Misty of Chincoteague Story

Beautiful Days On the Eastern Shore

This is a condensed and edited version of one of my Newspaper Articles published.

Although my children are grown and gone, some of their books remain on my bookshelves.
The "Misty" books are there. "Misty of Chincoteague" was their favorite.

Whenever any one of my daughters takes time to browse my library to discover the books, they can't resist them and all have the same reaction....they say "Ahhhh Misty." Fond memories of trips to Chincoteague no doubt surface.

One of our favorite trips during their growing up years was to Virginia's Eastern shore each summer. That is the home of the famous ponies and where Misty was born, on Chincoteague Island.

The rustic Islands of Assateague and Chincoteague are one destination of the many wonderful places to explore on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Here is where time seems to have stood still. These small islands are separated from the main land and each other by only a channel. The beauty and tranquility of Chincoteague Island's National Wild Life Refuge and the wonders of Assateague Island are protected natural treasures. We love the quietness and natural beauty found there.

These remote islands received world-wide fame with the 1947 publication of Marguerite Henry's "Misty of Chincoteague." If you are not familiar, Misty is not a mythical pony. Misty was one of the "Wild Ponies" born there. We know that she actually was born at the southern point of the island. The book was the first of many "Misty" books and for children of all ages.

The history of the Islands and the resilient Chincoteague Pony is interesting. No one knows for sure how the wild horses of Virginia's Assateague Island got there. However, the theory of a Spanish shipwrecked galleon persists among the residents of Chincoteague, Assateague's sister island and is the favored story among others that exist. This story came from the Indians who once inhabited the islands.

The story goes...

"The storm raged; the Spanish ship was tossed about by tremendous waves, pushed by mighty winds of hurricane force. Suddenly the 16th century galleon, which was laden with supplies destined for Spain's colonies in the New World, broke up under the storm's wrath. The seamen scrambled to save their own lives, leaving the horses to fend for themselves. Making their way for an island which lay suspended and blurred along the obscure horizon, the horses fought the wind and the waves. With their bodies submerged, leaving only their heads above water, their nostrils flaring and gasping for air, the horses found their way to the island where they wearily clambered out of the bitter ocean. Not all survived. It is a cold and hostile shore with an environment poorly designed for the life support system of horses. Yet, in a classic illustration of the survival of species, they adapt and endure and, four centuries later, we look with awe and admiration at their descendants - the Wild Ponies of Assateague."
TRR Pony Express * May/Jun 1996

Despite commercial progress and tourism, Chincoteague has made great efforts to preserve and treasure the look and the feel of a small, intimate community while providing modern conveniences to its visitors. Many of the town's buildings have historical importance and have been restored to their original condition while transformed into shops or Bed and Breakfast Inns. Perhaps the most famous of these is the Miss Molly Inn. This B&B is a fully restored Victorian mansion built in 1886. It is best known for being the place where Marguerite Henry stayed while writing "Misty of Chincoteague."

Bicycling the island, a few years ago with my two oldest grandchildren, we came to a statue of Misty and her foal and speculated this to be the spot where she was born. We are told that her linage continues today and to own a descendant of Misty is a point of pride.

What a great time the three of us had on that special Grandmother/Grandchildren week. Jacob and Megan were ages 8 and 11 when I took them on a vacation to know a favorite spot of their mother when she was young. On that trip, it was just the three of us making memories of Chincoteague Island. A grandmother and a little boy and little girl.

Photos are from a family vacation when the dauthers were young.
June

Jane and friend Lisa crabbing~

Little sisters playing in the surf.

House we rented on Chincoteague one summer.



Waters are shallow so we took a little boat which came in handy to carry the bikes~

Beautiful Lighthouse on the island.