We have some pretty amazing neighbors here at The River Bend Retreat! Our Taylors Landing neighborhood is home to several small cottage industries including a pottery, a folk-art studio, a kombucha brewery and a few other fun surprises!
In days-gone-by it was called Mercersville. It was a point along the C&O Canal where for over half a century a little general store operated by Jack Taylor, served the people of the small village. In his honor, it is now known as Taylors Landing and is considered to be a part of Sharpsburg (once spelled Sharpsburgh).
After the C&O Canal ceased operation in 1924, many of the cottages in the area, which had housed the canal workers, became summer houses for those looking to escape the city during the hot, summer months. Now it is a mix of full-time residents, seasonal residents, hobby farmers, and a few artisan craftspeople.
REELS & WHEELS
Right across the street from the Taylor’s Landing boat ramp, is Reels & Wheels, purveyor of fishing and biking supplies as well as various hand-made, “river art” craft items. Jerry Heil, the owner, is a super talented craftsman who specializes in lovely birdhouses, rustic benches, and seasonal decor. You will be enchanted by his picture-perfect shop and the all the wonderful treasures it holds. Don’t miss the “before” and “after” pictures of the building that hangs just inside the door. Before he started making his craft items, he rebuilt the store himself from three crumbling walls! You will be amazed!
FOXCROSS POTTERY
A little further down the towpath, up on the hill, is Foxcross Pottery. Del Martin, longtime local resident and master potter, recently retired after many decades of ceramics work, and his son, Dirk, has now taken over the wheel. Dirk has been working alongside his father since he was a young boy sculpting dragons. (He has a few displayed in the shop. Check them out!) Several of Dirk’s pieces have become a part of our daily life. Our very favorites are the large, handled soup bowls (great for serving Dan’s amazing chili) and our beautiful, rustic coffee mugs. Also, as an artisan soap-maker, I adore my Foxcross self-draining soap dish!
Head over to Foxcross’s Facebook page to see examples of the beautiful pottery pieces Dirk creates. Watch for the announcement that the kiln has been unloaded and a whole batch of new pieces are available.
BOOCHY CALL KOMBUCHA
Having just opening for business in the late summer of 2021, the newest addition to our neighborhood artisans is right next door at historic Spriggs Delight Farm. Eric Kelchlin’s Boochy Call Kombucha is brewing up an assortment of delicious concoctions made with fermented teas, sugar, honey, fruits, spices and other magical ingredients to create his soon-to-be world-famous kombucha. A few of our favorites are “The Crush” and “Hiboochy Momma”! As they say, “Get Some!”
A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE
If you’re paying attention around Mile Marker 82, you might notice a bight yellow sign . . .
The wonderful farmer allows passers-by to cut and take some of his gorgeous flowers! How nice is that? And such an unexpected surprise too! 🙂
JACK’S HOME GROWN PRODUCE
In the late summer, when vegetable gardens are producing in abundance, you might get lucky and find Jack selling some of his delicious tomatoes (or cucumbers or some other garden goodness). You’ll find his house down the road, a little past the Taylor’s Landing boat ramp. You’ll most likely find Jack up on his porch enjoying his gorgeous view. 😉
What a deal!! As you can see, I stocked up. (Well, sort of. It probably only lasted until later that day.)
A LITTLE HISTORICAL MYSTERY
About a half mile in the downstream direction, sits a beautiful, old stone building that now serves as a private residence. Indications are that it dates all the way back to the late 1700’s, but historical records don’t tell us how the building was originally used. Was it simply a home? If so, who lived there? Could they have had some connection to the C&O Canal? Some intriguingly suggest that it may have been a tavern. Could the odd fact that the building has three front doors be a clue to this possibility? I like to imagine the local canawlers (as the canal workers were called) arriving on foot or possibly on horseback to meet at the tavern for evenings of conversation and refreshment. You can read more about the building in this article written for the Washington County Historical Society.
We hope you’ll take some time to explore our little neighborhood of Taylors Landing and enjoy all it has to offer!