoke Island, 1936-2017
By Philip HowardFebruary 21, 2017PDF On March 15, 2016, Heidi Smith, Manager of Economic Development for Tideland Electric Membership Corporation, presented a history of the electrification of Ocracoke IslandThe Great Lighthouse Window Heist A First-Person Account
By Philip HowardJanuary 21, 2017PDF by Ellen Fulcher Cloud, from her book, Ocracoke Lighthouse, 1993, Chapter 6. The Ocracoke Lighthouse and the structures within the compound were on theThe Rumgagger
By Philip HowardDecember 21, 2016PDF For several decades Capt. Rob Temple of the Schooner Windfall II and the Skipjack Wilma Lee has been composing piratical poetry and nautical nonsenseCap’n Gary Bragg Still Makes Wooden Geese
By Philip HowardNovember 21, 2016PDF By Aycock Brown (Originally published November 13, 1938) Migratory wildfowl, ducks, geese and brant will be more plentiful along the coast of North CarolinaEarthquakes
By Philip HowardSeptember 21, 2016PDF Sometime in the late 1970s (I didn’t record the date) I was standing in my parents’ living room on the corner of Lawton LaneMy Ocracoke: Life Amidst 250 Years of Family History
By Philip HowardAugust 21, 2016PDF (The following article is reprinted from the Outer Banks Magazine, Volume 4, 2016.) Story by Philip Howard Photographs by Daniel Pullen At one timeOcracoke . . .The French Connection
By Philip HowardJuly 21, 2016PDF Most people familiar with Ocracoke are aware that European settlers in the early colonial period came mostly from the British Isles (England, Ireland, Scotland,July 4th Parade, 1953
By Philip HowardJune 21, 2016PDF Following is an article written by Alice K. Rondthaler about one of Ocracoke’s first July 4th parades. It was published July 6, 1953. (Accompanying photosA History of the Life-Saving Service
By Philip HowardMay 21, 2016PDF from Pearson’s Magazine, 1903 by Theodore Waters “It will be the worst hurricane that swept the Cape,” said Captain Pugh of the Gull ShoalSambo, The Life-Saving Horse
By Philip HowardApril 21, 2016PDF “Sambo, the Life-Saving Horse” was written in January, 1968, by Allie (Teenie) Scott. This sweet story was never finished, but it provides a glimpse intoBetween the Sound and the Sea
By Philip HowardMarch 21, 2016PDF March 21, 2016 Between the Sound and the Sea From 1973 to 1976 native North Carolinian Karen G. Helms (1947-2003), while earning a MasterBeatrice Wells, Child Evangelist on Ocracoke
By Philip HowardFebruary 21, 2016PDF In the mid-1930s Pentecostal/Holiness evangelists began holding “preaching services” at the Ocracoke schoolhouse. In July, 1938, Miss Alice Austin, from Hatteras Island, and severalLost at Sea
By Philip HowardJanuary 21, 2016PDF Following is a partial list of Ocracoke Island natives, residents, descendants & others associated with Ocracoke who were lost at sea or drowned (fromThe Schooner Paragon
By Philip HowardNovember 16, 2015PDF Job Wahab (nearly everyone called him Jobie) had the sea in his blood. Born on Ocracoke Island in 1802, he was, according to oneBett’s Dream and the Wreck of the Banana Boat
By Philip HowardOctober 21, 2015PDF Elizabeth (“Bett”) Linton (1856-1910) was born in Wysocking, Hyde County, North Carolina. She married Ocracoke native and widower, Amon Howard (ca. 1820-ca. 1885). Two yearsThe Great Ocracoke Cat Hunt
By Philip HowardSeptember 21, 2015PDF This small book was written and published by former Ocracoke School teacher Mary E. Williams in 1961. It provides a glimpse into island lifeWhale and Porpoise Fishing on the Outer Banks
By Philip HowardAugust 21, 2015PDF In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, whales and “porpoises” (actually bottle-nose dolphins)* were hunted commercially by Outer Banks fishermen. Evidence of this industry onThe Stovepipe Hat Wreck
By Philip HowardJuly 21, 2015PDF My father occasionally told me the story of the mid-nineteenth century Outer Banks “stovepipe hat” shipwreck. It allegedly happened at Rodanthe before my father’sRum Running on the Outer Banks
By Philip HowardJune 21, 2015PDF The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on January 16, 1920. The amendment reads, in part, “After one year from theFirst Time Visit to Portsmouth Island, Part II
By Philip HowardMay 21, 2015PDF Story & Photos by Crystal Canterbury (Click here for Part I) In 1894 a United States Life Saving Station (U.S.L.S.S.) was established on PortsmouthFirst Time Visit to Portsmouth Island, Part I
By Philip HowardApril 23, 2015PDF Story & Photos by Crystal Canterbury Over the past four years that I’ve lived on Ocracoke, events – some planned, some not – motivatedThe Ocracoke Orgy
By Philip HowardMarch 21, 2015PDF Not long ago I was asked to write a short article about the “Ocracoke Orgy!” Those two words conjure up widely divergent images: aThe Wahabs of Ocracoke Island
By Philip HowardFebruary 20, 2015PDF Do a Google search for “Wahab,” and the Internet’s most comprehensive search engine returns more than thirteen million results. A cursory glance at theThe 1890 Ocracoke Oyster War
By Philip HowardJanuary 21, 2015PDF The Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginca), a tasty bivalve mollusk, has been harvested in North American waters since prehistoric times. Native American shell piles inMurder on Ocracoke!
By Philip HowardNovember 21, 2014PDF Jacob Gaskill was two years old in 1787 when his father, Benjamine, died. He was sixteen when his mother, Jane Williams Gaskill, died. AtHunting Ducks & Geese in 1910
By Philip HowardOctober 21, 2014PDF The following reprint is an excerpt from the article, “Winter Sport in Virginia and North Carolina,” in the Book of the Royal Blue, a magazineHatteras, Seat of NC State Government During the Civil War
By Philip HowardSeptember 21, 2014PDF Hatteras, a lonely outpost on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, was the seat of state government in 1861…or so thought Rev. Marble NashSteamships & Ocracoke
By Philip HowardAugust 21, 2014PDF Ocracoke has been a tourist destination for much longer than most people realize. In 1795 Jonathan Price produced a map, “taken by actual survey”Ocracoke Crab Festival
By Philip HowardJuly 21, 2014PDF From 1984 to 1989 the Ocracoke Civic Club Business Committee hosted an annual Ocracoke Crab Festival in early May. The Festival was a popularAgnes Scott of Ocracoke
By Philip HowardJune 21, 2014PDF Agnes Irvine Scott (1799-1877), Namesake of Agnes Scott College, Decatur, Georgia, and her Ocracoke Island Descendants Agnes Scott Garrish was just 21 years oldCharles (Vera) Williams
By Philip HowardMay 21, 2014PDF No one alive knows the full story of native Ocracoke islander, Charles Irvin Williams, born 1898, the son of Tilmon L. Williams and ElizabethFrom Philadelphia to Ocracoke, 1951
By Philip HowardApril 21, 2014PDF I first came to Ocracoke Island in 1945. I was almost one year old. My father was born on the island in 1911. WhenBoat Hauled Mail, More
By Philip HowardMarch 21, 2014PDF (reprint from a February 1, 1948 article in the Raleigh News & Observer, by Charles S. Killebrew) Every morning of the year about 10The Telephone Comes to Ocracoke (1956)
By Philip HowardFebruary 21, 2014PDF The first residential telephone service on Ocracoke Island was established by Carolina Telephone & Telegraph Company in 1956. The charge was $5.00/month. Nearly everyoneA Boat Ride and A Great Blue…Or, taking part in the annual Christmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island.
By Philip HowardJanuary 17, 2014PDF By Lou Ann Homan With apples in my backpack and my camera case slung over my shoulder I step down into the boat onA Letter to Ocracoke, 1921
By Philip HowardNovember 21, 2013PDF In our September, 2011 Ocracoke Newsletter, Slavery on Ocracoke (http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news092111.htm), I observed that “[s]laves on the Outer Banks, especially pilots and lighterers, were oftenThe Soundfront Inn
By Philip HowardOctober 21, 2013PDF Captain Elisha Chase, born March 13, 1790 in Swansea, Massachusetts, was descended from a long line of New England sea captains and businessmen. Elisha’sOcracoke Humor
By Philip HowardSeptember 21, 2013PDF Ocracoke humor runs deep in islanders’ veins. Whether on the deck of a sailing vessel, on the porch of the general store, at theHatteras Inlet Ferries
By Philip HowardAugust 21, 2013PDF As many of our readers know, Ocracoke citizens have been sparring with the North Carolina legislature for more than two years regarding ferry tolls.Infant & Childhood Mortality on Ocracoke
By Philip HowardJuly 21, 2013PDF Carl Goerch, in his 1956 book, Ocracoke, has a chapter titled “Died Before He Was Born.” In his book Goerch relates the story of visitingJuly 4th Parade Photos
By Philip HowardJune 21, 2013PDF In 1953 Capt. Marvin Howard made a proposal at the Ocracoke Civic Club’s Spring Meeting. “Let’s have some fun,” he announced, and suggested addingMarvin Howard, A Life Well Lived
By Philip HowardMay 21, 2013PDF Captain Marvin Wyche Howard (Sept. 11, 1897 – March 26, 1969) was just a week and a half old when a tropical storm batteredA History of the United States Post Office at Ocracoke
By Philip HowardApril 21, 2013PDF Early History of Mail Delivery in the North American Colonies During the seventeenth century, colonists in North America mostly relied on private connections (shipThe Wreck of the Black Squall
By Philip HowardMarch 21, 2013PDF This month’s Newsletter is the story of the Wreck of the Black Squall. This two-masted sailing vessel was carrying an exotic cargo when itThe Ocracoke Island Greeting
By Philip HowardFebruary 21, 2013PDF “Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said to his servant, theWindmills on Ocracoke
By Philip HowardJanuary 21, 2013PDF The prospect of cheap, reliable, environmentally friendly power has intrigued North Carolinians for many years. Since 2007, Duke Energy in cooperation with the UniversityThe Day Lindbergh Landed on Ocracoke
By Philip HowardNovember 20, 2012PDF [The following article is from a collection of newspaper clippings saved by an island resident. I had heard this story many times. My father,Ocracoke and the War of 1812
By Philip HowardOctober 21, 2012PDF The U.S. Coast Guard has recently expressed an interest in having the NC Department of Cultural Resources place a highway marker on Ocracoke inFences of Howard Street & Lawton Lane
By Philip HowardSeptember 21, 2012PDF For this month’s Newsletter we are going to take a stroll down Lawton Lane and Howard Street and look at the many fences around houses,Midwifery in North Carolina and on Ocracoke Island
By Philip HowardAugust 21, 2012PDF History of Midwifery in North Carolina No doubt midwifery was practiced in North Carolina from the time of the earliest European settlers. However, itHurricane Boards
By Philip HowardJuly 21, 2012PDF The “Hurricane House” sits at the end of a sandy lane, overlooking Pamlico Sound. Built about 1900, it is a traditional “story and aMolly Lovejoy’s 2012 Valedictory Address
By Philip HowardJune 21, 2012PDF Ocracoke Graduating Class of 2012: (Echo Bennink, William O’Neal, Molly Lovejoy, Cassandra Hagins, Virginia Downes, Ashley Salinas-Lopez, & Leslie Espinoza) Molly Lovejoy: Following isIsland Recipes
By Philip HowardMay 21, 2012PDF Every now and then I publish an island recipe on our Ocracoke Journal. In this month’s Ocracoke Newsletter I share a few more recipesProject Nutmeg
By Philip HowardApril 21, 2012PDF Imagine Ocracoke with no paved roads, no ferry service, no visitors…and no residents. Imagine the landscape defaced with huge craters, homes and other buildingsThe Rondthalers of Ocracoke
By Philip HowardMarch 21, 2012PDF Alice and Theodore Rondthaler had been married for a decade when Alice’s mother came from Connecticut to live with them in Clemmons, North Carolina.The Civil War, Ocracoke, & Josephus Daniels
By Philip HowardFebruary 21, 2012PDF On May 20, 1861 North Carolina seceded from the Union. Recognizing the importance of the Outer Banks, especially Hatteras Inlet, the most navigable inletJoe Bell
By Philip HowardJanuary 19, 2012PDF While driving, biking, or walking almost anywhere along the Outer Banks from early April through December you are likely to notice clusters of brightlyOcracoke and the “Lost” Colony
By Philip HowardNovember 21, 2011PDF Although Ocracoke did not play a major role in the first attempts by the English to colonize America, Ocracoke is part of the storyThere’s Nothing Like the Glory of November on the “Banks”
By Philip HowardOctober 21, 2011PDF By Capt. Marvin W. Howard, Ocracoke, N.C., originally published in the Coastland Times, November 12, 1954, re-published with minor editing (click on the linksSlavery on Ocracoke
By Philip HowardSeptember 21, 2011PDF “Papa was always proud that none of his forebears owned slaves,” cousin Blanche Howard told me. “Only after he died did we discover thatNorth Carolina’s First Hospital
By Philip HowardAugust 21, 2011PDF Although hospitals were well known in ancient Greece and Renaissance Europe, they were a relatively late development in the burgeoning British Colonies. The firstLate Night Can Be Bathed in a Beautiful Light
By Philip HowardJuly 21, 2011PDF by Lou Ann Homan-Saylor My summer life on Ocracoke is enchanting. Now that I have settled in, it feels as if this is myOde to Mrs. Godfrey
By Philip HowardJune 23, 2011PDF by Thomas E. MacDonald I was finally embarking on my much-anticipated vacation to my favorite destination and knew what to expect, or so IHistory of the Life of Frank Treat Fulcher [An Autobiography, 1965]
By Philip HowardMay 20, 2011PDF Born January 25, 1878, now 87 years old, who is the director of writing the Life of Old People of ocracoke Island and theA History of Ocracoke Preservation Society
By Philip HowardApril 21, 2011PDF For nearly 30 years Ocracoke Preservation Society has been working to preserve island culture, documents, artifacts, stories, and historic properties. The economic recession ofTraditional Ocracoke Home Remedies
By Philip HowardMarch 21, 2011PDF (Collected by the Ocracoke High School Yearbook staff, 1972-1973, with minor editing) General Diseases Drink sulfur and molasses to keep disease away Use collard1911 Wedding on Portsmouth Island
By Philip HowardFebruary 21, 2011PDF Following is an account of a wedding that took place on Portsmouth Island nearly one hundred years ago. It is entitled “A Beautiful ChurchSam Jones, Island Legend
By Philip HowardJanuary 21, 2011PDF A small cemetery, enclosed by an unpainted, cedar picket fence, lies in the middle of the Springer’s Point Nature Preserve on Ocracoke Island. IkeyDoxsee clam Factory, Ocracoke island, NC
By Philip HowardNovember 21, 2010PDF James Harvey Doxsee (1825-1907), sixth great grandson of Englishman James (“the Vicar”) Doxie, grew up on a four hundred acre farm in Islip, NewOcracoke Cisterns
By Philip HowardOctober 21, 2010PDF Prior to June of 1977 everyone living on Ocracoke Island relied on rainstorms and runoff from the roof for fresh drinking water. According toThe Life of Ocracoke Native, Major General Ira Thomas Wyche (1887-1981)
By Philip HowardSeptember 21, 2010PDF Upon a small sand hill, “Cedar Hammock” by name, on the north end of Ocracoke Island, the U.S. Life Saving Service established a newLooking for the Wahabs
By Philip HowardAugust 19, 2010PDF by Dr. James J. Zogby © President, Arab American Institute OCRACOKE ISLAND, N.C. We are just ending a family vacation on this little islandThe Wreck of the George W. Wells, September 3, 1913
By Philip HowardJuly 21, 2010PDF She was a beautiful sight. At 325 feet long (302 feet at the keel), 48 feet at the beam, and weighing 2,970 tons, theRemembering Island Character Don Wood
By Philip HowardJune 21, 2010PDF Text & Photos by Guest Columnist Robert (Jake) Thornbury It was a dark, moist, windy morning as the four of us boarded the 38′Guest Column: Schooner Windfall Sails into the Final Sunset
By Philip HowardMay 21, 2010PDF By Rob Temple, April, 2010 Leave her, Johnny, leave her Oh leave her, Johnny, leave her! The voyage is done and the winds don’tDon Wood Thanksgiving Stories
By Philip HowardApril 26, 2010PDF Over the years Ocracoke has been home to many a colorful character. Don Wood (1936-1998) was one of the more interesting. Don sold aOcracats
By Philip HowardMarch 17, 2010PDF Pat Garber has asked me to publish the following article about the abundance of feral cats on Ocracoke Island. A PLEA FOR HELP: OCRACOKE’SEarly 20th Century Itinerants on Ocracoke
By Philip HowardFebruary 28, 2010PDF Most of them were just trying to pay their bills. Some were scam artists. Others were attempting to save souls. In the early twentiethKelly O’Neal and the Revolution in Siam
By Philip HowardJanuary 29, 2010PDF Several months ago native islander, Leroy O’Neal, sent me a srory about his Uncle Kelly O”Neal (1911-1987) and the 1951 revolution in Siam (Thailand).Place Names on Ocracoke Island
By Philip HowardNovember 30, 2009PDF In the 1970s Ronnie Midgett and his wife Diane moved to Ocracoke. Ronnie had been called as pastor of the Assembly of God church.A Letter Concerning a Visit to Ocracoke
By Philip HowardOctober 25, 2009PDF By C.A. Weslager* [From the NC Historical Review, July 1958: The letter below was written following a trip to Ocracoke Island in 1949. WhenWind and History in the Rigging
By Philip HowardSeptember 21, 2009PDF by Philip Howard (This was originally published in The Washington Post, Thursday, April 29, 1976) OCRACOKE, N.C. The old fisherman drew alongside in hisBlanche Jolliff Howard’s Ocracoke Photo Album
By Philip HowardAugust 26, 2009PDF Several months ago I was visiting cousin Blanche and she brought out an old photo album for me to look at. I made copiesTurtle Patrol, 2009
By Philip HowardJuly 28, 2009PDF by Lou Ann Homan The mosquitoes are thick as I wait this early morning for Corinna to pick me up for my weekly turtleRemembering Growing up on Ocracoke, Part II
By Philip HowardJune 28, 2009PDF Last month I published the first half of a short journal my father, Lawton W. Howard (1911-2002), wrote shortly before his death. This monthRemembering Growing up on Ocracoke, Part I
By Philip HowardMay 28, 2009PDF Many of our readers will remember my father, Lawton Wesley Howard, Sr. (1911-2002). He was quite the character, and I have written about himPaved Roads on Ocracoke
By Philip HowardApril 28, 2009PDF In 1942 the Navy paved the first road on Ocracoke Island. Islanders called it the Ammunition Dump Road. From the Navy base (which includedOcracoke Cemeteries and Epitaphs
By Philip HowardMarch 28, 2009PDF As many of our readers know, it is impossible to stroll through Ocracoke village for very long without encountering a cemetery. More than eightyChristmas Bird Count on Portsmouth Island, 2008
By Philip HowardFebruary 28, 2009PDF Text and Photos by Lou Ann Homan It is dark and chilly in the cottage when the alarm clock goes off. It is stillLive Oaks of Ocracoke, Part II
By Philip HowardJanuary 29, 2009PDF Last month we published an article about the majestic live oaks on Ocracoke Island. You can read that Newsletter here. Because several readers haveOcracoke’s Artists’ colony
By Philip HowardNovember 29, 2008PDF “Is there an artists’ colony on Ocracoke?” is a question I frequently hear. “We do have a number of talented artists and musicians,” I reply,The Ocracoke Assembly of God Church
By Philip HowardSeptember 26, 2008PDF Ocracoke’s first house of worship was the Methodist Church, established on the island in 1828. The congregation met in several different buildings over theThe Wreck of the Victoria S & Ocracoke’s First Automobile Accident
By Philip HowardAugust 26, 2008PDF “Son, why don’t you come along with me,” Homer called out. Lawton was eager to join his father on beach patrol. It was excitingOne Reason to NOT Move to Ocracoke
By Philip HowardAugust 9, 2008PDF For years newspaper reporters, authors of magazine articles, and long-time visitors to Ocracoke have extolled the virtues of island life. People routinely mention ourA New Pitcher Pump
By Philip HowardJune 29, 2008PDF by Lou Ann Homan The morning started out as every other morning. Fresh home-made bread toasted and spread with peach jam, hot coffee withLifesaving on Ocracoke Island
By Philip HowardMay 25, 2008PDF It was 7:00 a.m., February 17, 1885, and the A.F. Crockett, a coastal schooner, was hard ashore about ten miles southwest of the CedarPortsmouth Island Homecoming, 2008
By Philip HowardApril 21, 2008PDF Honoring the Life Savers On Saturday, April 19, more than 400 people gathered on Portsmouth Island, just across the inlet from Ocracoke. The occasion wasCelebrating the Life of Ocracoke’s Oldest Resident, Muzel Bryant
By Philip HowardMarch 19, 2008PDF As many of our readers know,Muzel Bryant, Ocracoke’s oldest resident, died last month at the age of 103. I was unable to attend herOcracoke Island Crossword
By Philip HowardFebruary 15, 2008PDF Welcome to Village Craftsmen’s first ever island crossword puzzle. I created this puzzle myself. I’d never done anything like this before. I didn’t realizeOcracoke in 1942
By Philip HowardJanuary 17, 2008PDF This month I provide our readers with a brief glimpse into the past with a reprint of an article published on April 11, 1942The Wreck of the Ariosto
By Philip HowardDecember 17, 2007PDF It was December of 1899. The U.S. Life Saving Station at Cedar Hammock, just a mile or so from Hatteras Inlet, on the northThe Old Howard Cemetery
By Philip HowardNovember 26, 2007PDF Recently a former resident of Ocracoke asked me if I would write a newsletter about the old Howard cemetery on British Cemetery Road. IBlackbeard
By Philip HowardOctober 29, 2007PDF Hardly anyone who has visited Ocracoke hasn’t heard about Blackbeard, the fiercest seafarer ever to fly the black flag of piracy. The basic storyClamming with Morty
By Philip HowardSeptember 18, 2007PDF by Lou Ann Homan The sky is brilliant blue with not even a trace of a cloud as I set out on my bike.Captain Joe Burrus
By Philip HowardAugust 24, 2007PDF The most recognizable symbol of Ocracoke Island is the lighthouse. This simple 75 foot tall white tower with a steady beam has been guidingThe “Black Squall”
By Philip HowardJuly 27, 2007PDF Last week the children at the Ocracoke Youth Center were having “Circus Week.” The director, Karen Lovejoy, asked me to stop by one morningThe Ocrafolk School
By Philip HowardJune 29, 2007PDF Ocracoke will host an exciting new island venture this year, the OcraFolk School. The school will feature a one week long session of classesThe Aleta Carries Anything
By Philip HowardMay 25, 2007PDF Getting to Ocracoke in the 1940s and early 1950s was an exciting adventure. This was before the road to Hatteras was built, and beforeReplacing Ocracoke’s Seven Bridges
By Philip HowardApril 19, 2007PDF North Carolina Highway 12 crosses seven tidal creeks on Ocracoke Island. From south to north they are Island Creek (near Hammock Hills nature trailA Traditional Island Whistle
By Philip HowardMarch 20, 2007PDF As in most small rural villages and towns across America, Ocracoke children of several generations ago played with a variety of homemade toys, andDeath & Dying on Ocracoke
By Philip HowardFebruary 18, 2007PDF Ocracoke village comprises little more than 600 acres of buildable land, with about 750 residents. In spite of the small & circumscribed land mass,Ocracoke’s Last Fish House
By Philip HowardJanuary 18, 2007PDF Last winter, after many years of a unique and historic maritime heritage, Ocracoke was threatened with permanent closure of the island’s last remaining fishDory Fishing Off the Beach
By Philip HowardDecember 12, 2006PDF By Jamie Tunnell (This article was originally published in the December, 2006 issue of the Ocracoke Observer.) Generations of watermen have haul-seined off OcracokeMaps of the Outer Banks
By Philip HowardNovember 2, 2006PDF Last month a visitor to the Ocracoke Preservation Society museum wondered aloud about the name “Portsmouth Island.” As many of our readers know, PortsmouthThe Community Store
By Philip HowardSeptember 28, 2006PDF Modern-day visitors to Ocracoke Island typically imagine that the small village of several hundred homes clustered around strikingly charming Silver Lake harbor has alwaysHoward Street
By Philip HowardAugust 21, 2006PDF Ocracoke’s first residents were Native Americans, members of the Wocon tribe. Some of the earliest recorded names for the island (Wococon, Wokokon) reflect thisTokens of Death
By Philip HowardJune 25, 2006PDF “A token of death,” an Ocracoker might exclaim, on hearing that a neighbor or family member had a disturbing dream. Perhaps the dreamer watchedOcracoke and the War of 1812
By Philip HowardMay 16, 2006PDF A part of Ocracoke’s history little remarked on is the War of 1812. In fact this is sometimes referred to as America’s “forgotten war.”Old Kade
By Philip HowardApril 15, 2006PDF Ocracoke Island is a magical place with a host of interesting characters. It has always been so. John Williams, III was born on OcracokeQuilting on Ocracoke
By Philip HowardMarch 13, 2006PDF Quilting ranks among Ocracoke Island’s traditional crafts. In times past most island homes included a quilting frame, and Ocracoke women spent many an eveningSeafarers of Ocracoke Island
By Philip HowardFebruary 17, 2006PDF Historic Ocracoke is most commonly referred to as a traditional fishing village. Although this is partially true, it overlooks an important aspect of theI Believe in Potlucks
By Philip HowardJanuary 23, 2006PDF Recently eastern North Carolina’s National Public Radio station has been sponsoring a segment entitled “This I Believe.” They regularly air a thoughtful essay writtenOcracoke Street Names, Part II
By Philip HowardDecember 19, 2005PDF Last month I took the opportunity to share some island history by explaining how several of Ocracoke’s street names came to be. Other namesOcracoke Street Names, Part I
By Philip HowardNovember 19, 2005PDF Ocracoke Island has only had official street names for a few years; and street signs for just several months. Not so long ago folksGeorge & Jule
By Philip HowardOctober 29, 2005PDF Last week one of Ocracoke’s native sons, George Guthrie Jackson, died after a long illness. George was descended from one of the island’s veryAugust Storm of 1899
By Philip HowardSeptember 15, 2005PDF In an August journal entry Dale mentioned the Outer Banks’ “Old August Storm” of 1899, and said that I would publish more about thatThe Old Toothbrush Man
By Philip HowardAugust 1, 2005PDF Although medical care was spotty on Ocracoke in the late 19th & early 20th centuries, professional dental care was non-existent. Toothbrushes as we knowKunigunde Guth Howard
By Philip HowardJune 30, 2005PDF In a past newsletter I documented a number of island residents’ unusual first names — names such as Epherena, Emelis, Leevella, Hiteous, and Maltby.Ocracoke Native Charlie Morris O’Neal
By Philip HowardMay 2, 2005PDF Ocracoke native Charlie Morris O’Neal was born October 21, 1921. He died March 27, 2005. His family asked me to deliver the eulogy atWinter Construction on Ocracoke
By Philip HowardMarch 19, 2005PDF There has been quite a bit of construction taking place on Ocracoke this winter. Sometimes folks shudder to think about new building, but it’sDey Jimminy Criminy
By Philip HowardFebruary 13, 2005PDF Michael Judge in his recent book, The Dance of Time, has this to say about February: “Although mighty Orion still commands the southern sky,Lawton Howard (October 10, 1911 – March 23, 2002)
By Philip HowardJanuary 28, 2005PDF As Lawton always liked to tell it, he was the tenth child, born at ten minutes after ten o’clock, on the tenth day ofHomer & Aliph Howard Home
By Philip HowardJanuary 1, 2005PDF Ocracoke Island, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, was first settled by Europeans in the mid 1700’s. In 1759, at nearly 60 yearsChristmas on the Island
By Philip HowardDecember 11, 2004PDF Ocracoke Christmases in the twenty-first century are a combination of traditional and modern elements. Each season sees an increase in lighted decorations. Some folks,Wreck of the Steamboat “Home” Part II
By Philip HowardNovember 1, 2004PDF Following is Part II of the gripping & dramatic story of a 19th century tragedy, one of the greatest sea disasters in the historyWreck of the Steamboat “Home” Part I
By Philip HowardOctober 12, 2004PDF Following is the gripping & dramatic story of a 19th century tragedy, one of the greatest sea disasters in the history of the NorthBuilding an Ocracoke bird trap
By Philip HowardSeptember 1, 2004PDF Like most small villages, towns, and neighborhoods with a sense of community, Ocracoke has many local traditions. Island children, until recently, had their ownHistory of the Ocracoke Lighthouse
By Philip HowardAugust 1, 2004PDF Ocracoke’s 75′ tall white tower with a steady beacon is the island’s most prominent landmark. Built in 1823 by Noah Porter of Massachusetts forLegends of Blackbeard’s Skull
By Philip HowardJuly 1, 2004PDF Island Greetings! This month I share with you the fascinating story of the search for Blackbeard’s skull. But first, two brief comments. Several peopleStorms & Shipwrecks
By Philip HowardJune 1, 2004PDF Ocracoke Island has been the final resting place for many an ill-fated vessel caught in a storm off our coast. Shipwrecks of note includeOcracoke & Aviation, including new air service to the island
By Philip HowardMay 5, 2004PDF Powered, controlled flight and the Outer Banks, especially Kitty Hawk, NC, will be forever linked in our minds. The Wright Brothers never set footMuzel Bryant’s 100th birthday
By Philip HowardApril 6, 2004PDF On Friday, March 12, 2004 Ocracoke native, Muzel Bryant, had her 100th birthday. The next day approximately 200 people came to the school gymnasiumFat Tuesday on Ocracoke
By Philip HowardMarch 3, 2004PDF After a cold and stormy winter, it finally feels as if spring is just around the corner. One sure sign of the impending warmerQuiet winter, and more about the Homer & Aliph Howard Home
By Philip HowardFebruary 9, 2004PDF Winter Greetings & Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Village Craftsmen! Congratulations are in order for several Village Craftsmen employees: — MaryWinter Storms, Moving of the Assembly of God Church, Homer & Aliph Howard Home
By Philip HowardJanuary 9, 2004PDF Winter Greetings from Ocracoke Island! As you might imagine, Ocracoke is quiet this time of year. The winter holidays are behind us, most islandHistory of the Ocracoke United Methodist Church, Part II
By Philip HowardDecember 6, 2003PDF For a number of years tiny Ocracoke Island was home to two congregations of the Methodist Church. During the latter part of the nineteenthHistory of the Ocracoke United Methodist Church, Part I
By Philip HowardNovember 26, 2003PDF The first record of a church on Ocracoke Island is in 1828 when the Ocracoke-Portsmouth Circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church was established. InHurricane Isabel
By Philip HowardSeptember 23, 2003PDF September 15, 2003 – September 23, 2003 Monday, September 15, 2003 Although no one can confidently predict the course of Hurricane Isabel at thisMeal Wine & Drunk Pig
By Philip HowardSeptember 2, 2003PDF Here is a traditional island recipe. Take four pounds of corn meal, five pounds of sugar, four gallons of water, three or four packagesOld names for Ocracoke Island, 1795 Map & Description
By Philip HowardAugust 2, 2003PDF Greetings from Wococon Island! One of the more common questions visitors to Ocracoke ask is “What is the origin of the name ‘Ocracoke?'” InSigma Willis Scholarship Fund, Adopt-a-Pony Program
By Philip HowardJuly 6, 2003PDF July Greetings from Ocracoke! Ocracoke Island, as many of you know, is not simply a tourist resort. It is a thriving community with aElnora Ballance, an Ocracoke Murder, Family Tragedy, and Major General Ira Wyche
By Philip HowardJune 6, 2003PDF Visitors to Ocracoke Island are often fascinated by the many family graveyards scattered throughout the village. In fact, at least 82 small cemeteries canAunt Sal Stanford
By Philip HowardMay 8, 2003PDF © Philip Howard, 2003 Walking through island graveyards can lead to unexpected discoveries. For instance, a quiet stroll through the old Howard cemetery onHistory of Springer’s Point
By Philip HowardApril 3, 2003PDF The Ghosts of Springer’s Point © Philip Howard, 2003 With 42 acres of maritime forest, Springer’s Point remains one of the last undeveloped treasuresOcracoke Music, Island Path Summer Workshops
By Philip HowardMarch 6, 2003PDF Welcome to yet another Ocracoke Newsletter from Village Craftsmen. The weather is warming up and we are looking forward to the beginning of aBlizzard of 2003
By Philip HowardJanuary 23, 2003PDF Today all of Eastern North Carolina, and especially the Outer Banks, experienced one of the largest snowfalls in recent history. Not since 1980 hadOcracoke Holiday Traditions
By Philip HowardDecember 20, 2002PDF Happy Holidays to all of our friends! Ocracoke Lighthouse in a Winter Snow, 2002 As the depth of winter envelopes us we often comeWintertime Activities, Howard Family Reunion
By Philip HowardNovember 26, 2002PDF Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Village Craftsmen! Last month I reported that one of the most common questions summer visitors ask usFunny comments and questions
By Philip HowardOctober 1, 2002PDF Fall Greetings from Ocracoke Island! Perhaps it is because Ocracoke is so isolated, accessible only by boat or small plane, that throughout the summerTropical Storm Gustav
By Philip HowardSeptember 15, 2002PDF Greetings! On Tuesday, September 10 tropical storm Gustav visited Ocracoke. The winds were moderate (probably no gustier than 60 mph), but the trajectory ofRainbow, Waterspout, & “Old Diver”
By Philip HowardAugust 1, 2002PDF September Greetings from Ocracoke Island! We recently received the following email from one of our island visitors, Patrick Crockett: “I thought you folks mightJuly 4 Parade, New Books, Old Coins
By Philip HowardAugust 1, 2002PDF Summer greetings from Ocracoke! As usual, the island community came together for a creative, whacky, fun-filled July 4th celebration last month. The highlight ofMarsh Fire & Seafaring Adventures of Frank Treat Fulcher
By Philip HowardJuly 1, 2002PDF Welcome back to another edition of our island newsletter! Some of you may have heard about the fire scare we had last month. AAmy & David, Ocrafolk Festival 2002, Portsmouth Island, M/V Silver Lake
By Philip HowardJune 4, 2002PDF Summertime greetings from Ocracoke Island! For those of you who haven’t been to the island recently, this month we share with you news aboutOcracoke Ponies and Outstanding Horsemen
By Philip HowardMay 1, 2002PDF Spring greetings from Ocracoke Island! As warmer weather approaches, we are beginning to see many familiar faces returning to the island for rest andAmtrak service to Ocracoke?!?
By Philip HowardApril 1, 2002PDF Welcome to another addition to our on-line Ocracoke Newsletter! This month we bring you exciting news from the island. For all of you whoScalloping in Pamlico Sound
By Philip HowardMarch 2, 2002PDF Welcome to another edition of our on-line newsletter! Those of you who visit Ocracoke in the off-season may have noticed broken shells on HighwayAuction raises $3,600 & the Schooner Windfall
By Philip HowardFebruary 4, 2002PDF Welcome to another edition of Village Craftsmen’s on-line newsletter! For those of you who missed last month’s posting you might want to see someWinter Snow
By Philip HowardJanuary 4, 2002PDF Islanders woke up this morning to 3-4 inches of heavy, wet snow blanketing the village. Ocracoke hadn’t had a real snowfall for over aOcracoke Christmas Traditions, Solstice Party
By Philip HowardDecember 27, 2001PDF Wintertime greetings to Friends of Ocracoke Island! We hope you are enjoying a joyous holiday season and we wish for you happiness and theOcracoke Thanksgiving, Brief History of Ocracoke Island
By Philip HowardNovember 24, 2001PDF Fall Greetings from all of us at Village Craftsmen! We hope all of you had a Thanksgiving holiday filled with many blessings. In spiteHumorous stories about Lawton Howard, 90 year old O’cocker
By Philip HowardNovember 2, 2001PDF Welcome back to another edition of our on-line newsletter. This month I share with you some amusing stories about my father, Lawton, who justClamming & Clam Chowder recipe
By Philip HowardOctober 15, 2001PDF Fall Greetings from all of us at Village Craftsmen! The world and our country have changed drastically since our last newsletter was published. TheRoy Parsons, Ocracoke & Philadelphia, “Old Drum” recipe
By Philip HowardAugust 5, 2001PDF September Greetings from Ocracoke Island! Many of you have had an opportunity to visit us this summer, some are planning an upcoming Fall vacation,Fruits & vegetables from the sea, and the “Pioneer”
By Philip HowardAugust 1, 2001PDF This past winter as I was walking along the beach with my hat pulled down over my ears and my collar turned up against“I’ve done promised Freener” & Island Names
By Philip HowardJuly 1, 2001PDF Summer is upon us and soon it will be Independence Day. If you will be on the island July 4 be sure to checkBlue Jays, Tree Frogs, House Movings & The Island Inn
By Philip HowardJune 1, 2001PDF Warm greetings from Ocracoke Island! Summer is just around the corner and, as you can see from the photos below, Ocracoke Village is burstingFannie Pearl MacWilliams Wahab
By Philip HowardMay 4, 2001PDF Greetings from Ocracoke Island! Ocracoke, like most isolated areas, has its share of supernatural stories. The following was told to me by Larry Williams.Treasures from the sea, Community Litter Pickup, Ocracoke Fig Cake
By Philip HowardApril 3, 2001PDF Spring greetings from Ocracoke Island! This afternoon as I write, Ocracoke is quiet and subdued. Clouds and gentle rain have settled over the islandCommunity Store, Mail Boat, New Items, Arts Fair & OcraFolk Festival
By Philip HowardMarch 5, 2001PDF Hello again from Ocracoke Island! Community Gatherings: Sunday was “Customer Appreciation Day” at the Community Store. Ricky and Gaynelle Tillett staged a big sale,Winter Activities, Lawton Howard
By Philip HowardFebruary 1, 2001PDF Warm greetings from the folks at Village Craftsmen! Winter is one of our favorite times on Ocracoke. The weather may be chilly (this winterCormorants, Geese, Dolphins, Whales, & Christmas on Ocracoke
By Philip HowardDecember 10, 2000PDF Winter is a time for walking on the beach. Sometimes it is cold and windy, but the island is quiet this season of theGuest Columnist, Leon
By Philip HowardNovember 7, 2000PDF Well hey! Leon here– For those of you who don’t know me (can’t imagine that!) I’m the very handsome black & white cat thatBon Appetite, Uncle Homer, Employee Lounge
By Philip HowardSeptember 22, 2000PDF Last month I shared with you a short story about Julius Bryant and one of his floundering adventures in the mid-50’s. Below is aFloundering & Stories
By Philip HowardAugust 28, 2000PDF August is nearly gone and Labor Day is fast approaching. Summertime on Ocracoke has been pleasant this year. There have been many people hereOcracoke July 4 Celebration
By Philip HowardJuly 23, 2000PDF Already it is nearing the end of July! Summertime, of course, brings many people to Ocracoke for swimming, fishing, boating and just plain relaxing.Ocrafolk Festival, Sewing & Quilts
By Philip HowardJune 21, 2000PDF The first annual “Ocracoke Festival of Story and Song,” held on Saturday, June 10, was a big success! Many outstanding musicians were featured includingOcracoke Dance, Howard Street Arts and Crafts Fair, Clay Walthall
By Philip HowardMay 28, 2000PDF Welcome to our special page where we share news and information about Ocracoke Village, Ocracoke Island and Village Craftsmen. On Thursday, May 25, thePortsmouth Island, Guestbook, Photography Exhibit
By Philip HowardMay 4, 2000PDF Welcome to the latest edition of our Ocracoke Newsletter. Portsmouth Island: Just across Ocracoke Inlet, to the south, lies Portsmouth Island. Path from HauloverRound Creek, Down Point, and Up Trent
By Philip HowardApril 14, 2000PDF Welcome to our Ocracoke Island newsletter! Howard Street Sit back, relax and let your mind take a stroll down Howard Street. Today is aOld Quork, Molasses Creek on A Prairie Home Companion, Pottery by Elaine
By Philip HowardApril 3, 2000PDF Greetings again from the folks at Village Craftsmen! Spring is definitely in the air. It is time for repairing and painting boats, opening ofNew Fig sprouts, Muzel Bryant, Molasses Creek
By Philip HowardMarch 20, 2000PDF Spring is definitely on its way as evidenced by the many daffodils blooming throughout the village. Another sign of warmer weather is the newDialect, Scotch Bonnet, Joe Bell
By Philip HowardMarch 6, 2000PDF These past two weeks have been delightful. Saturday, Feb 26 was the perfect beach day–warm, sunny and calm. It was so perfect I justRondthaler House, Ocracoke Room at Wesley Hospitality House
By Philip HowardFebruary 23, 2000PDF This past weekend witnessed a small increase in island visitors because of the official observance of George Washington’s birthday on Monday. To put ourDolphins, Ocracoke Square Dance, Dialect, Shipwreck “Nelly Potter”
By Philip HowardFebruary 14, 2000PDF Greetings from Ocracoke Island. It is still winter, of course, but we’ve had several days of balmy, almost Spring-like weather. Then it turned aHurricanes Dennis and Floyd, Ocracoke Dialect
By Philip HowardFebruary 4, 2000PDF Whether you are a first-time visitor to this site or becoming a regular, welcome to our Ocracoke Island Newsletter. Many of you have askedOcraFolk Festival, Highway 12, off-season activities
By Philip HowardJanuary 28, 2000PDF The first annual OcraFolk Festival of story and song will be held on June 10, 2000. If you are planning a summer visit to