African Americans have played a large role in the Chesapeake seafood industry, including as watermen, seafood processing workers, and ship-builders. A career as a waterman provided a measure of independence, especially for those with their own boat. . . . — — Map (db m258526) HM
Centuries ago, Indians of the Algonquin Nation, including the Assateagues, Pocomoke, Manokins and Acquinticas, migrated seasonally between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. The Beach to Bay Indian Trail recognizes the patterns . . . — — Map (db m258514) HM
City of Crisfield
Originally known as Somer's Cove, the small fishing village on Tangier Sound was transformed into a major seafood exporting center with the construction of the Eastern Shore Railroad in 1867. One of the chief promoters of . . . — — Map (db m258513) HM
1. Construction of an ice plant on the waterfront allowed seafood packers to ship their products to more distant destinations. Buy boats, described in the next paragraph, are docked at the ice plant after unloading at one of the local packing . . . — — Map (db m98703) HM
From April 6, through May 10, 1938, 600 crab pickers, predominantly Black women, went on strike from Crisfield's packing houses, protesting wage cuts and demanding union recognition. Shiloh United Methodist Church was a meeting place for the . . . — — Map (db m258531) HM
Hard crabs are caught in bated wire-mesh traps called crab pots. Knowledge of crab behavior led to the highly effective design. Bait is placed in the center cylinder, known as the bait pocket. Crabs enter the opening in the . . . — — Map (db m258521) HM
The design of the crab scrape is very similar to that of an oyster dredge, with a metal fame and an attached collection net that is 7 feet in length. However, the crab scrape, unlike an oyster dredge, does not have metal teeth. An empty . . . — — Map (db m258525) HM
Peelers—crabs preparing to shed their hard shells—were once tended in wooden floats, which were placed directly in the water. Today peeler crabs are kept in shallow tanks with running water, like those in the J. Millard Tawes Museum's nearby Crab . . . — — Map (db m258523) HM
Center of the Chesapeake Bay seafood industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known as the “Seafood Capital of the World.” Waterman settled the Somers Cove area in the 1660s; Community prospered after discovery of Tangier Sound oyster . . . — — Map (db m66582) HM
Center of the Chesapeake Bay seafood industry in the late 19th/early 20th century, known as the "Seafood Capital of the World." Watermen settled the Somers Cove area in 1660s. Community prospered after discovery of Tangier Sound oyster beds in 1854. . . . — — Map (db m258496) HM
The harvest of oysters transformed the city of Crisfield. In 1866, the first train pulled into a small fishing village on the Little Annemessex River known as Somers Cove. This connected a steamboat wharf with major towns on the Eastern Shore by . . . — — Map (db m258534) HM
The Daugherty Creek Canal runs southwest to northeast and averages from 6 to 9 feet deep, depending on the tide.
For years, watermen intent on going from the vicinity of Crisfield to the oyster bottoms and prime crabbing areas of the Big . . . — — Map (db m258542) HM
Drop tongs were invented in the 1880s. They hung from a boom on a large workboat and were raised by hand winders that were later replaced with motor-driven winches. Held open by a mechanical latch, the tongs drop onto the oyster bed. The . . . — — Map (db m258517) HM
The area to the north of the closest wooded hammock was once farmland and pasture for grazing cattle.
In Maryland's earliest days, Janes Island was much like it is now, although somewhat larger, with little wooded acreage and small . . . — — Map (db m258544) HM
Hand tongs are a pair of toothed metal baskets attached to long wooden shafts, hinged together to form a scissors-like tool. They are opened and closed to collect oysters from the bottom of the Bay. It takes considerable strength and skill to . . . — — Map (db m258519) HM
1. Crab pickers, as shown here at a typical seafood processing house in Crisfield, produce thousands of pounds of crab meat each year. Although the number of crab picking houses has dwindled, Crisfield is still referred to as the "Crab . . . — — Map (db m258528) HM
Born in Crisfield. Served Maryland for 37 years. Governor, 1959-1967; Comptroller of the Treasury, 1939-1947 and 1950-1959; First Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, 1969-1971; Treasurer of Maryland, 1973-1975. Oversaw expansion of the . . . — — Map (db m98701) HM
1. The Jersey Island Bridge connected Crisfield to Jersey Island, offering access to the Island's seafood houses and facilities for boat building and boat repair. It also created easy access to the railroad for Island seafood packers. Prior . . . — — Map (db m258512) HM
Loblolly pine, Pinus taeda, is the second most common tree species in the United States, after Red Maple.
Loblolly pine is a part of a group known as southern yellow pine by the timber industry, and it is found from central Texas to . . . — — Map (db m258540) HM
Patented for 150 acres 1678 to John Roach. The brick house on this property is one of the finest examples of very early colonial architecture on the Eastern Shore. — — Map (db m3879) HM
Look to the north, toward the southern end of the grove of trees across the canal.
In the late 1700s, a ramshackle cottage stood across from this point, the home of a widow named Ailsey Evans. She eked out a living by planting a garden . . . — — Map (db m258545) HM
Dredges have been used aboard boats to harvest oysters for hundreds of years. A dredge is composed of a metal frame with an attached collection net. The dredge is pulled through the oyster bed by the boat, and the teeth scrape the oysters into . . . — — Map (db m258520) HM
Imagine you are parched and can’t find fresh water. That’s what happened to John Smith and his crew as they explored the Chesapeake’s Lower Eastern Shore in June 1608.
They sailed up the Pocomoke River, recorded on Smith’s map as the . . . — — Map (db m98726) HM
Photo circa 1928. Boats such as the skipjack, pictured here, and the bugeye, were developed specifically to dredge oysters from the Chesapeake Bay. A large, powerful boat with a sizable crew is needed for dredging. A skipjack is usually 40 to 50 . . . — — Map (db m258518) HM
Somerset County's
Memorial Bridge
to its soldiers in the World War
These made the supreme sacrifice
Oliver Thomas Beauchamp •
Rufus Bedsworth •
Julius R. Blades •
William J. Blueford •
Robert F. Brattan •
Stanley L. . . . — — Map (db m258533) WM
• A Memorial •
to the men of Crisfield who served God and Country in the World War for freedom
• Roll Of Honor •
★ Julius R. Blades •
★ William J. Blueford •
★ Stanley L. Cochrane •
★ Ronald Daugherty • . . . — — Map (db m69293) WM
A crab shanty is a structure for raising soft crabs and is made of a group of irrigated trays, called shedding tanks or land floats, in which the crabs are kept. Raising softs shells is considered one of the earliest forms of . . . — — Map (db m258527) HM
On Christmas Eve of 1961, 10 interracial members of the Civic Interest Group (CIG) in Baltimore traveled to Crisfield, the home of Maryland Governor J. Millard Tawes, to protest racism. The group, most of them college students — Angela Butler, . . . — — Map (db m258529) HM
1. Commercial sailing ships once travelled the local waterways and frequently docked in the Crisfield harbor, as shown in this 1875 depiction. Watermen sold their seafood, harvested daily in local waters, to the town’s packing houses. Workers . . . — — Map (db m98704) HM
25 Asbury Avenue has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior-9 July 1990 — — Map (db m66580) HM
Teackle Mansion
The Teackle Mansion is an outstanding example of neoclassic architecture built between 1802 and 1819. The structure has many unique architectural features and houses a collection of 19th century furnishings. The mansion . . . — — Map (db m258515) HM
For more than 50 years, the carving team of Stephen Ward and Lemuel T. Ward, Jr. created hunting decoys and decorative bird carvings which elevated them to the world-renowned status as masters of "waterfowl counterfeiters" and the fathers of . . . — — Map (db m258532) HM
The first documented use of the term waterman dates to the 1400s. In the early years of the Chesapeake Bay seafood industry, participants tended to focus on harvesting either oysters or blue crabs, and were known accordingly as oystermen or . . . — — Map (db m258516) HM
Joshua Thomas, “Parson of the Islands,” preached his first sermon in this church. his spiritual birthplace. The site of his conversion in 1807, is 300 yards south. “The Methodists, “ his famous log canoe, was launched about 500 yards to the north. — — Map (db m66579) HM
Site of a popular day resort for African Americans and the general public. Business woman Lorraine Henry originally from Dames Quarter in Somerset County and her husband George purchased the land in 1952 and developed the only such resort in the . . . — — Map (db m66575) HM
Born Potato Neck, Somerset County. Named “Parson of the Islands” by British Troops at Tangier Island. As their Pastor predicted their defeat at Baltimore, 1814. Spread Methodism on Tangier, Deal, Saxis and Spring Islands. Buried beside . . . — — Map (db m66576) HM WM
During the French and Indian War, the British expelled some 11,500 Acadians from the Canadian Maritimes, dispersing them among the North American colonies and to France. Four ships carrying over 900 exiles arrived in Maryland in November 1755. . . . — — Map (db m258641) HM
Centuries ago, Indians of the Algonquin Nation, including the Assateagues, Pocomoke, Manokins and Acquinticas, migrated seasonally between the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. The Beach to Bay Indian Trail recognizes the patterns . . . — — Map (db m258494) HM
Signer of the
Declaration of Independence
Judge of the General Court of MD. 1781
Judge of Baltimore County Court 1793
Judge of the U. S. Supreme Court 1796 — — Map (db m3873) HM
About 2 miles southwest is “Tusculum” on Monie Creek, Plantation where Gale lived and lies buried (not open to the public). Born in Whitehaven, England, he settled in Maryland in 1701. His three vessels traded regularly between his native and . . . — — Map (db m66573) HM
Crisfield Historical Museum The Crisfield Historical Museum includes exhibits of Native American culture, the harvesting and processing of seafood and the general history of the town.
The Governor Tawes Library houses exhibits relating to . . . — — Map (db m66569) HM
Born at “Elmwood” and a graduate of West Point, Arnold Elzey (Jones) entered the Civil War, Apr 11, 1861, with the First Maryland Infantry, C.S.A. At First Manassas he was commissioned Brigadier General. He served under Generals Stonewall Jackson . . . — — Map (db m66577) HM
This southeast corner of Somerset Avenue, originally Bridge Street, and Washington Street, first named Upper Alley has been enhanced by this private boxwood garden since the first half of the 19th century. Long-standing tradition in Princess Anne . . . — — Map (db m3878) HM
One of five churches organized by the Rev. Francis Makemie in 1683. First preaching on this ground, 1672. Original church constructed prior to 1692. Present walls erected 1765. Tower added 1888. — — Map (db m3874) HM
The village of the Manonoakin Indians, a subtribe of the Pocomoke Nation, was located two miles southwest of here in Indian Neck. The Manonoakin Indians traded with John Westlock, trader and patentee, as early as 1620 at a fork of the Manokin River . . . — — Map (db m258493) HM
Serving the African-American community along Polks Road
Mt. Zion Memorial Church, built by Reverend H.T. Rich, 1887, remodeled by Reverend R.C. Hughes, 1916, ceased to function as a church in 2002 and became a community center for the . . . — — Map (db m286177) HM
One of the few surviving African American sandlot baseball fields. Home of the Oaksville Eagles, created ca. 1910. A community baseball club that toured neighboring states, Playing against Negro League teams in the era before desegregation. After . . . — — Map (db m165025) HM
By an act of Maryland’s General Assembly, 25 acres of the Beckford Plantation were purchased to establish Princess Anne, named for the daughter of King George II. The town was designated as the seat of Somerset County Court in 1742 and became an . . . — — Map (db m66568) HM
Teackle Mansion The Teackle Mansion is an outstanding example of neoclassic architecture built between 1802 and 1819. The structure has many unique architectural features and houses a collection of 19th century furnishings. The mansion displays . . . — — Map (db m66570) HM
Signer of the
Declaration of Independence
Judge of the General Court of MD 1781.
Judge of Baltimore County Court 1793.
Judge of the U.S. Supreme Court 1796. — — Map (db m286176) HM
Create August 22, 1666, and named for Lady Mary Somerset, sister-in-law of Cecilius Calvert, Second Lord Baltimore. At its founding, Somerset included present-day Wicomico and Worcester Counties, and parts of Delaware and Virginia. The settlement of . . . — — Map (db m165024) HM
The Courthouse was designed in the Georgian Revival style by architects Frank E. and Henry R. Davis of Baltimore, and was built by W. P. Pusey and Son of Snow Hill. The red brick structure is enriched with Indiana limestone features and stands on . . . — — Map (db m3875) HM
Parish established in 1692. St. Andrew's, a chapel-of-ease to All Saints' Church, Monie, was built in 1770 and consecrated in 1845. Tower erected 1859; spire and chapel 1893; wall and lich gate 1964. — — Map (db m3877) HM
Built 1801
Built by Littleton Dennis Teackle
Home of Somerset County Historical Society
Setting of George Alfred Townsend's novel "The Entailed Hat" — — Map (db m3876) HM
Located in Princess Anne, Somerset County, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore celebrates a rich African-American history. This historically black, land-granted doctoral degree granting institution was founded on September 13, 1886 as the . . . — — Map (db m66563) HM
Princess Anne Academy was established on September 13, 1886, to provide higher education for African Americans on the lower Eastern Shore. The Centenary Biblical Institute (later Morgan State College) and the Delaware Conference of the Methodist . . . — — Map (db m66564) HM
Erected 1784 - 1792
Placed on the National Register of Historic Places 9 August 1984
Ruins stabilized 1985 - 1990 under the auspices of
Rehobeth Ruritan Club
Maryland Historical Trust
Somerset County Historical Trust
B. J. . . . — — Map (db m3881) HM
For more than two hundred years the Parish Church of Coventry Parish, stood on this site. The present building was erected in 1740. It served a large congregation till about 1900 when it fell into decay and was abandoned. The partial restoration . . . — — Map (db m137733) HM
In honor of those who served in the Armed Forces since the Vietnam War
Troy E. Brimer •
Robert Lance Dize •
William Smith Dize M.M. •
Duane S. Evans •
Mickey R. Evans •
Phillip Dean Evans M.M. •
Thomas Bradley Evans, Jr. • . . . — — Map (db m286173) WM
In honor of those who served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars
Lynette Becker, R.N. •
Clifton Brimer •
Marvin L. Evans •
Creston Evans •
Jennings Evans •
Webster Evans •
Frederick Evans •
Jerry L. Evans •
Harold W. Evans • . . . — — Map (db m286174) WM
Maryland's only remaining inhabited offshore island group. Named for early land owner Henry Smith. Chartered by Captain John Smith in 1608 as "The Russell Isles." English farmers John Evans and John Tyler came via Accomack County Virginia to become . . . — — Map (db m8285) HM
Whether it's a deadrise or skipjack, a pungy or a bugeye, classic Chesapeake workboats are anchored in tradition. Early log-built canoes, sleek schooners and versatile sailing skiffs all inspired builders to craft variations that matched hull . . . — — Map (db m286165) HM
Smith Island has its own region-specific traditional cuisine. The most famous dish is a locally produced cake known as Smith Island cake. Traditionally, the cake consists of eight to ten layers of cake with frosting between each layer and . . . — — Map (db m286175) HM
The Smith's Island community of Ewell was known only as North-End during the first 228 years before it received its first post office in 1885. The name of the new post office was given by the Postmaster of Drum Point, Benjamin Franklin Marsh, who . . . — — Map (db m302034) HM
In memory of our boys who served in World Wars I and II
World War I
Earnest Evans •
Theodore Evans •
Willie Guy •
Elmer Middleton •
Earl Tyler •
Roth Tyler •
West Tyler
World War II
Jessie Brimer •
Ralph Brimer • . . . — — Map (db m286171) WM
Established by the Maryland General Assembly, June, 1751, near Cottingham's Ferry, Worcester County. On the same site, a new church, consecrated by the Right Reverend William R. Whittingham, Bishop of Maryland, December, 1849, was subsequently moved . . . — — Map (db m69427) HM
Levin Winder, 1757-1819, was a Lt. Colonel in the American Revolution and a Major General in the State Militia. He was a Federalist delegate to the General Assembly in 1806 and became Speaker in 1808.
Elected Governor in 1812, he opposed . . . — — Map (db m66574) HM
Site of second known court house of Somerset County on March 1, 1694, the court purchased land near Dividing Creek and erected a structure 50 feet by 20 feet, "with gable ends of brick." The court house functioned until 1742. — — Map (db m60466) HM
1000 acres surveyed 1665 for
Col. William Stevens,
member of Governor's Council,
through whose influence
Francis Makemie
came to Maryland and established
Presbyterianism in the State. On this
same tract stood the Episcopal . . . — — Map (db m3883) HM
A forerunner of Washington High School, the Academy was founded and built, 1767, under the proprietary laws of 1694, enlarged, 1776, and destroyed by fire, 1797. Originally called Somerset Academy, it was renamed and chartered as Washington Academy, . . . — — Map (db m66578) HM
