well I tried and tried to get the three photos in the order I wanted but just couldn't figure it out...so here they are:

first and second photos I took in April this year 1. inside the Methodist church 2. then the outside of the church. 3. Finally - Aunt Joan's photo (I wanted it placed above my photos!)

I really like Aunt Joan's photo showing the inside of a church (found it in her Ocracoke albums). When I first saw it I automatically thought of the Methodist Church right at the end of Howard street. Now that I see the photos together I really don't think it's the same church. Maybe someone out there knows which church Aunt Joan took a picture of. Thanks!

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Aunt Joan's church picture is the interior of the church on Portsmouth in the village. Here is an inside pic from June 2008 for comparison...

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that's so cool! Thank you Steveo! Mom and I have been to PI a few times but never into the village - we always ask to be dropped off right on the beach to look for shells. Now I really want to make a stop in the village...

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that's so cool! Thank you Steveo! Mom and I have been to PI a few times but never into the village - we always ask to be dropped off right on the beach to look for shells. Now I really want to make a stop in the village...

It's worth it- if you are a history buff. I am fascinated by Portsmouth's history. I have made one trip, and I plan on going again next summer- trying to talk the wife into going next time!

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Be sure to sign the guest book in the church when you go.

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Be sure to sign the guest book in the church when you go.

MANNNNN!!!!!!! I did not know there was one to sign or I would have!!! I'll just have to do it next time I am there in a year or two!

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I'll be back on Ocracoke in October - I'm signing!

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When we went in july we visited the town and then the beach. Lets just say we didn't stay in the town long. Skeeters were everywhere.

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I've been in that United Methodist Church building in Ocracoke. My wife had just retired and we were vacationing there. I'm a Methodist and noticed the door was open and went in to pray. I especially remember the ceiling and the old clock on the wall. I was imagining that boat builders built that church and how well made it must be. We've never been to Portsmouth Island, but I'd like to visit next winter.

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MANNNNN!!!!!!! I did not know there was one to sign or I would have!!! I'll just have to do it next time I am there in a year or two!

When you find the guest book check out the signatures and dates of others, I wonder how far back they go now. I'm sure more than one book has been filled. You should find it on the podium near the alter. The first time I went to Portsmouth was just after the last residents had moved off the island, approx 1969. The tables in the houses were set for dinner, clothes hanging on lines, kinda like they just picked up and left.

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The first time I went to Portsmouth was just after the last residents had moved off the island, approx 1969. The tables in the houses were set for dinner, clothes hanging on lines, kinda like they just picked up and left.

That must've given you a really creepy feeling

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It did scare me, I was only 7-8 years old at the time. If there really are ghosts anywhere they are at Ocracoke and Portsmouth. I've had more than one strange experience at Ocracoke for sure!

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Yes, we will surely go to the village on Portsmouth Island next time. I have been trying to convince my husband that we need to camp over there for a couple of days. (primitive camping) :smiley44:

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It did scare me, I was only 7-8 years old at the time. If there really are ghosts anywhere they are at Ocracoke and Portsmouth. I've had more than one strange experience at Ocracoke for sure!

I think you need to elaborate more- share a story or two!!!! :smiley58:

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Here's one story - There's a house on Ocracoke that if you were to walk around Silver Lake going in the opposite direction of the Coast Guard station to where the Castle B&B is now. When you get to the Castle B&B you can take a left onto a road that connects you to the road that takes you to the lighthouse. At that intersection, if you stand with your back to lake and look at the lighthouse you'll see a house that sits below and in front of the lighthouse if the trees haven't grown up too much. It's definately harder to see the house from the road in the summer. My first strange encounter at this house happened when I was approx 15. My friend lived at this house for several years, so one evening a bunch of us were there before a fire house dance. The house had windows with 6-8 individual panes of glass. We were sitting in the kitchen and my friend that lived there was telling me for the first time the story of the ghost in the house. All of a sudden as he was telling me the story all of the panes of glass in the window behind him fell out and into the sill of the window. All the panes remained intact. Scared the poop out of me! We left and headed to the dance pretty quickly and I never went in that house alone again.

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There was also a room in this house that the electrical outlets and lights would never work. The story about the ghost is that it's a woman who was married to a fisherman who never returned from fishing his nets and she wasn't leaving the house until he came home. One night some years after my friend had moved out of the house and it had sat empty for several years a few of us decided to go check it out. I think there were 3-4 of us, we got to the back porch and looked in the back door and there was a Ragedy Ann doll sitting on the floor facing the door, totally creepy! We all took off running :-) This house also sits behind what was Corkey's store that is now a beauty shop. I don't know what the status of the house is now. If you're really interested in Ocracoke ghost stories you need to check out Phillip Howard's books and website. Google Village Craftsman at Ocracoke and you'll find him. He also does walking tours at night and tells the stories as he you walk.

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