Yorktown in York County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Virginia Chesapeake Bay Patent Tong Work Boats

— Watermen’s Museum —

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Virginia Chesapeake Bay Patent Tong Work Boats Marker

Inscription. Many of today’s Chesapeake Bay deadrise work boats are rigged with wood or steel masts and booms, hyster’s mechanical patent tongs and calling boards, primarily used for clamming. The hyster is built from an automobile rear end a wheel brake drum, and is driven through a chain coupling truck transmission and steel drive shaft off the boat’s propulsion engine.
(caption)
The Marion J pictured here is a dead rise work boat similar to those rigged as patent tong work boats. The Marion J ended her career on the Chesapeake Bay as a bug boat.

Erected by Watermen's Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 37° 14.361′ N, 76° 30.628′ W. Marker is in Yorktown, Virginia, in York County. It can be reached from Water Street 0.3 miles west of Buckner Street, on the right when traveling west. The marker is located on the grounds of the Watermen’s Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 309 Water St, Yorktown VA 23690, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is on Virginia’s Peninsula,

in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and in the Tidewater.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Oysters and the Chesapeake Bay (here, next to this marker); Pale Moon (a few steps from this marker); What’s a Chesapeake Bay Deadrise? (a few steps from this marker); The Collier Betsy (within shouting distance of this marker); Yorktown's Windmill (within shouting distance of this marker); The Watermen's Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Join the Adventure (within shouting distance of this marker); John Smith Explores the Chesapeake (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Virginia Chesapeake Bay Patent Tong Work Boats Marker

of all markers in Yorktown.

Other markers no longer nearby. The Betsy (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Aviation Field Yorktown (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . .
1. Workboats of the Chesapeake Bay. (Submitted on February 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. The Watermen’s Museum - A must “Sea” in Historic Yorktown. (Submitted on February 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
3. Watermen's Museum. (Submitted on February 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 142 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 9, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.