1953 Map of Chestertown

About this map

Chestertown and its colonial-era college anchor this 1950s survey of the Eastern Shore, where the Chester River forms a wide, winding boundary between Kent and Queen Annes counties. The river's deep influence on local commerce and social life is evident in the numerous wharves and landings that dot the shoreline, such as Roundtop Wharf and Southeast Landing. Away from the water, the landscape transitions into agricultural flats and wooded necks, including Wilmer Neck, and is populated by small settlements like Pomona and Old Town. Educational and community life is represented by Washington College and several rural houses of worship, including Bond Chapel and Union Ch. This era of development is captured mid-century, showing the early infrastructure of the modern automobile age with a Drive-in Theater and Gasoline stations appearing alongside traditional maritime features like the Devils Reach.