The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-02-21
The Houses all on stiits.


ner OF the State OF Virginia Is the most
curious city have ever seen. That entire
corner of the State has for time out of
mind been owned by the Franklin family.
1t came into the possession Of their ances-
tors by grant of royal lands Itwas never
looked upon as a very valuable piece of
property, and, in fact, it was thought by
the original Franklin, to whom it was given
as thing for which he had no use whatever.
There was really nothing to it but narrow
strip of land not more than ten rods wide, a
half mile long, salt marsh and the bay. The
bay in those days had no name, but now it
is called Jinkating and upon the maps is
| Chincoteague The land was absolutely of
no use, but that part of the estate under
water was good for oysters, the flavor of
which made them famous. For nearly fifty
years everyone and anyone who wanted to
helped themselves to the bivalves. 1t was
not, in fact, until after the death of the
original owner that any effort was made 10
make any money out of the only product of
the property.
As the oyster business developed the rail
road people took an interest and pretty soon
made old Judge Franklin proposition to
give them terminal facilities on the bay.
He did so and in 1877 track was laid and
pier built out into the bay. The track
across the swamp was laid upon a new tres
tie. When it was finished little shanty
with but one room was brought down the
road on hand-car and set upon piles
driven in at the shore end of the pier.
Then in spirit of fun the place was named
Franklin City, in honor of the Judge.
From that time on the boom in Franklin
City was on, until to-day there are a hun
dred odd houses, none very elegant it is
true, but in which many of the oystermen
live with their families The Judge laid
out his land in building lots and has dis
posed of the most of it already at a hand
some profit.
The city as it stands to-day is the queer
est thing on earth. Every house stands
on piles and is from three to four feet above
the surface of the ground. The best and
most pretentious structure of the city is
huge frame hotel at which the rates are 80
cents day, with liberal reduction for
permanent boarders and families. There
are two avenues and two cross streets I'M
graded and unworked. There are about
half dozen houses that can truthfully be
called neat the others are just what |
called them before-shanties.
The place has Mayor, Town Council,
and, in fact, all the necessary offices for
which the citizens scramble for. There is
no system of drainage, either surface or
underground Nevertheless, there is little
or no sickness, for each tide comes and gives
the entire town bath. That is why all
the houses are on stills One of the most
curious things to me We're the wells. Most
Of these are covered with water at all times,
and there is not one of them that at some time
during the day is not surrounded by water.
1t seemed quite strange to be drawing pure,
fresh spring water from the bottom of the
salt water bay. The people of Franklin
City are queer lot, too, Not a man, wo-
man or child in the latter is old enough and
strong enough to get about at all but that
is in some way connected with the oyster
business. The peculiar lives they all lead
makes them peculiar in dress and habit.
The men all dress in big rubber boots, big
ger rubber coats and immense hats Of the
same material. They all wear full boards
to protect their throats from the rough
weather. Their faces are red and their
skin cracked, and their manner is bluff to
coarseness. They never lock door, be-
cause they say they are all honest. The
lockhouse is an unknown quantity, because
the only eases they have ever had were
drunk and disorderly, and that is not
misdemeanor in Franklin City.
But the women took my eye. They all
wore calico, usually sprig of red or with
red dots or red stripes-at least, it was
pretty sure to have red in some way, and it
was certain to predominate. They are
physically the finest looking lot of women
you ever saw. Large, of course, but there
is deal of grace and symmetry to them
for all that.
From the way these people live it would
be supposed that they were eontenled lot
of laborers at one dollar day. But such
is not the case. Postmaster Bill Gibbs
tells that each of the oystermen will take
in, during the year, something over $1,000
and under $4,000.
These people save their income, and the
city on stills is really quite wealthy place
despite its uninviting appearance.
RaaY1 Thann at Homa