The"The Wellwood Club" Story

The Wellwood Club in historic Charlestown, Maryland.

It was an ordinary day.  Looking at Grover Cleveland's duck decoys that are high above me on a shelf in the corner of a room at the Wellwood Club Restaurant in the town of Charlestown, Maryland.  

Decoys donated by President Grover Cleveland.

President Cleveland was one of quite a few Presidents who was a visitor to this beautiful restaurant with a panoramic view of the North East River just before it empties into the Chesapeake Bay.  In another dining room of the restaurant stand matching china cabinets which hold priceless china place settings from days gone by which were donated by President John F. Kennedy.  

The two china cabinets donated by President John F. Kennedy.

The table lamp that appears to be porcelain in yet another dining room was a gift from yet another president, Calvin Coolidge.  And, yet, two other club members as well as cousins, Presidents Franklin and Theodore Roosevelt, spent time at the Wellwood Club and made donations to the club.

President Calvin Coolidge donated
this table lamp to the Wellwood.

A hand-carved wooden eagle, which at one time was part of a bar in the White House, was said to have been given to the Wellwood by Theodore Roosevelt. The Wellwood Club was originally a private Hunting and Fishing Club with second floor rooms bearing names of states where that state's politicians could visit and have a place to call home.  I must admit that today's visit for lunch was the very first time Carol and I have traveled to historic Charlestown.  We have been vacationing and dining along the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding areas for almost 50 years and I am ashamed that we never found the Wellwood until now.  Their brochure claims the restaurant is "Maryland Seafood at its Finest," and we intend to find out in the near future.  

Celia E. Metz was owner of the Wellwood at one time.
She danced in New York as well as managed the Wellwood.

Everything from the white linen tablecloths to the beautiful dining room fireplace speak highly of the restaurant.  The Wellwood opened in the late 1800's and has been operated by the Metz family since 1958.  Hanging on the wall of another dining area is a painting of Celia E. Metz who at one time was a ballerina in New York City and who was known to dress as western cowgirl Sally Starr and pretend to shoot at her husband while working at the Wellwood.  

This is the Wellwood Room, one of many dining rooms.

Mrs. Metz died in 2000 at the age of 80.  The Wellwood is now operated by her son.  We look forward to eating outdoors at the Rivershak and taking a walking tour of the waterfront in the near future.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - Our Crab Bisque and Crabcake sandwiches were outstanding!

This is the fireplace in one of the dining areas as it appears today.

This is what it look like years ago.

It was a rainy day when we visited, but I still managed to get a photo of the waterfront along the Northeast River.

The tent in the background is a heated and air-conditioned venue for banquets and weddings.

Photos of the Presidents of the United States who visited the Wellwood Club fill the different dining rooms of the club.