Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1908-03-28
Church Street, ChIncoteague.


myself and to my many friends of
Chincoteague Island, l wish to make
a statement in reference to the affairs
and conditions of Church St., one OF
the leading thoroughfares crossing
our Island, or what is better known
as Muddy Lane" which Is at this
writing almost impossible. We have
our three churches and our public
school on this street, and they are the
pride of our people. Four hundred
children are daily compelled to at
tend this school, all through the win
ter and rainy season, hence they are
necessarily compelled to plough
through mud and water, contracting
colds, coughs and no doubt many
other serious complications. When
shall it cease? Will we have to await
a few first-class funerals? OH when
shall we be released from money
grabbers and from the criticism of
people who do not know the true con-
ditions of affairs, but will hearken to
their masters voice."
To the best of my knowledge in the
wear, 1887, the writer and others petit
toned the county court of Accomac,
praying that Church st. be made a
county road and at the same time
asking for uniform width. The wri-
ter at that time being resident and
property holder of the above street or
lane remembers, that after nearly a
year and in the face of opposition of
one of our leading citizens and after
the appointment of two or three sets
of viewers, mourning great expense
to the writer and a few others, the
Honorable Judge Garrison, taking for
granted and assuming the position
that the recommendations OF the
viewers were entirely too excessive
at the same time ruled same out of
court, rendering his decision at the
time as follows: that in view of the
fact that the lane in question had al
ways been used by the public and in
asmuch as it had been made by the
public, the public could still continue
to work said road for their own con-
venience. Yes. L will admit that -ths
way, by the dumping of a -.-'F.--- an an
&c Sp,,i o-,;'-y-'1lsl-'- few loads
OF san>t ana occasionally load of tin
cans and brush from the trimmings OF
trees aud refuge that is generally ac-
cumulated from back yards, and the
writer has seen sand taken from said
road and fences placed out to suit the
property holders. In view of all of this
the property holders were powerless
to take any action as there was no
specified width and it was not recog-
nized as a county road.
The writer in his last two years of
public life as an official did object
to the working of the road in the way
| it had been done. knowing at the time
it was useless and a waste of public
money. understand that at meet
ing of the Board of Supervisors held
on the 18th inst, the Hon. j. M. b., a
resident now of said lane, testified
before the Honorable Board that he
did when the supervisor cause said
lane to be worked. Yes, well do l
remember when he had sea-drift put
on a part or portion of said lane, and
the writer and others had to meet the
expense of building a fOot-walk over
a portion of said lare in order that
they could go to and from the Main
Shore road dry-footed.
In the year of 1907, owing to the de-
plorable condition of the road, once
more petition was circulated, which
met, with the approval of large num-
her of our people including property
holders, but one of the signers, a
holder of large possessions, did say in
| the presence of the writer, that he
would claim the sum of seven hundred
dollars, as damages, but l find that
the report of viewers did not concur
with the expectations of the citizen
of large possessions, and he did from
that time commence to lay plans and
manipulate for the disaster and down.
fall of Church st. Why did he say
| that Church street would never be i'm
proved while the writer was supervi-
sor? | will answer. 1t was for the
simple reason that the report of the
viewers was never brought before the
Board of 1907, 80 that the writer could
be given a chance or an opportunity
to express himself and take action in
accordance. Alas! once more did he
through his attorney resort back to
the rulings of the Honorable Judge
Garrison of 1887 and ask the present
Board to sustain the rulings of the
late Judge, but did he try to improve
Church street? No, only to gain his
point through the new Board of Super
visors, and probably these honorable
gentlemen, hearing only one side,
welcomed his voice. ALI my friends
look not up that trea for it has borne
so many different kinds of fruit it has
now ceased to blossom. Hoping that
these fewlines may strike the hearts of
our Honorable Board of Supervisors,
and for humanity sake and for the love
of our school children and welfare of a
christian community, we implore
them, to allow us decent thorough
fare. Very respectfully,
w. n. CCnant.
Chincoteague, Va, March "a, 1908.