Comings and Goings – Article 3 - Loch Haven Newsletter November 1993

COMINGS AND GOINGS

by Tommy Dicken

In the heavy snow of one of those early years no cars could get in or out of Loch Haven for three days. We trekked out to get groceries. When the snow plows finally came through, the drivers were treated to drinks at the various houses, because of the cold. It was a wonder they completed their work.

In the 1950's, it was a joy to go crabbing and fishing here in Brewer Creek. One could stand in the bow of a skiff and pole along and spot soft crabs fifteen feet away all along the shores of the creek. It was possible to catch 15 or 20 white and yellow perch and an occasional pike--in an hour in the cove on the opposite side of the creek. There were no piers to prevent one from poling the boat freely around the shore of the creek. 

The many children born to the early settlers included the Creightons, the Hoffmans, the Cordones, the Sooys, and the Wolfes. One or two school busses came through when the county finally took over the roads, and there were more than enough children at that time.

At Christmas, a committee comprised of members of each community on the peninsula came through to judge the house decorations. One year I was the winner. I think the prize was $10.00. I spent it on a Spruce tree that I donated to the Association and had planted in Sudye's yard. It grew some until it was struck by lightning. Since then it has grown in width, not height, and at only 3 to 4 feet it is a sad sight today.

After the Mellichampes moved out, the original old house on the point overlooking the South River was rented to the Russian Embassy during several summers. It must have been as far away from Washington as they were allowed to go at the time. They kept to themselves.

 The main restaurant than was The Pines, in a log building, run by Mrs. Taylor. It was noted for excellent fried chicken. That building how houses Adams Ribs; the log building is covered with brick and cement. Next door was the local supermarket, Mel-Eddys, which profited until the Safeway arrived. Other shopping was done in downtown Annapolis, which was reached by a two lane road crossing the South River on a low cantilever bridge. Annapolis had only local shops, there were no outlying shopping center, and tourism was not a problem. At 6 p.m. one could look down Main Street from Church Circle to the Harbor and see perhaps a half-dozen people on the street.

Access to Baltimore was via a trolley line that ended at Bladen Street in an historic terminal that Lincoln probably used when he came to town. The trolley made all the local stops to Baltimore. One could hear its bell long before it arrived, crossing the now unused trestle over the Severn River. Route 50 from Washington was not built until the late 1950's. One had to use Route 214. Until 1955, when the 214 bypass was built, one had to go through Woodland Beach to get to Loch Haven.

The name Loch Haven Beach was changed to Cape Loch Haven in the 1950's.