Down Sackertown Road                 by Mike Robinson

The Famous Ward Brothers sign (one of many through the years) greets travelers down Sackertown road on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in the town build upon discarded oyster shells called Crisfield.

The restored workshop of the Wards sits forlorn in the tourist off season of November.  Notice the small building within the main structure which was once the unlikely old smoke filled barber shop where the Wards got their start as the as the worlds premier "Wildfowl Counterfeiters In Wood".

An old shed, behind the Wards house (not shown) shows the condition that the workshop above would be in if not restored by caring individuals.

The hallowed Ward workshop where the alpha and omega of 20th century decoy folk art collaborated on ideas that turned wood and paint into seemingly living spirits of North American waterfowl that even today stand unequaled in the world of decoy and decorative waterfowl carvings.

Another view of the old Decoy Shop.  Note the infamous "All Ward Ducks signed : $10.00"

At the end of Sackertown road you can view Jenkins creek and the waterman docks and sheds build on pilings.  I'm sure this was an important part of the Wards world and inspiration for their art.  This scene bathed in sublime refracted light seems to convey a feeling of beauty and wonder of the Chesapeake bay and Somerset county.

A view of the far right of the above scene as evidenced by the Y shaped boom and pulley on a dock.  Maybe one of these waterman's sheds once held a rig of 25 Ward Canada goose decoys that legend has it were found under a pile of old rotting fishing nets.

Closer shot of the old shack on the left of the color photo above located on Jenkins Creek.  The wide expanse of marsh and tide flat out to the Chesapeake had to be great influence for decoy carving and art.  This photo conveys the stark existence and environment of the lower bay country made up of water, sky and marsh and not much else. (but isn't that how we like it ?)

Docked near the end of Sackertown road on the Jenkins creek wharf we find the Proud Mary, which seems to exemplify the old Waterman's and Decoy carvers life on the Chesapeake. Simple and efficient the lines and built to take a pounding the Proud Mary now rests in peace. Note that right above the front door of the house along the bottom edge of the roof the green Sackertown road sign can seen.

Note that on this satellite map you can see the Ward compound circled near top of map and the dock area near the the bottom.  A fairly short bike ride and the Wards could be at the waterfront in short order.