Race and freedom on virginias eastern shore, 16401676 by t. The first track into the eastern shore was built by the worcester railroad in 1876. The eastern shore railroad now the bay shore rr is a 65mile shortline that runs from pocomoke, md, to cape charles, va with a car ferry that crosses the chesapeake bay and terminates at little creek, va just adjacent to norfolk. Survey map along route of line covering strip of land in maryland from elk landing to tangier sound. Known then as dodge city of the east, the railroad.
Jun 02, 2017 after writing a number of books and poems about the area, he was referred to as the voice of the chesapeake. Railroad maps, 1828 to 1900, available online, maryland. Chartered in 1886, the railroad started construction in 1889. The building of the canadian pacific railway railfare books fifth house omer lavallee.
North and south were now trading with each other postwar, and the two mostprominent coastal cities of those regions, new york and norfolk, were less than. After writing a number of books and poems about the area, he was referred to as the voice of the chesapeake. Map, available online, 1800 to 1899, maryland library of. Things to do on the maryland eastern shore visit maryland. From our fight for independence, to the struggle for equality and justice for all. Talbot county, maryland genealogy familysearch wiki. The colonial period, 16621775 thomas davidson 2nd edition 1991 historical and archaeological research project on the nonslave african american population. It also features a color reproduction of james brices entire account book with a. Railroad history queen annes railroad society qarrs.
Eastern shore railroad local and regional history books. In the 1930s, the baltimore and eastern railroad line from baltimore to ocean city, md, a distance of 7 miles consisted of the following segments. Jan 21, 2019 african americans, both enslaved and free, were vital to the economy of the eastern shore of maryland before the civil war. There is quite a bit of history surrounding the eastern shore of maryland. Maryland s patapsco river valley saw the birth of industry in maryland, the nations first railroad, and the nations first crosscountry highway. Activities for the family on the eastern shore of maryland. Although maryland was a slave state below the masondixon line, the state did not join the confederacy during the american civil war. Consequently, marylanders fought on both sides and many families were divided.
Phillip hesser, an eastern shore author and historian, shared the multiple hacks africanamerican slaves living in maryland before the civil war including famed historical figures frederick. As early as the 1750s, maryland planters began to move. From its earliest inhabitants to its presentday status as the gateway to the eastern shore, kent island has played a vital role in the history of maryland. Joseph scott, 1807 history of caroline county, maryland, edward m. Summer reading list with an eastern shore theme shorebread. Maryland s eastern shore and western shore embrace the chesapeake bay, and the many estuaries and rivers create one of the longest waterfronts of any state. Experimental survey for the eastern shore rail road. In the 1880s, new york railroad magnate alexander cassatt looked at a map of americas east coast and decided that he could overcome a challenge of geography if he thought of a new railroad in a nontraditional way. Eastern shore railroad va images of rail chris dickon on. With the extraordinarily flat landscape and abundant lumber for ties, the eastern shore appeared to be made for rails. Queen annes county and the eastern shore of maryland have a rich railroad history. Marylands and virginias eastern shore and all of delaware form the delmarva peninsula.
History of marylands eastern shore eastern shore of maryland. Eastern shore railroad news newspapers books scholar jstor june 2018 the eastern shore railroad, inc. Virginia and maryland railroad project gutenberg self. Google books internet archive eastern shore titles online geographical description of the staes of maryland and delaware. By the 1880s, railroad lines linked the eastern shore to philadelphia and later, norfolk, virginia, by way of a railroad line straight south from wilmington to dover, delmar, salisbury, and cape charles. Free blacks on the lower eastern shore of maryland.
An environmental biography and anacostia the death and birth of an american river. Gain a sense of the cultural legacy of the region through the memories of. Cambridge, md wjz tuesday marked the 170th anniversary of harriet tubmans selfliberation from her enslavement on the eastern shore. Plantations, slavery and freedom on marylands eastern shore. The line connected pocomoke city, maryland, to norfolk, virginia, interchanging with the norfolk southern railway at both ends. Stories from virginias eastern shore african american history jan 1, 20.
The western maryland railway local and regional history books. It is this passion for railroading and queen annes county that causes us to bring maryland eastern shore railroad history to you. Pirates and native americans, slave trade and the underground railroad hariet tubman as well as general historical events such as the invention of noxema and even the wellknown ward foundation. May 28, 2016 virginia stories, from colonists to the bridge tunnel. This abandoned railway passed through mostly farming areas of delaware and marylands eastern shore. A secret underground network of trails across land and waterways spanned across the eastern shore and the large quaker population, along with other sympathetic whites, provided food and. Harriet tubman underground railroad state park maryland. In the 1880s, new york railroad magnate alexander cassatt looked at a map of americas east coast and decided that he could overcome a challenge of. Anthony puzzilla is a retired federal government employee and is now a fulltime railfan and model train lover. A digital image retrieval system for land records in maryland. A landscape history of the chesapeake heartland from 1. Now known as the eastern shore railroad, since 1884, the operation has followed a path through history that has been no less dramatic than the rise and falland curves in the rightofwayof american railroading during that time. The eastern shore native later gains international fame as an orator and statesman. Ferry from baltimore on chesapeake bay to love point on the eastern shore, 27 miles on a baltimore and virginia steamboat company ferry.
History buffs can learn all about this immensely brave woman and the underground railroad movement during a road trip around the eastern shore of maryland. Through a joint egovernment service of the maryland judiciary and the maryland state archives, free images and indexes of the complete series of talbot county deed books 1662present have been uploaded to their website. It was a branch off of the pennsylvania rrs delmarva peninsula line. This is a 1999 updated soft cover version from the johns hopkins university press. The line connected pocomoke city, maryland, to norfolk, virginia. Named in 1866 for eastern shore railroad president john w. Christopher tilghman perfectly captures growing up on the eastern shore in this novel. Love, arson, and life in a vanishing land by monica hesse, rivers of the eastern shore. Kent island has been inhabited for nearly 12,000 years. He is a member of the western maryland railway historical society, the lionel collectors club of america lcca, train collectors association tca, the maryland historical society, and the western maryland scenic railroad foundation, as well as several other rail and history. For two years, michener lived on the eastern shore and feasted on crab cakes while working on his book. Walks and hikes in delaware and the eastern shore of maryland and virginia weekend. Instead, they chose to convert the abandoned 49 miles of track formerly serviced by bay coast railroad into a railtotrail project. The countryside transformed shows how the coming in 1884 of the railroad to the counties of accomack and northampton profoundly changed the physical and.
Virginia stories, from colonists to the bridge tunnel. Author gilbert byron was born in chestertown, maryland and lived on the eastern shore all his life. It extended from snow hill, maryland to the new accomack county town of franklin. View all hotels near eastern shore railway museum on tripadvisor.
The moses of her people, harriet tubman escaped from slavery and returned to her eastern shore home to lead others to freedom. Charles landis new book gives an introduction to virginia eastern shore history, through a series of essays. Noble, 1920 history of dorchester county, maryland, elias jones, 1902 history of talbot county, maryland 1661 1861, samuel alexander harrison, 1915. There used to be a decent grain trade to feed the chicken producers on the eastern shore. Library of congress, general map of the pennsylvania railroad and its. Maryland became a slave society in colonial days when tobacco ruled. The line connected pocomoke city, maryland, to norfolk, virginia, interchanging with norfolk southern railway at both ends a rail ferry service was used to. Baltimore, chesapeake and atlantic railway wikipedia. Maryland remembers 170th anniversary of harriet tubmans. A guide to the history of slavery in maryland leading up to the civil war, using materials from the university of maryland special collections in hornbake library. His work the oyster wars of chesapeake bay won the maryland writers prize. An architectural history of worcester county, maryland. William hemsley eastern shore railroad kearney, james mcclelland, j.
Railroad maps, 1828 to 1900, available online, maryland, eastern. Maryland s eastern shore, birthplace of american heroes frederick douglass and harriet tubman, is deeply rooted in africanamerican history. Sketch map of eastern pennsylvania and northern maryland indicating the railroad network and the connections with the coal fields. There is a wood caboose in cambridge past where the tracks end, almost at the water, next to a station thats a real estate office. In 1526, spanish explorers sailed into chesapeake bay and called it santa maria, a name that appears on a 1556 map. Lots of covered hoppers to perdue and others reply to this message. Naval academy is established at fort severn, annapolis, with seven professors and 40 midshipmen. First operator was the virginia and maryland railroad, until it was replaced by the eastern shore railroad. Duffy has written two books to help people discover the sites and stories of the eastern shore. We have therefore thought it just and necessary to empower our deputies in congress to join with a majority of the united colonies in declaring them free and. Wennersten is emeritus professor of environmental history at the university of maryland, eastern shore. Underground railroad in delaware, maryland, and west virginia. Duffy is the founder of secrets of the eastern shore, a business that celebrates the beauty and history of the delmarva peninsula in his words, jills pictures, and their products.
Chesapeake bay steamers md and va images of america by chris dickon. The lords oysters is a story about growing up along the chester river as the son of a waterman. By contrast, it has had a social and cultural attachment to delaware of long standing. Summary survey map along route of line covering strip of land in maryland from elk landing to tangier sound. Thomas davidson 2nd edition 1991 historical and archaeological research project on the nonslave african american population. The free state, one of the original colonies, and home to nearly 400 years of american history has been at the heart of american experience since the nations founding. History of marylands eastern shore giovanni da verrazano is thought to have visited the atlantic coast near chincoteague bay in 1524. Shows major drainage, cities and towns, and four main coal field areas. Following governor larry hogans emergency actions to protect public health during the covid19 pandemic, the harriet tubman underground railroad state park will be closed until.
The eastern shore used to have trains to almost every town including some that dont exist anymore but you cant tell that today. A seaboard state, e maryland is divided by chesapeake bay, which runs almost to the northern border. Harriet tubman, underground railroad history celebrated in. Crisfield, the city was formed from the somerset county communities of annemessex and somers cove and incorporated in 1872.
Eastern shore railway museum parksley 2020 all you. Maryland historically, the eastern shore of maryland has had an unsettled relationship with the rest of its state, including numerous proposals for its secession. We must warn you, reading this book may make you want to hop on a boat for a day trip to the island. The society publishes books that bring forth rich episodes of marylands history in a readable style that engages both scholarly and general audiences.
Maryland s eastern shore was served by branch lines running generally southwest from the main route. A selection of sources organized by research topic. The bay coast railroad a subsidiary of cassatt management llc was the last operator to run trains all the way from maryland to little creek. Joseph scott, 1807 history of harford county maryland from 1608 to the close of the war of 1812, by walter m. Amazon business card corporate credit line shop with. By 1966, a third printing had been made of this classic. Known then as dodge city of the east, the railroad s. To the south, the calvertscarborough line separates maryland from virginia. Discover marylands africanamerican history visit maryland.
Experimental survey for the eastern shore rail road, maryland, drawn by w. Google books internet archive harford county titles online geographical description of the states of maryland and delaware. Crisfield, once one of the largest communities in maryland, is a city literally built on seafood. It doesnt go far, and it doesnt go fast, but this railroad has a detour that makes it unique. Click here to find the kindle ebook version on amazon. The eastern shore of maryland stretches the length of the chesapeake bay from pennsylvania to the north, delaware to the east and virginia to the south. Page 36 we, the delegates of maryland, in convention assembled, do declare that the king of great britain has violated his compact with this people, and they owe no allegiance to him. This abandoned railway passed through mostly farming areas of delaware and maryland s eastern shore. Buckingham branch railroad delaware, maryland and virginia railroad delmarva central railroad eastern shore. Kent island is the largest island in the chesapeake bay and was the location of the first european settlement in what is now maryland. The railroad has an interesting history and was once part of the pennsylvania rr system.
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