Chincoteague Maps and Other Information - Chincoteague History Notes

There was little traffic with the mainland; and the settlers became very clannish. Strangers were not cordially welcomed in the community. By this time the population had increased and most of the people of the Island were either living up the northern end of the Island known as "Up the Neck" or occupying the southern end of the Island known as"Down the Marsh." Land joining this section was called "Rattlesnake Ridge," so called because it curves back and forth like a snake. Today this section is known as Pine Ridge Road.

There is a "Tick Town," but where it received this name is not definitely known. It was said that if a boy married a girl from "Tick Town," he would either do all of the cooking or starve, but he was certain to have one of the prettiest wives in town. It is known as Willow Street today.

Pension Street, which bears the same name today, was so called because most of the homes were owned by persons who were receiving pensions from the government.

In olden times there were no stock laws, so cattle and horses were permitted to roam at will. One night a boy was escorting his girl home from church. The couple walked down the dark lane; and as the boy started to step over what he thought to be a log, it reared up, became a cow, and bounded into the woods with the boy astraddle its back. Since that time, the lane became known as "Madcalf Lane." Stock laws are enforced now, and "Madcalf Lane" has become a very quiet conservative Clark Street.

The Northwest section of the Island known as "Deep Hole" was one of the first sections occupied by the early settlers, because it was a place they could make a living by working on the water. Several homes and a store were built. This made it more convenient for them to be nearer to their work. We are told it was so named "Deep Hole" because the deepest water around Chincoteague was up in this section known as Deep Hole Creek. About 1800 the land adjoining this deep creek was called "Deep Hole Creek." This section of the Island bears this name today, because when the different parts of the Island were being renamed the people of this section protested the changing and it was finally settled by leaving it the original name "Deep Hole."

The southern end of Deep Hole was a large tract of land known for many years as "Small Pox Field" until in 1951, the land was purchased by Harry Collins and Sons, and was later called Highland Park Drive.

In 1903 when small pox was raging on Assateague Island, several people on Chincoteague were suffering from this dreaded disease, also. At this time, an old man by the name of Broadwater was living alone on this land. One day, he was stricken with this terrible disease, smallpox. Being alone and with no one to care for him, as people were afraid to go anywhere near him, he passed away. This is one reason why this section of the Island is called "Small Pox Fields."

Another reason we were told it received the name of Small Pox Field was that people having relatives who suffered and died with this disease carried all their clothes to be burned there in order to prevent the spreading of this disease. Today it is a very nice section of the Island and is known as Highland Park Drive.

Not too far from this section was a thick wooded area of pine and bushes known as "Buzzard Swamp," formerly owned by a man by the name of Lit Williams. This land was handed down from one generation to another.

In the late 1800's a man by the name of John Thornton lived near this section, known as the "Butcher" of Chincoteague Island. It was here many beef cattle were butchered weekly and sold to the people of the Island. At this time it was the only means of furnishing the people with beef.

When the cattle were killed and prepared for selling, the wasted products such as bones, intestines, and other parts that couldn't be sold were left in the woods nearby to be eaten by the buzzards that were drawn there by the terrible odor to the decaying flesh. This caused many vultures to remain in the woods and lay their eggs, and when the eggs were hatched, many more buzzards were added to this swampy region which became known as "Buzzard Swamp."

Many a boy, we are told, enjoyed searching for their nests and collecting all the eggs they could find, and breaking them, for pastime. Anyone can easily understand how this section of Island was so named.

About 1940 people began clearing off the land known as "Buzzard Swamp" in order to build chicken houses on it. Many houses were built and poultry raising became a great business on the Island for several years. In 1950, Chincoteague Island produced close to 7 million broilers annually.

At this time it was called "Chicken City Road." Due to the high cost of feed and low prices of chickens per pound, one by one the poultry raisers were forced to discontinue operations due to low profits. The houses were later either reconstructed to be used by residents of the Island or they were torn down. Today many houses and homes for tourists may be seen on this land once called "Buzzard Swamp" but now called Chicken City Road.

Today the place formerly known as "Deep Hole" has made many changes. Glades have been filled with dirt, bushes and trees of all kinds have been destroyed, in order to make room for many homes due to the increased population. Only one part, the northern part, remains, "Deep Hole." Other sections of that land have been divided and are known as "Circle Drive," "Ell Hole," "Fur Landing," "Pine Grove," "Highland Park Drive," "Chester Park," "Oyster Bay," and "New Park Side," "Division Street," and "Rosedale."