Cobb Island Life Saving Station seen here just prior to its move to the town of Oyster. 

Tangier Island Fisherman 

Tangier Island  

Cobb Island

Located just off shore from Lebanon Farm, Cobb Island has a rich history here on the Eastern Shore. Settled by the Cobb family in the 1880's, it became the location from which the family operated their maritime salvage operation, and later, a resort hotel for hunters and fishermen. It became known far and wide as a year round resort and as an escape from the summer heat in such places as Washington and Baltimore. Interestingly, as patrons would travel down the Eastern Shore by railroad, they would be brought here to the dock at Lebanon Farm to be transported by sailboat to Cobb’s Island. My Great Grandfather Luther Lee Nottingham would perform this service for the Cobb Family.

But life along the Barrier Islands of Virginia could be perilous at times, and during hurricanes, down right dangerous. Too many ships to count ran a ground on the shores near Cobb Island, and for many years, the Cobb family prospered by salvaging the cargos and rescuing the sailors from these treacherous shipwrecks.
In the late 1880s, the US Government installed a life saving station on the island. Although damaged many times by Atlantic Storms along the coast, it eventfully was replaced by a newer modern facility in the 1930s. Abandoned by the Coast Guard in the 1960s, the building was moved to the town of Oyster by the Conservancy to be preserved and also used as office space for the organization

Our Stay On The Eastern Shore

As our stay here on the Eastern Shore comes to an end, I thought I would highlight some of the things we have done during our stay.

Tangier Island

This tiny clutter of islands in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay just south of the Maryland State Line and only accessible by boat. A few fishermen from Cornwall, England settled tangier Island more than 300 years ago. They have been living there ever since, making their living off the bay. They have preserved their closeness to the sea, the slowly paced lifestyle, and even their special melody of speech not encountered anywhere else.

Our stay was at the Bayview Inn, which had a wonderful backyard area with a nice breeze, and a view of the water. We spent two nights at this location. There are no cars on the Island – only golf carts and scooters. You could walk anywhere on the island in 10 minutes, and there were several restaurants from which to choose. Our time on the island was quiet because other than the wonderful beach on the island, there was not much else to do except wander and explore.

Myrtle Beach

Known as the Silver Strand, it extends almost 75 miles south from the North Carolina boarder along the coast. Myrtle Beach is a small community that has grown in leaps and bounds. Desirable because of its summer cool location on the Atlantic Ocean, it has become an impressive mega resort of high-rise hotels and time-shares. The beach is pristine in nature, and the water was pleasantly warm. We spent three wonderful nights with one day on the beach, and the second day aboard the local casino gambling boat. As hurricane Charlie was beating a path up the Easter Coast, we made it back to the Farm one day before it hit.

Charlie

Charlie was a bust. By the time it hit our area (its path took it right overhead), it was no more than a tropical storm. We got no wind to speak of, but almost 6 inches of rain. Although I do not make light of Charlie, and hurricanes in general, this one did not pose a problem for us, although further south along the outer banks it was a different matter. Bonnie did more damage there, however, Charlie added unnecessarily to the misery.

Sadly, next Wednesday we start our long treck home. We should arrive in the Coachella Valley by Labor Day. We will spend three days in Nashville to visit an old college friend who now lives in Birmingham.