Kind of quiet at the Castle the last few days. The folks there are having a great time, but just less folks here. I hear some people don’t know who I am. I thought everyone did! I’ve enjoyed the quiet afternoons as it has given me time to look at some of the old pictures of when I lived on Ocracoke and enjoyed entertaining at the Castle.
Oh what a wonderful time. I don’t remember all the dates, as should be expected by an old spirit like me, but I know I came to Ocracoke in 1939 with my first wife. I just couldn’t get enough of this island. I was a North Carolinian by birth, being born and raised in Swan Quarter; a small town on the mainland and what is now the county seat of Hyde Co, the same county as Ocracoke……Two places that couldn’t be more different from each other. The mainland part of Hyde Co. is almost all farmland. Then in the same county is this island called Ocracoke….13 miles long and only a few miles wide….. Most of which is owned by the National Park Service. It’s always been only accessible by ferry or boat from the mainland. Ocracoke is a strange name, but that’s another story.
Back to me! I lived in the Norfolk, Virginia area for many years, working at and then owning the Berkley Machine Works and Foundry Co. I was able to bring many of my work associates and employees to enjoy this wonderful island also. We hunted, fished, told a few stories – just basically really enjoyed ourselves. But there wasn’t lodging then like there is now – so I started building places that could accommodate my guests. Started with the completion of this beautiful Castle in the early 1950’s as well as the Berkley Manor; or so it has become called. At that time the Castle was far from the B & B it is now. Only a few baths, but plenty of sleeping space and just as important – plenty of entertaining space. And we had some parties – let me tell you.
One of the fine things about the Castle is it was built almost completely by local Ocracoke folks. I had carpenters, boat builders, decoy carvers, fisherman, you name it! Seemed like most of the local men worked on this building doing something. Did a good job too! Now I admit, the new folks really did some nice upgrades, but they also were smart enough to leave many features such as my beautiful oak floors and the asymmetrical angle on the right wing of the house that I designed. In fact I was pleased as punch to see the original cypress inside. Not really sure why I designed that angle on the roof line but I just liked it. Some folks called me quirky – but guess that is one reason I like this island so much. It is full of quirky folks – back then and now. As far as I’m concerned quirky is much of the charm here.
It is always wonderful to return to the Castle as I get to do each night now. Think I’ll stay tonight in one of the front rooms with a harbor view. The harbor, or Silver Lake as it is also called, is a wonderful place to look out at. It is nice and quiet this time of the year. The ferry horns’ blowing is music to my ears. The ferries bring the guests that now enjoy the Castle. They come from a much broader distance than years and years ago. In fact a couple from Germany is here for their honeymoon. They love what they see here, and enjoy what I built. They even spoke about all the nice folks they met here during their short stay. Makes a spirit proud.
Spirit of Sam Jones
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