Th eEn dof theL in e :
TheFerfectPlacefor Peace
of Mind
ThePeninsular Areasof the NorthernNecl<,
VA,
andTalbotCounty, MD
By M ol l y B o w e s
. . ELIJAHREEDWA SA COME -
H E R E''
"Our areais 'God's country,"'Ken saysin a
relaxed draw].
Is that the motto of the area? A tourism
slogan?
"No," he iaughs."That's just what my daddy
always calied it."
Ken Smith is a Realtor in Virginia's Northern
Neck region a four county peninsuiar area .
north of Jamestown and nuzzled between the
Potomac and the Rappahannockrivers. Towns
such as "Wicomico" and "Nomini" remind
visitors of the Native American inhabitants
who lirst populated the area, while the homes
of Amcrican icons George Washington and
Robert E. Lee continue to entice people to
explore this quieter arca a couple hours south
of the metro area.
"Things have certainly changed here over
the last 30 years, but it is still pretty rural
and relaxed here. Heard of a 'New York
Minute?' Well, here, we have a 'Northcrn
Neck Minute,' and wc'll get to that job if the
6 c h , . ".'t " h i-'--'6
ti .r " niversary celebrations, shuckers working the
'
Working the land and the water wcre
the primary intcrests of locals and fishing is
the reason the Victorian lined streets of pic
turesque Reedville, VA, were once noted as
T he pe nin su larre gio nso f t he Nor t her nNec k
and T a lho tCo un tya bo undwit h f air windsand
safem oo ring sfor sailin gent hus ias t s .
lHIt'1.t':.Y',ii,q'lW,'f .W,ffiffi,-ffi
I5 I B A L T I I V I O R E / A N NAPOL IS/EAST ERN M .D.NEWS JUN E /JU LY
SHORE
having the largest number of millionaires per
capita. The town is named after Elijah Reed,
who brought the "menhaden" commercial
fishing industry to the area in 1874, as well as
an economic boom that drew the attention of
urbanites.
"Locals used to saythat there were two main
types of peopie here," saysSmith, "those who
live here, and then those who 'come here.'
There is even a bumper sticker that says'El1ah
Reed was a Come Here.' Peopie laugh about
the term now becausemost understand that the
people who are buying the waterfront proper-
ties are driving the economy, which createsjobs
and allows us to build new schools."
The symbiotic balance that now exists be-
tween "born here's"and "come here's" seems
to be playing a significant role in the cultivation
of a growing social life in the community and
many social activities seem to center around a
respect for the heritage of the region. At the
Reedville Fishermen's Museum, one may find
volunteers building a replica of John Smith's
boat for Jamestown's recent 400-year an-
once extremely popular Oyster Roast, or members
simply enjoying a drink during a Friday sunset
for "cocktails on the creek."
As well as a thriving social life, an attrac-
tive and sustainableinfrastructure seemsto
be in place lor those who are seeking a rural,
water based community with enough con-
veniences to make spending time between
"city" and "country" an easytransition. A fine
restaurant (Tommy's in Reedville), shop
ping (Kilmarnock, VA), or even a resort
(lrvington's famous Tides Inn) are all a scenic
car ride away.
The influx of new families and visitors over
the last 30 yearshasmeant that some of the lo-
cal farmers and watermen are "tweaking" their
jobs to accommodate new niches another
indication of the beneficial relationship bridg-
ing the past and the future here.
"I'm a waterman but I don't do asmuch now
2OO7
Wh e t h e ra b o r n - h e r eo r a co m e - h e r e ,
e v e r y o n ee n j o y st h e p e a c efu so
l l i tu d eo f a
s u n s e to n t h e R a p p a h a n n o ck.
becauseI am too damn old now," laughsSmith.
"But that is what makes me a good Realtor
I know the water. There is a lot of water
around here that isn't navigable bcautiful
shorelines, but once you head out, there rvill
be a sand bar. It is good to find someone who
knows the waterways if you are investing in
waterfiont."
Dr. Paul Lee, an oral surgeonfrom northern
Virginia, worked with Smith and bought a sec-
ond home on Crain's Creek outside of Reedville
three years ago. Lee, along with his wife and
three children, makesthe two-and-a-halfhour
drive to their Northern Neck home at least
twice a month in the winter, and almost every
weekend in the summer.
"We were drawn to the area because we
wanted a spot close to northern Virginia that
was lairly rural and on the water with access
to the ocean,"saysLee.
And rather than balk at having their subur-
ban lives interrupted, the Lee children can't
wait to head to the Northern Neck on the
weekends.
"Things are more relaxed when we get away
for the weekends- there is no homework, no
running around to different activities. But the
biggest reason we love it here? It is at night,
when we walk down onto the dock. Everything
is quiet. There are no ambient lights so you can
count all ofthe stars.It is very peaceful."
 , . TAL B O T
CO U N TY...
A area to gct anything you need particularly
R I C H ,RELAXEDR, OMA NTIC concerning health care; the health care here
E XPER IEN C E'' is excellent."
Far from being a secrct, thc sccnic Talbot St. Michaels, Oxford and Tilghman Island
County maintains a type of distant allure fbr are among thc county's most attractive ham
many from thc Washington/Baltimorc arca lets. And whiic youmay enjoy the popular drau.
becauseof one significantly perceivcd chal of colonial-influcncedarchitecture, specialty
lengc: thc ChcsapcakeBay Bridgc. shopsand political heavyhitters in St. Michaels,
"It is the rate-limiting stcp in getting back you can expect your Realtor to closely guard
and forth to the city," saysDr. Michael Tooke, your privacy in thc nearby.w,orkingfishermen,s
Senior Vice President and Chief Medical r illageof Til g h m a nI s l a n , l .
Officer of Shore Hcalth Systcm."But it really "We havesomeprettv important peoplc herc F a m i l i e st a l <ea b r e a hf r o m t h e he cti cp a ce
isn't an issuc, if you knor,vwhen to cross the but I wouldn't mention their names,,,statcs o f c i t y l i f e a n d e n j o yt i m e a t o n eo f th e m a n y
b e a c h e sa l o n gt h e B a y 'se x p a n si ve sh o r e l i n e s.
bridge on warm u'eekenddays." Rodney Alstrom, owncr of Tilghman Island
Tooke has bcen traveling to the Eastern Realtv, Inc., with the independence that is thc rejuvenating proximity to the Bay water-
Shorefbr over six yearsnou,-from Washington, the hallmark of islanddwellers. "We don,t get wavs and thc abundanceof wildlife in its natural
DC. Originally, he rcnted a small house near peopic 'passingthrough' herc and it allorvs fbr environment.
Easton, but four years ago, hc and his u.ifc privacy. There are no knick-knacky shopshere. "We enjoy the water for the *,ildlife,,, says
inl ested in a second home after falling in love No bus tours. People rvho need colfec shops Tooke u,.ith a sigh. "At home, there we seeany
with the area. The Tookes are now living in gravitatc more tou.ard St. Michaels. Here, numbcr of rvaterfowl and birds, including bald
Talbot County full-time while maintaining a people drink their coffee at home, ride their cagles. And thcre is an osprevplatform. We are
secondhome in Washington. bikes, sail, fish and chill out." now seeingthc same ospreysreturn ycar after
"The waterfiont is the real draw and there is But whatcver your geographicalprelerence, vear to raise their young. Being part of that
a lot of it," saysTooke. "'More shorelinethan the universal appcal of the area is undeniably yearly ritual is amazing." I
anv other county in thc U.S. - 1ln1'c14,lnf
the locals say.There are an infinite number of
inlcts and covesand we are surrounded on all
sidcsby r,r,ater."
A number of excellent restaurants have
opcned in the areaand Tookc notes that Easton
has five or six establishmentsthat would be
considercd outstanding even by competitive
city standards. And whilc agriculture still
makes up 80% of thc industrv in the county,
EastonMemorial Hospital in the county seat
is the county's largest empioycr.
"The arca is pretty sclf-sufficient. Thc
excitement of city life is only a f'cw hours
away. Other.lvise, you don't have to leavc the

Ve ndorsat the Ea sto nFarme r s M ' ar k et

c o mefrom t he surro un din gco unt iest o s ell
t h e f reshprodu ceth at is th e h allm ar kof t he
a r e a' st hriving f a rmlan ds.

B A LTIMOR E /A N N A P OLIS /E A S TE
S HROR
N EM.D .N E WS JU N E /J U LY2OO7
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