An old photo provided by the Beebe family shows Misty of Chincoteague and her foal Stormy on the porch of the Beebe home.
In the children’s book “Misty of Chincoteague,” siblings Paul and Maureen Beebe live out the dream of every horse-crazy kid in America. Now, after 100 years in the Beebe family, the iconic Beebe Ranch is for sale and the Museum of Chincoteague is asking YOU to help them preserve this piece of history, so visitors can come and relive the dream.
Newbury Award winning author Marguerite Henry wove fact and fiction together to share the story of sister and brother working side by side to make the dream of buying a wild pony come true. Children across the country devoured the book. They became Maureen or Paul, dreaming of the Beebe Ranch and the island of wild ponies.
Released in 1947, the book catapulted Henry to the best seller list, bringing fame to Chincoteague Island and the Beebe Ranch. Misty died in 1972, but people still flock to the island to see the ranch, to feel the warm marsh winds and to cross the bay to Assateague Island to meet the wild Chincoteague Ponies.
While the 10.3-acre ranch lost its original barn to a tragic fire in 2019, the original home still stands. It’s where the family stashed a pregnant Misty to keep her safe when the island was evacuated during the 1962 Ash Wednesday storm, one of the most damaging extratropical cyclones to hit the United States coastline. Although many Assateague ponies died in that storm, Misty survived in the Beebe kitchen, a story that is told in Henry’s sequel book, “Stormy, Misty’s Foal.”
The museum has only a short time to raise $625,000 to save the ranch.
When the museum’s executive director, Cindy Faith heard the ranch was for sale, she scrambled to begin fundraising.
“They need to sell the ranch, and it can’t wait two or three years. They have to sell now,” Faith said. “We cannot let this piece of history go to developers.”
Billy Beebe and his wife moved to the ranch about 10 years ago, after he retired. They have offered summer Misty tours there off and on since 1999. He and his sister Barbara Beebe Massey Gray own the property.
“Grandpa and Grandma Beebe were my grandparents,” Beebe said. (Grandpa and Grandma Beebe in the book are Clarence and Ida Beebe. They raised their grandchildren, Paul and Maureen Beebe, who are the children in the book.)
“My father, Ralph M. Beebe, was one of Grandpa Beebe's many children. When the barn burned a few years ago, it literally left a huge hole in our tour, and we questioned whether we should continue the Misty walking tours, but even without the barn, history was still there. We really want this part of Chincoteague to be preserved for future generations of Misty lovers, and we believe the museum would be the very best steward of this history.”
Beebe spoke of how his father Ralph took over care of the ponies when Grandpa Beebe passed.
“At the young age of six, I can still remember filling the water troughs for the wild ponies, “ he said. “When I was about 10, I remember a family coming to see Misty who visited from Japan, but the most exciting memory was the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962. My father brought Misty into the kitchen because the flood waters were rising. My mom had just gotten a new kitchen table, and my dad set the table on its side to block Misty in the kitchen. Our family was rescued by helicopter (as were many other islanders) from the side yard of the ranch.... a very exciting helicopter ride! Misty was in that kitchen for three days. A few days after the storm, Dad took Misty to Dr. Finney in Pocomoke, and Stormy was born!”
These are the stories and the memories Faith is determined to save.
“In theory, there are millions of people who read Misty, who love Chincoteague and the ponies. It is the power of many,” Faith said. A donation from everyone Misty touched would do it.
Faith shared future plans.
“If we succeed, the Beebe ponies will stay on the property. The ponies are Misty descendants. We want to rebuild the barn and have a space for an educational classroom or a place for kids to have hands-on activities to learn about ponies. We want to take care of the house and allow tours. Most of the memorabilia is already in the museum on permanent loan - the signs from the ranch, Grandpa Beebe’s branding iron, and other items - they would go to the ranch.”
Bonnie Beebe, Billy’s wife, said she’s never been a horse person, but she’s been moved by the people.
“We've had people [visit] from other countries as well as from many states,” she said. “The majority came because of the book. I've heard people say that Misty was the first book they ever read. I've heard them say they had their own pony named Misty. I've heard from those that said they had a ‘not-so-great’ childhood, but they lived vicariously through Paul and Maureen - a bright spot in their childhood. Many grandmas have come, some carrying a tattered “Misty of Chincoteague” book they've had for 50+ years. They brought their granddaughters to purchase their very own new copy of “Misty of Chincoteague,” stamped by Billy with Grandpa Beebe's branding iron.”
Misty’s story has impacted tourism, too. As many as 50,000 people have attended the annual Pony Penning swim. But, as a local child, Faith said the ranch was just the Beebe home to her.
“It wasn’t until about 25 years ago, when I was working at the museum, and we started the road scholar program that I met Billy Beebe and we started to incorporate [the ranch] into our tours,” she said. They gave me the key and told me to go ahead and bring groups in there. That is what Chincoteague is about, you just help your friends and are there for each other.”
Faith spoke of those whose lives were touched by Misty.
When they finally visit the island, they literally cry,” she said. “They nurtured that book and carried it with them everywhere they went. That story meant something to them, and this town means something because of it.”
Faith quoted board member Denise Bowden, who said, “Nothing in history has ever been accomplished by being cautious and afraid.”
“I am doing two walking tours on April 1st as a benefit,” she said. “We have a magician coming to do a magic show on April 7 with proceeds going to the museum, and a dinner and auction on April 15. People can be doing fundraisers all over the United States for us and we would so appreciate it.”
She spoke of two children who came into the museum a few weeks prior.
They donated $2.73 from their piggy bank,” she said. “It reminded me of how, in 1962 after the Ash Wednesday storm, the first outpouring of support came in the form of letters from kids throughout the country who sent in their pennies and dimes. It all adds up.”
She hopes others will realize the importance and open their hearts.
“This would be like the happy ending in a movie, the ending you always hope for,” Faith said.
The museum has until the end of April to raise the funds. At press time $200,000 of the $625,000 needed had been raised. Donations may be made online at https://chincoteaguemuseum.com/ or https://gofund.me/bd12d625 or mailed to the Museum of Chincoteague, PO Box 352, Chincoteague, VA 23336. The museum can be reached at (757) 336-6117.