The Last Ghost of Assateague
Assateague Village seen from the lighthouse in 1905
This song was written to capture the history of the Village of Assateague and to honor Mr. Roy Jones, the last living person to be born on Assateague Island. Mr. Jones recently died. He was 101 years old.
Mr. Jones provided a detailed account of life in Assateague Village when the community was at its peak population in the early 20th century. In addition to his video interview, Mr. Jones drew a map of the village showing placement of the houses and the names of the occupants.
Mr. Jones provided a detailed account of life in Assateague Village when the community was at its peak population in the early 20th century. In addition to his video interview, Mr. Jones drew a map of the village showing placement of the houses and the names of the occupants.
Roy Jones
Until the early 1920s, Assateague Village was home to about one-hundred thirty people. The Village supported a Coast Guard Station, a church, school and general store. Residents made their living by harvesting oysters and clams, by working at the fish factories at Toms Cove and by working in the resort hotel at Green River Inlet on the Island.
During the early years of the 20th century a wealthy investor from Baltimore bought up most of the land on Assateague Island outside of the village. He fenced off the Village and the lighthouse. He hired a cowboy from Wyoming to patrol the fence line and shoot trespassers. Unable to reach Toms Cove in order to make their livings, Villagers had to abandon Assateague. Most of them moved to Chincoteague Island and some floated their houses across the channel on barges.
The Last Ghost of Assateague was written to commemorate the time when a small community prospered on the Island and was wiped out by the dreams and actions of a developer. The song honors the life and recollections of Mr. Roy Jones.
During the early years of the 20th century a wealthy investor from Baltimore bought up most of the land on Assateague Island outside of the village. He fenced off the Village and the lighthouse. He hired a cowboy from Wyoming to patrol the fence line and shoot trespassers. Unable to reach Toms Cove in order to make their livings, Villagers had to abandon Assateague. Most of them moved to Chincoteague Island and some floated their houses across the channel on barges.
The Last Ghost of Assateague was written to commemorate the time when a small community prospered on the Island and was wiped out by the dreams and actions of a developer. The song honors the life and recollections of Mr. Roy Jones.
- Watch a video interview with Roy Jones at this link
- 2-minute video about Assateague Village from Discover Delmarva - ABC47