The Ocracoke Civic & Business Association at 6 p.m. tonight (March 17) will discuss the recent Ocracoke Access Alliance trip to Washington, D.C., and a community meeting on ferry tolls will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 31. Both meetings will be in the Community Center.
By Randal Mathews
It was the result of growth and development that the local telecommunications corporation decided to transfer me to Ocracoke from Hatteras Island in 1983.
The village of Ocracoke had 493 landlines which eventually grew to more than 1,000 over my 40-year career. The village of Ocracoke had the highest growth rate proportionally of any exchange in what was the Rocky Mount district.
Many of the old timers appreciated me and told me so many times and landlines were the only real time communication afforded to residents and businesses.
It was clear that Ocracoke was becoming more popular and new business expanded the local job market offering locals more opportunities.
A relatively new water system and a state funded health center were examples. The ferry system was receiving funding that enhanced travel as companies like UPS, FedEx and Estes trucking were not coming to Ocracoke on a regular schedule.
Ridership on the ferries increased to a half million people by the early 2000s. There have always been comments about the good old days when life was simpler, and access was limited, but life here was challenging with no EMS, solid waste service, and no island doctor as examples.
I appreciate that we have a full-time, fully staffed health center and the first state licensed reverse osmosis water plant.
Our hardware and grocery stores had limited supplies and vendors were not eager to take the extra time to make a round trip to Ocracoke.
Housing was limited and it took me six months to find someone that would rent to me, and that is still an issue. I commuted from Buxton daily and 12-hour workdays were normal. But I quickly fell in love with the people and lifestyle of being a true islander.
I have always appreciated the full-on tourist season during summer and the quiet isolation during winters.
It’s really the best of both worlds but it’s not for everyone. Ridership on the ferries has slowly decreased by 30% in the last 25 years due to many factors including a longer route to Hatteras Island and lack of funding from our legislature in recent years.
As Ocracoke’s commissioner since 2020, I have had to learn how to navigate the political world, and I, along with other county officials, have made some important connections to the purse-string holders in Raleigh. These connections are crucial going forward.
People have asked me: What are we going to do about parking? What are we going to do about the golf carts? What are we going to do about all of the campers/trailers?
These are important issues. But right now, north end erosion and adequate funding for the ferries are foremost, and plans of action are formulating that will affect our island.
To that end, I encourage all islanders come out to the OCBA and OAA meetings to have their voices heard.
Relatively speaking, you will never be stuck in traffic at rush hour like so many overdeveloped municipalities. Golf carts create a safer slower street environment, and our seasonal tram complements the passenger ferry and decreases the environmental impact of more vehicles.
Parking can be a mess, but tourism is the main industry here and let’s not discourage travelers or business at our many fine restaurants and retail businesses.
Ocracoke will always have limited access. So, in some ways that’s a blessing because the folks that eventually get here truly love our island and have taken the time and expense to be able to spend time here.
We are unique to many tourist destinations on the east coast and that will always be.
Our growth will be limited as 1,000 acres of village will not expand into the surrounding park and everyone should be grateful to live next to the nation’s first national seashore park.
Let us all appreciate that change is inevitable and that Ocracoke and the people who live here or visit are a special breed that go the extra mile to be here, and that, my friends, will never change.
Ocracoke resident Randal Mathews is chair of the Hyde County Board of Commissioners.