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OBJECTIVE...
America’s Oldest Light Beacon
HOWtc
In the first place, I wanted
something I could call my
own. In the second place, a
number of people told me
that it would be impossible
to publish a newspaper in
such a small community.
That is probably the reason
I finally decided to give birth
to Ocracoke Island Beacon. I
want to show the skeptical
that it is possible to overcome
what they termed as “impos
sible.”
I want the people of Ocra
coke Island, and the resi
dents here who are now em
ployed away from home to
go along with me. Never
think of this newspaper as
being the property of an in
dividual. Think of it as being
your community’s newspa
per, refer to it as, “Our Ocra
coke Island Beacon.” Bea
con’s objective is to be an as
set for Ocracoke’s future
progress, along with other
salt water communities on
the coast.—Aycock Brown.
SPEAKING OF BEACONS . . Ocracoke Lighthouse, familiar island
landmark, is pictured above. It is the oldest lighthouse, (on which
no major changes of construction have been made) actively com
missioned in America today. The old tower has seen service since
1798, when it was built to replace the original Ocracoke light which
was located on Beacon Island. Capt. Joe Burrus has been resident
keeper of the light for many years.— (Prytherch Photo).
Ocracoke Is d Bea on
will publish pt sona: ms
about activities here, b tvs
and feature stories about lis
and other nearb salt w. er
communities w also be
published. The newer er
and it’s success j in
the cooperation of the " Ie
interested in Ocracoke and
the other nearb i-
ties along the ce o t.
You as an indivi al u
as a merchant ca
A readible BWspapejrls
promised. This first edition is
a sample of what futu: i-
tions will be like. Th : n
will be published e
monthly, on the Foor and
Fifteenth. You cat ■ by
sending in your . oscrigtion
to Ocracoke Isla Bea 1.
The rate is $1 pe: ear/ Mart-
chants can help . taking
advertising spac which n
turn will create sore ’ i-
ness for them. That is. 1 v
you can help. -A..; k
Brown.
VOLUME 1—NO. 1
OCRACOKE, N. C. OCT. 15, 1941
FIVE CE
AIRLINE PROPOSED VIA OCRACC
DUCKS!
Sprigs And Black
Ducks Arriving
Despite the fact there was
plenty of hot weather during
early October, large flocks
of Sprigs (Pintails) and
Black Ducks had arrived in
Pamlico Sound waters in the
vicinity of Ocracoke. Pinta
Williams, local game war
den, whose job it is to keep a
check on the birds as well as
hunters said last weekend that
there were far more ducks this
early October than in many years.
“It looks like a good year for all
kinds of “birds” he said, referring
to ducks of many species and
geese.
A great many guides will be
available for hunters when the
season opens on November 2.
Many are getting their blinds and
decoys ready now for the recep
tion of sportsmen. License fees
this year will be the same as last
season: $1.10 County; $2.10 State
and $15.25 Non-Resident. The
Guide licenses will be $5.25. Last
year about 100 local licenses were
sold by Game Warden Williams.
Number of non-resident licenses
See DUCKS Page 8
API? A Pflkl? IIPPAV With an abundance of ducks al-1
A * ready here along with a few !
scattered flocks of geese, island guides are getting ready for what 1
is relieved will be one of the best seasons ,br waterfowl hantn'g in j
many years. The season opens November 2. In the picture below
Capt. Gray Bragg, veteran guide, is shown painting a Canada
goose decoy which he has made from juniper. Such scenes as this
are common around the decoy houses of guides during late Oc
tober. The interested spectator watching Capt. Gary work is Fred
R. Stedman of Ocracoke and Greensboro. (Photo from Stedman).
♦ - *
Plans To Be Discusse
At Mec^f Ok ShttA-/
Just when the proposed scheduled air line operating
between Norfolk, Va., via Manteo, Hatteras, OCRACOKE,
Atlantic and to Beaufort-Morehead City, with the possi
bility of being extended on to Wilmington and Charles
ton, may be announced following a meeting of committees
from each community to be served here on Saturday night,
October 18. The meeting will be held at 6 o’clock in Wa
hab Village Hotel.
Announcement of the meeting
scheduled for this weekend was
made by R. S. Wahab of Ocracoke
and Baltimore two weeks ago. He
is president of Ocracoke-Manteo
Transportation Company which
has successfully operated, with
Dave Driskill as chief pilot, an Air
Taxi Service for Outer Banks
communities during the past two
years. Mr. Wahab will be here to
preside over the meeting.
Committees of three or more
persons from the communities to
be served along with business as
sociates or friends of Mr. Wahab
will be here this weekend. Chair
men of the community committees
include: D. Victor Meekins, Man
teo; M. L. Burrus, Hatteras; Mr.
Wahab for this community along
with other interested islanders in
cluding officials of the Chamber of
Commerce; Capt. James R. Morris
of Atlantic and Beacon Editor-
11117’111 Something new in the
1 1 . way of gaining a live ¬
lihood from the waters adjacent
to the Outer Banks is planned by
Stanley Wahab, according to a
story appearing in Dare County
Times recently. The Times story
indicated that Wahab, who has al
ready done more for the develop
ment of Ocra
coke Island than
any other person,
is planning to es
tablish a shark
fishery. There is
a big demand for
shark livers, from
which valuab I e
oil is obtained.
There is also a de-
mand for the
skins, teeth, an-
nal gut and bones WAHAB
of shark. Times’ story indicated
P A R ^^ c t°r Meekins, of
£ Manteo, who is sec ¬
retary of Cape Hatteras National
Seashore Park Commission, has re
ported that he expects to have
deeds to the 10,000 acres desired
for the park by January, R. Bruce
Etheridge, ex-officio chairman of
the commission re
ported in Raleigh
last week.
Deeds for 900
acres of land from
the Phipps estate at
Cape Hatteras are
in process of com
pletion. No land is
being purchased for
-MEEKINS- t k e project, but it is
believed that enough will be do
nated. Many acres have already
been donated on Ocracoke Island.
Meekins will be here Saturday
night to attend meeting of com
mittees interested in proposed
Outer Banks scheduled airline.
I^ IF
Island Now Has A
Deputy Sheriff
Ocracoke Island has law
protection at last. For years
the community liked to boast
of the distinction of having
“no law” and no jails. That
was back in the days before
automobiles and such prom
iscuous liquor drinking at
certain times. Ocracoke still
has no jail but it has a dep
uty sheriff.
J. G. Riddick, formerly of
Gates County and Suffolk,
Va., who married the former
See LAW Page 8
FISH STORY
Hitch-Hiking Mackerel
When the Wm. G. Dryden came
into port last Friday morning
loaded with freight from Washing
ton, Capt. Isaac O’Neal, master
and owner, discovered he had a
hitch-hiker aboard. The hitch-
hiker was a 12-pound Spanish
Mackerel which had apparently
jumped on deck just a few mo
ments before the Dryden entered
the harbor. Capt. O’Neal did not
discover the hitch-hiking fish un
til he was docking his boat—Re
ported by A. G. and E.S.G.
THOUGHT FOR YOU
We have just enough religion to
make us hate, but not enough to
make us love one another.—Swift.
See AIR LINE Page 8
See WAHAB Page 8
SUBSCRIBE TO THE BEACON
The Editor-Owner hopes you have enjoyed reading this first edi
tion of the Ocracoke Island Beacon so much that you will subscribe.
The subscription rate is $1 per year. Your interest and cooperation
will assure you of an interesting newspaper from Ocracoke on the
First and Fifteenth of each month. For your convenience fill in
coupon below:
Aycock Brown, Editor-Owner
Ocracoke Island Beacon
Beaufort, North Carolina.
Enclose $1. Please mail Ocracoke Island Beacon to me for one
year.
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