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Chesapeake Requiem

3K views 10 replies 8 participants last post by  joethecobbler 
#1 ·
I just finished reading Chesapeake Requiem: A Year with the Watermen of Vanishing Tangier Island by Earl Swift. The author spent a year shadowing a handful of Tangier islanders and reports on the history, culture, politics, and future of the island.

The portrayal of present-day Tangiermen is about as evenhanded as can be expected from an outsider's perspective. Swift avoids (as all too many other books about life on the Chesapeake have tiresomely done) upholding watermen as sacred salt of the earth characters pursuing their way of life as the answer to some sort of higher calling but also avoids going to the opposite extreme (as mass media articles are prone to) of portraying watermen as backwards simpletons.

As far as the political situation and existential threats facing Tangier, Swift makes a compelling case based on documentary evidence that although the island has slowly receding into the bay at least as long as it's been inhabited by man, the rate of island's disappearance has increased substantially since the mid-1800s and that the island is creeping toward being uninhabitable by the middle of the current century.

In the debate about whether the island's subsidence is attributable to erosion or sea level rise as the result of global warming, the author comes down pretty strongly in the sea level rise camp, citing the island as possibly one of the first of many such places about which society will need to make cost-benefit decisions about whether to save or let go.

Somewhat undercutting that premise is the fact- as the author circles back to a few times in the text - that population loss will probably doom the island before water inundation finishes the job. Most of the island's population is over 60, the number of families with children has steadily declined over the past 100 years, and of the few children who do still grow up on the island, an even smaller handful remain (or come back) to work and raise families. Building the wished-for jetties and seawalls would be easy compared to addressing the complex web of issues that cause people to be drawn away from the island.

Generally an interesting read about a place many of us have visited but few have ever really known.
 
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#2 ·
Also just finished the same book and agree with your observations. Spent some time talking with Mr. Swift at his book release here in the Charlottesville area and his even handed portrayal is also reflected in his views regarding other subjects.

I first saw Tangier as a youngster in the 50's and then not again until recently. Even with the short memory of a child i do remember it as a more vibrant community than is the case now. Truly the erosion of the land is in a race with the erosion of it's people. If you can arrive by private craft you can avoid the mid-day tourist flocks. The currents are pretty strong and much skinny water but worth a trip, and the book is worth a read.
 
#3 ·
I know a guy, who owned a second home on the island. He would fly there in his private aircraft. He sold it about 5 years ago. Lucky. He said he had great memories from summers there for 30 years. Nature is and will take its course. No different than life and death. It can’t be stopped. The question truly is fortify or relocate. This one won’t justify the expense of fortifying, is my guess.
 
#6 ·
I know a guy, who owned a second home on the island. He would fly there in his private aircraft. He sold it about 5 years ago. Lucky. He said he had great memories from summers there for 30 years. Nature is and will take its course. No different than life and death. It can't be stopped. The question truly is fortify or relocate. This one won't justify the expense of fortifying, is my guess.
I agree the island likely will not be saved and if it were, it would probably be after all the residents relocated and some billionaire decided it would be worth the expense to fortify it to make a nice 4th home with private airstrip and dock.
 
#4 ·
Not to start a fiery debate or nothin', but Poplar Island went from 1,140 acres in 1847 to 5 acres in 1920, and was apparently even larger in the 1600s. Does the author talk about other islands disappearing as well when he attributes or connects Tangier sinking (if that's the right term) to sea level rise?
 
#5 ·
There are three factors causing the island to disappear - erosion, subsidence, and sea level change. All three have always been in play, taking the islands of the Chesapeake from parts of peninsulas connected to the mainland in pre-Colonial times to the small to mid-sized islands seen by the time settlers first arrived. What the author argues is that the rate of the island's disappearance has accelerated significantly over the last 100-150 years and, as a result, some combination of the three factors listed must also be changing more rapidly.
 
#9 ·
Just stumbled upon this Post.
I lived ,worked and had a home in Tangier island before, during and after the author Earl Swift spent time there.
And my opinion of him,his writing and the book about Tangier is that Earl makes good written material to combat sleeplessness.
His personality is almost as exciting and as for his opinions and perspective on Tangier island VA.
Please consider that there's just a few hundred people there and most of them are very interested in perpetuating the same story they've been telling tourists and " come here's" for decades!
As such,the experience of Mr Swift while visiting the island is quite different than someone else who actually owns property and lives and works there every day all year round.
Mr Swift got to see what his " handlers" showed him. And little more.
He was catered to by the islands usual crowd, and it was well known that he was writing a book about Tangier.
As you've likely figured out,I wasn't a E. Swift groupy then, or now!
I still have property, associates and business there and visit often with other friends who also have homes there.
The breakwater was completed a couple years ago, the airfield is still active,the grocery store is under new management and doing well.
And there's been new people moving to the island, purchasing homes, reopening business and rental locations that were previously closed.
They considerations about erosion are ongoing and remediation continues.
The island will likely be there far into the future,as commercial interests continue and new money enters the picture.
It's a fantastic location with endless possibilities for Sailing and Aviation destination and vacation with a pristine Sand Beach and fabulous seafood!
I'll be flying in up coming weeks for a visit.
 
#10 ·
^^ You make good points. I have spent many weeks there, and it is probably my favorite place to visit on the Bay. Wonderful kayaking. Very relaxing. But as a kid I would have left, and that is the real challenge, to maintain a vital community. I guess we'll have to see. I think it will hold on considerably longer, because of unique character and sheer stubbornness.
 
#11 ·
I="pdqaltair, post: 2051760402, member: 156634"]
^^ You make good points. I have spent many weeks there, and it is probably my favorite place to visit on the Bay. Wonderful kayaking. Very relaxing. But as a kid I would have left, and that is the real challenge, to maintain a vital community. I guess we'll have to see. I think it will hold on considerably longer, because of unique character and sheer stubbornness.
[/QUOTE]
I believe the "make up" of the "community" is undergoing a tipping point.
The past situations for existing upon the island are passing into history as are the inhabitants that have spent their lives there.
Places change for a number of reasons, economic, commercial, societal.
The proliferation of communication and technology used and available has greatly impacted the island.
In just the last couple years cell service has become available, previously unavailable.
The young people have diminishing opportunities to carry on the family fishing due to restrictions upon license transfer and moratorium on issuing new license.
IMO, the demographics of the island is changing and the new people moving there are usually "well heeled" and not of a fishing background.
Often retired people who use it as a second home and vacation location.
Very different from the last 75-80 years of fishing. And before fishing, the island was agricultural and livestock!
So, the next chapter,I believe, will be one written by the new inhabitants and the current residents will fade into history.
The current mayor has held office for at least 20 years, mostly unchallenged,the participation of the traditional inhabitants is minimal and the town council ( 6 of them for a population of less than 400) is unopposed and rarely changes.
When these factors change,and they will, the island will change dramatically,as the people moving there and purchasing homes, business and property are used to reliable public services and modern convenience and they will demand it and are financially able to afford it.
Many opportunities are there, the recent passing of Mr Parks,who owned/ operated the only recreational marina is the canary in the coal mine, and the changing hands of the only "grocery store" being run by a " come here" has already improved the community.
More changes will follow as more people from "outside" move in.
The children of the traditional inhabitants often "cash out" when their relatives pass and nobody wants the old family home.
Real estate has been selling for pennies of the assessments.
And many/ most of the businesses are available for purchase, as the proprietor's are aging out.
Consider the possibility of a "fly in" community along the 2600' uncontrolled airfield. Imagine the money that would bring!
And if / when that happens, it'll be " Martha's vineyard South" and the millions considered for erosion remediation will become available or privately funded.
Look into how much is spent to dredge and maintain places like the Annapolis waterfront, beach replenishment at high end waterfront and it'll become obvious how the future of Tangier could play out.
It's an exciting time in the history of Tangier.
If you need an example of this demographic change and the positive effect of new people moving there, just look at Smith island MD, their population is rolling over and the state of Maryland has been spending millions dredging, sewer system and much more!
It was started by New residents.
 
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