Black Oral HIstories of Beaufort County

Born on January 18, 1934, 91-year-old Archie Harding grew up on the family farm just east of Washington, North Carolina. The family had no tractors in those days, so they used mules to plow and work the land. He attended one of the six Rosenwald Schools in Beaufort County, where he had to walk two and a half miles each way to and from school. The school had no electricity and relied on a wooden/coal stove that the students would stoke for heat during the winter months. He went on to graduate from P.S. Jones High School and lead a life of service.

For the last 92 years, Goldring Satchell has called Belhaven, NC home. When she was 16 she tired of school and went to work for Fish and Oyster. And there she remained for the next 46 years before retiring.  Satchell shares her memories of growing up in this small coastal river town and life as a crab picker.

Jerry Smith was born on May 3, 1936, in the small town of Blounts Creek, NC. His family has deep roots in this small Eastern North Carolina community near the banks of the Pamlico River, as farming was their way of life. Smith shares his life story of growing up in Blounts Creek and life as a farmer.

Born on July 18, 1944, Florence Moore has called Washington, North Carolina home her entire life. She shares some of her family history, and what life was like during the days of the Jim Crow era and beyond…