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Willis Wharf
Willis Wharf is one of the oldest communities on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
Arthur Downing purchased the land there in 1739. The area was originally known
as Downing Wharf or the Port of Downingsville before taking on the name known
today as Willis Wharf around 1880 when it was sold to Edward L. Willis.
The Downing's had a large working plantation
and shipped all their goods from the Port of Downingsville. This Port had a
huge role in the development of the area because the channel of Parting Creek
was deep and wide enabling commercial enterprises to thrive.
In the late 1820's to the early 1830's George F. Bigelow arrived from
New Haven,
Connecticut and constructed a large and well known shipyard for schooners and
sloops at Downing Wharf. He also owned and ran
a store and factories along the waterfront and employed an impressive labor
force for the time. He became involved in controversial religious activities
based on Thomas Paine's The Age of Reason; Being an Investigation of True
and Fabulous Theology. Heartedly disliked because of his
religious beliefs, Bigelow's shipyards and store were burned in 1837 under suspicious
circumstances.
 A George Cruikshank cartoon pilloring Thomas Paine for The Age of Reason. In 1854 Edward Littleton Willis bought up most of the land around Downing Wharf. He opened and operated a store in the town and was involved in establishing several resorts on the barrier islands, mainly on Hog Island. By 1880 the "Peninsula Enterprise" which was published by John Willis Edmonds reported on events taking place at Willis Wharf instead of Downing's Wharf. By the early 1900's Willis Wharf was in its height, seafood processing plants were constructed by the Ballard, Terry, Walker and other families. There was a lot of movement from the Barrier Islands to Willis Wharf. In the 1930's and 1940's Hog Island was being evacuated because it was eroding into the sea and 18 of the houses that were on Hog Island had been moved into Willis Wharf. The first one that arrived was the Hog Island House now standing on Parting Creek Road. |
Notes: HomeOfficial Trail Guide Web Site The Other Historic Site Guides: Historic Site Guide Central Eastern Shore - Wallop's Island to QuinbyHistoric Site Guide North Accomack - Chincoteague and Assateague Islands
The Trail was developed by the Accomack -
Northampton Planning District Commission in cooperation with Accomack County,
Northampton County, the Town of Chincoteague, the Town of Wachapreague, the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and
the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program. It is a project of Virginia's Seaside Heritage Program,
a multi-year effort to restore living resources and promote sustainable ecotourism
on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. |
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