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Tag Archives: sea turtles

Portsmouth Island: a little history

Posted on Tue - Jun 28th, 2016 by NC-Culture Posted in Of Special Interest .

In our last post, two weeks ago, we addressed “what to expect” if visiting Portsmouth Island. This week we will learn a little about the history of the island.

Cape Lookout National Seashore North Carolina commons

Cape Lookout National Seashore
North Carolina
commons

 

Portsmouth Island is part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore, acquired in the sixties.  Cape Lookout itself is part of our Outer Banks, and consists of three barrier islands: North Core Banks, South Core Banks, and Shackleford Banks (where the Shackleford ponies can be found).  Portsmouth Island is in Carteret County, and you can see several areas across the water, including Ocracoke and Atlantic, NC.

Core Banks and Core Sound are believed to be named for the Coree Indians, who resided in this area of our state.

The Coree Indians were also known as Coranine, Cores, Connanox, Neuse River Indians, or Commamocksocks.

** “The name Coree may be the singular form of the Carolina Algonquian name Cwareuuoc.” Wikipedia

Although I was unable to find a direct reference to the meaning of this word, I did find this:

“Before the arrival of the white man, the lands adjacent to Cape Lookout, mainly Core Banks, were inhabited by the Coree Indians, who hunted and fished on the banks near the cape, although they mainly resided further inland, in a village named Cwareuuoc, several miles behind Core Banks.”

credit: Coastal North Carolina

At one time, the Coree Indians resided south of the Neuse River.  Little is known about this tribe, due to the small numbers (my understanding is that they had only thee villages: most sources did not mention Cwareuuoc).  Their survival was primarily based on agriculture and our Atlantic Ocean.

Coranine, believed to be coastal Carteret County.
Narhantes, near New Bern.
Raruta, also believed to be coastal Carteret County.

The first official mention of these Indians was in 1701.  During the Tuscarora War (1711-1713) the Corees joined Tuscarora to fight.After the war ended, some transplanted to New York to settle.

The remaining Corees merged with the Tuscarora and the Algonquian Machapunga into a single village on Lake Mattamuskeet of Hyde County in 1715. Others  settled into nearby areas such as Indian Beach, Harker’s Island, and Alantic Beach.

The Coranines are associated with the only cannibalism reference of Indians in our state.

For more about this, please see “The American Indian in North Carolina“, written by Douglas Rights, page 56.

Also please note: according to the information on page 259 of this reference, the numbers of the Coree were approximately 1000 at the time of first contact with settlers. However, NCpedia quotes a number of 100 in 1701. Another source, Carolina Native Americans, mentions a war that decimated the population before 1696.

Further information:

Wikipedia

Dickshovel

 

Originally, Portsmouth Village, located at the south end, was what was called a “lightering” port.  It is a historic district, and no camping or cabin rentals are available in this area.

Lightering port essentially means that deep draft vessels, unable to access the shallow waters of the sounds, would lay off-shore, and shallow draft boats would take on their cargo to transport across the waters.  While speaking with one of the ferry people, I was told that most of the sound only averages around 2-3 feet of water, so you can see why this was necessary.

Portsmouth Village was established in 1753, and at one time, was at a peak population of 685 (1860).  After hurricanes contributed to the shoaling of the port waters, and the onslaught of the Civil War, people began to relocate to the mainland, and many never returned.  In 1937, the life-saving station was decommissioned, and the small post office official closed in 1959.  In 1971, the last two residents, Marian Babb and Nora Dixon,  left the island after the passing of their caretaker, Henry Pigott.

Although many may not realize it now, a large amount of the population was African American, having been brought in as slaves.  Most of these people also left Portsmouth Island due to the war, but some residents remained.  At this time, segregation was wide-spread, and due to the fact that the island did not have a school specifically for the African American population, many never received a formal education.

Below is a variety of village photos, and you can also download photos and an audio tour at this link

Audio Tour

Portsmouth Village Portsmouth Island, NC May 2016

Portsmouth Village
Portsmouth Island, NC
May 2016

Ed and Kate Styron House Portsmouth Village commons

Ed and Kate Styron House
Portsmouth Village
commons

Church: Portsmouth Village NC commons

Church: Portsmouth Village NC
commons

Standing water in Portsmouth Village, which is a mecca for biting flies and mosquitos Commons

Standing water in Portsmouth Village, which is a mecca for biting flies and mosquitos
Commons

Side view of Life Saving Station, decommissioned in 1937

Side view of Life Saving Station, decommissioned in 1937

Life Saving Station, Portsmouth Village, Portsmouth Island, NC Adina Stewart

Life Saving Station, Portsmouth Village, Portsmouth Island, NC
Adina Stewart

Portsmouth Village Post Office Portsmouth Island, NC Adina Stewart

Portsmouth Village Post Office
Portsmouth Island, NC
Adina Stewart

Theodore and Annie Salter House and Visitor Center Portsmouth Village, Portsmouth Island, NC NC Culture

Theodore and Annie Salter House and Visitor Center
Portsmouth Village, Portsmouth Island, NC
NC Culture

Under the Park Service, Portsmouth Island and the village have maintained both the isolation and close relation with nature that many of us crave.  The Park Service has cabins that can be rented (please see other post mentioned above for more details on this ), although they are very basic, and most do not even offer a refrigerator.  However, if you want to walk for hours in quiet with the ocean, this is the place for you.  You can even camp directly on the beach, and the cabin area also offers a shower/bathroom building for those who decide to camp out.

Along with the fishing available, not only on the shore, but also sound-side, you will also see lots of small animal life.  The island boasts a strong population of Eastern Cottontails, in particular, and you will see them everywhere, including right in the cabin area.

Birds are also a big attraction on the island.  While there, we enjoyed viewing the unusual looking oystercatcher.  Following is a few of the other endangered birds you might enjoy:

Black Skimmers

Black Skimmer commons

Black Skimmer
commons

Piping Plovers

Piping Plover commons

Piping Plover
commons

Brown Pelicans

Brown Pelican commons

Brown Pelican
commons

For sea turtles, the most common on Portsmouth Island is the Loggerhead.

Loggerhead Sea Turtle commons

Loggerhead Sea Turtle
commons

However, chances are you might luck out and see any of the following:

Leatherback

Leatherback Sea Turtle commons

Leatherback Sea Turtle
commons

Greens

Green Sea Turtle commons

Green Sea Turtle
commons

Kemp’s Ridley

Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle commons

Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle
commons

Shell lovers might well decide that Portsmouth Island is the mecca for shelling in NC.  You may find, in addition to the usual fare, some of the following:

Whelks

Whelk Core Banks Commons

Whelk
Core Banks
Commons

Scotch Bonnets (our state shell)

Scotch Bonnet Emerald Isle Commons

Scotch Bonnet
Emerald Isle
Commons

Sand Dollars

Surf Sand Dollar Portsmouth Island, NC Adina Stewart

Surf Sand Dollar
Portsmouth Island, NC
Adina Stewart

Helmet Conchs

Helmet Conch Commons

Helmet Conch
Commons

 

Along with the Park Service, there is an active organization, Friends of Portsmouth Island, who help maintain the village and also host a homecoming every two years.  You can also find them on Facebook, too

To learn more or visit Portsmouth Island, the following information might be helpful:

Cape Lookout National Seashore

Portsmouth Village

Portsmouth Island Fishing and Morris Marina

please note: to access Portsmouth Island or the village from Ocracoke, your best bet is to use  Austin Boat Tours.  You can reach them by phone and my understanding is that it’s roughly a fifteen minute boat ride on a skiff that can handle up to fifteen people.

252 928 4361

 

 

 

Tags: birds, Black Skimmers, Brown Pelicans, Cape Lookout, Commamocksocks., Connanox, Coranine, Core Banks, Cores, ferries, four wheel, Friends of Portsmouth Island, Green, helmet conches, history, Kemps Ridley, Leatherback, Loggerhead, NC, Neuse River Indians, North Carolina, obx, Outer Banks, Oystercatchers, Piping Plovers, ports, Portsmouth Island, Portsmouth Village, sand dollars, Scotch Bonnet, sea turtles, shelling, Tuscarora War, whelks .

Coastal Photo Roundup, June 20, 2014

Posted on Wed - Jun 18th, 2014 by NC-Culture Posted in Coastal .

Ocracoke Preservation Society

Ocracoke Preservation Society on Facebook

The sand sculpture of an alligator was probably one of our most popular photos to be shared this past week, and we would like to thank OPS for helping us with information on the photographer and for the original share.

Randy Henson of Boone, NC: photographer

"Sand Alligator" Randy Henson of Boone, NC, photographer

“Sand Alligator”
Randy Henson of Boone, NC, photographer

 

Town of Surf City

Town of Surf City on Facebook

This wonderful set of photos was of a recent turtle release.  NC Culture would like to give a very special thank you to Town of Surf City for allowing us to share their photos with you again.  This particular series caught so many hearts…This area is home to the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, which not only works with rescue and rehabilitation, but also offers tours, for those who would like to learn more.  Please see their website for tour information

Sea Turtle Release Town of Surf City

Sea Turtle Release
Town of Surf City

Sea Turtle Release Town of Surf City

Sea Turtle Release
Town of Surf City

Sea Turtle Release Town of Surf City

Sea Turtle Release
Town of Surf City

Sea Turtle Release Town of Surf City

Sea Turtle Release
Town of Surf City

 

Keith Green, photographer, of Oak Island.

Although Keith did have a professional page, he has discontinued it, in order to pursue his photography.  However, you can often find examples of his work on Facebook on several pages, including ours on Coastal Tuesdays.

Fort Fisher ferry, baby egrets, and his place of residence, Oak Island.

Fort Fisher Ferry Keith Green, photographer

Fort Fisher Ferry
Keith Green, photographer

Baby Egrets Keith Green, Photographer

Baby Egrets
Keith Green, Photographer

Oak Island, NC Keith Green, Photographer

Oak Island, NC
Keith Green, Photographer

 

Photography Through Rhonda’s Eyes on Facebook

Kill Devil Hills, NC

Kill Devil Hills, NC Photography Through Rhonda's Eyes

Kill Devil Hills, NC
Photography Through Rhonda’s Eyes

 

Core Sound Living on Facebook

“Marshallberg Sunset”

“Down East” actually refers to a group of communities east of Beaufort, NC, which include Marshallberg.  Please see the Down East link for more information.

"Marshallberg Sunset" Core Sound Living

“Marshallberg Sunset”
Core Sound Living

 

Chandler Studios Photography

Chandler Studios Professional Portrait Photography on Facebook

“A Tail to Remember”

"A Tail to Remember" Chandler Studios Photography

“A Tail to Remember”
Chandler Studios Photography

 

Dreams End on Facebook

Dreams End rental information, Swans Beach, NC

“Raymond the Mule”

"Raymond the Mule" Dreams End

“Raymond the Mule”
Dreams End

 

Rick Anderson Photography

Rick Anderson Photography on Facebook

“Avalon Pier”

"Avalon Pier" Rick Anderson Photography

“Avalon Pier”
Rick Anderson Photography

 

Eric Loy Photography on SmugMug

Eric Loy Photography on Facebook

Shackleford Horses Eric Loy Photography

Shackleford Horses
Eric Loy Photography

 

Corolla Beach Music on Facebook

Corolla Beach Music

Corolla Beach Music

 

Nishfuts on Facebook

Bodie Lighthouse

Bodie Lighthouse NishFuts Productions

Bodie Lighthouse
NishFuts Productions

 

Tags: Avalon Pier, Bodie Lighthouse, Chandler Studios Photography, coast, Core Sound Living, Corolla Beach Music, Down East, Dreams End, egrets, Eric Loy Photography, Fort Fisher ferry, Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, Keith Green, Kill Devil Hills, Marshallberg, NC, NishFuts Productions, Oak Island, ocean, Ocracoke, Ocracoke Preservation Society, Photography, Photography Through Rhonda's Eyes, Raymond the Mule, release, Rick Anderson Photography, sand sculpture, sea turtles, Shackleford horses, Swans Beach, Town of Surf City .

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