May 2013 Rivah - The Rappahannock Record

The date August 23, 1871 was one of several important dates
in the history of steamboats in and around Urbanna as local
farmer William H. Purkins sold three acres of waterfront land to
Baltimore & Susquehanna Steam Co. out of Baltimore, Maryland.
(Middlesex Deed Book 24, pp. 316-317.)
The 3-acre property located on the Rappahannock River just
outside of Urbanna became known for nearly 50 years as West
Urbanna (steamboat) Wharf. The new steamboat dock built far
out into the Rappahannock River, would become the main competitor
of three steamboat wharfs in Urbanna Creek.
Rappahannock River steamboat wharfs reached for nearly a
half-mile out into the river, and included North End Wharf near
Deltaville, Mill Creek Wharf near Wake, West Urbanna Wharf
near Urbanna and Water View Wharf at Water View.
When these company-owned wharfs were built, they gave an
economic advantage to the Baltimore steamboat companies over
the smaller private-owned creek wharfs. Certainly, the big companies
wanted as much commerce as possible at their own wharfs
and directed business in that manner.
The West Urbanna Wharf deed called for three acres on the
waterfront with a right-of-way from a narrow road that is today
Lord Mott Road, “to be wide enough to permit ordinary carts,
wagons and carriages. Twenty-feet wide at grade to eliminate any
danger of collision.”
The right-of-way extended out to the main county road (Old
Virginia Street), as it does today. The deed stated that the main
road was between “Urbanna and Gatewoods Mill.” Gatewoods
Mill was later named Hillard’s Mill located on the old colonial
mill pond near Remlik.
In 1871, there were three steamboat docks in Urbanna all vying
for the steamboat business - Burton’s Wharf owned by Columbus
Burton, Gressitt’s Wharf owned by Jno. D. Gressitt, and Donaldson’s
Wharf owned by The Donaldson, Shultz Co. out of Baltimore.
Burton was provoked to action more than any of the others
by having to compete with West Urbanna Wharf. Burton’s Wharf
was the primary wharf of call on the creek.
Once West Urbanna Wharf was established, Captain Lang
Nelson of Baltimore built a large hotel on a portion of the three
acres overlooking the steamboat dock. He and Burton were outright
enemies. On January 31, 1916, Burton, along with the support
of the Urbanna Trade Association, sent a letter to the Virginia
General Assembly to force Nelson and the steamboat company to
take Urbanna out of the wharf’s name. They were eventually successful
and Burton’s Wharf became Urbanna Wharf- No. 12 and
West Urbanna Wharf was changed to Remlik Wharf.
When he heard of this, Lang Nelson was furious. He screamed
to his stable boy to hitch up a wagon. Captain Lang weighed
nearly 300 pounds. He raced to Urbanna, straight down Watling
Street to Burtons Wharf. When he got to the wharf, he realized
he needed to use a sanitary closet. There was one built over the
creek on Burton’s dock. Captain Lang ran inside and was doing
his business when the pilings from his weight gave way and he
landed in the creek with his pants down.
Lum Burton came running when he heard the commotion
but when he saw who it was started laughing. “Damn you Lum
Burton, I’ll see you in court,” Captain Lang screamed as he went
back to his wagon and went towards home.
The last steamboat, Anne Arundel, came into Urbanna Creek in
September of 1937 and stopped at Urbanna Wharf-No. 12. As the
vessel left town, businesses closed and people throughout town
lined the creek bank to watch the end of a glorious era. Urbanna’s
steamboat era lasted from 1821 to 1937 - 116 years.
It happened right here in Rivah country!
14
It happened here
by Larry S. Chowning
Wilton Cottage
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