Denton in Caroline County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Hubs of Activity
Terminals, Wharves and Landings on the Choptank
Photographed by F. Robby, September 20, 2010
1. Hubs of Activity Marker
Sailboats and steamboats unloaded and loaded passengers and freight all along the Choptank. As trade increased in the 1800s, people built wharves and landings every few miles on the river.
A wharf bustled with activity when a boat arrived. Children raced to the dock to watch the action. Stevedores moved freight. Passengers disembarked or boarded. Farmers brought their products to the dock for loading. Locals exchanged news with travelers.
The steamboat terminal at West Denton, owned by the Maryland Steamboat Company, was one of the largest on the Choptank River. A shirt factory, ferilizer warehouses, canneries and rolling mills clustered close to the terminal.
Competition for the prosperous freight trade was fierce. In the end, the railroads won out. The railroads bought out the steamboat companies, sold the boats and brought the steamboat era to an end.
[Captions:]
Dockworkers load and unload a steamboat, circa 1916.
Potter's Landing on the Choptank River, circa 1880. The larger wharves had sheds for storing freight.
Farmers on a wharf waiting to ship tomatoes to markets such as Baltimore. Steamboats gave farmers ready access to markets where they could get higher prices for their products.
Erected by
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.
Location. 38° 53.293′ N, 75° 50.377′ W. Marker has been reported unreadable. Marker is in Denton, Maryland, in Caroline County. It is on River Landing Road 0.4 miles north of New Bridge Road (Maryland Route 328), on the right when traveling north. Marker is along the water, near the end of the boardwalk. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Denton MD 21629, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, on the Delmarva Peninsula, 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 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 location: Steamboats on the Choptank River (a few steps from this marker); Maryland Steamboat Company's Joppa Wharf at Denton (a few steps from this marker); The Denton Arrests (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Moses and the Hounds (about 400 feet away); Caroline County Visitor Center (about 700 feet away); Neck Meeting House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Tuckahoe Neck Meeting House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Neck Meeting House Native Garden (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Denton.
Other markers no longer nearby. Choptank River Heritage Center (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Nest of Traitors
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 3, 2022
2. Hubs of Activity Marker
Unfortunately, this marker has weathered significantly.
Photographed by F. Robby, September 20, 2010
4. Hubs of Activity Marker
This is a photo of the marker in its previous location.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2013, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 629 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 5, 2013, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. 2, 3. submitted on September 5, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 4. submitted on September 5, 2013, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland.
