In letters passed back and forth across the few miles that separate Smith Island from Tangier, sisters write to each other about births and sickness and death. They tell of young men gone off to war, of hard times and of grief. There are tax bills, pages torn from nineteenth century calendars, an ancient summons to court, and much, much more. All of these bits and pieces of treasure are fragments of island history that will be preserved for future generations. Although our dreams of finding buried treasure may never be realized, and Marmaduke's treasure may be lost forever, the people of Smith Island have a heritage that is far richer than silver or gold.
Untold riches lie nearby, just waiting to be found.
The apron that Grandma used to wear, a tin box that once held Allan's Royal Face Powder, a lacy mitt, a silken sash and the documents that tell about by-gone days. These are all treasure, a part of island heritage. They are our links with the past.