The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-07-20

The community of Wanchese on
Roanoke Island, which is SO often
referred to as "the largest village
in Dare County" is going places
these days. In matter of three or
four years it has shown remark
able gains in residential building.
The pride of its people in their
public buildings has been mani
tested by considerable investment
in church property, and in the care
of the public school, which is the
community's chief cOncera.
Wanchese is said to have a pop
ulation of about 1900. However, a
great many of its residents are
employed in Norfolk or are sea-
men on ships, which occupations
keep them away from home great
deal of the time. Some rs years
ago, the entire population was en-
gagged in commercial fishing, and
: the camps at Roanoke, Marshes,
Hog Island, Duck Island and other
remote spots were busy places in
season. Fast motor boats have
made it possible for fishermen to
dispense with this expense, so all
fishermen now live at home when
night comes.
There has been a rapid decline
in commercial fishing during the
past several years, and about the
beginning of the war times were
pretty dull because of the necessity
of many people changing over to
other occupations. Luckily the
sportf1shing business has develop
ed, and this new industry is en-
ploying a large part of the popula-
ton, and bringing additional in
come to number of tourist homes.
The growing number of boatmen
at Wanchese who have abandoned
commercial fishing and are cater
ing to the rod and reel men and
the troIlers, has brought about
modernization of many homes for
the care of fishing parties, and has
caused an enormous investment to
be made in boats. Some of these
are exceptionally fine craft, indeed,
many of them using two motors.
and now and then one with three
motors. Your modern fishing craft
today has to be good to satisfy the
fisherman, and it must be assured
ly safe. Boats used today are large
and roomy as well as fast, and
fishing parties often go as far as
SO miles away from their base
during the day, and are therefore
equipped with twO-way ship-to-
shore radio telephone.
Wanchese is becoming more and
more an attractive community to
visit, and it is becoming more i'm
portant as a fishing center. Like all
rural communities, it has its ups
and downs, but it has neighborly
people, and they are helpful to
each other, as well as cooperative
and hospitable toward the visitor.
Perhaps nowhere else in North
Carolina will community more
readily respond to a plea for help,
and when someone is in hard luck,
the needed sum is quickly raised
by taking up a collection. Nobody
holds back, no questions are
asked. 1t is a standing rule in
some of the Sunday school classes
to donate a given amount each
week to a number of people who
have gotten into hard luck through
no fault of their own.
Wanchese has two fine churches.
Bethany Methodist, the oldest, is
one of the largest and best sup
ported Methodist Churches in the
Coastland. 1t owns new and mod
ern parsonage and extensive en-
largement and improvement Of the
building has been underway for
several years. Rev. C. w. Guthrie.
now serving his third year, is a
highly popular minister, and the
church and Sunday school enjoy
a most successful administration.
Remarkable gains have been
made by the people of the Pente-
See WANCHESE, Page Five