Island House was a hotel annex of Hotel Wachapreague on the mainland in the town of Wachapreague. The purpose of the hotel annex on Cedar Island was for summer vacations off the mainland.  You could stay ½ day, full day or overnight lodging, mainly for fishing and hunting excursions.  Very often it was the men that stayed at the hotel annex, “Island House”.  The women would stay on the mainland at Hotel Wachapreague, enjoying the veranda porch and socializing in town.

In 1915, the Lifesaving Service Station was out of service and out of business. The service turned into a Coast Guard Station.

 Also known as lifesaver Andrew Doughty. 

Designed to launch in surf during rough weather.  Wheel trailer drawn by horses.

Saving boat/surf boat,  “Keepers” aka Surfmen (full time crew), lived at lifesaving Service Station where they practiced different drills each day of the week to maintain “Keepers” skills for any given scenario of maritime disaster.

Built 1870, destroyed in storm of 1933.  Gun and Fishing Club built on high marsh land before you get out to Cedar Island and Parramore Island. The high marsh land was bulk headed and filled with oyster shell which then maintained a whole complex included boat house far left, a club house center, caretaker home far right.

Interior picture of dining room, see guns on wall.

Wachapreague commercial fishing fleet.

Wachapreague commercial fishing fleet.

1950 Day Trippers going out to Cedar Island on Mears & Powell oyster barge. Boat name CALTAH, named for grandchildren, Cathey Bell, Amy Lou Sandidge, Tim Killmon, Andy Killmon, and Henley Sandidge.

Out to Cedar Island 1948-49.

32 foot Crist Craft cabin cruiser in the Wachapreague Carnival boat parade.

Late 1940’s Wachapreague off-shore fishing.

Sport hunting boat, duck hunting. 

Refuel SS Wachapreague 1944

Hotel Wachapreague had 52 rooms. Fire destroyed the historical hotel in 1978.  Hotel Wachapreague had a long history of rich and famous, from starlets to presidents, that came to this area to enjoy sport hunting, fishing and relaxing town life. The amenitites that Hotel Wachapreague offered billards, dining, and other town entertainment including a bowling alley, movie theater, shops, and thriving waterfront.

Hotel Wachapreague, with Model T cars parked in front of hotel.

Bernie Midcalf started working at Hotel Wachapreague as a bellhop at age 9 and stayed until the hotel was sold by the Mears family, 1902-74.

Wachapreaague circa 1970

1918 Movie house and attached soda fountain shop (soda shop to the right).

Oyster shucking houses lined the waterfront of Wachapreague.

Wachapreague Marina