Monday, September 01, 2014

Uncle Stanley

My Granduncle, Stanley O'Neal, lived on Howard Street. He was a kind old gentleman, born in 1885. He worked as the cook at the US Coast Guard Station. By the time I was a youngster Uncle Stanley was almost deaf, but he still enjoyed listening to records on his Victrola. He died in 1956, when I was 12 years old.

This is picture of Uncle Stanley (on the left), me, and my father, taken about 1951 or 1952.













This is Uncle Stanley posing in his sailor uniform:


















This is Uncle Stanley's gravestone, near Cutting Sage Road.



















And this is a recent photo of Uncle Stanley's house on Howard Street. Now owned by Elizabeth and John Rinaldi, Uncle Stanley's house is a comfortable rental cottage. There is more information here: http://www.ocracokeislandrealty.com/OuterBanks/VacationRentals/Ocracoke/Details/Dc40_GaskinsOneal/.













 Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of late 19th century steamship traffic to Ocracoke, and the large Victorian hotel that accommodated the guests. You can read the article here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news082114.htm. 

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:24 AM

    PH since the Navy, Coast Guard and LSS had bases on OI were any of the streets designed and houses built as residents for the Brass of either branch of the Armed Services. I once visited a fish hatchery in Tennessee and a beautiful home was built for the Hatchery Superintendent!! I just wondered if any of the adorable cottages such as the one pictured above had such a history. On this Labor Day, let us remember this country and your state has benefited from those that labored to build the TVA dams throughout the state of NC which electrified Appalachia. Also, The CCC cleared many a trail in many a state Park in the South.

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    Replies
    1. When the Navy was here during WWII they built barracks where the NPS Visitors Center is today. Officers who brought their wives to the island were sometimes housed with island residents. No houses were built specifically for members of the Armed Forces.

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