Newspapers / Ocracoke Observer (Ocracoke, N.C.) / May 1, 2022, edition 1 / Page 14
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Island heritage May 2022 page 14 Ocracoke | | observer] Portsmouth descendants reunite with friends, visit former homesteads By Peter Vankevich and Hannah Bunn West T ime on Portsmouth Is land moves more slowly than much of the world elsewhere, so they say. But with regards to the Ports mouth Homecoming, even the most ardent supporters of the unhurried nature of village time wished it would carry them more quickly toward the long-awaited event. Since 1992, the Portsmouth Homecoming ceremony has taken place every two years. But like many events in 2020, it was canceled due to the CO VID-19 pandemic, making it a painfully long four- year wait to once again celebrate the island’s cultural and natural heri tage. This year’s theme was “Portsmouth Rises,” fitting for post-pandemic life but also for Portsmouth’s recovery after Hurricane Dorian pum- meled the village in September 2019. About 400 attendees, many being descendants of the is land’s families, arrived by boat under a pristine Outer Banks Kayaks • Paddleboards Water Sports • Sunglasses Clothing • Footwear • Swim Suits 252-928-6311 • www.SurfOcracoke.com Located on Hwy 12 @ Silver Lake sky and strolled through the historic village whose last three inhabitants left the island in 1971. Also present was a film crew. The Tamassee Group, a non- profit independent filmmaking group, in collaboration with The Southern Documentary Fund, is producing a documen tary for PBS North Carolina on the cultural and environmen tal history of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. They found the return to Portsmouth Island and its restored village an ideal place to begin filming. Of the remaining 20 buildings on the island, 11 were open including the church, the lifesaving sta tion, and the schoolhouse. Mswuth I§W HW patterned ^^ 8 ^^ torii §§ t ^ ©«W ^ ^ §8 The rarely seen Portsmouth Is land letter cancellation stamp. Inside the Portsmouth Island post office were Melissa Gar- rish Sharber on assignment from Ocracoke’s post office and Hatteras Post Office Post master Vivian Barnett. They processed post cards and en velopes with the Portsmouth The Portsmouth Island post office. Island cancellation stamp. The homecoming has a tra dition of a formal ceremony beginning with a Presentation of Colors by the U.S. Coast Guard. Kathy McNeilly, president of the Friends of Portsmouth Is land, welcomed the crowd. Jim White, author of several books on the history of Portsmouth Island, served as emcee. His grandmother, Lucy Beacham Gilgo, moved to Portsmouth in 1922 to teach and married Tom Gilgo. His grandfather’s family’s connection to Portsmouth dates to the early 1800s. yoii might not know wo have life, home, ;mlo end hu^iu^ moment e now you do simple human sense C CHALK & GIBBS ^ -. • ... .. ' >...•., ;.••..; AJL ^uto-Owners INSURANCE [Iff. ■ HOME ; CAR - BUSINESS History professor David Quinn, grandson of Dot Salter Willis, gave a history of the is land. “Home is where you go to find solace,” he said. De scendants had the opportunity to seek solace as they reunited with friends, visited former homesteads and laid flowers in family cemeteries nestled in the village. Jeff West, superintendent of Cape Lookout National Sea- shore that administers the vil lage, gave an update on its cur rent state and the many repairs following Hurricane Dorian. He extended a heartfelt thank you to his staff and volunteers Marehead gity Beaufort * Bap© Bartefet Sasai 726-3^? ehalkaFdgibbSsgem for their dedication to saving the village while others would have written it off. Former village caretaker, Ocracoke Islander Dave Frum, who retired in 2016, attended. While not technically an an cestor of Portsmouth, one could say Frum is the next best thing. For 23 years he looked after the village part-time, taking his skiff over from Ocracoke. In a bittersweet moment, longtime volunteers Ed and Renee Burgess were acknowl edged for over 20 years of ser vice in the village, noting that this year will be their last. Though ending their many years of service to Portsmouth Island’s preservation, these and other devoted members of the older generation have illumi nated the way for the next. Earlier in the morning, Pas tor Ivey Belch of Ocracoke’s Life Saving Church performed a christening, and the long- silent sanctuary of the Ports mouth Methodist Church was once again filled with a chorus of voices young and old for the traditional hymn singing that followed. After the ceremony, the re turn of a traditional — and enor mous — potluck was welcomed by the many hungry revelers, concluding a festive day. Hannah Bunn West is a Kill Devil Hills author.
Ocracoke Observer (Ocracoke, N.C.)
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