April | 2015 | Foreign and Forlorn

Hello again, happy readers! Today, I take you to the barrier islands of Virginia: specifically, the Chincoteague National Wildlife Preserve on Assateague Island.

Whilst walking down the beach on an idyllic vacation in this mosquito-ridden paradise, I glimpsed from a distance a couple of abandoned buildings one fine summer’s eve. Repelled by mosquitoes who feared neither the threat of slapping hands nor the stench of Deep Woods Off!, I vowed to return one day, armed with a map that showed me the objects of a future photographic mission: the Assateague Coast Guard Station. It wasn’t until a year or so later when I returned during the winter–and not coincidentally, mosquito-free months–to photograph the lost and lonely of this stunning island.

These photos were taken in the early winter months of of 2012, so keep in mind that these photos are not current.

PLEASE NOTE that these photos are of the Assateague Island CG Station and Boathouse only. Unfortunately, the Lifesaving Station, which was located near the head of the Woodland Trail, is no longer in existence.

Maps

Behold, the object of my inquiry! Looking at the above map toward the southern border of the island, you’ll note the Old Coast Guard Station, denoted on the southern-most edge of Tom’s Hook. While the fish factory ruins are also present along that shoreline, we did not identify those ruins and were only successful in finding the old CG station.

Le Photos

And now, for the meat and potatoes of why you probably read this blog. The photos!

Building 1, from a distance. Presumed to be the fish factory ruins, but quickly proven to be something quite different. — Building 1, from a distance. The CG station’s boathouse.

Building 2, from a distance. This building was correctly presumed to be the old Coast Guard Station House.

Closer view of Building 1, which, as I get closer, is clearly on the water.

Wooden remnants of the boardwalk as we get closer to building 1.

A handy little sign that reminds would-be and actual trespassers that they're in fact trespassing. — A handy little sign that reminds would-be and actual trespassers that they’re in fact trespassing.

What appears to be a shovel sticking out of the sand. — What appears to be a shovel sticking out of the sand in front of the first building.

Far right side of building 1 from shore.

Left side and back boardwalk of building 1 from shore.

Back to center of building 1 from shore, front door.

Looking back at building 2 (Coast Guard Station) from shore in front of building 1.

Now, before you go assuming the worst of your gracious host, it was at this point that I began to wonder if this building was in fact a fish factory as the map would’ve had me believe. Given the fact that a boardwalk ran from the confirmed Coast Guard Station out to the mysterious building and the fact that the fish factory seemingly had no business on the water, I had already started to suspect that this building was part of the Coast Guard station and not in fact a former fish factory.

Hopping aboard the boardwalk for a closer look.

Looking toward the land at the Coast Guard Station.

The boardwalk, extending to the right of building 1, into the ocean.

Looking down at the ocean into a mission section of boardwalk. Exciting!

Building 1 from the right side, boardwalk.

A look inside the front right window of the building. This was additional confirmation that this building was definitely not a fish factory...at least, not recently. — A look inside the front right window of the building confirms that this was in fact a boathouse.

Looking inside the window immediately to one side of the front door.

Inside the front left window. At this point, I had figured out that this was minimally a boathouse that was part of the CG operation. At most, it was, perhaps, a lifesaving station. — Inside the front left window.

Making our way around the left side of the building toward the back via the boardwalk.

A look inside from the windows on the left side of the building.

And this was perhaps the most interesting discovery of all...rails leading from the back of the building and into the bay. Clearly not a fish factory! — And this was perhaps the most interesting discovery of all…rails leading from the back of the building and into the bay.

Looking at the back of the building: doors that lead toward the ocean on rails.

Rails disappearing into the encroaching water.

A few more looks inside from the vantage point of the windows on the left side of the building.

Immediately following the section of the adventure, we followed the boardwalk back to land and found ourselves staring at this remarkable piece of history that stands very nearly alone on an all but abandoned spit of land: the Assateague Island Coast Guard Station.