Hooper's Island
Encyclopedia
Hoopers Island is a chain of three islands in Dorchester County
, Maryland
, United States
. Upper Hoopers Island, Middle Hoopers Island and Lower Hoopers Island are surrounded by water with the Chesapeake Bay
on one side and the Honga River on the other side. This beautiful yet remote set of islands is full of a variety of wildlife and is well known for sport fishing and crabbing industries. Hoopers Island is one of the oldest settled areas in Maryland, rich in history and heart.
Hoopers Island is considered the oldest settled area in Dorchester County. The namesake of the islands is Henry Hooper. Hooper was friends with the Calverts
, an important family many consider to be founders of the state of Maryland. In the mid-17th century, parts of the islands were surveyed for Hooper. The first parcel of land was surveyed by Robert Clift and aptly titled Hooper’s Clifts. An additional 400 acres (1.6 km²) of land was surveyed for Hooper later on in 1668. He received additional parcels of land in 1669 as well.
Though much of the land was claimed by the Hoopers, other families such as William Chaplin, Richard Bentley and Philip Shapeley owned major plots of land. In addition, some indentured servants such as Thomas Hooten and Daniel Puddiford received land.
Hoopers Island is located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The islands are situated on the south-west shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Dorchester County.
Hoopers Island is roughly 20 miles (32.2 km) long and consists of three small islands. The islands are very narrow in many places and one can easily see water, the Chesapeake Bay and the Honga River, on both sides of Maryland Route 335
which travels through the islands.
Upper Hoopers island is located at N. 38°20' W. 76°14 and Middle Hooper’s island is located at N. 38°16' W. 76°11. Lower Hoopers Island is now a marshland.
The beauty of this land and its wildlife are being threatened. Erosion
is a main factor as it reduces an average of 24.19 acres (97,893.5 m²) per year. In addition, global warming
, storm and flood damage and rising waters had and continue to have an effect on the environment and geography of the islands.
Since the early 20th century, Lower Hoopers Island is no longer inhabited. Prior to this, the island was home to the community of Applegarth which grew tremendously during the oyster boom in the 1880s. But due to erosion issues, the last resident was forced to leave Lower Hoopers Island in the late 1920s. For a short while, farmers continued to use the island to pasture their livestock. Unfortunately, a hurricane destroyed the bridge to Lower Hoopers Island in 1933 and was never rebuilt.
Another section of Hoopers Island has also been affected. Swan Island, originally owned by the indentured servant, Thomas Hooten, has almost disappeared but some of the buildings still stand.
For now, the islands are filled with wild geese and ducks throughout the marshlands. Little and great blue herons
, American oyster catchers, double-crested cormorant
s, willet
s, herring gulls
, Forster's common, royal, and least terns
, black ducks
, gadwall
s and the boat-tailed grackle
can all be found in and around Hoopers Island.
Hoopers Island, along with the rest of the Chesapeake Bay region, is being threatened. While there are many efforts that are employed to combat negative effects, the results of global warming are harming the industry, the wildlife, the environment and ultimately the overall well-being of its islands and residents.
recorded the population for Hoopers Island at 441 when taken for the 2000 census.
Most of the islands’ residents live in the communities of Honga, Fishing Creek
and Hoopersville. Honga and Fishing Creek can be found on Upper Hoopers Island while the southern most village, Hoopersville, is found on Middle Hoopers Island. As a reflection of life on the islands, oyster boats, tonging craft and crab houses are visible across the landscape.
In 1954 there was a crabber’s strike. Because of the large amount of crabs in the Bay, the price had been so reduced that the fisherman weren't making any money off their catches. Therefore, the crabbers went on strike. Usually strikes are organized by a union who would conduct negotiations in order to improve conditions. For this strike, there wasn’t any organized union which promoted the strike but just a tight-knit group of fisherman who wanted their voices heard. Because this strike was not employed by a union, a Baltimore Sun
editorial portrayed the crabbers as lazy, uncivilized and uncooperative. In response to this editorial, the Organization of the Volunteer Fire Company sent an eloquent response. This response addressed the negative press the fishermen and the communities received, showing how the fisherman and the communities pride themselves on keeping up with modern ideas, that they were civilized and did not need to utilize unions to work together and make improvement to their lives.
Today, most people who live on Hoopers Island have some connection to the fishing industry. The local families make a living as crabbers, oyster tongers and seafood packers. Unfortunately because of many factors such as water pollution, this type of industry is on the decline. The number of crabs has been decreasing at an alarming rate and legislative has enacted a number of laws in order to slow the downfall of the crabbing industry. As of April 2008, the governors of Maryland and Virginia considered cutting the number of harvested female crabs by one-third. According to an article in The Baltimore Sun, the crabbers of Maryland are not happy with this direction as it might force some waterman out of the business.
The DNR issued new regulations in March 2009 for daily bushel limits for mature female hard crabs and periods of closure for harvest of mature female hard crabs. Mature female hard crab bushel limits were assigned based on license type. The regulation further provided the DNR with the authority to establish and modify a season or catch limit by public notice based on continuous monitoring of stock conditions and harvest rates. The Department withdrew the portion of the 2009 regulatory proposal that would have required a free registration for crabbers not currently required to have a license.
. This lighthouse was built in 1906 and is only one of eleven pneumatic caisson lighthouses in the United States.
For over ten years, the Phillips Seafood Factory has opened its doors to visitors. It is at this factory that blue crabs are processed. Phillips Seafood is a well-known company that owns and operates seafood restaurants throughout the east coast.
Nearby is the scenic Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
. The drive through this marshland is short but wildlife abounds including bald eagle
s.
Dorchester County, Maryland
Dorchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland on its Eastern Shore. It is bordered by the Choptank River to the north, Talbot County to the northwest, Caroline County to the northeast, Wicomico County to the southeast, Sussex County, Delaware, to the east, and the Chesapeake...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Upper Hoopers Island, Middle Hoopers Island and Lower Hoopers Island are surrounded by water with the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
on one side and the Honga River on the other side. This beautiful yet remote set of islands is full of a variety of wildlife and is well known for sport fishing and crabbing industries. Hoopers Island is one of the oldest settled areas in Maryland, rich in history and heart.
History
The early residents of what is now known as Hoopers Island were the Yaocomaco People. According to some local folklore, the land was purchased from the Yaocomaco tribe for five woolen blankets.Hoopers Island is considered the oldest settled area in Dorchester County. The namesake of the islands is Henry Hooper. Hooper was friends with the Calverts
George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore
Sir George Calvert, 1st Baron Baltimore, 8th Proprietary Governor of Newfoundland was an English politician and colonizer. He achieved domestic political success as a Member of Parliament and later Secretary of State under King James I...
, an important family many consider to be founders of the state of Maryland. In the mid-17th century, parts of the islands were surveyed for Hooper. The first parcel of land was surveyed by Robert Clift and aptly titled Hooper’s Clifts. An additional 400 acres (1.6 km²) of land was surveyed for Hooper later on in 1668. He received additional parcels of land in 1669 as well.
Though much of the land was claimed by the Hoopers, other families such as William Chaplin, Richard Bentley and Philip Shapeley owned major plots of land. In addition, some indentured servants such as Thomas Hooten and Daniel Puddiford received land.
The Hooper Family
The Hooper family made Dorchester County their family home in 1669. Henry Hooper had a large family: he was married twice and had 14 children. Henry Hooper was one of the first commissioners of Dorchester County. Many descendants of the original Henry Hooper followed in his footsteps and served on the Dorchester County legislature as well. Upon his death, Hooper left parcels of land, with names such as Hooper’s Chance, Hooper’s Lot, Hooper’s Fortune and Hooper’s Forrest to his children.Isolation
Due to the geographical nature of Hoopers Island, the residents had to be self-sufficient and independent. Accordingly, the islanders maintained strong family and community ties. Once families moved to Hoopers Island, they stayed for generations. According to one source, for 300 years the population can be traced to just ten families. The outside world did not rapidly influence the way of life on the island. While in the 21st century, many places find it difficult to remain isolated, Hoopers Island maintains a sense of pride on their independence and self-sufficiency.Geography
Hoopers Island is roughly 20 miles (32.2 km) long and consists of three small islands. The islands are very narrow in many places and one can easily see water, the Chesapeake Bay and the Honga River, on both sides of Maryland Route 335
Maryland Route 335
Maryland Route 335 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from Honga on Upper Hooper Island north to MD 16 in Church Creek. MD 335 provides access to several communities along the Honga River in southern Dorchester County, including Hooper's Island. The state...
which travels through the islands.
Upper Hoopers island is located at N. 38°20' W. 76°14 and Middle Hooper’s island is located at N. 38°16' W. 76°11. Lower Hoopers Island is now a marshland.
Environment
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
is a main factor as it reduces an average of 24.19 acres (97,893.5 m²) per year. In addition, global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
, storm and flood damage and rising waters had and continue to have an effect on the environment and geography of the islands.
Since the early 20th century, Lower Hoopers Island is no longer inhabited. Prior to this, the island was home to the community of Applegarth which grew tremendously during the oyster boom in the 1880s. But due to erosion issues, the last resident was forced to leave Lower Hoopers Island in the late 1920s. For a short while, farmers continued to use the island to pasture their livestock. Unfortunately, a hurricane destroyed the bridge to Lower Hoopers Island in 1933 and was never rebuilt.
Another section of Hoopers Island has also been affected. Swan Island, originally owned by the indentured servant, Thomas Hooten, has almost disappeared but some of the buildings still stand.
For now, the islands are filled with wild geese and ducks throughout the marshlands. Little and great blue herons
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
, American oyster catchers, double-crested cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
The Double-crested Cormorant is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. It occurs along inland waterways as well as in coastal areas, and is widely distributed across North America, from the Aleutian Islands in Alaska down to Florida and Mexico...
s, willet
Willet
The Willet, Tringa semipalmata , is a large shorebird in the sandpiper family. It is a good-sized and stout scolopacid, the largest of the shanks...
s, herring gulls
American Herring Gull
The American Herring Gull or Smithsonian Gull is a large gull which breeds in North America. It is often treated as a subspecies of the European Herring Gull but is now regarded as a separate species by some authorities.Adults are white with gray back and wings, black wingtips with white spots,...
, Forster's common, royal, and least terns
Tern
Terns are seabirds in the family Sternidae, previously considered a subfamily of the gull family Laridae . They form a lineage with the gulls and skimmers which in turn is related to skuas and auks...
, black ducks
American Black Duck
The American Black Duck is a large dabbling duck. American Black Ducks are similar to Mallards in size, and resemble the female Mallard in coloration, although the Black Duck's plumage is darker...
, gadwall
Gadwall
The Gadwall is a common and widespread duck of the family Anatidae.- Description :The Gadwall is 46–56 cm long with a 78–90 cm wingspan. The male is slightly larger than the female, weighing on average 990 g against her 850 g...
s and the boat-tailed grackle
Boat-tailed Grackle
The Boat-tailed Grackle is a passerine bird of the family Icteridae found as a permanent resident on the coasts of the southeastern USA. It is found in coastal saltwater marshes, and, in Florida, also on inland waters. The nest is a well-concealed cup in trees or shrubs near water; three to five...
can all be found in and around Hoopers Island.
Hoopers Island, along with the rest of the Chesapeake Bay region, is being threatened. While there are many efforts that are employed to combat negative effects, the results of global warming are harming the industry, the wildlife, the environment and ultimately the overall well-being of its islands and residents.
Life on Hoopers Island
The US Census BureauUnited States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
recorded the population for Hoopers Island at 441 when taken for the 2000 census.
Most of the islands’ residents live in the communities of Honga, Fishing Creek
Fishing Creek, Maryland
Fishing Creek is an unincorporated community just north of Hoopersville, Maryland, in Dorchester County, Maryland, on Hoopers Island.It is in area code 410, and ZIP Code 21634.-Description:...
and Hoopersville. Honga and Fishing Creek can be found on Upper Hoopers Island while the southern most village, Hoopersville, is found on Middle Hoopers Island. As a reflection of life on the islands, oyster boats, tonging craft and crab houses are visible across the landscape.
Events
The islanders hosts many impressive and enduring social events. One such event involves fishing as Hoopers Island is a sport- fishing paradise. Since 1973, the William T. Ruark Fishing Tournament is considered the island's largest event. Other events such as the Arts and Crafts Auction and Bazaar and the Ronald McGlaughline Artisans Fair are community affairs that draw residents and visitors alike.Community
There is a strong sense of community amongst the islanders. One endearing story painted the people and community of Hoopers Island in a very positive light: "strongly independent" "stout-hearted" "self-sufficient", great "sense of community" and "fellowship.” Between a strong work ethic and family ties, the community is a strong force that has weathered some negative publicity and difficult times. One such example occurred in the mid-20th century.In 1954 there was a crabber’s strike. Because of the large amount of crabs in the Bay, the price had been so reduced that the fisherman weren't making any money off their catches. Therefore, the crabbers went on strike. Usually strikes are organized by a union who would conduct negotiations in order to improve conditions. For this strike, there wasn’t any organized union which promoted the strike but just a tight-knit group of fisherman who wanted their voices heard. Because this strike was not employed by a union, a Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
editorial portrayed the crabbers as lazy, uncivilized and uncooperative. In response to this editorial, the Organization of the Volunteer Fire Company sent an eloquent response. This response addressed the negative press the fishermen and the communities received, showing how the fisherman and the communities pride themselves on keeping up with modern ideas, that they were civilized and did not need to utilize unions to work together and make improvement to their lives.
Industry
Originally, the main industry on the island was crops. Hoopers Island was mainly known for tobacco crops but during the American Revolution, vegetables and grains were also grown.The DNR issued new regulations in March 2009 for daily bushel limits for mature female hard crabs and periods of closure for harvest of mature female hard crabs. Mature female hard crab bushel limits were assigned based on license type. The regulation further provided the DNR with the authority to establish and modify a season or catch limit by public notice based on continuous monitoring of stock conditions and harvest rates. The Department withdrew the portion of the 2009 regulatory proposal that would have required a free registration for crabbers not currently required to have a license.
Points of interest
Off the shores of Upper and Middle Hoopers Island is the Hooper’s Island LighthouseHooper Island Light
The Hooper Island Light is a lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay, west of Middle Hooper Island in Maryland.-History:The initial request of a light at this site was made in 1897, but construction was delayed until 1901 after the Variety Iron Works Company failed to deliver materials in time...
. This lighthouse was built in 1906 and is only one of eleven pneumatic caisson lighthouses in the United States.
For over ten years, the Phillips Seafood Factory has opened its doors to visitors. It is at this factory that blue crabs are processed. Phillips Seafood is a well-known company that owns and operates seafood restaurants throughout the east coast.
Nearby is the scenic Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
The Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1933 as a waterfowl sanctuary for birds migrating along the critical migration highway called the Atlantic Flyway...
. The drive through this marshland is short but wildlife abounds including bald eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s.
Interesting facts
- During the 18th century piracy was rampant in the Chesapeake Bay. As boats, filled with supplies, were headed towards the top of the Bay, they were attacked by pirates who had been hiding in the many tributaries. Lord Dunmore, one of the more infamous pirates, created such mayhem that Henry Hooper, IV, in 1780, asked the Governor of Maryland for assistance to stop the plundering.
- An area near the islands, called Meekens’ Neck, is the sight of the first Catholic Church in Dorchester County. St. Mary Star of this Sea was built in 1769.
- There was a steamboatSteamboatA steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
service that went up to Baltimore from the mid 1880s until 1929 The trip left Hoopersville in the late afternoon and arrived in Baltimore at 3:30 a.m. Today, it takes a little less than three hours to drive between Hoopers Island and Baltimore.