OXFORD HISTORY ANNUAL EVents Oxford Day · 4th Saturday in April Fine Arts Fair · May xford is one of the oldest towns in Maryland Cardboard Boat Race · Saturday after Father’s Day and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Yacht Club Fireworks · 4th of July week (date varies) Places. Although already in existence for perhaps Oxford Regatta · 2nd weekend in August O 20 years, Oxford marks the year 1683 as its Heritage Regatta · 4th weekend in August official founding, for in that year Oxford was first named Picket Fence Auction · Early October (date varies) by the Maryland General Assembly as a seaport and was OLA Antique Show · Waterfowl weekend laid out as a town. In 1694, Oxford and a new town called Christmas on the Creek · 1st weekend in December Anne Arundel (now Annapolis) were selected the only ports of entry for the entire Maryland province. Until the On-going Events American Revolution, Oxford enjoyed prominence as Firehouse Pancake Breakfast · 2nd Sunday monthly an international shipping center surrounded by wealthy Farmers Market · Wednesdays (May - Oct.) tobacco plantations. Sailboat Races · Friday nights (May - Sept.) Oxford Museum Special Exhibits Early citizens included Robert Morris, Sr., agent for a Tred Avon Players Performances Liverpool shipping firm who greatly influenced the town’s Exact dates for these events and other can be growth; his son Robert Morris, Jr., known as “the financier found at our website under “About Oxford” of the Revolution;” Jeremiah Banning, sea captain, war www.portofoxford.com hero, and statesman; The Reverend Thomas Bacon, Angli- can clergyman who wrote the first compilation of the laws of Maryland; Matthew Tilghman, known as the “patriarch of Maryland” and “father of statehood” and Colonel Tench Historic Places of Interest IN Oxford Tilghman, aide-de-camp to George Washington and the Academy House (Bratt Mansion) Oxford Custom House man who carried the message of Cornwallis’ surrender to Officers’ residence for the Maryland Military Academy Built in 1976, the building is an exact replica of the first the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. from 1848-1855. Federal Custom House built by Jeremiah Banning, the first The American Revolution marked the end of Oxford’s 205 N. Morris St. (Private residence) federal Collector of Customs. glory. Gone were the British ships with their variety of im- N. Morris St. & The Strand ported goods, and tobacco was replaced by wheat as a cash Barnaby House crop. Businesses went bankrupt, cattle grazed in the streets, Built in the 1770s by Captain Richard Barnaby. Oxford Library and the population dwindled. The Barnaby House features pine woodwork, corner Founded in 1939 and on its present site since 1950 the fireplace and hand-made staircase. Oxford Library, Inc. strives to maintain the independent After the Civil War, Oxford emerged from its “long slum- 212 N. Morris St. · (Private residence) character that was its beginning. Staffed and operated ber” to nearly 100 years of a new prosperity signaled by by volunteers, it serves the community year-round with completion of the railroad in 1871 and improved methods Byberry & Calico hours Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors welcome! of canning and packing which opened national markets Moved to the grounds of Cutts & Case in the 1930s, Byberry is 101 Market St. · 410-226-5727 for oysters from the Chesapeake’s bountiful beds. Business Oxford’s oldest house, dating from 1695. The original structure is a was booming, houses were going up everywhere, and tour- typical early Oxford cottage. Calico, a Tudor-style cottage, was built in Oxford Museum ists and boaters were arriving in droves. But it was not to the early 1700s. Founded in 1964, the Oxford Museum houses a collection of last. In the early part of the 20th century, the oyster beds (Private residence) artifacts and memorabilia from Oxford’s past. played out, the packing houses closed, other businesses 101 S. Morris St. (across from Town Park) · 410-226-0191 went bankrupt, and the railway and steamships eventually Grapevine House disappeared. Oxford became a sleepy little town inhabited Built by John Willis in 1798. The grapevine in front of the Robert Morris Inn mainly by watermen who still worked the waters of the house was brought to Oxford from the Isle of Jersey in 1810. The original 1710 structure, incorporated into the present Inn, was the Tred Avon. 309 N. Morris St. (Private residence) home of Robert Morris, Sr., and his son. Robert Morris, Jr. helped finance the Revolutionary War, counted George Washington as a friend, and was a Oxford today is still a waterman’s town, but is enjoying a Oxford-Bellevue Ferry signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, new resurgence based on tourism and leisure activities. Its Believed to be the oldest privately operated ferry in the country. and the United States Constitution. quiet charm, fresh air, summer breezes, and clean water Started in 1683, service was discontinued after the American N. Morris St. & The Strand provide a haven from the hustle and bustle of city life for Revolution, was resumed in 1836, and has been in continuous operation boaters, weekend visitors, and summer residents. since that time. A visit to Oxford is not complete without a ride on Colonel Tench Tilghman Monument today's ferry, Talbot. Bring your car, bicycle or come as a passenger! Aide de Camp to General George Washington. N. Morris St. & The Strand · 410-745-9023 Oxford Cemetery, just outside town limits on Route 333. From Annapolis, 50 301 301 Baltimore and from Washington via Wilmington the Bay Bridge and Philadelphia OXFORD 50 MARYLAND 309 St. Michaels 322 Miles River 33 Easton 331 333 . d R e u v e l l e B 329 Oxford-Bellevue Ferry d. r Alms se R e hou v i R n 333 Visitor SERVices o v A Oxford d e Trappe r U.S. Postal Service: Wilson & Banks Streets T More than a 410-226-5629 from Chesapeake Bay 50 via Knapp's Narrows Oxford Library: 101 Market St. · 410-226-5727 Choptank River Ferry Tale Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Monday through Saturday Town Office: 100 N. Morris St. · 410-226-5122 Dog Park: J L Thompson Drive from Cambridge and Salisbury Police: 410-226-5650 / 410-822-0095 for dispatch From Easton: Take Rt. 50 to Easton Parkway (Rt. 322), Police/Fire/Ambulance Emergency: 911 then Rt. 333 South 11 miles to Oxford U.S. Coast Guard: Non-Emergency 410-226-0581 Emergency 410-226-0580 CHURCHES Oxford Methodist Church Sunday Worship: 11 a.m. N. Morris St. – next to the Park, PO Box 117 Waters United Methodist Church Sunday Worship: 10 a.m. Market & Bank Streets, PO Box 124 Church of the Holy Trinity (Episcopal) Find us on Facebook Oxford Maryland Events Services: 8 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. Combined Eucharist: 1st Sunday each month, 9:30 a.m. S. Morris & Caroline Streets, PO Box 637 UPDATED 6/17 UPDATED We share our roads with bicycles and pedestrians so please observe the 25 MPH speed limit in town DINE · DOCK · DREAM · DISCOVER 1 Tench Tilghman Monument First Port of Entry on the Eastern Shore – 1683 (Oxford Cemetery) Evergreen Rd. Hel’s Half Acre 25 mile per hour speed limit starts here! Oxford Rd. Route 333 OXFORD ACCOMMODATIONS 7 E. Division St. Division E. East St. 1 Combsberry Inn Bonfield Ave. Elegantly restored 1730 English Country mansion, Town Creek Rd. Town Sinclair St. Richardson St. Oxford Fire carriage house and cottage nestled on 30 secluded Department 24 Third St. waterfront acres. Spectacular water views. Jacuzzis, 17 Boat Ramp Oxford fireplaces, private baths, dock, canoes and paddle- 10 21 Myrtle Ave. 22 Park 13 Jack’s Point Rd. Community boats. Conferences & weddings welcome. Center Parking Lot 24 Town Creek Second St. 4837 Evergreen Road / 410-226-5353 www.combsberry.net 25 First St. Restrooms Byberry 2 Nichols House Cottage B&B & Calico Mill St. Basketball Dog Park 26 J. L. Thompson Dr. Tilghman St. 217 S. Morris Street, PO Box 657 / 410-226-5799 The Strand Jefferson St.Truax St. Recycling Bachelor Point Rd. E. Pier St. E. River View Ave. View River [email protected] / www.nicholshouseoxford.com Ave. Willow Norton St. Tennis Lang's Landing Rd. Bayview Ave. Bayview Market St. Oxford Exercise Ave. Rhonda 3 Sandaway Waterfront Lodging Library High St. South St. Caroline St. W. Division St. 5/6 23 P Wilson St. Post Ct. Harbor Stewart St. l Come and experience one of the best waterfront locations in Talbot e Office 2 a Banks St. Robes BenoniAve. s W. Pier St. W. County. Private sandy beach with sunset views. Many of the 18 rooms 27 a S. Morris St. 12 n t & suites have large porches overlooking the water. Lite fare Factory St. Town 19 11 S Robert Office 15 t Oxford-Bellevue . breakfast included and delivered to your door! Free in-room Morris Ferry Inn Barnaby House Tred Avon Ave. 16 14 West Ave. WiFi. All suites have mini-fridge and cable TV. 4/8 N. MorrisOxford St. 103 West Strand Rd. / 1-888-726-3292 (1-888-SANDAWAY) Academy Museum 18 20 Grapevine House 9 Bachelor Harbor Dr. www.sandaway.com House Oxford t. C Custom int 4 The Robert Morris Inn House Po Bachelor Historic inn dating back to 1710, and now the Eastern Tred Avon River 3 Shore’s most unique tavern and Inn. Colonial bed and breakfast rooms available overlooking the Tred Avon River. Located near the Oxford Bellevue Ferry, which provides a 7 mile shortcut to St. Michaels. 314 N. Morris Street / 410-226-5111 www.robertmorrisinn.com 14 The Treasure Chest 24 Brewer Oxford Boat Yard & Marina Small gift shop on the Main Street featuring locally made jewelry, pottery, A comprehensive, full service yard and marina.