The Beebe Legacy of Chincoteague Island

  By Tiffany Amber Stockton

Less than 3 months to the 100th annual Pony Penning Day celebrations, but I'll cover that in July. :) As I make plans to return to my favorite island and relive some fun childhood (and adulthood) memories, I'm reminded of a family with as much history tied to the island as my own.

If you missed last month's post about a legacy of horses and a direct-descendant of the famous Misty of Chincoteague, you can view it here.

A Legacy Family on Chincoteague

Thanks to the heart and hard work of the Beebe family, hundreds of thousands have met Misty—the little horse who put Chincoteague on the map.

But to understand their deep connection to the island, you have to start with Clarence Beebe, the grandfather immortalized in Marguerite Henry’s classic stories.

Clarence was born on Chincoteague Island in 1884. Four years later, his future bride, Ida Virginia Whealton, was born just down the way. They married in 1906, raised ten children (six survived past infancy), and lived their entire lives on the island they loved. They’re both buried there today.

Clarence was a horseman through and through. Folks called him the “Chincoteague Pony Man,” and for good reason. He and Ida once owned 100 acres of the island and ran a busy ranch, known for its gentle ponies brought over from nearby Assateague. Every year, he’d buy wild ponies during the famous Pony Penning and train them to be calm, friendly, and ready for new homes. He would definitely be called a "horse whisperer" today.

Now, in the books and movie, Paul and Maureen Beebe are shown living with their grandparents, but like a lot of novelized real-life stories, that part’s fiction. They actually lived with their parents but spent many sun-soaked days at the ranch with Grandpa Clarence.

When author Marguerite Henry visited the island and met the kids, she asked what they wanted most. “A pony of our own,” they said. Clarence had ponies, but they were all for selling, not keeping.

Then came Misty.

Clarence and Ida had already purchased her parents—The Pied Piper and Phantom. From them came the famous filly. Marguerite Henry, inspired by the family and the island's charm, struck a deal with Clarence. She bought Misty for $150 and took her to Illinois, where the young pony became a star before returning to the island at 11 years old.

By then, Clarence had passed, and Ida asked their son Ralph to take over Misty’s care. He and his wife Jeanette carried the torch, tending the ranch and raising Misty’s foals. Their son, Billy King Beebe, later opened the ranch as a museum in 1999.

In 2023, the Beebe Ranch almost became a mere piece of property to a real estate investor, but the existing owners and last remaining family members who own the ranch appealed to the Museum of Chincoteague to purchase it instead. Since the museum itself lacked sufficient funds, they made a plea to the public and hoped for the best. The ensuing support from fans all over the world kept the legacy alive!

Today, visitors still come each summer to see Misty’s stall...and Stormy’s too. Family photos, old saddles, and newspaper clippings line the walls, each of them pieces of a story that began with one island man and a dream.

And what a story it is!

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* What family traditions or stories have shaped your own legacy?

* Have you ever read a fictionalized account of something that really happened? What was the book and what did the author change for the sake of the story?

* Have you ever read Misty of Chincoteague or visited the island to see the wild horses?

Leave answers to these questions or any comments on the post below.

** This note is for our email readers. Please do not reply via email with any comments. View the blog online and scroll down to the comments section.

Come back on the 9th of each month for my next foray into historical tidbits to share.

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BIO

Tiffany Amber Stockton has embellished stories since childhood, thanks to a very active imagination and notations of talking entirely too much. Honing those skills led her to careers as an award-winning and best-selling author and speaker, while also working as a professional copywriter/copyeditor. She loves to share life-changing products and ideas with others to help them get rooted and live a life of purpose.

Currently, she lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, along with their two children, three dogs, and three cats in southeastern Kentucky. In her 20+ years as a professional writer, she has sold twenty-six (26) books so far and has agent representation with Tamela Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can find her on Facebook and GoodReads.