Captain Timothy Hill House

On Chincoteague Island, where wild ponies roam and legends linger, stands the Captain Timothy Hill House—a modest wooden dwelling with a grand tale that starts with a shipwrecked Yankee sea captain who decided to put down roots on the island.

Constructed around 1800 and believed to be the island’s oldest residence, the house is a rare surviving example of the “long plank” style, a type of construction first brought to America in the 1600s by northern European immigrants to the Delaware Bay area. The architectural style, featuring pit-sawn pine planks and a steep gable roof, spread up and down the coast in part because it was so affordable—farming families and middle-class craftsmen and merchants were able to cut everything they needed to build a house with hand tools. While descendants of the Hill family lived in the dwelling as late as the 1950s, it fell into disrepair by the late 20th century and faced demolition.

Recognizing its historical significance, preservationists intervened, relocating it in 1980 to its current site on Main Street. Current owners Paul Brzozowski and Louisa Flaningam began meticulously restoring the structure in the 2010s and started to uncover its hidden surprises. Restoration efforts unveiled hand carvings of dozens of sailing ships on the exterior walls, believed to be handiwork of Captain Hill’s son. They also learned the house was built to have a wooden chimney—making it one of only two still-standing houses in Virginia that were so built. A full restoration of the chimney was completed in 2017.

Beyond its architectural value, the house—which now stands as a museum—is also infamous for being the site of a grisly and much-publicized crime in June 1885. This may or may not have something to do with local lore about it having a spectral secret. Some say the spirit of a young girl, possibly a member of the Hill family, can be felt by visitors and caretakers alike. These tales add an air of mystery to the already rich narrative of the house and serve as a poignant reminder of Chincoteague Island’s enduring legacy—a blend of history, craftsmanship, and a touch of the supernatural.