Exhibit Opening at OPS Museum
Annie Lou Gaskill was born on Ocracoke in 1934. She grew up on the island, attended Ocracoke School, and married a local boy, Earl Hill Gaskins, in 1952. Earl Hill joined the Coast Guard soon after, and was stationed in Jacksonville, FL, Atlantic Beach, NC, and on an icebreaker in Michigan. Annie Lou and Earl Hill raised five young'uns, four of them born during the Coast Guard years, and the youngest born after Earl Hill retired in 1969 from being Ocracoke's Coast Guard chief for ten years. Earl Hill passed away in 2003 at the age of 72. Annie Lou worked at Ocracoke School as and made pottery in her backyard studio for many years. Now she is working in fused glass and her pieces are available at the OPS Museum gift shop. Annie Lou also bakes the fig cakes for the Thurston House Inn, owned by her daughter and named for her daddy, Capt. Thurston Gaskill.
Annie Lou was quoted in a 1987 article about Ocracoke (in the Los Angeles Times!) saying, "I love the island so much. I start getting homesick the minute the ferryboat leaves the dock and heads toward the mainland." She has obviously shared that love with her kids and grandkids.
All five of Annie Lou and Earl Hill's children (Donna Helen, Marlene, Lou Ann, Earl, and Keith) live on Ocracoke today, along with their children and grandchildren. Granny Annie has eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; granddaughter Lacey O'Neal Perry is the only who's moved away. She lives in California with her husband and baby son. The other three great-grandchildren (with one on the way!) are right here on the island.
OPS administrator Amy Howard chose Annie Lou's family for an exhibit because she wanted to highlight a local Ocracoke family that has strong ties to the past, and chooses to make this small island their home today.
"They're involved in all facets of life on Ocracoke," Amy said. "Earl works at the water plant, Keith works for the DOT, Lou Ann is a teacher's aide at the school, Donna and Marlene are in hospitality and real estate. They've seen the island from every perspective."
Many members of Annie Lou's extended family are on the island, too, including her brother and sister-in-law right across the street and another sister-in-law next door. Nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws – family abounds on the island.
The exhibit at OPS includes photos of this extended family tree. Amy hopes that visitors to the Museum this summer will recognize the faces they see around the island.
The exhibit also features Annie Lou's ancestors. She can trace her family line back to Ocracoke's earliest settlers. A quick scan of Earl O'Neal's genealogy of the Gaskill-Gaskins clan shows how the roots of this family tree run deep into the sand.
The Gaskill-Gaskins exhibit will hang all year at the OPS Musuem. Please stop by and learn about this island family.
Next week at the Museum...
Ahoy there, matey! Plunder your way to the Museum on Monday, May 5th from 3:30 - 5pm to celebrate the opening of our exhibit featuring costumes from past productions of the three act musical, “A Tale of Blackbeard.” The current cast of Village Girls and Pirates will be on hand, accompanied by musical director, Julie Howard, to entertain us during the opening. This exhibit of costumes will only be on display for the month of May. Authentic piratical vittles and non-alcoholic grog will be served. Arrrgh!
