Broomes Island, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Broomes Island, Maryland is a small waterfront community in Calvert County, Maryland
, USA, on the Patuxent River
. It is located approximately 10 miles south of Prince Frederick, Maryland
.
Although Broomes Island is a rather small community, it does have its own post office
and zip code
, 20615. In November 2007, the United States Postal Service
considered closing the small post office and re-routing all mail delivery through the larger St. Leonard
post office branch ; however, after residents contacted U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski
about the proposed closure, the postal service decided against closing the post office.
Broomes Island is located near the mouth of St. Leonard Creek, the largest tributary entirely inside Calvert County. It is in the vicinity of Broomes Island that several key naval battles were fought during the War of 1812
.
During the early and middle parts of the 20th century, Broomes Island was home to a substantial oyster
canning industry. However, in more recent years most residents of Broomes Island commute to other places for work.
Each May, former Maryland
State Senator Bernie Fowler
holds a "wade-in" into the Patuxent River
at Broomes Island, where he and others will walk into the waters of the Patuxent River
until their feet are no longer visible. Fowler does the annual tradition in order to bring awareness to the water clarity levels of the Patuxent River
. In recent years, the "wade-in" has become a noteworthy public event, with numerous public officials joining Fowler in the walk, including Maryland
Governors Martin O'Malley
and Robert Ehrlich
and U.S Senator Barbara Mikulski
.
In 2003, Hurricane Isabel
caused moderate damage to numerous structures in Broomes Island. Most notably, the last remains of the considerable Broomes Island oyster industry - a large red Oyster Shucking Barn - succumbed to the forces of nature. The site of the oyster shucking barn is now part of the local Stoney's sea food restaurant. The site of the old barn has been turned into a preferred place for weddings and other functions. An antique boat has been converted into a bar, and white marquees and a most beautiful water view makes this a favorite location.
Calvert County, Maryland
Calvert County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It occupies the Calvert Peninsula which is bordered on the east by the Chesapeake Bay and on the west by the Patuxent River. Calvert County is part of the Southern Maryland region. Calvert County's residents are among the highest...
, USA, on the Patuxent River
Patuxent River
The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River between...
. It is located approximately 10 miles south of Prince Frederick, Maryland
Prince Frederick, Maryland
Prince Frederick is a census-designated place in Calvert County, Maryland, United States, not to be confused with the incorporated, and much larger, city of Frederick some to the northwest in Frederick County...
.
Although Broomes Island is a rather small community, it does have its own post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
and zip code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
, 20615. In November 2007, the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
considered closing the small post office and re-routing all mail delivery through the larger St. Leonard
St. Leonard, Maryland
St. Leonard is a census-designated place in Calvert County, Maryland, United States. The population was officially 536 at the 2000 census, although residents of the Calvert Beach-Long Beach, Maryland community also use the St. Leonard zip code designation, making it in fact a much larger community...
post office branch ; however, after residents contacted U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski
Barbara Mikulski
Barbara Ann Mikulski is the senior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Mikulski, a former U.S. Representative, is the longest-serving female senator in U.S...
about the proposed closure, the postal service decided against closing the post office.
Broomes Island is located near the mouth of St. Leonard Creek, the largest tributary entirely inside Calvert County. It is in the vicinity of Broomes Island that several key naval battles were fought during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
During the early and middle parts of the 20th century, Broomes Island was home to a substantial oyster
Oyster
The word oyster is used as a common name for a number of distinct groups of bivalve molluscs which live in marine or brackish habitats. The valves are highly calcified....
canning industry. However, in more recent years most residents of Broomes Island commute to other places for work.
Each May, former 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...
State Senator Bernie Fowler
Bernie Fowler
Clyde Bernard Fowler , is a former Maryland State Senator and County Commissioner from Calvert County, Maryland...
holds a "wade-in" into the Patuxent River
Patuxent River
The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River between...
at Broomes Island, where he and others will walk into the waters of the Patuxent River
Patuxent River
The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River between...
until their feet are no longer visible. Fowler does the annual tradition in order to bring awareness to the water clarity levels of the Patuxent River
Patuxent River
The Patuxent River is a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay in the state of Maryland. There are three main river drainages for central Maryland: the Potomac River to the west passing through Washington D.C., the Patapsco River to the northeast passing through Baltimore, and the Patuxent River between...
. In recent years, the "wade-in" has become a noteworthy public event, with numerous public officials joining Fowler in the walk, including 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...
Governors Martin O'Malley
Martin O'Malley
Martin Joseph O'Malley is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as the 61st Governor of Maryland. Previously, he served as the mayor of Baltimore from 1999 to 2007. He is currently the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.-Early life, education and career:O'Malley...
and Robert Ehrlich
Robert Ehrlich
Robert Leroy "Bob" Ehrlich, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 60th Governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007. A Republican, he became governor after defeating Democratic opponent Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, a member of the Kennedy family, 51% to 48% in the 2002 elections...
and U.S Senator Barbara Mikulski
Barbara Mikulski
Barbara Ann Mikulski is the senior United States Senator from Maryland and a member of the Democratic Party. Mikulski, a former U.S. Representative, is the longest-serving female senator in U.S...
.
In 2003, Hurricane Isabel
Hurricane Isabel
Hurricane Isabel was the costliest and deadliest hurricane in the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. The ninth named storm, fifth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the season, Isabel formed near the Cape Verde Islands from a tropical wave on September 6 in the tropical Atlantic Ocean...
caused moderate damage to numerous structures in Broomes Island. Most notably, the last remains of the considerable Broomes Island oyster industry - a large red Oyster Shucking Barn - succumbed to the forces of nature. The site of the oyster shucking barn is now part of the local Stoney's sea food restaurant. The site of the old barn has been turned into a preferred place for weddings and other functions. An antique boat has been converted into a bar, and white marquees and a most beautiful water view makes this a favorite location.