Cap’n Tells of Bridges to St. George Island

Message from the Cap’n is a compilation of fishing advice, waterman and weather insights, Chesapeake lore, and ordinary malarkey from the folks who keep their feet wet in the Potomac and St. Mary’s rivers.

History of the St. George Island Bridge

The first bridge was built in 1921 and made travel easy to other parts of St. Mary’s County and points beyond.

The first automobile on St. George Island was owned by Captain Oscar Tarlton, a very spry and dapper gentleman of the Blackwell enclave just north of the Adams Hotel.

The horse and buggy was still the most used form of transportation and the initial bridge prevented swimming the horses across the straits at times during high tide.

Just north of the bridge was Swann’s Store and Will Medley’s hotel, the islanders had additional opportunities to procure supplies and lodging.

Additionally, Mr. Medley rented horses and buggies for the trip up county to Leonardtown and beyond.

He also sold a superior grade of moonshine whiskey as there were ample stills in the area. Hey, everyone distributed it, the ice man, the mail man, the trash man, and the milk man. Get my drift?

Several slugs of good liquor always eased the journey to Leonardtown if one could find the “notches in the trees” as roadmaps.

This bridge in 1921, set the islanders free to roam around the entire county and get mixed up in the upland culture.

This bridge was destroyed by the Storm of 1933, and another bridge was then built to the mainland, sitting atop creosote pilings.

 

The creosote pilings are still there bearing testament of the longevity of pilings put there in the 1940s.

The bridge that was resting on them was destroyed by Hurricane Hazel in 1954.

Here is a tale of the bridges built for the St. George community.

 

 

 

• *********The Bridge We Knew************
• Heard tires clapping on the bridge up here
• As it drew near as it was near
• As it crossed our soft crabbing spot
• Built it after 1933 and never did rot
• **
• The creosote pilings are still standing there
• Close to the Bowes’s boat, Pabo’s, resting lair
• Now washed away by the constant thumping
• Of the mighty Potomac’s westerly pummeling 
•  ***
• The first bridge was built in 1921
• To help residents, doctors, and the mail’s daily run
• Until that time one had to swim, wade or ride a horse
• Most islanders liked the isolation without remorse
• ****
• A hurricane also knocked this flimsy bridge down
• As it was not made of material that was very sound
• But all of this brings me to the bridge we used til 1954
• To go from the mainland to the marshy island shore
•  *****
• Clap, clap went the tires on the creaky oak timber
• From the old Plymouths and Fords, I can remember 
• Sometimes waiting at the passing place, we went on 
• Scrambling down the slope quickly before another car got on
•    ****** 
• Always terrified when we crossed the river
• So much noise made all aboard quiver
• Hoping the long steel plate, one end peeled up like a knee
• Didn’t jam under the bumper, pitching us in the sea
•  *******
• Hazel came from the south with a destructive roar
• with such fury, “Look out Katie, Let’s bar the door”
• With all the elements the bridge could not stand
• And was washed across the creek to a lonely strand
•  ********
• Now we cross over concrete and the island’s sewer
• To a strangers’ place with big houses built newer
• Not knowing many people like we used to see
• Those, now who are able, would like to flee.

**************************************************

Thank You,

Capn Jack

Till next time, remember “It’s Our Bay, Let’s Pass It On.”

To learn about tours and trips into the Chesapeake, keep in touch with Fins + Claws on Facebook. Catch up on Messages from the Cap’n Member Page. Please visit Cap’n Jack’s lore and share with your social media sites. Or reach him here: [email protected] or 240-434-1385.