Eastport in Annapolis in Anne Arundel County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Watermen of Back Creek
| | Eastport Walking Tour | |
During the 1920s, the houses on this street belonged to African American families. Most of the men living here worked on the water, launching often home-built boats from their back yards. They harvested oysters from September to April, and crabs in the summer.
Hand-tonging for oysters was a tough way to make a living. Lyle Smith, who grew up here, went out with his grandfather just once: "I was culling oysters, trying to keep my hands warm, and when my fingers got cold, I said, 'This is the first and the last.' I've never been out to an oyster boat since."
With time, the economic and cultural climate of this Eastport neighborhood has changed. Wooden boat building and oystering are no longer a way of life.
[Captions:]
Charles Thompson (right) and his family built workboats and pleasure boats here.
Oystermen use long-shafted tongs to harvest oysters. Once piled on the "culling tray" in the middle of the boat, undersized oysters were "culled," or tossed back in the water to replenish oyster reefs.
Erected by Annapolis, London Town & South County Heritage Area, Inc.; Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park; Chesapeake Gateways Network. (Marker Number 13.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans
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Location. 38° 58.142′ N, 76° 28.809′ W. Marker is in Annapolis, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County. It is in Eastport. It is on Chester Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Chester Ave, Annapolis MD 21403, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. 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 one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Eastport's Soul (about 400 feet away); The Maritime Tradition Lives On (about 500 feet away); Bay Workboats (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Welcome to Eastport (approx. 0.2 miles away); Harvesting the Bay (approx. 0.2 miles away); Deadrise Defined (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cap'n Herbie Sadler (approx. 0.2 miles away); Draketail Peg Wallace (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Annapolis.
Other markers no longer nearby. The Watermen of Back Creek (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Eastport's Soul (was about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near
Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 43 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 29, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
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