The third Chesapeake Bay String of Pearls ceremony was held on December 8, 2011 at the Talbot County Courthouse in Easton, Maryland. The five creators of Pearls honored preserved land in the watersheds of four waterways in Caroline and Talbot Counties: Tuckahoe, Choptank, Robbins, Wye, and the Bay itself. Program Booklet
Each property is different and each has its own story of preservation. The commonality between these land owners is that they came forward and acted. They did the right thing — and they leave a legacy. Their action protects the Bay for the benefit of all for generations to come.
The Pearls
Caroline County 2011 Pearls
Daffin Farm — John Jaeger
Tuckahoe River Watershed – Caroline County
Daffin Farm was preserved in December of 2002 with 268.202 acres including over 13,000 feet along the Tuckahoe River. Extensive conservation restoration work has been done on the property including meadows full of native species.
Robbins Creek Preserve — Eastern Shore Land Conservancy
Choptank River and Robbins Creek Watersheds – Caroline County
Robbins Creek Preserve was donated to ESLC in 1999 for a wildlife habitat by Mary Lynch in memory of her husband. It is composed of 206.081 acres, is bordered by both the Choptank River and Robbins Creek, and includes forest and public walking trails.
Talbot County 2011 Pearls
Wye House — Mr. & Mrs. Richard Tilghman
Chesapeake Bay Watershed – Talbot County
Wye House is the most complete example of a late eighteenth-century plantation remaining in Maryland. This architecturally significant house, with many of its colonial furnishings, is still surrounded by croplands, gardens, and outbuildings. The land on which Wye House stands has been owned by members of the Lloyd family since the seventeenth century. Much of their current holdings are protected in perpetual conservation easements by the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and the Maryland Environmental Trust. Sixteen other properties in the immediate vicinity of Wye House, including three “Wye Pups” (properties of Lloyd offspring) also have permanent conservation easements. The easements were donated in 1993 on 311.778 acres of land.
Haven-On-The-Bay — Mr. Eben Lothrop
Chesapeake Bay Watershed – Talbot County
Little Haven-On-The-Bay is 176.62 acres of preserved land bordered by routes 33, 451 and Eastern Bay. Protected in April of 1997 this property has over 300 feet of waterfront and is still owned by the original grantor of the easement, Mr. Lothrop who has also been a long time supporter of ESLC.
EENA’s Community Garden — Ms. Joyce DeLaurentis
Chesapeake Bay Watershed – Talbot County
This project denotes the beginnings of ESLC’s organizational focus on communities. The EENA Community Garden project reflects a spirit of inclusiveness that serves local community priorities and reaches a diverse population. The EENA Community Garden is located at 215 South Street in Easton. The parcel has been the site of a community garden since 1992. Mr. Stallworth’s estate was selling off its holdings on the Shore, and the garden lot was to go on the market. In late August of 2007 Joyce DeLaurentis of the EENA approached ESLC. Her hope was that ESLC could help purchase the lot and turn it over to the town of Easton for continued use as a community garden. Though it took many years, this goal was eventually achieved.