Speaking for the Coast — and History

By JACK THIGPEN

Posted May 6, 2015

Like many of you, I have a love for the people and places of our North Carolina coast. I became attached to the Outer Banks through summer and fall vacations to “the beach” to swim, fish and be together with family.

It was not until many years later, however, that I began to appreciate the individuals, and the history and culture of those who have made the coast their homes for many generations.

I was excited when I found out a couple of years ago that Barbara Garrity-Blake, of Gloucester, and Susan West, of Buxton, were launching crowd-sourcing campaign through Kickstarter to finance Coastal Voices. This oral history project was designed to preserve the maritime heritage of the Outer Banks and Down East region of coastal North Carolina through stories and memories.

Barbara is a social scientist and Susan is a writer. Both have strong ties to North Carolina’s coast and are leaders in efforts to preserve the area’s heritage.

Their efforts drew the financial support of more than 100 contributors — individuals, businesses and organizations alike. Since 2014, Coastal Voices has used this funding to train community members to conduct interviews and to help individuals learn digital audio editing techniques.

I am a fan of their broadcasts. I especially enjoyed listening to Dallas Miller describe the Ash Wednesday Storm from a schoolboy’s perspective.

Another story that has stayed with me is that of James Allen Rose of Harkers Island, who remembers the days when water was the mode of transportation. As a 12-year-old boy, it was his responsibility to bring his grandfather, who was a Justice of the Peace, into Beaufort to preside over circuit court.

Coastal Voices now has its own website where you can listen to these and other stories. Many of these oral histories also are shared on the recently created Radio Hatteras.

Right now, Coastal Voices is looking for more volunteers. You can be a part of preserving history while learning some new skills.

If you have an interest in community history and stories, you can help with a variety of activities:

• Interviewing folks in your community
• Taking photos
• Creating radio programs
• Audio editing
• Transcribing interviews
• Creating slideshows
• Finding photos and images
• Creating playlists or podcasts
• Managing social media

Becoming a volunteer is easy. The only qualification is your interest in documenting the stories of Hatteras Island, Ocracoke and Down East. Coastal Voices will provide training in the fundamentals of oral history interviewing and audio editing.

For more information on joining the Coastal Voices team, contact Susan West at westontheridge@gmail.com or 252-995-4131, or Barbara Garrity-Blake at garrityblake@gmail.com or 252-342-8028.