How special is is to bring the story of Marguerite Henry and her pony Misty of Chincoteague to the same community where the author and celebrity mare lived! If you're a hardcore Misty of Chincoteague fan you probably know that Misty, the Chincoteague Pony bred by Grandpa Beebe, moved to Chicagoland in 1946 to become Marguerite Henry's muse.
Marguerite and her husband Sidney had just moved from Naperville to Wayne, Illinois a couple of years earlier. They had a two-acre property Marguerite dubbed "Mole Meadow," and soon the author's childhood dream to have a pony of her very own came true.
After a whirlwind trip to Chincoteague Island where Marguerite researched the annual wild pony swim, she returned to Wayne and prepared to welcome a filly into her life. At the time there was no barn on their property, but the neighbors next door allowed the pony to live in their stable until Marguerite had a three-stall barn built with proceeds earned from the publication of Misty of Chincoteague.
You can read more about this in my Marguerite Henry biography Marguerite, Misty and Me. But here's the cool local connection: I used to take riding lessons at this farm which is across the street from Marguerite's home (she was living in California by this time). I rode in the Beginner Adult Hunter division in 1994 (exactly 30 years ago--it's blowing my mind) on my Thoroughbred DC, show name Adonis.
The Dunham Woods horse show historic showgrounds was once part of the estate of the Dunham family. The Dunhams built a castle which is still there--across the street and diagonal to the farm which is now called Oaklawn Farm.
If you are showing at the Dunham Woods Horse Show this year or are local to DuPage County, I hope you will swing by, catch the action and say hello. We can talk about horses and I'd love to share my Marguerite Henry stories with you.
The Dunham Woods Show Show is August 23-25, 2024 at Oaklawn Farm at the corner of Army Trail Road and Dunham Road in Wayne, Illinois.
If you are not local, discover the Misty magic from the comfort of your home. CLICK HERE to buy Marguerite, Misty and Me today.
