If coming for the day on the Cedar Island Ferry, you will need to make reservations with the North Carolina Ferry Service at 1-800-BY -FERRY. The ferry prices and schedules are subject to change before April, so make your own plans and reservations. At this time, walk-ons do not need reservations. From Ocracoke to Portsmouth, you will need reservations with Rudy Austin. If coming from Hatteras or if already on Ocracoke, you will still need reservations with Rudy.
Reservations to Portsmouth from Ocracoke should be made with Rudy at 252-928-4361 ($20 per person, round trip). Do not call Rudy until the first of AprIl.
4WD owners might drive from the Long Point Camps. Catch the vehicle ferry from Atlantic, then travel 17 miles up the beach to Portsmouth. Contact Morris Marina at Atlantic for reservations (252-225-4261).
You may, of course, travel in your own boat!
1. Dress for the weather and the boat ride. Bug spray, water, and good walking shoes are important. Your picnic items, chairs, etc, will be loaded onto an ATV cart to be carried into the village for you as you walk in.
2.Portsmouth t-shirts and notecards will be available for a donation. The Portsmouth post office will be open and a special cancellation will be available for that day only.
3. The Portsmouth Methodist Church building is 100 years old in 2014 . This will be the focus of Homecoming this year. The Methodist Bishop of North Carolina will be our special guest. Due to damage From Hurricane Sandy, the church may not be open, but we will still celebrate her birthday!
4. After Homecoming services, “dinner on the grounds” will be served. Be sure to bring a dish that will be shared with others. Paper products, tea and ice will be provided by FPI.
5. Major buildings will be open. FPI members, many of whom are family members related to each building, will be on-site hosts at those buildings. The Washington Roberts house will be open for the first time.
6. At the Henry Pigott house, James and Celestine Carter, Elaine Clark , and Phillip Howard will be there to greet you.
7. At the Washington Roberts house, Jean Webber (Roberts descendent) and Dr. Michael Rikard of CLNS will be at the ribbon cutting ceremony which will be held at 9:00 a.m.
8. Lionel Gilgo (son) and Gregory Gilgo (grandson) will be at the Lionel and Emma Gilgo house.
9. James Charlet and Linda Malloy of the Chicamacomico Lifesaving station will be at the Portsmouth Lifesaving station.
10. At the Annie & Theodore Salter house, Barbara Gaskin-Eugene (granddaughter), Debbie Gaskins Penny ( Granddaughter), and Patrick Eugene (great grandson) and Phillip Gaskins (great grandson) will be there to meet you.
11. Available in the tent will be Carolyn Erwin (daughter of Dorothy Bedwell) and Chester Lynn (church information), David Quinn, (grandson of Dot Willis), Robert McWilliams, Cornelious Styron, Susanna McWilliams, Anna McWilliams Shipstedt, and James Barrie Gaskill.
12. The Portsmouth post office will be open for business.