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October 11, 2011. KNOTTS ISLAND FERRY DEDICATION by Elizabeth P. Sanderlin as published in the Heritage of Currituck County 1670-1985

The State Highway Commission, meeting in Raleigh Thursday, March 15, 1962, approved an allocation of $85,000 to buy a ferry which would run from the southwest tip of Knotts Island to Currituck Village. Benefiting the most from this action would be the area‘s school children, since they are required to travel about 100 miles a day between their homes and school.

With ferry services assured between Knotts Island and Currituck by the time school starts, all Currituck County was preparing to celebrate the history-making event. To plan the event, a meeting was called on July 19, 1962 by Mrs. Hope Williams, president of the Knotts Island home demonstration club, and celebration chairman to be held at the Currituck Courthouse at 7 o'clock. Gilliam Wood of Edenton, district highway commissioner, was present to assist in formulating plans for one of the biggest occasions this county had undertaken in many years. Although the meeting was open to the public, a few key people were especially invited. These included E. A. Cox, Joe Forbes, Clifton Moore, and Millard Smith, presidents of Moyock, Shawboro, Poplar Branch, and Currituck Ruritan clubs; Mrs. J. P. Murray, president of the Moyock Woman’s Club, Supt. S. C. Chandler and school principals William Hooper of Moyock, Frank Landing of Knapp High, and Mrs. Preston Jones of Knotts Island School; Dr. C. N. Wright, chairman of the Currituck County Board of Education; H. D. Newbern, Harold Capps, S. P. Doxey, Richard Ferrell, and Milburn Sawyer, county commissioners; Hal J. Bonner, Jr. president of Tidewater Academy; Mr. and Mrs. Harold H. Waterfield; the Rev. and Mrs. R. C. Black, Norwood Ansell, Walton Griggs, Bernard Evans, Mrs. Angus Strawhand, Mrs. Harold Capps, and Mrs. Walton Brumley.

In addition all home club presidents were invited. They were Mrs. W. E. Hill, Mrs. Travis Morris, Mrs. Sam Waterfield, Mrs. Wayne Twiford, Mrs. Elvin Newbern, Mrs. F. W. Graves, Mrs. Charlie Phelps, Mrs. Weldon Jones, Mrs. Edgar Evans, Mrs. U. A. Jackson, Mrs. James Ferebee, Mrs. E. B. Cahoon, Mrs. James Doxey, and Mrs. Dean Owens. Mrs. J.E. Munden of Knotts island was co-chairman with Mrs. Williams of the celebration committee.

Plans were made for the celebration to be held on September 4, 1962. Mrs. Hope WilIiams was named chairman of the steering committee with Milburn E. Sawyer, county commissioner and representative-elect, and Norwood Ansell of Knotts Island to serve with her. This committee was responsible, not only for the program, but for handling traffic, providing the speaker‘s platform, invitations to the dignitaries, and other details.

The highway patrol was asked to assist in the handling of traffic. Roger Jackson, state highway public relations director, was to install a public address amplifier.

Mrs. Harold Capps, wife of the county commissioner from Knotts Island and Mrs. A. M. Strawhand, along with all the home demonstration club food leaders were to be in charge of the fish fry. Mrs. Elizabeth Sanderlin, county home agent, worked with the committee in charge of the fish fry, and Jerry Hardesty, county agent, was to help with general arrangements.

On August 13, 1962 residents of Knotts Island were up to their eyes in preparation for what may be the biggest celebration Currituck County has ever had. When a celebration was suggested in recognition of the beginning of ferry service to connect Knotts Island with Currituck County mainland, it was thought maybe a couple of hundred people would gather to help christen the history-making ferry. Soon that estimate was boosted to 500 and then preparations were underway to serve 750 people at a free fish fry following the ceremonies at which Governor Terry Sanford would be the speaker, 700 pounds of fish for the cafeteria style meal would be needed. Fish fryers were to be Walter Smith, Charlie Phelps, Robert Walker and Charlie Caton of the mainland; Mahlon Wade, Raymond Williams and James Calhoun of the island, The rest of the food was to be prepared by Home Demonstration Club members. Food leaders of all the Home Demonstration Clubs were to serve as a committee in charge of the meal, with each club assigned to prepare a part of the food.

Knotts Islanders, who sometimes jokingly refer to themselves as North Carolina’s Lost Colony because in the past they have been isolated from the rest of the state, say that with the coming of the ferry, which will be christened September 4th, North Carolina may rediscover them.

Marion Irving, 14, a student at Knapp High School was to christen the ferry while Governor Sanford snipped the ribbon to officially open ferry service.

On August 28, 1962 the new Knotts Island ferryboat left Wilmington, Delaware, at 12:45, and, unless delayed by rough seas caused by tropical storm Alma, would arrive Thursday at 6 am., September 1st, at the Elizabeth City Shipyard for three days of additional painting and mechanical tests before being christened and put into service. The ferry was built by Wilson Marine Railway Company. Cost of ferry was $125,000. It would carry 14 cars and have enclosed facilities for 50. (Note: The newspaper article Currituck Sound Ferry  indicates it was a seven car ferry. A passenger lounge was added reducing capacity to six cars). The ferry, plying between Knotts Island and its county seat in Currituck, was started primarily for Knotts Island children going to school at Currituck. The six-mile voyage across Currituck Sound would eliminate the necessity for a daily 100-mile trip for the children by bus.

Currituck celebrated dedication of the ferry on September 4, 1962. Governor Sanford, surrounded by host of highway officials and political leaders of all levels, spoke briefly as he sent the new ferry into operation.

Invited guests from the Virginia side included Sidney S. Kellam, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kellam, Virginia Beach Mayor Frank A. Dusch, Dr, and Mrs. Ira I. Hancock, Mr. and Mrs. Kermit S, Land, Dr. Kenneth Haddock, pastor of the Virginia Beach Methodist Church and his wife, Mr. James Bonney, Jr. and Mr. and Mrs. L.B. Rocke.

Governor Sanford’s talk was made on Knotts Island. Miss Marion Irving, the youngest Knotts Island girl in the 1962 freshman class at Knapp High School and the daughter of Mrs. Clara Irving, christened the ferry. She, Congressman Herbert Bonner, Merrill Evans of Ahoskie, chairman of the State Highway Commission, and Mrs. Betty Williams stood along side Governor Sanford for the cutting of the ribbon ceremony.

At the ceremonies a Certificate of Appreciation was presented to Governor Sanford by the Knotts Island students: "In appreciation of your interest in the welfare of Currituck County and especially your influence in providing a ferry to shorten the distance we ride to and from school." The certificate was dated the 4th day of September 1962 and signed by Darlene Ansell, Linda Ansell, Harold Capps, Arnold Cason, Wanda Cason, Michael Dixon, Gayle Etheridge, Stanford Franhagen, Judy Griffin, Patsy Griffin, Peggy Griffin, Brenda Hutchinson, Marion Irving, Ellen Lewark, Wayne Lewark, Dwight Wade, Fred Waterfield, Linda Waterman, Larry White, Cynthia Williams, Johnny Williams, and Richard Williams. (These students were the first school children passengers on the Knotts Island Ferry and the first to get off on the mainland.)

Mr. J. J. Ward, 82, one of Knotts Island's oldest residents, stood at the ferry landing as the first boat from Currituck Courthouse pulled into the slip from the mainland.

The following participated in the program: Invocation: Rev. R.C. Black, Minister of Knotts Island Methodist Church; Opening Remarks and Recognition of Guests and Official Party: Roger R. Jackson, Jr., Assistant to the Chairman - N.C. Highway Commission; Address: Honorable Merrill Evans, Chairman of N.C. State Highway Commission; Introduction of Principal Speaker, Honorable Gilliam Wood, Resident State Highway Commissioner; Presentation of Scroll to Governor Sanford Mr. S. C. Chandler, Supt. of Public Instruction, Currituck County; Closing Remarks: Dr. Charles N. Wright, Chairman Currituck County Board of Education. These were in addition to Governor Sanford and Miss Marion Irving.

E. A. McNichoIs, president of the Wilson Line, Inc. of Delaware, which built the ferry, presented the ship's plate to Governor Sanford. He said when the shipyard workers learned the ferry would carry pupils to school, they gave it special care and dubbed it "The Queen of the Fleet."

As Marion Irving broke a small champagne bottle against a stanchion at the bow of the brand new boat she said, "I christen you The Knotts Island. The bottle broke on the first swing and the crowd cheered.

The crossing took 50 minutes. The school children lined the railings fore and aft, or sat in the small cabin. They asked Sanford for autographs interrupting constant chats with local politicians; took his picture posed with classmates and inspected "No 1," the Governor’s huge black limousine with the tag, "NC1".

A fish fry, sponsored by the home demonstration clubs of the county under the leadership of Mrs. Elizabeth Sanderlln, followed when 750 pounds of blue fish were served. Nearly 1,000 people attended the ceremonies.

On Thursday, January 3, 1963 the Knotts Island ferry began the new year tied up at the Currituck Courthouse slip, surrounded by ice and kept in port by low water as steady northwesterly winds dropped the level of Currituck Sound. Captain William Doughtie said Wednesday at least 6 more inches of water was needed before the boat, which draws 41/2 feet, can resume service. Knotts Island children returned to mainland schools Wednesday via a 50-mile bus trip, half of it through Virginia. The ferry had not run since Sunday morning.

In 1965 the Knotts island carried 6,820 vehicles, more than 2,600 of them during July and August.

Slow Boat to Education

"The Knotts Island ferry waddles toward the morning sun. The Currituck Outer Banks across the broad, brown sound looks like a horizon line drawn by an artist with an unsteady brush, The Corolla Light is a small finger at the southern end of the curving line.

"The boat is slow and noisy, and it is easy to tell that it carries school-kids on a regular basis. A girl’s light blue sweater is draped over the water cooler in the small cabin, left by one of the students who had just disembarked on the mainland. The calendar in the cabin has been used as a log for birthdays. Ellen’s was March 2, and Martha‘s was March 19. Terry is an April Fool’s Day child.

"A small flight of ducks races low across the shimmering path of the sun, ground-hopping over the plain of water, and too far away to identify.

"With the ferry gone on its vibrating way back to the courthouse, everything is still at the landing on the island's southern shore. There is no traffic, no sounds except the southwest wind and the wavelets it pushes against a nearby spit of sand.

"The mainland seems far away and unimportant in the warming sun."