Self-Guided Chincoteague Island Tour
Posted by: fullxr
N 37° 56.568 W 075° 21.940
18S E 467870 N 4199531
This self-guided bicycling or driving tour offers an opportunity to learn about and visit the neighborhoods of Chincoteague Island, VA.
Waymark Code: WMG4ME
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 01/12/2013
Views: 14
Begin at N 37° 56.568 W 075° 21.940
Donald J. Leonard Park - Town of Chincoteague
Across from Chincoteague High School at 4586 Main Street.
Enjoy the view of the Chincoteague Bay. This quiet little park has picnic tables and a kayak launch site.
As you begin the tour, here's a brief introduction.
Chincoteague was incorporated in 1908 and is the largest of the incorporated towns in the Virginia Eastern Shore counties of Accomack and Northampton.
In 2008, as part of the 100th anniversary of the Town, a committee formed by the Town Council decided to place blue signs in the neighborhoods commemorating their local names. Neighborhood names often derived from an old tale or what the area was known for.
An informative printout was obtained from the Chincoteague Public Works Director providing insite from Lillian Mears Rew's book, Assateague & Chincoteague: As I Remember Them. Unless noted otherwise, information about neighborhood names are quotes from this printout.
1.) N37* 56.627 W075* 21.818
Up the Neck
The sign is located in front of 4622 Main Street.
"The earliest settlers on the island were very clannish. There was little traffic with the mainland and strangers were not cordially welcomed in the community. The northern end of the island became known as "Up the Neck." The name probably came from the fact that the area is long and narrow like a neck."
2.) N37* 56.317 W075* 22.224
Up the Creek
The sign is located in front of 4346 Main Street.
"As the population of the island increased, residents began referring to this northern portion of the island as "Up the Creek." The reference to the creek probably came from the fact that the area runs along Lewis Creek, which is a narrow channel leading from Chincoteague Channel to the Bay."
3.) N37* 55.988 W075* 21.852
Fowling Gut
The signs are located in front of 6350 Maddox Boulevard on both sides of the road.
Fowling Gut is not listed in the printout from Lillian Mears Rew’s book.
4.) N37* 56.141 W075* 21.523
Deep Hole
The sign is located on the Chicken City Road stop sign post at Deep Hole Road.
"This was one of the first areas of the island occupied by early settlers because it was a protected and accessible port from which to work on the water. In the early 19th century, the land adjoining this deep creek was called "Deep Hole Creek." The creek got its name from a very deep (30 ft.) hole at the midway point of the creek."
5.) N37* 55.778 W075* 21.512
Eel Creek
The signs are located in front of 6576 Maddox Boulevard on both sides of road.
Eel Creek is not listed in the printout from Lillian Mears Rew’s book.
6.) N37* 55.661 W075* 21.343
Piney Island
The sign is located in front of 6700 Maddox Boulevard.
"This part of the island was covered with pine trees. It was used for many years for grazing cattle."
7.) N37* 55.817 W075* 21.839
Chicken City
The sign is located in front of 4458 Chicken City Road.
"In the late 1800s, John Thornton, known as the "Butcher" of Chincoteague, lived in this area. After butchering and preparing beef for sale, he would dispose of the leftover bones and intestines in the nearby swamp and woods to be eaten by the buzzards that were drawn to the odor of the decaying waste. The region became known as "Buzzard Swamp." In the 1940s, people began clearing off the land known as "Buzzard Swamp" in order to build chicken houses on it. The poultry industry flourished on the island and nearly 7 million broilers were produced annually in the 1950s. At this time it was called Chicken City Road."
8.) N37* 55.233 W075* 22.088
Dodge City
The sign is located across from 7729 Eastside Road.
"This area was given its name during the period when the TV show "Gunsmoke" was on air in the 1960s. A resident in this area often shot his gun like a cowboy. The old name for this area is BearClaw."
9.) N37* 55.059 W075* 22.702
Birchtown
The sign is located across from 4048 Eastside Road.
"There were many members of the Birch family living in the area."
10.) Snotty Ridge
The sign was missing at the time of this posting.
Ridge Road at Bunting Road “Y” interesction and Eastside Road.
"This area was named for kids in the area who would wipe their noses on their shirt sleeves."
11.) N37* 54.105 W075* 24.435
Mariner’s Point
2246 Main Street (Harbormaster’s Office). The sign is posted in southeast end of Curtis Merritt Harbor parking lot.
This location is not listed in the printout from Lillian Mears Rew’s book.
Enjoy a sunset at Merritt Harbor of Refuge. Bring a loved one and a camera. Some of the best sunsets photographed on the island are taken here! This is also a great spot to watch rockets launch at Wallops across the bay. Fishing charters, dolphin-spotting and sunset cruises are offered by local boat captains.
12.) N37* 55.272 W075* 23.464
Down the Marsh
The sign is located across from 3380 Main Street.
"This was the name given to the southern end of the island by the earliest settlers."
13.) N37* 55.888 W075* 22.832
A. Frank Matthews – 1908 – First Mayor’s Home
3860 Main Street.
The sign is on lower-left side of the front porch on the front of this private residence.
The Town of Chincoteague incorporated in 1908. The first mayor of Chincoteague lived in this house.
This site is not listed in the printout from Lillian Mears Rew’s book.
14.) N 37° 55.970 W 075° 22.658
Old Town Jail
Located at 6287 Cropper Street.
This location is not listed in the printout from Lillian Mears Rew’s book.
Online local history records indicate at least three fires occurred in a jail located on Mumford Street. In 1927, one individual was severely burned, and another lost his life. After the fire, a modern fire proof jail was erected on Cropper Street. (www.esva.net/ghotes/estrivia.htm)
15.) N37* 55.927 W075* 22.389
Tick Town
The sign is located in front of 3777 Willow Street.
"There were many ticks in the woods in this area. Local legend states that if a boy married a girl from Tick Town, he would either do all of the cooking or starve, but he would have one of the prettiest wives in town. The area is known as Willow Street today."
16.) N37* 56.156 W075* 22.344
Mad Calf
The sign is located on the Clark Street stop sign post at the corner of Main Street.
"Before there were stock laws on the island, cattle and horses roamed at will. One night a young boy was escorting his girl home from church. The couple walked down the dark lane and as the boy the boy started to step over what he thought was a log, a cow reared up and took off with the boy on its back. Since then the lane has been known as Madcalf Lane. Today the lane is known as Clark Street."
You have completed the tour of the island neighborhoods. We hope you had fun!
Not ready to stop exploring the island?
There are several Geocaches to be found on Chincoteague Island. For locations, visit www.Geocaching.com and sign up for a free membership!
To solve a fun family-oriented puzzle using the names on the Chincoteague's neighborhood signs, visit Geocaching.com and look-up island caches on the Play/ Hide and Seek a Geocache screen by Chincoteague Island's Postal Code, 23336. Once the list populates, review the cache with the blue question mark, Square Root Has Escaped!(Geocache #GC46V5V). The cache may contain some trading trinkets for children.
Recommended Time for this WayTour: From: 6:00 AM To: 9:00 PM
Stop Coordinates: 1.) N37* 56.627 W075* 21.818
2.) N37* 56.317 W075* 22.224
3.) N37* 55.988 W075* 21.852
4.) N37* 56.141 W075* 21.523
5.) N37* 55.778 W075* 21.512
6.) N37* 55.661 W075* 21.343
7.) N37* 55.817 W075* 21.839
8.) N37* 55.233 W075* 22.088
9.) N37* 55.059 W075* 22.702
10.) Missing neighborhood sign
11.) N37* 54.105 W075* 24.435
12.) N37* 55.272 W075* 23.464
13.) N37* 55.888 W075* 22.832
14.) N 37° 55.970 W 075° 22.658
15.) N37* 55.927 W075* 22.389
16.) N37* 56.156 W075* 22.344
Starting Address for this WayTour: Donald J. Leonard Park - Town of Chincoteague 4587 Main Street Chincoteague Island, VA USA 23336
Number of Stops: 16
Website of stops: Not listed
Stop Website: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
You must include an original photo showing one of the stops along the tour route.
Recent Visits/Logs:
There are no logs for this waymark yet. |
|
|