Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1896-02-08
The Esstorn Shore OF Virginia.

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Dominion, by E. T. Poulson, stu
dent of Richmond College,.
The country known as the Eastern
Shore of Virginia lies between the
Atlantic ocean and the Chesapeake
bay, and comprises the counties OF
Accomac and Northampton. This
strip of land is about seventy miles
in length, with an average width OF
about eight miles. It's eastern shores
are bathed by the rolling waves OF
the old Atlantic, its western shores
by those of the Chesapeake, and at
some places they come SO near each
other as almost to seem to shake
hands. Itappears that Captain John
Smith, with his company of fourteen
men, while on his voyage of explora-
ton of the Chesapeake bay in June,
1908, first discovered this narrow strip
of land. In crossing over to the East
crn Shore they first discovered, and
named after their commander,
"Smith's Island" Pursuing their
course they came to Cape Charles, so
named in honor of Charles, King OF
England. There they met some grim
athletic savages with long-headed
spears in their hands, who directed
them to the dwelling place of Wero-
vance, King of Accomac. Smith
SAYS of him that he found him cour-
teous and friendly, and the most
handsome native they had yet seen,
and that his country was pleasant
and fertile. This tribe of Indians
was called the Accomacks, and from
this Accomac county received her
name, which means Across the Wa
ters." There is on the ocean side a
chain of islands acting as break-wa-
tiers to the higher lands. Chinco-
league, one of these islands, is quite
small, yet it has population OF
about three and half thousand, has
four churches, and four native pas
tors (colored churches not included
We also remember that the country
beyond the Chesapeake, then called
the Kingdom of Accomac, afforded
a place for refuge for that cruel and
bitterly revengeful man, Sir William
Berkeley, who was compelled to-flee
from the presence and reach OF Ba
con. "Drummond Town." the oldest
town on this Shore, was perhaps
named in honor of that daring and
heroic man, William Drummond, a
native of Scotland, first Governor of
Carolina, one of Bacon's colleagues
in that notable rebellion, who at last
met his death at the hands of old
Berkeley.
The Rev. Francis Mackenzie, who is
styled the father of the American
Presbyterian Church, settled on the
Eastern Shore, and upon her soil
was founded the first Presbyterian
Church in Virginia.
The chief occupations of the peo-
pie are trucking and oystering. The
first agricultural occupation, was
perhaps, that of growing tobacco,
but this soon proved to be failure,
as the soil was not adapted to such a
crop. Corn and oats were for many
years the staple crops, but there were
vet greater changes to come. Truck
ing soon became extensive, also a
more favorable invitation, as it were,
was heard from the surrounding
waters by thousands of people to
come and partake of their riches.
About twelve years ago the railroad
which now runs through the PENN
sula was built, and when this rail-
road reached the waters edge OF
Cape Charles, there was noted great
change. During the course of one
week about eighty thousand barrels
of sweet potatoes have been known
to leave this shore by rail for the
Northern markets. The oyster beds
of the Eastern Shore waters are per-
haps the richest known in the world.
Their value, it has been said, are
equal to that of the gold mines OF
California. Vegetables, such as Der
ries, peas, onions, ETC., are shipped
in large quantities.
Accomac contains about 252,9OO
acres of land; Northampton about
113, $50 acres. The salty air from the
surrounding sea and the light tenn
perature Of the gulf stream seem to
make the climate milder, and less
liable to frost than other localities
much farther South. This region is
one of the principal market gardens
for the great cities of the North. The
climate is pleasant and salubrious.
DOUBTLESS the county of Accomac has
improved more rapidly than any
other within the last few years.
Game, especially water fowl, is plen-
tiful, and all the birds of Underwater
Virginia found in the forests, fields
and swamps are to be found in Ac-
comac. The largest, and one of the
most successful truck farms in the
State is located at Cape Charles, and
was owned by Mr.. Scott, of Penn
sylvania. Churches and schools are
numerous in both counties, and are
conveniently located.
After seeing what some write, and
hearing what others say about
different parts of Virginia, were it q
duty devolved upon me to show or
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