The St. Michaels Community Center (SMCC) invites the community to a thought-provoking discussion of the history and preservation of the waterfront village of Bellevue (“Beautiful View”). It occurs on Monday, March 31, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the St. Michaels Community Center, 103 Railroad Avenue, St. Michaels. Admission is free, and seats may be reserved by email at Boardsecretary@stmichaelscc.
The De Shields family, whose multi-generational roots are in the Bellevue community, took steps several years ago to preserve Bellevue’s historic character and culture. Physicians Dennis and Mary De Shields and their daughter Kat De Shields will discuss collaborating to transform a landmark building into the Bellevue Passage Museum. The State’s African American Heritage Preservation Program, foundations, and individuals have supported the project.
The Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, launched in 1684, was the country’s oldest ferry that traversed the Tred Avon River from Oxford to its landing on the river’s south bank. The village of Bellevue community grew adjacent to the landing. In decades past, Bellevue was a self-sufficient community with a Rosenwald School, places of worship, a general store, a post office, and four restaurants, most of which were owned by African Americans. There was also a 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. Although businesses no longer exist, and the buildings were converted into residences, today’s Bellevue residents share a strong sense of community and are eager to preserve their history.
The Bellevue Passage Museum is in the restored John U. Green Store, one of the village’s two remaining historic structures. A display of photographs and artifacts will portray the richness of 18th—and 19th-century African American life. Programming will share the legacy of this resourceful village of Bellevue with its visitors.
The Bellevue Passage Museum and the Water’s Edge Museum in Oxford, founded by Barbara Paca, have formed a working partnership. Their proximity to the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, Bellevue Landing Park, the Port of Oxford, and a UNESCO Slave Route Site of Remembrance will create an immersive educational opportunity in the African experience. Topics document the African American cultural landscape on the Chesapeake Bay, including stories of the founding African American families, Black-owned businesses, daily life, and spirituality. The Field School at Washington College has given the African Americans the tools to research their heritage, and design interpretive programming and heritage tourism that benefits their communities.
About St. Michaels Community Center (SMCC)
The only social services organization in the Bay Hundred region, the St. Michaels Community Center offers residents education, food, and social programs in a safe and nurturing environment. The center’s newly renovated building is located at 103 Railroad Avenue in St. Michaels and is online at http://www.stmichaelscc.org.
Michael Pullen says
This is an excellent opportunity to learn about the storied history of Bellevue, filled with remarkable inhabitants and achievements.
But perhaps Bellevue’s enduring legacy is that of a community that took care of one another, that loved their neighbor as themselves, where families and friends lived and worked and shared their joys and sorrows and built a wonderful community together. It’s uplifting, authentic, and inspiring.