Reedville, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Reedville is an unincorporated town
in Northumberland County
in the Northern Neck
region of the U.S. state
of Virginia
. It is located at the eastern terminus of U.S. Route 360
(the Northumberland Highway) east of Heathsville
at the head of Cockrell's Creek on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay
.
Reedville is home to the fishing industry
for Atlantic menhaden
, a small oily fish
found in great abundance in Mid-Atlantic coastal waters. By some accounts, it is second only to Dutch Harbor, Alaska for the annual quantity of fish brought to port in the United States. A popular place to begin fishing charters and trips to Tangier Island in the Bay, Reedville is a destination itself, steeped in the history of the menhaden fishing industry, with its Millionaire's Row of Victorian-era mansions and several watercraft of the Fishermen's Museum
each listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
(1827-1888). In 1874, Reed, a sea captain from Maine
, came south to the Chesapeake Bay and recognized the potential of the menhaden
fishing industry. In what became New England
, as early as the 1620s, the Native Americans had taught the Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony
in Massachusetts
the value of burying menhaden in each hill of corn for fertilizer.
Captain Reed moved his business from Brooklin, Maine
to the Northern Neck, and brought to the established community of watermen a method of extracting large quantities of oil from the fish by rendering them by the millions. Their oil was used as a lubricant and in lighting, as whale oil was, and the leftover bones and carcasses were valuable as fertilizer. He opened the first processing plant. By 1885, Reedville was heavily engaged in the menhaden fishing industry. Menhaden factories on Cockrell Creek produced fish oil, meal and fertilizer from menhaden. The menhaden fishing industry brought tremendous wealth to Reedville and to Northumberland County. Reedville, a town of approximately 500, was once known as the wealthiest town in the United States
due to the large sums of money produced by the menhaden industry. [needs citation]
Fishing boat captains and factory owners and who made their fortunes from menhaden built homes along what is now Main Street.
Years ago, dozens of fish processing factories, most recently Omega Protein Corporation (successor to Zapata Haynie, Reedville Oil and Guano Company and Haynie Products Company) and Standard Products Company, dotted the Northumberland coastline near Reedville and adjacent fishing communities.
Businesses in Reedville also offer sport fishing charters and regularly scheduled cruises to Tangier Island, which is located in the Chesapeake Bay. Lodging in the small community is offered in Bed and Breakfast establishments.Also,the most Famous Wonder Bread man Neil Thurman resides in the small fishing community.
The Reedville Fisherman's Museum
has restored some of the oldest homes on the community's "Millionaire's Row", whose mansions are now on the National Register of Historic Places
. The museum also has two vessels, the skipjack Claud W. Somers and the deck boat Elva C. which were entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. The museum, which dedicates itself to preserving the watermen's heritage, also has historical information about the menhaden fishing industry and the history of Reedville.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Northumberland County
Northumberland County, Virginia
Northumberland County is a county located on the Northern Neck in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state in the United States. In 2010, its population was 12,330. Its county seat is Heathsville...
in the Northern Neck
Northern Neck
The Northern Neck is the northernmost of three peninsulas on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This peninsula is bounded by the Potomac River on the north and the Rappahannock River on the south. It encompasses the following Virginia counties: Lancaster,...
region of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. It is located at the eastern terminus of U.S. Route 360
U.S. Route 360
U.S. Route 360 is a spur of US 60 in the U.S. state of Virginia. The U.S. Highway runs from US 58 Business, Virginia State Route 293, and SR 360 in Danville east to SR 644 in Reedville. US 360 connects Danville, South Boston, and Keysville in Southside Virginia with the state capital of...
(the Northumberland Highway) east of Heathsville
Heathsville, Virginia
Heathsville is a census-designated place in and the county seat of Northumberland County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 142. It is located on U.S. Route 360 west of Reedville and east of Warsaw....
at the head of Cockrell's Creek on the western shore of 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...
.
Reedville is home to the fishing industry
Fishing industry
The fishing industry includes any industry or activity concerned with taking, culturing, processing, preserving, storing, transporting, marketing or selling fish or fish products....
for Atlantic menhaden
Menhaden
Menhaden, also known as mossbunker, bunker and pogy, are forage fish of the genera Brevoortia and Ethmidium, two genera of marine fish in the family Clupeidae.-Description:...
, a small oily fish
Oily fish
Oily fish have oil in their tissues and in the belly cavity around the gut. Their fillets contain up to 30 percent oil, although this figure varies both within and between species...
found in great abundance in Mid-Atlantic coastal waters. By some accounts, it is second only to Dutch Harbor, Alaska for the annual quantity of fish brought to port in the United States. A popular place to begin fishing charters and trips to Tangier Island in the Bay, Reedville is a destination itself, steeped in the history of the menhaden fishing industry, with its Millionaire's Row of Victorian-era mansions and several watercraft of the Fishermen's Museum
Reedville Fisherman's Museum
Reedville Fisherman's Museum is located in the unincorporated town of Reedville along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Northumberland County, Virginia....
each listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
Reedville was named for Captain Elijah W. ReedElijah W. Reed
Elijah W. Reed was a ship captain from Brooklin, Maine who is credited with establishment of the menhaden fishing industry in Virginia's Northern Neck region....
(1827-1888). In 1874, Reed, a sea captain from Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, came south to the Chesapeake Bay and recognized the potential of the menhaden
Menhaden
Menhaden, also known as mossbunker, bunker and pogy, are forage fish of the genera Brevoortia and Ethmidium, two genera of marine fish in the family Clupeidae.-Description:...
fishing industry. In what became New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, as early as the 1620s, the Native Americans had taught the Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
the value of burying menhaden in each hill of corn for fertilizer.
Captain Reed moved his business from Brooklin, Maine
Brooklin, Maine
Brooklin is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. The population was 841 at the 2000 census. It is home to WoodenBoat Magazine Brooklin Boat Yard, and numerous boatbuilders, artists, writers, musicians and potters.-History:...
to the Northern Neck, and brought to the established community of watermen a method of extracting large quantities of oil from the fish by rendering them by the millions. Their oil was used as a lubricant and in lighting, as whale oil was, and the leftover bones and carcasses were valuable as fertilizer. He opened the first processing plant. By 1885, Reedville was heavily engaged in the menhaden fishing industry. Menhaden factories on Cockrell Creek produced fish oil, meal and fertilizer from menhaden. The menhaden fishing industry brought tremendous wealth to Reedville and to Northumberland County. Reedville, a town of approximately 500, was once known as the wealthiest town in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
due to the large sums of money produced by the menhaden industry. [needs citation]
Fishing boat captains and factory owners and who made their fortunes from menhaden built homes along what is now Main Street.
Years ago, dozens of fish processing factories, most recently Omega Protein Corporation (successor to Zapata Haynie, Reedville Oil and Guano Company and Haynie Products Company) and Standard Products Company, dotted the Northumberland coastline near Reedville and adjacent fishing communities.
Modern times: fishing, tourism
Today, Omega Protein remains as the largest industrial organization in the area. Omega, with a fleet of large ocean-going fish harvesting vessels, supported by a number of spotter aircraft, is a major industry in the area and on the eastern seaboard. Menhaden, once caught, are cooked in large mass and processed for further use in various applications including as a protein additive for poultry feed.Businesses in Reedville also offer sport fishing charters and regularly scheduled cruises to Tangier Island, which is located in the Chesapeake Bay. Lodging in the small community is offered in Bed and Breakfast establishments.Also,the most Famous Wonder Bread man Neil Thurman resides in the small fishing community.
The Reedville Fisherman's Museum
Reedville Fisherman's Museum
Reedville Fisherman's Museum is located in the unincorporated town of Reedville along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Northumberland County, Virginia....
has restored some of the oldest homes on the community's "Millionaire's Row", whose mansions are now on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The museum also has two vessels, the skipjack Claud W. Somers and the deck boat Elva C. which were entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. The museum, which dedicates itself to preserving the watermen's heritage, also has historical information about the menhaden fishing industry and the history of Reedville.