The Bridge That Changed Chincoteague

  _By Tiffany Amber Stockton

For centuries, both Chincoteague and Assateague Island existed as a world unto themselves. They sat as a barrier between the mainland and the sea, a salt-scented haven surrounded by marsh and tide.

Four miles! That's how far the island sat from the mainland.

Islanders relied on boats and ferries to reach the mainland. Groceries, mail, supplies, and even doctors came by water, and life flowed with the rhythm of the tides. That isolation shaped a culture of self-reliance and a close-knit community that became as much a part of the island’s identity as the oysters and ponies.

Then came the bridges. Six, to be exact.

When the Island Connected to the Mainland

The causeway and drawbridge officially opened in 1922, and it served as the beginning of transformation. The wooden planks stretched across the marsh like an invitation to progress. Locals watched the slow transition as cars replaced boats, tourists arrived with cameras, and new businesses cropped up along Main Street to serve them. For the first time, Chincoteague was accessible to anyone curious enough to cross.

This is an excerpt from the book: You Wouldn’t Believe: 44 Strange and Wondrous Delmarva Tales, written by Jim Duffy.

"The road was quite an engineering feat. A canal was dug out alongside the proposed route so that crews and supplies could access the construction area. Humongous “mud-digger” machines scooped up muck from here and there, then dropped that muck inside of pilings sunk into the marsh. Multiple layers of oyster shells went atop that mud. Heavy rollers packed those shells down. More mud went atop the shell layers. Six separate bridges would be built to carry the roadway over the various creeks, sounds, and narrows between Chincoteague and the mainland. One of those bridges would have a newfangled drawbridge to let boats through."

At first, some celebrated. Others worried. Older islanders spoke wistfully of quiet nights when only the sound of gulls and wind filled the air. Eventually, talk of land sales, vacation cottages, and “outsiders” occupied most conversations.

Yet the bridges and causeway also brought opportunity. Children could more easily attend mainland schools, fishermen could sell their catch to more markets, and merchants found steady income beyond the tourist season.

This was the era when families like mine witnessed firsthand the island’s shift from insular to interconnected. I remember my grandfather talking about seeing the very first automobile on the island after it crossed the drawbridge. And for my great-grandfather, the growth eventually brought new clients into his barbershop, which helped him better feed his family.

In hindsight, that bridge became a symbol. It connected not only two pieces of land but two ways of life. It tested the island’s resilience and reminded its people that progress, though sometimes uncomfortable, can coexist with preservation. The islanders have made sure of that by honoring the traditions handed down from generation to generation while valuing the natural beauty and wildlife of the islands.

Today, visitors drive across the modern causeway (the six bridges are now each less than 30 years old) with little thought to the history beneath their tires.

Yet, Chincoteague still balances that same tension. It teeters between holding fast to its roots while also welcoming change. The bridge stands as both a literal and metaphorical link between past and present, reminding us that even when the tide of time brings new currents, the heart and resiliency of the island endures.

Another island strikes this same balance, although the governing leaders decided to not allow gas-powered vehicles there. Read more about Mackinac Island between the larger part of Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* Have you ever visited a place that felt “frozen in time” until modern development changed it? How did you feel about that shift?

* What do you think communities lose or gain when they become more connected to the wider world?

* If your hometown had a “bridge moment” that changed its history, what would it be?

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 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.

Presidential Seafood: Clams and Oysters to the White House

 By Tiffany Amber Stockton

Last month, the story of my grandfather (Pop-pop) found its way into the posts on this blog and I held a book giveaway, deciding to offer a free book to each one of the six ladies who left a comment. If you were one of those winner and haven't heard from me about your free book, let me know in the comments.

If you missed last month's post, you can view it here: https://www.hhhistory.com/2021/06/living-legacy-book-giveaway.html.

This month, I'll be sharing about how my great-grandfather provided clams and oysters to the White House and received personal thanks from the President himself.

MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER, DANIEL WESLEY GAULT, SR.

Daniel W. Gault, Sr. &
Carrie (Jester) Gault

As I mentioned last month, my mother's grandparents, Daniel W. Gault, Sr. and Carrie Jester Gault, had both been married before but lost their respective spouses and brought one child each to their marriage. Around the time of the first World War, my great-grandfather had been running a successful business on Chincoteague Island as a barber with his own barber shop, and he would often join with other islanders or "watermen" in harvesting his own personal supply of oysters and clams.

When you travel just a little north of Chincoteague, you run into highway 50, which takes you across the Chesapeake Bay and straight into Washington, D.C. Another part of my family had been immersed in the Washington society for over 100 years prior to World War I through their involvement with the Washington elite as well as the politicians who frequented the Galt Jewelers retail location. This is the same line of Galt's who owned and operated the Galt Jewelers I referenced last month, the oldest business in the District, founded and opened in 1802.

Edith
Bolling
Galt
Wilson

President Woodrow Wilson &
Edith Bolling Galt Wilson

On December 18, 1915, President Wilson married Edith Bolling Galt (my great-grandfather's 1st cousin through marriage) in her Washington, D.C. home. Wilson had lost  his first wife the year before due to a kidney ailment. Edith was the wealthy widow of a jewelry store owner and a member of Washington high society. She and Wilson were introduced by his cousin and a mutual friend. Unlike Wilson's first wife who was shy and avoided politics, Edith shared Wilson's passion, leading to a whirlwind courtship and marriage.

President Woodrow Wilson

Despite a slight family feud which led to the Galt name being changed to Gault among some family lines in the mid-1800s, Daniel and his cousin Edith remained close. As a result, when Edith entered the White House as the First Lady, she was instrumental in arranging for her cousin, Daniel, to deliver some clams and oysters directly to the president. My great-grandfather had heard President Wilson loved them, and since he was right there on the island, he was in prime "supply" position to provide.

This continued for the next seven years and through World War I, while Wilson remained president. Although my great-grandfather focused his work as a barber and provided those services to many friends and family on Chincoteague Island, as well as customers coming from the mainland, he reserved a special batch of the personal clams and oysters he harvested for the president and his cousin.

handwritten letter from
President Wilson

There were again many stories told to me as a young girl, and this story in particular became very real to me when my mother showed me not one, not two, but SIX hand-written letters from President Wilson himself, addressed to my great-grandfather and thanking him in some way for the clams and oysters, as well as discussing other issues pertaining to the times. Although I do not have electronic copies of these letters, I do have other letters from President Wilson available to show. One is hand-written and the other is typed with President Wilson's signature on it.

typed letter from
President Wilson

About twenty years ago, my mother and I went to one of those antiques dealers shows and took those letters with us. We were curious about their authenticity and if they were even worth anything. One dealer verified them as authentic and offered us nearly $1000 per letter if we decided to part with them. My mother asked me what I wanted to do, since it was my legacy. After deliberating for over an hour, I finally decided to keep two original letters and part with four -- but not before copies were made of the ones we would be selling, so I could still have all six.

To this day, those two letters are enclosed in protective sheets, and the copies of the other four are in a folder with them. Did I make a mistake in selling four of those letters? I don't believe so, but I am curious what happened to them, and if I'll ever see them again.

front face of $10 gold coin

rear face of $10 gold coin

One very cool thing I found during my research for this post is there was a $10 gold coin struck in the U.S. Mint at West Point commemorating Edith Wilson's time as First Lady. It was released in 2013, but uncirculated. The front is a replica of a sculpting done of Edith, and the back symbolizes Edith's support of President Wilson following his stroke. Her hand is resting atop his as he holds his cane. That would be an amazing keepsake to add to my heirloom collection, wouldn't you agree?


NOW IT'S YOUR TURN:

* Select one unique fact from the post above that stood out to you and share why it appealed to you.

* Have you ever been to The White House, whether on a tour or for some other reason? When did you go and why?

* Do you have any connection to any American president, no matter how small? What is it? Could be as simple as being somewhere to hear a president give a speech live or attending an inauguration ceremony.

Leave answers to these questions or any comments on the post below. Next month, I'll be sharing about my great-grandfather's cousin (Edith Galt) who married President Woodrow Wilson while he was president. Come back on the 9th of August 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, 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.