Bellevue, Maryland is one of the nation’s few remaining historically African American maritime communities in Talbot County, Maryland. The history of Bellevue is at risk for accelerated erasure. Within the past 20 years, Bellevue lost landmark public buildings and the retirement of its independent Zip Code. A barely visible roadside marker is the only indication that Bellevue was once a historically African American community.
But the biggest threat to date is the recent acquisition of a tract of land along the Tred Avon River by Paquin Design Build (Grasonville, MD) with the intent to build 14, $1.5 million dollar homes along the shoreline.
The Builder chose to name this development, situated in the heart of Bellevue “North of Oxford”. Bellevue constituents were unaware of these actions until advertisements appeared in media outlets.
A community meeting was held at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church on April 26 where constituents presented their concerns to Mr. Paquin. Leading concerns were the development’s name, disregard for and erasure of Bellevue’s black culture and history, environmental concerns, and the economic impact on elderly residents. Most egregiously, and an affront to Bellevue, the developer chose to name the proposed community “North of Oxford with”, the intent to establish an independent homeowners association, turn a private community road into a driveway for three of the new homes, and to place physical barriers to set it apart from Bellevue.
Mr. Paquin did not concede much, if anything, but indicated that he might consider changing the name, planting saplings to replace the 100+-year-old trees he intends to cut down, paving a private road for access by his construction equipment, and renaming the streets in favor of former Bellevue residents.
However, the property is still marketed as North of Oxford on Zillow, and the street address for a few of the homes is listed as Orchard Terrace, though the residents who currently live on Orchard Terrace have not consented to turn a street that allows all residents of Bellevue to easily access the waterfront into a private driveway.
Multiple Organizations & Community Members are Fighting for Bellevue
All of this is happening amidst major projects to preserve Bellevue’s rich history.
The Bellevue Passage Museum + Water’s Edge Museum
The creation of the Bellevue Passage Museum from a rescued historical property in Bellevue is underway. Work for the museum is in progress, funded by the African American Heritage Preservation Program, cash, and in-kind donations. In collaboration with Barbara Paca, Ph.D., and Philip Logan, founders of the Water’s Edge Museum in Oxford, MD, the two museums will create an immersive educational experience in African American History on Maryland’s Eastern Shore for students of all ages.
Washington College
The Black Life in Bellevue Field School July 5-29, 2022 is a partnership with Bellevue Village and Washington College’s Center for Environment and Society. Led by Michael J. Chiarappa, Ph.D., and Janet Sheridan, the Field School is supported by the Vernacular Architecture Forum and the University of Virginia’s School of Architecture through funding provided by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The field school attracted domestic and international undergraduate and graduate students.
Residents & Neighbors of Bellevue Maryland
Bellevue residents share a strong sense of community and regard it as a peaceful, beautiful, historic village. A grassroots movement has started to take action to preserve the character and culture of Bellevue. The goal is for accountability from the developer(s) to the goals and vision of the Bellevue Master Plan, and that “improvements preserve the village’s character that will attract a new generation of devoted residents”.
Currently, many residents of Bellevue and surrounding neighborhoods have banded together to fight this erasure of history and this new threat to the Eastern Shore’s delicate watershed environment. A task force with subcommittees has been formed to take action.
The Disappearing Roots of Bellevue’s Legacy
Bellevue, Maryland is one of the nation’s few remaining historically African American maritime communities. This village of approximately one square mile or four city blocks is rich in history.
Once a self-sufficient African American Community with a school (a Rosenwald School), place of worship (St. Luke’s United Methodist Church), general store, post office, four restaurants, Knights of Pythias Lodge, recreation center, gas station, and doctor’s office. The major employers were the Valiant Packing House and Cannery, and the renowned African American-owned Turner Seafood Company.
With the exception of the William H. Valliant Packing House and Cannery, and the General Store, all businesses were owned by African Americans. This small community was home to a baseball league, Boy Scout troop, and produced an above-average percentage of black college graduates that went on to serve the community and our country in the military, as primary and secondary educators, health care workers, clergy, and business owners.
Dr. Dennis M. De Shields is founder of Bellevue Passage Museum and fourth-generation Bellevue resident
james smith says
Bellevue is indeed a hidden and historical place located across from Oxford Maryland .It is my home and i can remember fishing , crabbing and jumping off the ferry boat to swim in the river. Bellevue is a small town with a few opportunities to look forward to other than going out on Earl Fields boat to fish, there is no restaurants , no food stores or no post office or gas stations. The Bellevue i know is gone and the new Bellevue should be a place where me and my family should always be welcome and be apart of the community.We should in so many ways conserve Bellevue rich Afro-american history by making sure the residents have stake and a voice in the making of the new Bellevue.I say inclusion and not exclusion in the making of the new Bellevue.This is my home n my roots and it should be preserved for the sake of the culture and people that presently reside in Bellevue.
Margot McConnel says
How very sad for both Bellevue and Talbot County; bit by bit County history is being erased.
Glenn C Baker says
“surrounding neighborhoods have banded together to fight this erasure of history”
Interesting choice of words.
After history was Erased of the Brave Men who Fought Against the Federal Invasion of Maryland and their memorial “The Talbot Boys” was Erased.
David lee says
…”The Federal Invasion of Maryland…” Talk about an interesting choice of words! Quick history lesson- news break- Maryland stayed with the Union, not the Confederacy. If you’re talking about recent history and the decision to have the statue relocated, that was a local decision, not Federal. Federal invasion of Maryland- gimme a break.
Eva M. Smorzaniuk, MD says
I reviewed the developers website advertisement for “North of Oxford” and it is truly gag worthy. Clearly this developer is either ignorant, or willfully disregardful of the historical importance of Bellevue. This future enclave for wealthy second home owners is a striking contrast to the community it will abut. One can look to the future and see Bellevue and it’s history “gentrified” out of existence. And, by the way, as an Oxford resident I object to the illegitimate use of our town name by a non contiguous community! Thank you, Dr. DeShields, for bringing this to light. Perhaps in your next letter you can tell us how we can help you.
Richard Marks says
Thank-you Dr. DeShields for the informative op-ed. Yes, it would be devastating to have the wonderful history of Bellevue erased and the community dramatically affected with families possible displaced. Hopefully, with appropriate resistance from the residents and meaningful discussions with the developer there is an opportunity to elevate not eliminate.
As an aside, it is most interesting to read a comment about gentrification from an Oxford resident considering that is exactly what happened in Oxford. Sometimes folks just can’t see the forrest for the trees.
Eva M. Smorzaniuk, MD says
Yes Richard, Oxford can lay claim to being another second home enclave. At least I can say it wasn’t on my watch! Fortunately, community spirit here is high, with much support for our local fire department, community center, museums, and public access to parks and the water. However, I hope Oxford residents will take note that the history of a middle passage port is just as important to preserve!
Kathleen Carroll says
As a “from-there” who moved to Talbot County eight years ago, it’s sad to see this happening. I had no idea such a development was in the works. How does this happen? I enjoy the quiet of visiting the Bellevue ferry area. It would be a same to see this development spoiling the history of the town.
Steve Shimko says
The developer probably feels that the name “North of Oxford” is more sexy, and has more cachet to his targeted audience (Washingtonians) than would North Bellevue.
Reminds of when Howard County was trying to encourage development around US-1 (Washington Boulevard) and MD-175. That area was always known as Jessup. But the name Jessup came to be associated with the food warehouses and the penitentiary in that area. Hence they decided to rename that area East Columbia in marketing material.
Liz Fisher says
Someone had to sell the land for this to happen . . .
Joy Henderson says
I think that Mr Paquin needs to go some where else. This is not the place for big business. It’s as if he could careless of the since of community and heritage on the Eastern Shore. Go back to your big city and make changes. Leave us Ali e we are just fine.
Mark Pellerin says
I knew Bellevue when it predominately Black and I also knew Oxford when it was about 30% Black and 60% to 70% working-class. What a delight both were.
I would be delighted too when I’d drive from Oxford to Easton mid-day and not meet another vehicle along the way (gone). You could also go into the Safeway (gone) and Rowen’s (gone) and speak to EVERY person within (gone). I knew Bellevue Seafood (gone) and Leon’s “Fridge Farm” (gone). What wonderful souls who then were a part (gone).
A city friend who has visited here for nearly 50 years said, long ago, “What idiot put all those invitational signs on the highway that said things like, “Scenic Area” or “Easton, 11th greatest city in the U.S.”. There has been an apparent benefit but at what cost ?
I do know that the Ripple property (Paquin’s project site) had been for sale for many, many many years but originally it had been carved-out and proposed for something like 60 house trailer lots. That wasn’t apparently realized for septic problems but now, Bellevue has a sewer tie and the County wants sewer-ties to pay for infrastructure.
I have my own terrible and character changing subdivision project looming on our neighboring and adjacent Schoolhouse Lane and this means there will be a road widening, loss of trees, and adding something like 11 or 12 new dwellings and EGAD.. more traffic. One that point, I objected with proposals of this for simply the SAFETY issue of the Royal Oak Road, and was overruled.
I”m disgusted and perturbed with how all this goodness has been lost but honestly, the Paquin proposal might be the best one could hope for. Most SADLY so.
Deborah Colborn says
Hello Dr. DeShields, I am involved with the St. Michaels Community Conversation on Race. We have been meeting since the summer of 2020, hosting zoom presentations and discussions for the community. Mostly recently we had a panel discussion on Equity in Public Policy. Constance Hope, who you may know, is our moderator.
We are disheartened by your report and the disregard of the people of Bellevue. Is there anything we can do?
I plan on driving out to Bellevue this week-end; it’s been a while since I’ve been there.
You might recognize my face…I was an OT at the hospital for some years and remember you as a very compassionate hospitalist!!
Please let us know if there is anything we can do.
Bob Little says
Mr Paquin open you heart and eyes
Lynn Mielke says
Bellevue must be preserved! It’s Talbot County’s Tulsa.
I did note that on the Paquin website it identifies the development as “Bellevue on the Tred Avon”. Did they change the name? Is it possibly a sign of a positive result from the April 26 meeting? If so, maybe some progress?
Where is the Talbot Historical Society or the County Historic Preservation Commission on this issue? Review Talbot County Code, Chapter 24, Article IV. Has an historic overlay zone been established for Bellevue or sought? If not, why not? The Commission’s next monthly meeting is this Monday, May 9, at 4 p.m. … hope it is not too late to explore establishing one. The Washington Post, Baltimore Sun and WBOC need to cover the fight to preserve Bellevue history.
Charge!
Lori Brummell says
This is pure invasion of property ! We have to fight to put an end to this. If the homes are like the ones he has constructed in Tilghman Island then we as Bellevue residents are in deep trouble. Fight for it to end now. The sooner the better. He can’t just go through a community like that. Speak up folks !
Joe Schmidt says
Can someone please explain to me what happened to all of our “Critical Area” laws??? Oh that’s right, they only apply to people who are from here. If you have enough money and you’re not from here then you can do anything you want. This comes from a 5th generation Talbot county resident. I have never thought of living anywhere else but something’s and some people really make me re-think that. This is pathetic to destroy a local community with a bunch of “Look what I have Not-From-Here’s”!!! And to
re-name it just shows what this guy actually thinks of the area
Roxine Warrick-Palmer says
Thank you Dr. Deshields for this beautiful article. My first job was at the community building to help watch over the smaller children during the summer. I know many families that have lived and died building this community and as small as it is we respected visitors but don’t need our community to loose its quiet, quaint historic black village to be overshadowed by rich houses and the separation that it brings. Our neighbors have gotten along these many years without conflict and confusion. Let’s keep this community free to walk, talk and respect each other’s differences. Thank you, Roxine Warrick-Palmer.