A partial collection of people, places and events that have made
Chesapeake City the unique and desirable location that it has become today.
This is a photo of an original oil painting by Marie Chambers Schaefer
(1894-1975) showing how the original Schaefer’s business
appeared until 1922 when
the locks and adjacent store property were removed during the conversion of the
canal to sea level.
Marie Chambers Schaefer (1894-1975) was the wife of William W. Schaefer (1889-1923), Joseph and
Winifred Schaefer’s 1st born son.
Her artistic talents
extended to the kitchen, as she was an excellent cook and responsible for
developing the family recipes for the delicious crab cakes,
crab imperial and
deviled crab dishes. In later years, her daughter Betty Schaefer Ortt faithfully
prepared these dishes served at Schaefer’s Restaurant.
As ships chandlers, Schaefer’s provided launch service
delivery of groceries and supplies, crews and later, pilots to ships, yachts, tug boats and dredges.
Schaefer’s launch “Winifred”, here shown, in the
Chesapeake City locks, also approaching Schaefer’s wharf, and finally loaded
with schoolteachers
from Baltimore on holiday, including Marie Chambers Schaefer.
(thus she first met her future husband)
The Winifred west bound through the Chesapeake City lock enroute to berth at
Joseph Schaefer's & Sons. (circa 1915)
The Winifred (circa 1915)
(circa 1915)
The crew of the Winifred along with schoolmates of cousin Helen Fader from
Baltimore.
Left to Right:
(1) Marie Chambers (Schaefer), (2) Joe Schaefer, Sr. (3) & (4) Unknown, (5)
Helen Fader,
(6) Violet Fader (Thompson), (7) Bill Schaefer, (8) Unknown
Upon the death of Joseph Schaefer in 1923, Winifred
Schaefer, with the help of her children proceeded with plans to rebuild along
the Canal. The following photos show the 2nd Schaefer’s store
adjacent to the Chesapeake City lift bridge, circa 1930.
Winifred Schaefer (1865-1945) on the front porch
of the 2nd store. (circa 1935)
Left to Right: Wilson Reynolds, Winifred Schmitt Schaefer & Kathryn Schaefer
Maloney
(circa 1936)
Winifred’s youngest son, John F.
Schaefer (1904-1981) on the front porch of the 2nd store.
He had the
vision of what could be done with the location and the perseverance to carry it
through.
(circa 1936)
Winifred’s daughter Kathryn Schaefer
Maloney (1901- 1995) on front porch of the 2nd store.
Throughout the
years, her devotion, hard work and business sense supported her brother John
Schaefer’s successful endeavors. They were a great team.
(circa 1936)
Winifred’s granddaughter Betty
Schaefer Ortt on front porch of 2nd store.
.
Photo 15 (circa 1940’s) Inside the 2nd store.
Behind the counter left to right: John F. Schaefer, Jack Reed, Kathryn Schaefer Maloney and Edith Reed.
(circa 1935) Schaefer’s initial “restaurant”
In 1935, John F. Schaefer opened a beer garden in a small
building constructed behind the 2nd store.
This actually was the
initial Schaefer’s Restaurant, as hard boiled eggs and crab cakes prepared by
Winifred Schaefer were available at the bar.
(circa 1935)
Winifred Schaefer standing outside
the initial “restaurant”
(circa 1935)
Behind the bar in the initial
Schaefer’s “restaurant” left to right: Uncle Frank (Schmitt) Smith (Winifred’s brother),
John F. Schaefer, and Pa Murphy.
The customer standing in the middle is Arch
Foster of nearby Bank Street in Chesapeake City. The other customers are
unknown.
In 1936, John Schaefer greatly enlarged the single
story restaurant. This photo taken from the Chesapeake City lift bridge in
April, 1936 shows construction in progress.
Note the grocery and ship chandler
business in the foreground and the Ericcson Line steam boat wharf and freight
house to the left, which was purchased by Schaefer’s to expand their marina
offering fuel service and dockage. The cluster of three buildings in the center
of the photo housed the Wooleyhan Freight Trucking business. This eventually was
relocated to Wilmington, DE.
Postcard scene of Schaefer's complex looking west from the drawbridge approach.
(circa 1938)
In the foreground is the yacht Vega, a 39' cruiser built in 1927 and
owned jointly by John F. Schaefer & Kathryn Schaefer Maloney.
To the stern of the Vega is the first pilot launch built to succeed the
Winifred and used for changing ship pilots on the sea level C&D Canal.
(circa 1940)
Inside the single story Schaefer’s
Restaurant. Behind the bar left to right: long time bartender Freddy Mebis,
John
F. Schaefer, Myrna Lloyd, and Bill Reynolds. Bar patrons include Jim Caleb
locally of Chesapeake City in the foreground.
(circa 1938)
Winifred Schaefer’s brother, Uncle
Frank (Schmitt) Smith presided behind the bar at Schaefer’s during the 1930’s. He was very sociable, and always well dressed.
(circa late 1930's)
Off-duty daytime bartender
Uncle Frank (Schmitt) Smith toasts patrons at a table in the old single story Schaefer’s
Restaurant.
(circa 1950's)
In 1949, Schaefer’s completed a second floor addition to
the restaurant. The spacious and elegant “Chesapeake Room” was the most
exclusive dining facility, offering the finest seafood menu selections on the
Eastern shore of Maryland. The great food and the outstanding views out the
picture windows of ocean going ships passing through the C& D Canal brought huge
success. Diners were thrilled to watch Schaefer’s launch approach the side of
passing ships, transferring the pilots, who climbed rope ladders to and from
their duties.
Photo shows the 2nd story addition of the “Chesapeake Room” to Schaefer’s Restaurant. Note the upper story large picture windows. In the lower right of the photo appears the remains of the Chesapeake City Lift Bridge, which was knocked down by a shipping mishap in 1942.
(circa 1948)
Photo 25 (circa 1948) depicts the interior of the brand new
“Chesapeake Room” on the day it opened to the public.
(circa 1950's)
“Chesapeake Room”
interior view on a full color post card.
(circa 1956)
Schaefer’s Restaurant and
Store complex with expanded marina facilities.
Note the three launches for
changing ship pilots, moored to the wharf on the right of the store.
The
building with the screened porch in the lower left of the photo housed pilots
awaiting ships.
(circa 1950's)
A rear view of the
Schaefer’s complex. The long building in the lower right provided hotel like
bedrooms for the pilots staying over between ships and was affectionately
referred to as the “Pilot Shack”.
(circa 1950)
“Ortt” standing before the downstairs
bar in Schaefer’s Restaurant.
Betty Schaefer Ortt’s husband Lawrence J. Ortt
(1914-1998) managed the daily operations at Schaefer’s Restaurant for well more
than twenty years.
In 1966 work was begun to straighten the bend in the canal at Chesapeake City. The North side of Chesapeake City lost Canal or Lewis Street, 30 residential houses, a few stores and a hotel. As the Canal was to be widened to 450 feet, the Schaefer’s complex soon also had to go. In 1967 and 1968, the third and last Schaefer’s Store was built on remaining property. This modern facility was named Schaefer’s Delmar Market. During this same time frame, a new “Pilot Shack” and wharf was also constructed.
In 1969 demolition took place, completely eliminating Schaefer’s old 2nd store, wharfs, restaurant, pilot shack and outbuildings, including the old Ericcson Line freight house. A steel bulkhead was constructed to protect the remaining property from erosion.
In 1971 plans were made to build Schaefer’s Canal House. With the completion of the new restaurant in 1973, the business passed out of the hands of the Schaefer family. Schaefer’s Pilot Transfer launch service was the only business retained.
Schaefer’s new Delmar Market - Photo by L. Collins, Jr. (circa 1968)
1968 - Interior of Schaefer's new Delmar Market.
1973
John F. Schaefer and Kathryn Schaefer Maloney upon the opening of Schaefer’s
Canal House.
(circa 1975)
Post card image of Schaefer’s Canal
House. The building to the left, formerly housing Schaefer’s Delmar Market is
now Cabin John’s Cocktail Lounge.
(circa 1975)
Postcard showing inside Cabin John’s
Cocktail Lounge.
(1975)
Postcard showing the entire Schaefer’s
Canal House complex. Cabin John’s cocktail Lounge to the left of the Canal
House.
The new “Pilot Shack” to the upper right of the Canal house, with the
pilot launches tied to the wharf at the far right of the picture.
(1975)
Postcard scene showing the interior of Schaefer’s
Canal House.
Schaefer’s
Canal House Banquet Facility on the site formerly occupied by Cabin Johns
Cocktail Lounge
and before that, Schaefer’s Delmar Market.
Photo by Lewis Collins (2006)
The year 2007 will mark the one hundred year anniversary of Schaefer’s on the canal at Chesapeake City. Today, Joseph and Winifred Schaefer’s great grandson, Chris Ortt and his wife Cindy continue to operate Schaefer’s Pilot Transfer service, utilizing modern launches on duty 24-7 to change pilots and crews on vessels transiting the canal. There are currently two launches, one named the “Miss Kitty” after Kathryn Schaefer Maloney and the other named the “Betty S.” by Chris in honor of his mother, Betty Schaefer Ortt. These are a great deal different from the old “Winifred”. Things have certainly changed through the years, but some Schaefer family descendents are still making a living along the C& D Canal at Chesapeake City.
The pilot launch, “Betty S.” up against ships in
the canal changing pilots.
Photos by Dick LeGates (2006)
The "Miss Kitty" at the pilot launch wharf.
Photo by Lewis Collins (2006)
Chris and
Cindy Ortt in front of the pilot shack.
Photo by Lewis Collins
Four Generations
THE END (Unless we decide to add more)
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