Independence and the Island Spirit

 —By Tiffany Amber Stockton

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And now, on with this month's post.

When I think about Independence Day, I think about flags and fireworks and parades. But the deeper I dig into the history of these coastal communities, the more I realize these barrier islands didn't treat independence as a holiday. It was a way of life, and sometimes it was a choice that cost something.

Cut Off From the Rest of the World

For most of their history, the barrier islands of Virginia's Eastern Shore were genuinely isolated. They were part of a small sliver at the very bottom of the Delmarva Peninsula. Before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel opened in 1964, getting to or from the mainland was a long ferry ride at best. The island communities that built up here — Chincoteague especially — developed a satisfying self-reliance simply because they had no other choice. Geography shaped the character the same way it always does when people are left to solve their own problems without much outside help.

You can still see it. These communities were defined by fishing, oystering, boat-building, and the practical ingenuity that comes from living at the edge of things. They knew how to read the weather, manage the tides, and handle whatever the season brought without waiting for someone else to fix it.

The July Fourth That Meant Something

In July of 1861, the country was coming apart. Virginia had just voted to secede from the Union, which put the island communities of the Eastern Shore in an extremely uncomfortable position. Their whole economy depended on selling seafood to markets in Philadelphia and New York. Siding with the Confederacy would have cut off everything.

On July 4th of that year (the 85th anniversary of American independence), 418 men from the barrier islands of Maryland and Virginia gathered on Chincoteague and signed a document pledging their loyalty to the United States. A War of 1812 veteran named Captain Edward Whaley stood up and declared he would defend the old flag to his last drop of blood. Not long after, Chincoteague voted to remain in the Union by 138 votes to 2, becoming the only part of Virginia to do so.

John A.M. Whealton, a merchant and oyster entrepreneur, was the man who organized that loyalty and made sure Washington knew about it. He later explained the decision plainly: "We sold nearly all the oysters we raised in Philadelphia. It would have meant starvation to us to have seceded." When Confederate sympathizers on the mainland tried to force the issue, Whealton's men took to flatboats and turned them back without losing a single islander.

Practical men, making a principled stand. That is the very essence of the Eastern Shore. And it's often found in smaller communities anywhere you go.

The Island Spirit

Interesting that these men chose to celebrate Independence Day in 1861 by signing a loyalty pledge. With the country fracturing around them, they gathered on their island and recommitted to the idea that freedom was worth defending. That some things don't bend.

That instinct runs all the way through the history of these communities. The barrier islands shaped people who were stubbornly self-reliant but also fiercely tied to one another. Islands by their nature draw people together. You take care of your neighbor because your neighbor is the only neighbor you have.

What happened on Chincoteague that Fourth of July didn't make the history books the way bigger battles did. Confederate Virginia barely noticed. As one account put it, Richmond simply didn't care about a small island choosing to go its own way. But Chincoteague didn't need Richmond to notice. They knew what they'd decided and why, and they went back to catching oysters.

This is just one of the many quiet decisions, made by ordinary people in ordinary places, that don't get monuments or headlines but shape everything that follows. I've been writing historical fiction long enough to know that the best stories are usually hiding in the footnotes. Chincoteague's July Fourth of 1861 was one of those footnotes. But it carried a lot of what independence actually means.

Keeping Atlantic Ocean Barrier Islands Safe

     _By Tiffany Amber Stockton

From lighthouse keepers to childhood stories, here's a look at the Assateague Lighthouse through the lens of history and coastal life.

A Look Beyond the Lighthouse

When I was a little girl, my parents would take us down to Chincoteague to visit Pop-Pop who owned a barbershop on the island. Sitting in his apartment above the shop, perched on his knees alongside my older brother, I learned early that history and imagination often shared the same chair.

Pop-Pop was a master storyteller. The ocean was always involved, and so were the many storms. Somehow, in every single tale, he was the hero who came to rescue us. Looking back now, he wouldn't have had it any other way.

We’d build the stories together—layer by layer—until they became grand adventures. In one of my favorites, we were lost at sea in a small boat, waves crashing around us, when Pop-Pop appeared as the lighthouse keeper, high above the water, making sure the light shone bright enough to guide us safely home.

And that was my first introduction to the famous lighthouse on the barrier island across the inlet.

The Assateague Lighthouse has stood watch since 1833, built to guide ships past the dangerous shoals off the Virginia coast, after shipwrecks piled up along the coastline. Located halfway between the Delaware Bay and the Chesapeake Bay, its red-and-white bands are unmistakable, and you can see them today from many parts of Chincoteague. Now, it's a place people climb for the view, but at one time, it was a place where people lived and a beacon that saved lives.

One of those people was David Watson, the lighthouse’s first keeper. Watson and his family moved into the lighthouse and the attached home shortly after construction completed. At that time, the lighthouse consisted solely of red brick. Every evening, the eleven oil lamps set in fourteen-inch reflectors had to be lit. Every morning, they had to be extinguished, cleaned, and prepared again. Weather didn’t matter. Illness didn’t matter. Those lights could not fail.

Keeper logs and service records tell us the facts of the lighthouse—dates, duties, years of service—but they leave out the quieter truths. Watson's wife lived that life alongside him. Lighthouse wives often acted as unofficial assistants, managing households in isolation, raising children far from neighbors, and stepping in when their husbands were sick or away. Other than a small village to the northeast, the keepers remained quite isolated.

I imagine evenings after the lights were set, the tower humming faintly with wind. Children asleep. A simple meal shared. Conversations about storms, supplies, or the long stretch of winter ahead. The bridge connecting Assateague to Chincoteague wasn't built until 1962. That's a lot of years to live so cut off from everyday life with friends and other people.

The lighthouse remained active until 1933, when it was decommissioned and replaced by automated aids powered by electricity. When I look at it now, I don’t just see brick and iron. I see my grandfather’s stories. I see keeper families like the Watsons, living ordinary lives in extraordinary circumstances. I see a steady light meant to guide others home.

Maybe that’s why Pop-Pop chose that role for himself in our make-believe adventures. Because a lighthouse keeper doesn’t conquer the sea. He simply stays where he’s supposed to be, doing his job, night after night, so others can find their way.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* How do you think lighthouse life shaped marriages and families compared to mainland communities?

* What details of everyday life do you wish historical records preserved more often?

* Are there stories from your childhood where imagination and family history blended together?

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.

---

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 in truth and live a life of purpose.

Currently, she lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, along with their two children, two dogs, and five 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.

Misty's Red Dawn - Chincoteague Royalty

 By Tiffany Amber Stockton

It's no secret that I have a rather big passion for the ponies on Assateague Island just off the Eastern Shore of Virginia. This year marks the 79th anniversary of the year Misty of Chincoteague (the novel) was published. It's also the 100th annual Pony Penning Day, but I'll cover that in the near future.

If you missed last month's post, you can view it here.

A Chincoteague Legacy Lives On

What would Chincoteague Island be without Misty?

Born on July 20, 1946, at Beebe Ranch, Misty of Chincoteague was the heart of a story that galloped into the dreams of children all over the world. Sired by a chestnut pinto named Pied Piper and out of a smokey black pinto mare named Phantom, Misty had a look all her own. A map of the United States seemed to stretch across one side, and a blaze shaped like Virginia danced down her forehead. These markings stamped her forever as a daughter of this land.

Marguerite Henry first stepped onto Chincoteague in 1946, chasing a story and ending up with a muse. Misty won her heart, and eventually, Clarence Beebe agreed to share the filly after Mrs. Henry promised to include his grandchildren, Paul and Maureen, in the tale. Misty was shipped to Illinois for just $150, but once her story became a bestseller, Grandpa Beebe received another $350 from Rand McNally. That $500 back then would be about $8,000 today. Not a bad payday for lending your horse to an author and giving a pony a purpose.

Misty stayed with Mrs. Henry for over ten years, serving as an ambassador. She shook hooves, stood on stools, and charmed crowds at libraries, schools, theaters, and shows. When it was time to return to her beloved home on the island, over 300 children and 160 adults came to say goodbye at Mole Meadow.

Back on Chincoteague, Misty gave birth to foals, including the famous Stormy. She passed in 1972 at the age of 26. Today, Misty and Stormy remain on display at the Chincoteague Museum, a quiet tribute to the horse who changed everything.

But her story didn't end there.

Her legacy lives on in the generations that followed—including one very special chestnut mare: Misty's Red Dawn. I could barely contain my excitement when one of the handlers at the Kentucky Horse Park told me she was in the next stall. I didn't even know she existed!

Over 60 years ago, my own mother stood for a photo with Misty. Now, I have a photo of Misty's direct descendant.

Misty's Red Dawn carries the spirit of her famous great-great-great-grandmother. She's a living link to a treasured past. Just like Misty was once loaned to Marguerite Henry to help bring her story to life,

Misty's Red Dawn is now on loan to the Kentucky Horse Park. She's representing the Chincoteague ponies, educating visitors, and inspiring a whole new generation.

Meeting Misty's Red Dawn last week felt a little like stepping back in time. Her quiet strength, her calm eyes, her noble posture. She's not just a horse. She's living history and Chincoteague Royalty.

In her, we see the story hasn't ended. It's still being written—hoofprint by hoofprint.

Want to walk where Misty once trotted? Visit Chincoteague Island. Want to meet her legacy in person? Head to the Kentucky Horse Park and say hello to Misty's Red Dawn. Because as Grandma Beebe once said, "Nothing dies as long as there is the memory to enfold it and a heart to love it."

Thanks to Misty, we have plenty of both!

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* Have you ever read or heard of the book, Misty of Chincoteague, or seen the movie, Misty? What do you remember about it?

* Have you ever read a book or seen a movie where a horse was the featured "star"? What was it and what did you like most about it?

* Do you have a favorite book or movie based on an animal? What is it and why is it a favorite?

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.

---

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.

Tiny Island, Big History

By Tiffany Amber Stockton

So, as if my life didn't have enough happening, I decided it was a good idea to sign on with a monthly challenge with a few other authors who are part of my local writer's chapter. Although I've remained consistent with article writing, copywriting and copyediting, it has been a few years since I last had a fiction novel release. This challenge is helping me flex those story muscles and form a daily habit that will lead to me finishing this book that has been sitting on my computer for far too long.

Although the research is already done, today I'm sharing a little background of unique facts about this little island called Chincoteague, just off the Eastern Shore of Virginia and to the east of the Delmarva Peninsula.

CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND

The history of human activity in Chincoteague, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, begins with the Native Americans. Settlers from Europe swooped in and overtook the land in the late 17th century, but until then, the Chincoteague Indians used it as a place to gather shellfish. They aren't known to have lived there, though, as the island lacked suitable soil for their agriculture. Marshland doesn't typically grow much of anything except reeds.

Picturesque view of Chincoteague away from the populated
portion of the island (looking toward Assateague)

Once the European settlers inhabited the island, a series of disputes over who would own the island ensued. That led to patents being issued and a final resolution of an even split between two gentleman. With ownership of the island settled, it mostly existed as a place to house livestock, since they could feed off the marsh grasses. No need for fences or other enclosures to prevent the animals from straying either. How far could the animals go when they're on an island surrounded by water? (grins)

This led to the origin of the ponies on Assateague, though legends reported a Spanish shipwreck which left the ponies as cargo to swim to the nearest island. Historians believe the legend of the shipwreck simply became entwined with the history of the ponies until it was accepted as "truth." Funny how history does that from time to time. Makes me wonder just how much of unrecorded history is truly fact or merely embellished truths spoken from generation to generation until the truth and the embellishment can no longer be separated. Have you ever come across details like this?

Anyway, back to Chincoteague.

Stanley Jester (a distant cousin) harvests oysters by hand at low
tide in his oyster bed in the shallows of Chincoteague Bay

For the next hundred years or so, the island remained a place to house livestock for owners living on the mainland of Virginia. Following the Revolutionary War, residents realized the potential of business and industry through the abundance of shellfish in the area. This industry became so big, shipments went as far north as New England to the cities steadily growing there, and as I mentioned last month, my grandfather's family lived here. It was shellfish being provided to the White House under President Woodrow Wilson which led to my great-grandfather's cousin marrying the president while he was in office, leaving me with a family connection to "American royalty."

Throughout these years of shellfish and seafood industry, Chincoteague thrived. In 1876, a rail line completed a stop just 5 miles from the island with a steamship completing the distance. This gave oystermen an efficient means of getting their shellfish to market and began the wave of tourists escaping the city heat in the summer. Tourism hasn't slowed since.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* If you had an island similar to Chincoteague just a short distance across a narrow channel from where you lived, what would you do with it?

* Are you a fan of shellfish or seafood? What's your favorite?

* What recounting of an event do you know where the real truth has been fused with legend or unrecorded history? How much is true and what is legend?

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.

---

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 improve their lives in a variety of ways, but especially from the inside out.

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.

Christmas by the Sea in Chincoteague

 By Tiffany Amber Stockton

Last month, we sloshed through the flood waters along the Delmarva Peninsula, and I shared a bit about Pony Penning Day still taking place even with the fairgrounds seeing water levels at nearly a foot deep! If you missed that post, you can read it here: https://www.hhhistory.com/2021/11/flooding-life-on-peninsula.html. This month, it's December, and I'm in a Christmas mood, so it's time for some island traditions.

CHRISTMAS ON CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND

Inspired by a daily viewing of the Hallmark Channel's "Countdown to Christmas," I've decided to pen yet another small-town Christmas story...this time set on Chincoteague Island. Look for it in October next year. If I get it finished early, it might be published in July 2022. Stay tuned!

Voted the #1 beach town in America, Chincoteague Island might not seem like the place to go when the cold weather hits and temperatures start turning to freezing at night. But getting in the water isn't the only appeal about the beach. My family visited the island a few years ago when gathering in Williamsburg with my extended family for Thanksgiving. I thought it would be a great time to take my children there to showcase some of their family heritage. Here is a photo of the two of them posing in front of the movie theater with Misty of Chincoteague's footprints in cement.

Second only to the annual Pony Penning Day festivities at the end of July each summer, the holiday season has been the next best time of year to visit Chincoteague Island for generations. The average air temperature in December is about 50 degrees with sunny skies. Just imagine yourself, in a cozy warm sweater, listening to the laughing gulls while walking along the beach to the rhythm of the ocean waves, gathering shells and driftwood for holiday ornaments.

That's what residents of the island have been doing for over a century, and even today, they invite visitors to join them in the casual and traditional fun. You can experience a beautiful sunset at the dock just like thousands of others before you, and when it disappears on the horizon, you can savor a bowl of clam chowder with warm bread, or feast on roast turkey and oyster stuffing.

The day after Thanksgiving became the start of this holiday season back in 1925 with what is now the annual lighting of the town Christmas tree. Not long after, the island theater began showing It's a Wonderful Life, and that tradition continues today. Residents and visitors alike gather in the historic theater every year to enjoy this classic film on the big screen. Have you ever watched this film?

What Christmas festivities are complete without a good old-fashioned parade? Chincoteague Island does it up in style! Complete with marching bands, floats, color guard, fire department companies from around the area, Saltwater Cowboys, and of course Santa Claus with his "reindeer" ponies leading his sleigh. :) This parade also pays homage to the sea by featuring King Neptune and his Mermaid Queen. For a brief few years, this tribute was left out of the parade, but it returned by popular demand just five years ago and remains.

Another big event is the annual Holiday Treats Sale, where everyone is invited to sample treats and goodies baked by island residents and sold, with the profits benefiting a charity of choice each year.

The second is the Children's Tea Party with Mrs. Claus, where Mrs. Claus and a select group of her favorite elves show the children a scrapbook of her life with Santa. She offers a sing-a-long of Christmas songs, games, and gifts. After the children have had their hot cocoa, kid-sized sandwiches, and Christmas cookies, they have an opportunity to have their photo taken with the Queen of the North Pole. From black-and-white treasures to the more modern digital captures, this tradition has long been enjoyed by children for decades.

Christmas Eve is celebrated with a breakfast offered to anyone on the island and a traditional candlelight service in the evening. Christmas morning is shared with families and friends in the many homes on the island, but you might also find some taking a peaceful stroll along the beach and enjoying a silent night.

The island rounds out the holidays with the annual Pony Island Horseshoe Drop. It's not made of Swarovski Crystals, but it's lighted and it sure does sparkle! And what's more invigorating than starting your new year with a plunge in the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean? That's right. It's called the Polar Pony Plunge. In recent years, it has been commemorated with t-shirts and other souvenirs to brag about your feat!

So, if you want to be part of the festivities and traditions, bring your camera to capture everything, dress warm, wear a hat and gloves for sure, and don comfortable shoes so you can shimmy and dance to the musical beats. Most importantly, bring family and friends with you to enjoy the grand fun that is all Chincoteague!

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* What are some traditions in your own home that have survived generations in your family? What is a new tradition developed by you with the current generation?

* Have you ever experienced a small-town Christmas? If so, where? What were some of the unique things that took place?

* What is your favorite part of the Christmas season?

Leave answers to these questions or any comments on the post below. Next month, it's a new year, and I haven't yet determined my new theme for the year. Come back on the 9th of January to find out. You and I both will be pleasantly surprised. :)

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BIO

Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of having a very active imagination and cited with talking entirely too much. Today, she has honed those skills to become an award-winning, best-selling author and speaker who is also an advocate for literacy as an educational consultant with Usborne Books. She loves to share life-changing products and ideas with others to help improve their lives in a variety of ways.

She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, along with their two children, two dogs, and two cats in Kentucky. She has sold twenty-four (24) books so far and is represented by Tamela Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can find her on Facebook and GoodReads.

The Beebe Legacy

 By Tiffany Amber Stockton

Last month, the famous horse, Misty of Chincoteague, received spotlight treatment right here. I shared about her birth, how she came to be beloved by children all around the world, and how her name lives on in books penned by Marguerite Henry, as well as in the movie that was made based on the book and the museum established on the island.

If you missed last month's post, you can view it here: https://www.hhhistory.com/2021/04/a-world-famous-horse-misty.html.

THE BEEBE FAMILY

Clarence Beebe

Ida Beebe

To showcase the Beebe's connection to Misty of Chincoteague, you really need to begin with Clarence Beebe, the grandfather from the books. He was born on Chincoteague Island in 1884, four years before the woman who would become his wife in 1906 (Ida Virginia Whealton). Ida also was born on the island, and they both are buried there as well. They had ten children together, but only six of them survived beyond infancy.

As the owner of a horse ranch on the little island, Clarence became known as the "Chincoteague Pony Man." He developed a solid reputation for breeding and gentling ponies from Assateague which he purchased during the annual Pony Penning Day events. Although the book and movie portray Paul and Maureen Beebe as living with their grandparents, that part is fictionalized. The children lived with their parents, but spent a lot of time at the Beebe Ranch.

Paul & Maureen Beebe

When Marguerite Henry visited the island and met the children, she asked them what they wanted most. They told her they wanted to own a real pony. Grandpa Clarence owned many, but he purchased them to sell. He never kept them long. Paul and Maureen wanted a horse of their own.

Misty ended up being that horse.

Maureen & the Phantom

Clarence and Ida had already purchased the Pied Piper and Phantom, and from them came Misty. They operated their busy ranch and were well-known on the island, but their claim to fame came when author Marguerite Henry arrived and witnessed the Pony Penning events, then decided to write about the wild ponies.

Home of Clarence & Ida Beebe

Through an agreement with Clarence Beebe, Ms. Henry purchased Misty for $150 and had her sent to Illinois for a few years before returning her to Chincoteague when Misty was only 11 years old. Misty went on to foal several horses, and her domesticated status allowed her to remain at the BeeBe Ranch where the Beebe family cared for her and her foals. Since Clarence died not long after Misty was bred, Ida asked their son Ralph to take over Misty's care.

Beebe Ranch business card

Ralph and his wife Jeanette took over Beebe Ranch and continued Clarence's legacy. Their son, Billy King Beebe, turned the ranch into a museum and opened it to the public in 1999, and it's been open every summer since. The barn with Misty's and one of her foal's (Stormy) stalls is also on the premises. Memorabilia of the family and the horses they raised is on display at the ranch.

What began as a simple island man with a dream turned into a legacy that's enchanted hundreds of thousands and spanned several generations.

Beebe Ranch museum

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* What legacies exist in your own family that have been passed down through the generations?

* Have you ever read a book that was a fictionalized account of real life in some way only to later discover the "facts" presented in the book were a result of the author's creativity and didn't really happen that way? What was the book and what did the author change?

Leave answers to these questions or any comments on the post below. Next month, I'll be sharing about my grandfather and his direct ties to the island of Chincoteague. Come back on the 9th of June to find out more.

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BIO

Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of having a very active imagination and cited with talking entirely too much. Today, she has honed those skills to become an award-winning and best-selling author and speaker who is also an advocate for literacy as an educational consultant with Usborne Books. She loves to share life-changing products and ideas with others to help better their lives.

She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, along with their two children, two dogs, and two cats in Colorado. She has sold twenty (24) books so far and is represented by Tamela Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can find her on Facebook and GoodReads.

Chincoteague - Enchanted Island

 By Tiffany Amber Stockton

This month, it's time for a little background of unique facts about this little island called Chincoteague, just off the Eastern Shore of Virginia and to the east of the Delmarva Peninsula.

CHINCOTEAGUE ISLAND

The history of human activity in Chincoteague, on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, begins with the Native Americans. Settlers from Europe swooped in and overtook the land in the late 17th century, but until then, the Chincoteague Indians used it as a place to gather shellfish. They aren't known to have lived there, though, as the island lacked suitable soil for their agriculture. Marshland isn't usually great for growing much of anything except reeds.

Picturesque view of Chincoteague away from the populated
portion of the island (looking toward Assateague)

Once the European settlers inhabited the island, there was a series of disputes over who would own the island which led to patents being issued and a final resolution of an even split between two gentleman. Once ownership of the island was settled, it was used mostly as a place to house livestock, since they could feed off the marsh grasses and there was no need for fences or other enclosures to prevent the animals from straying. How far could the animals go when they're on an island surrounded by water? (grins)

This was what led to the origin of the ponies on Assateague, though there are legends reported of a Spanish shipwreck which left the ponies as cargo to swim to the nearest island. Historians believe the legend of the shipwreck simply became entwined with the history of the ponies until it was accepted as "truth." Funny how history does that from time to time. Makes me wonder just how much of unrecorded history is truly fact or merely embellished truths spoken from generation to generation until the truth and the embellishment can no longer be separated. Have you ever come across details like this?

Anyway, back to Chincoteague.

Stanley Jester (a distant cousin) harvests oysters by hand at low
tide in his oyster bed in the shallows of Chincoteague Bay

For the next hundred years or so, the island remained a place to house livestock for owners living on the mainland of Virginia. Then, following the Revolutionary War, residents realized the potential of business and industry through the abundance of shellfish in the area. This industry became so big, shipments went as far north as New England to the cities steadily growing there, and as I mentioned last month, my grandfather's family lived here. It was shellfish being provided to the White House under President Woodrow Wilson which led to my great-grandfather's cousin marrying the president while he was in office, leaving me with a family connection to "American royalty."

Throughout these years of shellfish and seafood industry, Chincoteague thrived. In 1876, a rail line completed a stop just 5 miles from the island with a steamship completing the distance. This gave oystermen an efficient means of getting their shellfish to market and began the wave of tourists escaping the city heat in the summer. Tourism hasn't slowed since.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* If you had an island similar to Chincoteague just a short swim across a narrow channel from where you lived, what would you do with it?

* Are you a fan of shellfish or seafood? What's your favorite?

* What recounting of an event do you know where the real truth has been fused with legend or unrecorded history? How much is true and what is legend?

Leave answers to these questions or any comments on the post below. Don't forget to come back on the 9th of March to find out more about this tiny little island.

---

BIO

Tiffany Amber Stockton has been crafting and embellishing stories since childhood, when she was accused of having a very active imagination and cited with talking entirely too much. Today, she has honed those childhood skills to become an award-winning and best-selling author and speaker who is also an advocate for literacy as an educational consultant with Usborne Books. She loves to share life-changing products and ideas with others to help better their lives.

She lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart Vaughn Stockton, along with their two children, two dogs, and two cats in Colorado. She has sold twenty (24) books so far and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can find her on Facebook and GoodReads.