Philadelphia Paper Has Interesting Article on Chincoteague
The Philadelphia Inquirer of June 6th had the following boost for Chincoteague, which will be read with much interest by readers of the Enterprise: Chincoteague a town of about 4000 population on the Eastern Shore of the lower section of the Delmarva peninsula, is booming, property is being improved, new concrete walks are being made. Through the energetic efforts of the Civic Club, through fathers and Board of Health the streets are daily cleared of rubbish, etc., which for many years was allowed to remain indefinitely to the discomfort of residents and visitors. Substantial brick and concrete houses, public halls, motion picture theatre and two banks, also a post office, have in the past three years been built of brick and concrete. Cows no longer feed in the streets as in former years.
Since the town was established the water supply has been derived from rain water caught in tanks and filtered or from shallow wells, and some of these wells produced water slightly brackish. It also lacked a proper sewer system. Now since the population has increased these things are speedily being changed.
A water company has been formed, all the stock has been taken up, paid for and pure water will be brought there from the mainland, or obtained from artesian wells on the island.
A complete sewer system will also be put in, fire plugs distributed along the main streets and new fire-fighting devices procured. The taxes will, of course, be increased somewhat, but this is expected as these improvements are necessities.
Foremost citizens under lead of Mayor Winder and Town Council, the water company and Civic Club are solidly behind this movement.
The following prominent officials and leading business men of the town are hard at work for advancement: Captain John W. Winder, Mayor, and other members of Council; William Matthews, Dr. Wm. M. Burwell, Captain William Bunting, Joseph Baker, President of the Water Company; Daniel Jeffries, Cashier Chincoteague Bank; Captain John Leonard, head of large garage and automobile company; Sam Field, a prominent business man of Baltimore, who has large interest there; Joseph Rowley, Walter Clark, John Mears, Leroy Jester, postmaster K. J. Jester, Leroy Conant, Thomas Jett, President Seaboard Oil and Guano Company; Frank Matthews, Charles Matthews.
A ladies auxiliary committee is also working overtime to bring about a betterment of conditions. Some of the leading spirits of this group are: Mrs. W. M. Burwell, Mrs. Joseph Baker, Miss Bessie Anderton, Miss Mollie Rowley, Mrs. Inez Winder, Miss Retta Smith and Mrs. Robert Keas.
The famous Chincoteague oysters and clams come from Toms Cove and are absolutely free from pollution, and the place is a mecca for fishermen and gunners. No point on the tidewater from affords better fishing and gunning.
The boats of most of the local guides, which are used by visitors for fishing and hunting are seaworthy and have cabins and other needed conveniences -- many of them have sleeping quarters.
Ducks and other wild web-footed fowl are baited and blinds on some of the favorite shooting points on land are made of concrete. Many brush blinds are erected in the bay, between there and the main land, six miles distant.
Shore birds, snipe, yellow legs and plovers abound here during spring and fall migrations and many are annually secured by visitors who come here from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and New York in August, September and October, when these birds can be legally hunted.
There are lots of quail, rabbits and small gray squirrels on mainland where some seasons good woodcock shooting may be had.
The town can be reached by train, auto or boat.