Your Suffolk river heritage is preserved here.

Oystermen and Skilled Craftsmen of Crittenden and Eclipse honored with Historic Marker

The villages of Crittenden and Eclipse emerged here just as Virginia’s commercial oyster industry was expanding in the latter part of the 19th century. Early residents included watermen and boatbuilders from the North who were attracted by the rich oyster beds of the lower James River. In the 1890s, Lepron Johnson established Johnson Marine Railway, one of many boatbuilding yards employing local skilled craftsmen. Watermen harvested oysters, fish, crabs, and clams. Oysters, sold directly to “buyboats,” were transported to processing houses and marketed across North America. The oyster trade began to decline in the 1950s, but the tradition of oystering and crabbing survives.

Sponsor: Suffolk River Heritage, Inc.

Location: Bridge Road near Eclipse Drive, Suffolk VA

River history in one place

Suffolk River Heritage Foundation is dedicated to preserving the cultural history and heritage of the villages of north Suffolk.

Crittenden, Eclipse and Hobson are three close-knit, historic communities sharing a history of life on the water and on the farm. The villages are located at the end of a peninsula bounded by the Nansemond River, Chuckatuck Creek and the James River. The villages originally made up a small area of the Nansemond Indian landholdings prior to the English Colonial era. English settlers occupied the area during the Jamestown era.

In the early 1800's watermen migrated into the villages from northern states, establishing an economy dependent on the abundant resources provided by the three rivers. The early settlers were primarily of European and African ancestry. The peninsula location and relative isolation helped to establish the villages as self reliant, resourceful communities.

That strong sense of community continues to exist among the current residents of the villages, including the descendants of the early settlers and those who later moved into the area.

Dorthy Davis Remembered

Dorothy Davis was a storyteller for the Crittenden, Eclipse and Hobson community for 60 years. She left us with so many untold… from the formation of Crittenden, Eclipse and Hobson Heritage Foundation in 2006 — to our transformation to Suffolk River Heritage in 2013 — until her last days… Dorothy added to our base of information.

"She could have easily been an FBI agent as she was an interrogation expert." ~ Karla Smith.

Dorothy edited and proofread our books and added insights to our research. She touched hundreds of local students who became life-long friends. Dorothy Davis was a treasure.