Artwork by Angie Heady
Listen to THE BIVALVE TRAIL here
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Thomas Downing circa 1866
THE BIVALVE TRAIL is an ongoing podcast series from the Chincoteague Island Theatre Company focused on bringing our audience dramatic and engaging entertainment that they can listen to anytime and anywhere. Completely researched, written, and narrated by Lexi Hubb, THE BIVALVE TRAIL is a collaboration with Longtayle Studios, the Chincoteague Cultural Alliance, and the Museum of Chincoteague Island.
The first event is a four-episode deep dive into the fascinating life story of a man from Chincoteague Island who almost no one has heard of, but deserves to have his story shared and celebrated. Thomas Downing was an African-American man born free in 1791, who worked his way to becoming a registered oysterman in nineteenth century New York City. By 1835, he owned the most respected and favorited oyster cellar in the whole city. Downing was very involved in social activism and philanthropist of many grass-root causes that fought to bring equity to African Americans.
Thomas Downing completely revolutionized the oyster industry and became an international sensation, while never forgetting his Eastern Shore roots.
THE BIVALVE TRAIL is an ongoing podcast series from the Chincoteague Island Theatre Company focused on bringing our audience dramatic and engaging entertainment that they can listen to anytime and anywhere. Completely researched, written, and narrated by Lexi Hubb, THE BIVALVE TRAIL is a collaboration with Longtayle Studios, the Chincoteague Cultural Alliance, and the Museum of Chincoteague Island.
The first event is a four-episode deep dive into the fascinating life story of a man from Chincoteague Island who almost no one has heard of, but deserves to have his story shared and celebrated. Thomas Downing was an African-American man born free in 1791, who worked his way to becoming a registered oysterman in nineteenth century New York City. By 1835, he owned the most respected and favorited oyster cellar in the whole city. Downing was very involved in social activism and philanthropist of many grass-root causes that fought to bring equity to African Americans.
Thomas Downing completely revolutionized the oyster industry and became an international sensation, while never forgetting his Eastern Shore roots.
An Oyster crock from Downing's circa 1835
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Lexi in 2018 standing (according to Google Maps) at 5 Broad Street NYC. Photo credit Justin Aruck.
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A horse-drawn trolley car. The setting for the scene in Episode 3.
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William Major Parker circa 1875
Episode 6 explores a new man and a new subject: William Major Parker was one of the very few men of color employed by the United States Lighthouse Service. Born in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area he was appointed to be an assistant lighthouse keeper at Assateague Lighthouse in 1875. Shortly after another lighthouse, Killick Shoals, was erected on the western side of Chincoteague Island in 1886, Parker was appointed as Head Lighthouse Keeper.
Lighthouse Keepers faithfully served their duties to uphold the maintenance of lighthouses so they would come on at dusk, night after night. By keeping mariners and sailers safe at sea and aiding their navigation, lighthouses helped the newly-formed United States have a prosperous trade economy, and become a world commerce worthy of recognition.
Lighthouses embodied and enabled the dream for the independent nation that America was to be.
Lighthouse Keepers faithfully served their duties to uphold the maintenance of lighthouses so they would come on at dusk, night after night. By keeping mariners and sailers safe at sea and aiding their navigation, lighthouses helped the newly-formed United States have a prosperous trade economy, and become a world commerce worthy of recognition.
Lighthouses embodied and enabled the dream for the independent nation that America was to be.
Killick Shoals Lighthouse circa 1886
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"He Died on his Knees"
How WM Parker was found on January 23, 1911
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Sources Used
Click to purchase from Sundial Books.
For Episodes 1-4:
Kurlansky, Mark. The Big Oyster Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks. New York, Random House Trade Paperback, 2006.
"Commending Downing's United Methodist Church on the occasion of its 225th Anniversary." House Joint Resolution No. 142. January 9, 2008.
Downing, George. “A Sketch of the Life and Times of Thomas Downing.” Black Gotham Archive, A.M. E. Church Review, Apr. 1887, http://archive.blackgothamarchive.org/sketchofthomasdowning.html.
“The Civil Rights Bill of 1866.” Historical Highlights, The US House of Representatives, 10 Jan. 2021, history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/The-Civil-Rights-Bill-of-1866.
“History of the Streetcar.” BHRA: History of the Streetcar, The Brooklyn Historic Railway Association , www.brooklynrail.net/info_streetcar.html
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “American Anti-Slavery Society.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, 28 July 2016, www.britannica.com/topic/American-Anti-Slavery-Society.
Lam, Francis. “How Thomas Downing Became the Black Oyster King of New York.” The Oyster King and the Seagull Test, The Splendid Table, 14 Mar. 2018, www.splendidtable.org/story/2018/03/14/how-thomas-downing-became-black-oyster-king-new-york.
Schulte, David M. “History of the Virginia Oyster Fishery, Chesapeake Bay, USA.” Frontiers in Marine Science, Frontiers in Marine Science, 9 May 2017, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2017.00127.
“The Venerable Thomas Downing - Black Oyster King of New York.” The Oysters My World, 20 Oct. 2014, theoystersmyworld.com/2014/10/20/the-venerable-thomas-downing-black-oyster-king-of-new-york.
“Rare 1800’s Thomas Downing Pickled Oyster Crock.” Black Americana Collectibles, 9 Feb. 2017, blackamericanacollectibles.biz/rare-1800-s-thomas-downing-pickled-oyster-crock-n-y-son-of-black-slaves.html.
Hewitt, John H. “Mr. Downing and His Oyster House: The Life and Good Works of an African-American Entrepreneur.” New York History, vol. 74, no. 3, 1993, pp. 229–252. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23182523. Accessed 4 Dec. 2020.
Korfhage, Matthew. “Thomas Downing: Pearl of Virginia.” Daily Press [Newport News, VA], 16 Feb. 2020, pp. 1–6.
Blue Point Brewing Company. “How New York City Became the Oyster Capital of the World.” Atlas Obscura, 24 Aug. 2018, www.atlasobscura.com/articles/oysters-new-york-city-history-blue-point.
“Worcester County and the Indians Who Had the Land First.” Facebook.Com, Worcester County, MD History. Bob Jones, Coordinator., 14 Sept. 2020, www.facebook.com/groups/Worcester.History.
For Episode 6:
Lighthouse Digest. "He Died on His Knees:" The Amazing Story of Lighthouse Keeper William M. Parker. Timothy Harrison and Myrna J. Cherrix. January 2010. http://www.lighthousedigest.com/Digest/StoryPage.cfm?StoryKey=3319&fbclid=IwAR0dbeXXnCcQ8cFSeB0UGwwwWz4ojTOj9PAUNlN5dcw_9479gRTi3YKNGI8
Virginia Museum of History and Culture. "Hampton Institute and Booker T Washington." https://virginiahistory.org/learn/historical-book/chapter/hampton-institute-and-booker-t-washington#:~:text=Hampton%20Normal%20and%20Agricultural%20Institute,fifty%20cents%20in%20his%20pocket.
Britannica.com,. "Pendleton Civil Service Act, United States 1883."The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pendleton-Civil-Service-Act
National Park Service. United States Light House Service, "Lighthouse Keepers." https://www.nps.gov/articles/lighthouse-keepers.htm
National Park Service. Maritime Heritage Program. "Historic Lighthouse Preservation Handbook." https://uslhs.org/sites/default/files/attached-files/Historic%20Lighthouse%20Preservation%20Handbook.pdf
Kurlansky, Mark. The Big Oyster Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks. New York, Random House Trade Paperback, 2006.
"Commending Downing's United Methodist Church on the occasion of its 225th Anniversary." House Joint Resolution No. 142. January 9, 2008.
Downing, George. “A Sketch of the Life and Times of Thomas Downing.” Black Gotham Archive, A.M. E. Church Review, Apr. 1887, http://archive.blackgothamarchive.org/sketchofthomasdowning.html.
“The Civil Rights Bill of 1866.” Historical Highlights, The US House of Representatives, 10 Jan. 2021, history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1851-1900/The-Civil-Rights-Bill-of-1866.
“History of the Streetcar.” BHRA: History of the Streetcar, The Brooklyn Historic Railway Association , www.brooklynrail.net/info_streetcar.html
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “American Anti-Slavery Society.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, 28 July 2016, www.britannica.com/topic/American-Anti-Slavery-Society.
Lam, Francis. “How Thomas Downing Became the Black Oyster King of New York.” The Oyster King and the Seagull Test, The Splendid Table, 14 Mar. 2018, www.splendidtable.org/story/2018/03/14/how-thomas-downing-became-black-oyster-king-new-york.
Schulte, David M. “History of the Virginia Oyster Fishery, Chesapeake Bay, USA.” Frontiers in Marine Science, Frontiers in Marine Science, 9 May 2017, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2017.00127.
“The Venerable Thomas Downing - Black Oyster King of New York.” The Oysters My World, 20 Oct. 2014, theoystersmyworld.com/2014/10/20/the-venerable-thomas-downing-black-oyster-king-of-new-york.
“Rare 1800’s Thomas Downing Pickled Oyster Crock.” Black Americana Collectibles, 9 Feb. 2017, blackamericanacollectibles.biz/rare-1800-s-thomas-downing-pickled-oyster-crock-n-y-son-of-black-slaves.html.
Hewitt, John H. “Mr. Downing and His Oyster House: The Life and Good Works of an African-American Entrepreneur.” New York History, vol. 74, no. 3, 1993, pp. 229–252. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23182523. Accessed 4 Dec. 2020.
Korfhage, Matthew. “Thomas Downing: Pearl of Virginia.” Daily Press [Newport News, VA], 16 Feb. 2020, pp. 1–6.
Blue Point Brewing Company. “How New York City Became the Oyster Capital of the World.” Atlas Obscura, 24 Aug. 2018, www.atlasobscura.com/articles/oysters-new-york-city-history-blue-point.
“Worcester County and the Indians Who Had the Land First.” Facebook.Com, Worcester County, MD History. Bob Jones, Coordinator., 14 Sept. 2020, www.facebook.com/groups/Worcester.History.
For Episode 6:
Lighthouse Digest. "He Died on His Knees:" The Amazing Story of Lighthouse Keeper William M. Parker. Timothy Harrison and Myrna J. Cherrix. January 2010. http://www.lighthousedigest.com/Digest/StoryPage.cfm?StoryKey=3319&fbclid=IwAR0dbeXXnCcQ8cFSeB0UGwwwWz4ojTOj9PAUNlN5dcw_9479gRTi3YKNGI8
Virginia Museum of History and Culture. "Hampton Institute and Booker T Washington." https://virginiahistory.org/learn/historical-book/chapter/hampton-institute-and-booker-t-washington#:~:text=Hampton%20Normal%20and%20Agricultural%20Institute,fifty%20cents%20in%20his%20pocket.
Britannica.com,. "Pendleton Civil Service Act, United States 1883."The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pendleton-Civil-Service-Act
National Park Service. United States Light House Service, "Lighthouse Keepers." https://www.nps.gov/articles/lighthouse-keepers.htm
National Park Service. Maritime Heritage Program. "Historic Lighthouse Preservation Handbook." https://uslhs.org/sites/default/files/attached-files/Historic%20Lighthouse%20Preservation%20Handbook.pdf
