What Are Chesapeake Fishing Shanties? (continued)
They were built to provide rudimentary living accommodations and shelter from inclement weather. The moniker “ark” is a reference to Noah’s biblical lifesaving vessel. Watermen on the Chesapeake often ventured far from home, and in the days before the common advent of motorized vessels, this required overnight stays. With a shanty they could remain in a productive fishing area for the duration of a fish-run or season
Shanty boats were towed to a location and then anchored or moored close to oyster beds, fishing and crabbing locations. Some were used for duck hunting and other forms of recreation. As the industrial evolution advanced motor technology, waterman were able to get back to shore and home in the same day and use of the shanties declined.
A number of years ago a shanty boat was found by the owner of a Rock Hall Harbor waterfront property. Captain Carter, a well-known waterman also owned the property at one time. At some point someone built a structure of four walls with no floor and placed it over the shanty boat. More than likely this was done to provide further protection from the weather year round. Possibly Carter’s parents or a relative used this as home during hard times, which was common during the Great Depression. In the late 1980’s the shanty boat was hardly noticeable, buried in reeds and other vegetation. It was during this time that a local history buff and collector, Audrey Johnson (no relation to owner) contacted the new property owner to enlighten her about the shanty “ark” boat. Audrey suggested that the shanty boat be saved and both agreed. Audrey then arranged to have the local Lions club remove the shanty for repairs working with local boat builder, Stanley Vansant. Once repaired the shanty boat was placed on the County corner of Route 20 and Main Street (Maryland Route 445).
By 2021 the shanty, while still intact, had seriously deteriorated. The owner, still recognizing its historic and cultural value, assembled a team of preservationists and preservation trades specialists to undertake a true restoration in accordance with The Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties, specifically the Standards for Historic Vessel Preservation Projects. The shanty boat was deemed eligible for National Register and final confirmation is expected in November of 2022.
While there were many shanty boats at work before motorization, it’s estimated that less than ten Chesapeake Bay shanty boats remain and are in such a state of deterioration they cannot be restored. The Chesapeake Fishing Shanty Conservancy, a 501 (c) (3) organization, was formed to take on the task of saving and maintaining a rare and tangible piece of Rock Hall’s fishing heritage for future generations.