BJ Oelschlegel
My journey with Ocracoke started in 1974, over a spring break. I was teaching in center city Philadelphia and knew I could not spend another 7 days in the city. I invited all of my girlfriends to join me in Florida, for a week of sun and ocean. As they dropped out, one by one, someone suggested that I didn’t have to go to Florida for a nice beach. I could try Ocracoke. And I moved to the island in September of 1977.
I started out volunteering to teach the preschool on the island, when it was held in the back of the Methodist Church. My college degree was in Early Childhood Development, so it worked out perfectly. I taught for 6 years along with waitressing in many of the island restaurants. My most fun job was doing whatever was asked of me at The Shell Shop which was part of what is now Oscar’s. I often got paid to go shell hunting!
A turning point in my career was when someone asked me to “manage” a rental cottage. I later learned that I had to be a real estate broker to legally do that work. In the early 80’s, I was driving to Nags Head, 3 times a week, for classes. Once I became licensed in 1982, I worked for and then owned the original Ocracoke Island Realty. In 1992, I sold the agency but maintained my ability to sell real estate.
To pay the bills, I took on the lease for The Slushy Stand for a mere 26 years, acted as the property manager for The Community Square for +/- 20 years and sold real estate. I currently label myself as semi-retired. After 43 years of juggling that degree of insanity, I am down to just selling real estate.
As part of the Ocracoke community, I have been a member of The Ocracoke Youth Center Board, The Ocracoke Development Ordinance Board, The Save The Berkley Board, and The Variance Board. I currently am a member of The Ocracoke Township Tourism Development Authority.
I have 3 children, the middle child being the subject of our website story illuminating the need for swimming lessons on the island. Life goes on; I also now have 3 grandchildren, who totally love coming to the island.