Broomes Island, Maryland 20615

County: Calvert

Broome's Island on Calvert County's western shore isn't exactly an island, but rather a peninsula, that is now a residential area. 

History had begun there as early as the 1650s when the first John Brome (the name was later changed to Broome) came from Herefordshire, England, to Island Neck.  In 1651, the first John Brome was granted a 2,000-acre plot of land, which was called "Brome's Manor."

Colonel John Brome was selected by Lord Baltimore in 1688 to carry the message of King William's accession to the British throne. Brome was to carry the critical information from England to Maryland; however, he died in Plymouth, England, waiting for the ship to take him to Maryland. This ill-timed event, and the greatly delayed information, is said to have contributed to Maryland's Revolution of 1689.

Since the early Bromes, there have been many generations of doctors, lawyers, sheriffs, military officers and judges from this notable family that is originally descended from the French counts of Anjou, according to the comprehensive book A History of Calvert County Maryland by Charles Stein.

Numerous Bromes followed, including Col. John Brome of Foote who was an important member of the Calvert County Militia and a vestryman of the area's historic Christ Church. Another descendent of note was Col. John Brome V, born in 1729, a member of the Calvert County Militia, who studied law and was admitted to the bar at only 19 years old, according to Stein.  This was the first offspring to spell his surname "Broome." Perhaps the Broome that seafood lovers should thank is Nathaniel, who may be credited with starting the fishing settlement at Broome's Island, when he cut the timber there and sold lots for residences after the Civil War.

The early-to mid-20th century fishing community at Broome's Island rivaled that of Solomons Island to its south. 

The two major industries that were once predominant on Broome's Island included seafood processing and packing plants and boat builders.  Some of the most known names included the Warren Denton Oyster Company, perhaps the longest running of the oyster houses.   Two of the company's employees, Ruth Mackall Smith and brother Cornelius Mackall, both won the U.S. National Oyster Shucking Championship contest and represented the U.S. in international competition.

On Island Creek, Calvert's only soft clam shucking plant was operated by Orem Lowery and lasted a decade. When the plant closed in 1967, it went down in history as the largest commercial clamming business on the Patuxent River, according to Johnson's Historical Tours through Southern Maryland: Broome's Island.

Johnson recalled when she "first visited Broome's Island in 1981. My initial impression was that here was a community that still thrived on the local fisheries. Island Creek was full of workboats and the Denton Oyster House was thriving. The community seemed like a window into Calvert County's past."

Even in the years since Johnson's research of Broome's Island, much has changed; there are no more seafood processing or boat building operations on the peninsula and the abundant local groceries and general stores during its seafood heyday have all but disappeared as well.

Today's businesses on the island include the landmark Stoney's Restaurant located on the water, which has been voted number one in the metropolitan area for its crab cake by The Washington Post.  Calvert County native Phillip Stone started the establishment almost two decades ago.

Unfortunately, the river surrounding Broome's Island today is not as clear and full of seafood as it once was. Since 1988, on the second Sunday in June former state senator C. Bernard Fowler wades into the Patuxent River at Broomes Island in order to see how deep he can walk and still see his white sneakers.  As a crabber and fisherman in the 1950s and 60s, Bernie could see his sneakers with the water up to chest or shoulder depth (57 to 60 inches), but he has been unable to do so for many years. He has seen some improvement in water clarity since 1988.

-parts of the above taken from A History Linked to the Water Broome's Island by Michelle Brosco Christian in Southern Maryland - This is Living

Stoney's Seafood House

One Room School House

Port Republic, MD

Christ Church

Port Republic, MD 

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