Happy 250th Birthday United States! My how time flies, seems like just yesterday you were 150! 😉
This blog is an expansion of a small display we had at the Twin Beaches Branch Library. We had limited space there, but I wanted to take time to expand the story of how Chesapeake Beach fit into the broader picture of this 250th timeline!
This is not a comprehensive list, but more of a snapshot … some events are directly connected to the Twin Beaches, some are just the overarching stories that were happening in the country.
I warn you, it is long! Feel free to scroll through to stop at what grabs you!
We begin with evidence of the indigenous population
Wayne Clark, local author & historian of Native American history and archaeology, discovered a site in Chesapeake Beach, MD that uncovered oyster shells and pottery shards. He believed these middens (mounds of shells) were evidence that Chesapeake beach was seasonally inhabited by native peoples who lived in farming villages along the Patuxent River. His research also suggested that a summer fishing camp of Algonquian-speaking people lived on the northern shore of Fishing Creek from 1000-5000 years ago, drawn to the area by the abundance of marine food sources.
The Chesapeake Beach Railway further added to the story with an article that ran in the Baltimore Sun on 10/3/1899 stating that two large mounds of oyster shells were found in the area. It reported that these mounds were believed to be from Native American times and further stated that the oyster shells would be used for ballast in the railway’s construction!
1608: Next stop: John Smith
On June 11, 1608, Captain John Smith mapped his voyage of exploration of the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. It looks like he included Fishing Creek in his mapping. He and his crew camped somewhere between Fishing Creek and Randle Cliff! I mean, how cool is that?!?
1871: The idea of a railway connecting D.C. to the Chesapeake Bay becomes ‘a thing!’
The Washington and Chesapeake Railroad enters the picture, as slightly more than an idea in 1871! While the idea of connecting Southern Maryland with the larger cities had been around since the mid-1800s, the Civil War slowed things down and it never came to fruition. BUT, in 1871, the idea resurfaced somewhat more solidly… I’ll say standing-on-jello-solid… with a name being associated with it now, the Washington and Chesapeake Railroad. An article was even written about the route being examined with place names mentioned… but that seems to be where it started and ended…. for now.
1881: The Washington and Chesapeake Railroad is back! & more than ‘a thing’
The Washington and Chesapeake Railroad was incorporated around 1881. The company went through several sets of owners & managers over the next decade plus! With each new set, a small bit of progress was made. The 1894 management really seemed to be making progress and great strides. This was the group that got the Swing Bridge over the Patuxent River built in 1894, they were grading the land, making contracts, pushing to get the Town of Chesapeake Beach incorporated, and more… (for deeper dives read our SIDE TRACKS BLOG: Why a Beach Resort: A Deep Dive into the W&CBRy, part 2). Timing and circumstances were not on their side however. Ultimately this company went into bankruptcy in 1896, leaving room for the next group to try.
1894: The Town of Chesapeake Beach is incorporated
As noted above, the Washington and Chesapeake Railroad was a driving force behind the Town of Chesapeake Beach being incorporated. The idea of incorporating the town had been around for many years, but 1894 was when it happened!
**Note that the railway was dependent on the town, and the town was dependent on the railway… a very co-dependent relationship! [want a deeper dive into the first mayor of Chesapeake Beach? read our SIDE TRACKS BLOG!]
1896: Plessy v Fergusen
This was the landmark Supreme Court Case challenging the Separate Car Act of 1890 (regarding railcars). The 1896 decision upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the “separate but equal” doctrine. While the railway to the beach was not built yet, this would affect whatever management was successful in the construction.
1897: The Chesapeake Beach Railway Company is incorporated
Spoiler! This is the company to actually build the railway to Chesapeake Beach! They get all the accolades and pats on the back for making it happen (although it is worth noting the pre-1897 buildup and effort… starting in 1871… these early efforts played an important part and do not get the recognition they deserve in my opinion!)
Back to the CBRy, it was incorporated in 1897, spearheaded by a group of wealthy businessmen and trainmen from out west. This group had a grand plan for Chesapeake Beach… it was to be a gambling hub for the wealthy. They built a racetrack, a grandstand and stables… I mean the works! In the newspapers, Chesapeake Beach was referred to as the ‘Monte Carlo of the East’… the ‘Saratoga of the South’… ‘Washington’s Atlantic City’ … ‘Washington’s Coney Island’ and so on!
Management was moving fast and making it happen… until it didn’t, that is. The gambling hub that was envisioned never occurred. The anti–gambling sentiment was strong, the needed licenses were lacking, and the horseracing was never sanctioned… therefore never used! What did happen was the railway to the beach was built, the town had a wonderful amusement park and offered great fun for many DC and Baltimore residents and beyond (just not the huge gambling hub they had hoped for).
For years, the town would remain reliant on the train and the train would remain reliant on the town… the railway was in operation from 1899-1935.
1900: Grand official opening of Chesapeake Beach Resort
June 9, 1900, marked the official Grand Opening of the Chesapeake Beach Resort. The train transported thousands to the beach! A huge boardwalk was built over the bay, with amusements, concessions, and restaurants. A dance pavilion and a band shell were built, there was something for everyone!
1910: North Chesapeake Beach becomes North Beach!
North Beach breaks up with Chesapeake Beach! … not really, they remained close friends! But they were a growing town and the residents wanted to be independent from Chesapeake Beach. North Beach and Chesapeake Beach are the only two incorporated towns in Calvert County, often referred to as ‘The Twin Beaches.’
1915: Women’s Suffrage Day in Chesapeake Beach
Chesapeake Beach played its part in the women’s suffrage movement! Rallies and speeches were given on the boardwalk, the railway even offered reduced rates to & from the Suffrage Parade in Washington D.C. on March 3, 1913! This was the day before President Wilson was inaugurated, which also had reduced rates.
1916 – The Great Derby Roller Coaster is built
This new and exciting roller coaster was built over the bay, with dips and thrills for the 1916 season! It would excite visitors for years. With upkeep becoming too costly, it was dismantled in 1927.
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1916-1920s North Beach Trolley built
A trolley was added to transport passengers between Chesapeake Beach & North Beach from approximately 1916 to the early 1920s. It was a great idea, however it often was out of commission and had to be pulled by a tractor!
1917 U.S. enters World War I
This is a fun aside regarding chocolates & World War I! Chocolate was in short supply during WWI, as it was often sent overseas to our soldiers as an energy booster (later chocolate would become a standard ration during WWII). Lowney’s Chocolates, a popular chocolatier at the time (& sold on the Chesapeake Beach boardwalk) took an interesting marketing angle during the war: Candy vs. Alcohol!
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1919: The 18th Amendment Ratified – PROHIBITION-
The 18th Amendment, prohibition, was ratified in 1919 and went into effect from 1920-1933 when it was repealed. *Fun fact: Maryland, on a state level, had a unique stance on prohibition – It often turned a blind eye on the serving of liquor. [read more about Prohibition in our museum newsletter!]
Calvert County even had a “Bootlegger King!”
*Another fun tidbit: it was reported in Baltimore that a red crab in an establishment’s window signified that booze was served there!
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1920 – The 19th Amendment – Granting women the right to vote
The 19th Amendment was ratified on August 18, 1920 granting women the right to vote. It is of note that discrimination and voter suppression continued for women of color until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawing discriminatory voting practices was passed.
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1923: The Belvedere Hotel Burns down
The grand Belvedere Hotel was completely destroyed by fire on March 31, 1923.
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1926: Carousel Burns
The original carousel built on the boardwalk over the water was mysteriously destroyed by fire on 10/31/1926.
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1926 : North Beach Volunteer Fire Department
The much needed North Beach Volunteer Fire Department was incorporated on 8/4/1926.
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1929: Stock Market Crash leading to the Great Depression (lasting though the 1930s)
1930: Newly branded Seaside Park, LLC opens in Chesapeake Beach
In 1930, the newly branded Seaside Park opened in Chesapeake Beach. The amusements were moved to land, the boardwalk over the water was dismantled (all except for the long pier for the steamboats to dock). There were two new and exciting additions to the park: a huge saltwater pool, and a ballroom. In addition, a miniature railway was added to the long pier to transport visitors back and forth.
The new park’s slogan boasted: Everything New But the Bay!
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1933: Hurricane causes massive damage to the Twin Beaches
Damage from the 1933 hurricane in Chesapeake Beach
1935: The last passenger train leaves the Chesapeake Beach Railway Station on 4/15/1935
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1936: Stinnett’s Tavern opens (closes in 2003 with damage from Hurricane Isabel)
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1937: Harriet Elizabeth Brown
Harriet Elizabeth Brown, a Calvert County Teacher sues Calvert County Government for equal pay for African American and white teachers.
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1941: U.S. Enters WWII
The U.S. entered WWII in December 1941 after the invasion of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. WWII ends 1945.
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1942: Seaside Park Closes and steamboat travel ceases due to gas rationing during WWII.
1945 : Chespeake Beach Park opens
In 1945 the former Seaside Park was leased by Herman B. “Jim” Anglemyer of Long Beach, CA. He renamed it Chesapeake Beach Amusement Park & Fishing Wharves. The lease was revoked after one year due to financial difficulties. The Rod ‘n Reel opened the same year.
In 1946, the park was purchased by Wesley Stinnett, Joseph O’Mara, and the Cate Brothers of Baltimore. Chesapeake Beach Park, Inc. was created with Stinnett as President. And the last and final amusement park era began in Chesapeake Beach.
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1948: Slot Machines legalized in Maryland (and were outlawed in 1968)
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1954: Brown v. Board of Education
This Supreme Court decision marked the legal end to ‘separate but equal’ education. Despite segregation being illegal on the federal level, it would take years for many states to fully integrate.
1956: The old railway bed, ‘the tracks,’ paved and designated Rt. 260
1964: Civil Rights Act of 1964
This was legislation passed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson that prohibited discrimination in public places, provided for the integration of schools and other public facilities, and made employment discrimination illegal. It was the most sweeping civil rights legislation since Reconstruction.
1965: Voting Rights Act of 1965
This act was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. It outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the Civil War.
1968: The Fair Housing Act of 1968
This act prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin or sex.
1969 Moon Walk
Apollo 11 (July 16-25, 1969) was the American spaceflight that first landed humans on the Moon.
1972 – Chesapeake Beach Park closes
The amusement park era in Chesapeake Beach ends with the closing of the Chesapeake Beach Park in 1972. The park is left vacant.
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1974 – The Chesapeake Beach Carousel moves to Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro
The Carousel that operated in the beach since 1929 was saved from being sold piecemeal; spearheaded by the efforts of Orva Heissenbuttel, a Maryland resident and a strong community!
The Carousel now lives at Watkins Regional Park, Upper Marlboro, and is still in operation! Go take a spin on it!
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1977 – the first Star Wars movie opens
The first Star Wars Movie was huge news and a massive hit! (Just a fun pop-culture addition!)
1979 – The Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum is founded!
I could go on and on… but I’ll end the timeline with the founding of the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum! We continue to collect, learn, share and grow!
And as you see if you’ve made it this far in the blog… the Twin Beaches fit into the overall 250th like other towns… we’ve had our ups and downs… we’ve been there for the big stuff, for the little stuff, and for everything in between. We continue to adjust and adapt as times change and we keep moving forward!
We All have a part in this story! Happy 250th United States