Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-08-18
RecoIIecfions OF The Time When SCOTS Ocean
House Was on The Boom.
GREEN RUN BEACH THEN HELD A THRIVING POPULATION
Visitors Came To The Primitive Community From All Parts Of
The United States.

thereto. In those days there were
great many inhabitants of Green Run
Beach. The place was provided with a
public school, which was well attended.
and with competent teacher. The ad-
vent of Ocean City completely knocked
''ScOtt's Ocean House" out of business.
There is now no one living there. or in
the neighborhOOd. save the crew of the
Life Saving Station. The windows of
the old house have fallen out. and the
place that was once the scene of so
much fashion, dancing and gayety, has
become the abode of bats, crickets and
fieas. We have been much impressed
recently with the silent gloom of the
place. The very echo of the human
voice. or footstep is sad, silent and
mournful, and the last time we saw
Scots it made US feel like not wishing
to see it again, until. at least, com
complete rehabilitation should take
place and restore it into something like
its original self.
The whole section extending from
Fenwick's Island Light House. in the
state of Delaware, to the extreme end
OF Chincoteague Island at Chincoteague
Inlet. together with the inhabitants
thereon, was one of extreme simplicity
and primitive customs. 1t is hard to
realize the changes that have taken
place in the last thirty years. We are
informed by very reliable gentleman
that just prior to the late Civil War, he
was offered the site of what Is now the
City of Chincoteague for AN insignificant
figure. He was at first inclined to go
into the speculation, and had all his
arrangements made for that purpose,
when at the eleventh hour, friend
who had promised to join him. in the
enterprise. grew timid. and asked his
permission TO withdraw from the ven
ture.
This suggests to us the following
lines from Shakespeare. the immortal
bard of Avon, the truth of which
great many of US can vouch for, to wit:
''Our doubts are traitors. and make us
lose what we oft might win. by fearing
to attempt"
Upon what slender threads do the
destinies of many men hangl
Had the two gentlemen referred to
gone into the speculation above
named, and had they had the nerve and
patience to wait for the progress and
evolution of events, how immensely
wealthy it would have made both of
them! However. such is life. and, as
Whittier has so aptly expressed it, "Of
all sad words of tongue or pen, the
saddest are these. 1t might have
been!" 1t certainly had a practical
application in their case.
One of the interesting features of
Green Run and Chincoteague when
SCOTS Ocean House" was at its
high water mark" was the annual
pony pennings which took place there
annually. usually some day in the month
of August being selected. This occasion
drew immense crowds from the adjacent
mainland, the large cities, and distant
parts of the country To one who had
never seen anything of the sort. it was
the greatest curiosity and revelation.
Ii will be remembered that these beach
ponies are allowed to roam the marshes
throughout the year. and rear their
young. The object of the pony pennngs
was to catch the young colts and brand
them with the names of their respective
owners. so as to enable them to identify
their property in the same, and also to
make sales of the ponies to the many
wealthy people there in attendance. In
past years this was considerable part
towards livelihood for these primitive
people; and. although many OF them
were uncultured, and not up to the
ways of the world in many respects.
they knew how to make good deal.
and it was sharp stranger, indeed.
who could get the least bit of advan-
tage of them in business transaction.
The stranger may have thought so at
the time. but. ten TO one. upon closer
investigation. the stranger. though
thorough man of the world. would find
himself worsted in any deal he made
with the sharp witted man from Chin
colleague.
When the railroad was extended to
Franklin City. steamer connected the
latter place with Chincoteague. open
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