The "Lunch On The Canal: Part I" Story

Our destination today in Schaefer's Restaurant and Canal Bar
in Chesapeake City, Maryland.

It was an ordinary day.  Sitting along the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal in Chesapeake City, Maryland having lunch with our friends Jere and Just Sue.  Jere and Just Sue both graduated from high school with me and have been traveling companions of Carol and I since Jere and I retired from working together at Manheim Township High School in 1999.  

1910 view of the Schaefer's location on the C&D Canal.

After retirement they moved to State College, Pennsyl- vania, but make several visits a year back to Lancaster to visit with Carol and me and to visit the Chesapeake Bay area for lunch and sightseeing.  Our destination site today is Schaefer's Restaurant and Canal Bar.  Chesapeake City has a lengthy history dating back to the mid-1850's, but my story today will deal with the history of Schaefer's which is the establishment we have chosen to visit for lunch today.  

This is Schaefer's in 1950.

Schaefer's has had a variety of owners throughout its history.  Schaefer's was founded in 1907 by Mr. Joseph Schaefer and his wife Winifred when they opened a grocery store and ship's chandlery (boating supplies) on the north side of the Chesapeake & Delaware (C&D) Canal, just west of the C&D Canal locks.  At the time they became the fourth owner of the property which was deeded back in the early 1800's.  Joseph died in 1923, but Winifred was determined to make the business a success to honor her husband. A few years later a new building was developed along the canal.  

Another 1950 photograph of the C&D Canal Bridge with
Schaefer's in the center of the photograph.

In 1935 a beer garden was opened in a small building behind the canal store.  That building became the initial Schaefer's Restaurant with crab cakes and hard-boiled eggs available at the bar.  Shortly an exclusive dining facility opened which was called the "Chesapeake Room" and became known as one of the finest seafood places on the canal.  In 1966 the "bend" in the canal at Chesapeake City was straightened and widened to 450 feet at Chesapeake City.  

This map show the location of Schaefer's.
Click on photo to enlarge it.

Parts of North Chesapeake City were lost and Schaefer's complex lost quite a bit of land, but a steel bulkhead was erected along the revised waterfront to protect the remainder of the Schaefer property.  Then in 1971 plans were made to build a new restaurant which became known as Schaefer's Canal House which opened in 1973 directly on the canal and had a large dock with fueling station as well as a great view of the canal.  As ships passed in the canal, dining guests were told of the ship's origin and size.  Two years later  Schaefer's Delmar Market opened next door to the dining room and today is Cabin John's Cocktail Lounge.  

A black and white photo of Schaefer's on the other
side of the canal in the upper right of the photograph.

The same year a Pilot Shack was constructed next to the restaurant which served the commercial shipping traffic by transferring pilots on and off the vessels who used the canal.  Since 1975 there have been a variety of owners up to 2002.  Late in 2010, Schaefer's seemed to close with no visible activity and the restaurant was closed when we visited the area.  

A view from the dock looking across the canal to the south side.

The Giordano Family from Kennett Square, PA had purchased the property and spent time with recon- struction to both the marina and the main restaurant. My family first found the Schaefer property in the early 1980's when we began to visit the Chesapeake for summer vacations with our three children as well as friends Gary and Sandy and their three children.  Gary had a boat and we made many a trip to Schaefer's to refuel so everyone could waterski during our two-week August vacation.  

Schaefer's lights can be seen on the center right of the photo.

My parents often made visits to Scahefer's and my dad would always tell me of the "Soup Sampler" which included Snapper, Maryland Crab and the soup of the day.  When the Giordano Family bought the property and began to renovate the property  we began to visit South Chesapeake City and for years made frequent visits to the The Bayard House and The Chesapeake Inn to eat.  Then last year we re-discovered Schaefer's and now have multiple choices for our frequent visits to the C&D Canal for lunch.  Tomorrow I will tell you of our recent visit and share with you our thoughts on the new Schaefer's Restaurant and Canal Bar.