All communities have history, and some communities are fortunate enough to have history keepers, the people who preserve that place's stories. One such history keeper is Philip Howard of Ocracoke, an eighth-generation islander who's been there almost his entire life...
On Ocracoke Island the Howard family is well-known for owning Village Craftsmen, the much-loved craft gallery they have been operating on Howard Street for more than 50 years. Showcasing Ocracoke-inspired fine art and crafts is a passion for gallery founder Philip Howard and his daughter, Amy...
People from all over the world come to the Outer Banks to take a break from their ordinary lives. So where do Outer Banks residents go when they need to get away from it all? Ocracoke. Accessible only by ferry, boat or private plane, the 16mile-long island has an enticing off-the-beaten-path appeal.
Following is a transcript (very slightly edited for ease of reading) about growing up on Ocracoke Island from an interview with Ellen Marie Fulcher Cloud (1940-2016). Ellen Marie, who loved Ocracoke and collected much island history, was interviewed March 30, 2016, by Barbara Garrity-Blake for...
In the mid-1990s I was in downtown Beaufort, North Carolina, walking along Front Street when I noticed a slender, gray-haired woman dressed entirely in black. “Yvonne,” I said, to attract her attention. She stopped, and I introduced myself. “Philip Howard, from Ocracoke,” I offered. She extended...
The OcraFolk Music and Storytelling Festival in June, the Ocracoke Independence Day celebration, and the Ocracoke Fig Festival in August are opportunities for islanders and visitors to come together on the dance floor. As many couples as can comfortably fit in the room form a circle. When the...
The Howard family of Ocracoke is linked by a tradition of love for their island home. Ever since William Howard, who historians believe may have been Blackbeard’s quartermaster, bought the island in 1759, it’s been a Howard family tradition to reside here. At least 10 generations of Howards have...
One of the happiest journeys in life is the ferry ride to Ocracoke for a magical vacation. When you finally have to bid farewell to the island, it is gratifying to...
People fall in love with Ocracoke Island for so many reasons — the ocean waves, calm sound waters, weather, history, people, wildlife and on and on. Another element of the island that stirs people’s hearts is the trees...
Filled with the fine-quality American handcrafts of more than 150 artists, Village Craftsmen is an Ocracoke Island tradition. Over the last 51 years the gallery has garnered a loyal following of customers who come to collect the new works of their favorite artists...
Over the last 51 years Village Craftsmen in Ocracoke has grown from a modest craft shop begun in a tipi into a multi-room gallery that’s considered among the top craft galleries in coastal North Carolina...
You haven’t really visited Ocracoke Island until you’ve wandered down Howard Street and discovered this enchanting gallery. Tucked down an unpaved, tree-covered lane, Village Craftsmen has developed over the last 51 years into a beloved Ocracoke Island shopping tradition...
Ocracoke village is a dream destination if you’re the type of person who loves poking in and out of charming, independently owned shops and eateries. Hop on a bike or golf cart or just wander the heart of town on foot, and around every corner you’ll find an irresistible little place...
When Philip and Julie Howard set up a teepee on a piece of Philip’s parents’ Howard Street property in the summer of 1970 and began selling their handmade spoon rings and macramé necklaces, everyone thought they’d lost their minds...
Nature slows and quiets during the winter, but as the longer, warmer days return with springtime, it revs back to life. The same goes for Ocracoke Island. The islanders have a way of listening to Mother Nature and following her lead...
Exploring historic Howard Street is a priority for many visitors to Ocracoke Island. The rustic, unpaved lane of crushed shell and sand beckons travelers away from the paved road, enticing them to slow down, pay attention and experience island history, heritage and handcrafts...
Ocracoke Island has a history as deep as the waters of the Atlantic. Legends of swashbuckling pirates, flaming ships, buried treasure, haunted houses and more abound on Ocracoke, and for Amy Howard, manager of Village Craftsmen craft gallery, these stories are more than legends...