Maryland Watermen’s Monument, Grasonville, Maryland

 

“They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in owe of your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.”

Psalm 65:8

Traveling down Route 50 on Maryland’s Eastern Shore is a pleasant change from driving on busy highways. The scenery is fabulous and features picturesque country scenes that bring back many memories of how south New Jersey looked when I was a child. There are many large farms with unique barns and silos that dot the countryside. Blocks of hay stacked in open fields waiting to be picked up and moved into the barn for feed for the farm animals this winter. Many an old farm house seem to be standing proudly out in the middle of a huge field. We passed a few lovely small towns that each had a story to tell.

Today, we pulled into our favorite waterfront restaurant, the Fisherman’s Crab Deck on Kent Narrows, Maryland to get a nice fresh seafood meal. We arrived just before it opened, giving us a chance to walk around the waterfront. Right in front of this restaurant, on Kent Narrow Ways, (Route 18 near the Kent Narrows Drawbridge) in Grasonville stands this very unique statue.

We walked over to check it out and read the plaque stating this monument was dedicated to all the watermen in Maryland for their contribution to the seafood industry, culture and heritage. The base of the statue is made of granite and lists the names of all the Maryland natives who have died while working on the water.

This is a quirky statue with cartoonish characters but is well done. There are two watermen made of bronze stand nine feet tall inside of the boat. They appear to be working hard, possibly keeping their boat afloat. Inside the boat is a fishing net and the catch of the day, rock fish. The monument and memorial was designed and sculpted by a local artist, Tilghman Hensley III.

George O’Donnell was the founder of the project, His idea when planning this project was to honor all the Chesapeake Bay Watermen that had served bringing great fresh seafood to this region. This project was a long time coming, taking about seven years. This 7000 pound bronze statue was completed and dedicated in 2003. The project leader was Camille Baca O’Donnel and the memorial was commissioned by Queen Anne’s County Waterman’s Festival Board of Directors.

When looking at this statue, think about how difficult the job of being a watermen on the Chesapeake Bay which is known to be very rough waters and harsh conditions. Storms start brewing and can come up on the fishermen very quickly and with not much warning. Commercial fisherman have one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. We have spent time on the “Bay” and it can be very scary. Storms creep up and before you know it, you are fighting large swells with waves crashing over your boat. These men and women who work the bay for a living should be commended for the job they do every day and the risks they take.

This memorial is worth the stop. Stop and check it out and while looking at the statue send out a prayer to all those watermen who do this job everyday. Pray for their safety and pray for those we have lost. God bless.

Till next time. Bye for now.