History

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Stockton, originally called Sandy Hill, originated at the crossing of the post road from Snow Hill south to Virginia (whose track is generally followed by modern Maryland Route 12) with the road from Mattapony Landing on the Pocomoke River to the Chincoteague Bay (the eastern part of which is now Maryland Route 366), where small ocean-going vessels could drop anchor. The landing on Chincoteague Bay came to be known as George Island Landing and is still in use to this day.

 

Settlement in the area began in the 1660s, when the area was still part of Somerset County.  Worcester County was separated from Somerset in 1742, and by 1774 Sandy Hill had grown large enough to merit a chapel of ease within All Hallows' Parish, today called Holy Cross Chapel. Sandy Hill, unlike neighboring Girdletree, was never incorporated, but in 1870 the[2] name of the town was officially changed, by act of the legislature, from Sandy Hill to Stockton, commemorating the Rev. Thomas H. Stockton, a prominent Methodist minister.[3] In 1872 the Worcester County election district which took its name from Sandy Hill was renamed Stockton.

 

In 1876, a railroad (which would eventually become part of the Pennsylvania Railroad) was laid from Franklin City and Greenbackville in Virginia to Snow Hill. The line's main purpose was to haul seafood harvested from the Atlantic Ocean and Chincoteague Bay to Philadelphia The line also carried passengers. To avoid confusion with other Stocktons around the country, the station at Stockton was named Hursley Station.

 

The center of Stockton was destroyed by fire in 1906, but was soon rebuilt, with many of the new buildings constructed of brick. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Stockton boasted a hotel, five churches, a post office, three stores, a canning factory, two sawmills, and two barrel factories. However, the overfishing of Chincoteague Bay led to a permanent decline in the commercial seafood industry.

 

A new Stockton High School was dedicated in 1926. Grades 7-11 were discontinued in 1942, but first through sixth grades continued until 1960, when the school was closed. Stockton's only bank failed in 1929. Passenger trains ended service in the late 1940s, and the last freight train made its final run through Stockton in approximately 1955.The post office was closed in 2012, and no business of any kind is now in operation. The Stockton Poultry Plant opened as World War II ended, but closed around 1970.

 

Today, Stockton residents are as likely to work at NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility on the Eastern Shore of Virginia than to be farmers or watermen. 

 

 

HISTORIC CHURCH

 

227 years ago, the first Episcopal Church at Stockton (then known as Sandy Hill), Maryland, was built through the effort of the Reverend John Rosse, who was the rector at All Hallows Parish in Snow Hill. This "Chapel of the Cross" building was destroyed by fire and its exact location has not been determined.

The present building, known as the Chapel of the Holy Cross, was built during the tenure of the Reverend Thomas Flower, in about 1850. Its construction was possible largely through the efforts of Captain James Holland and the Lindsay family of Lindsayville, the community now known as Klej Grange.

At one time, the chapel had a congregation which drew from Greenbackville, VA to Girdletree, MD. Services were held until 1943 when they were discontinued due to poor attendance. In 1951, services resumed twice a month, continuing until 1961 when the membership was combined with that of All Hallows.

Today, the chapel is opened once a year. A service of Holy Eucharist is held annually on the Sunday nearest Holy Cross Sunday. 

 

 

Geography

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Stockton is located at 38°3′26″N 75°25′0″W (38.057233, −75.416661).[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2), all land.

Maryland routes 12 and 366 intersect in the center of Stockton.

An extensive network of manmade canals is located approximately two miles east of Stockton.[5][6]

 

 

VISION

 

Once a vibrant community, is now in disrepair. At Revive Stockton MD, we are dedicated to bringing the community back to its original historic "old town" charm.

Currently, no businesses are located in Stockton. There are many dilapidated homes and previous business locales that are in serious need of refurbishing. Located on a Maryland "scenic bypass" road, we believe Stockton should truly be "scenic".

Our plans include restoring old commercial or mixed use buildings to house new restaurants, apartment buildings, an old fashioned hardware store, a garage for auto repairs, towing, etc. Tear down dilapidated homes falling down and make way for new; restore homes that can be renovated back to their original glory! Perhaps a walking/biking trail from Stockton to Georges Landing.

Also possibly restore the dilapidated old canning houses on the Chinqateage Bay at Georges Landing and use for Small boat rentals, bait and gear shop with fishing licenses, clamming and crabbing gear, etc. A fresh seafood/crab house featuring local fresh catch. A place to rinse off and a portable trailer with restrooms. Opportunities for Charter Boat or guided fishing/clamming and sightseeing excursions. Maybe even a ferry to Assateague or Chincoteague Islands?

 

There's so much beauty and history and opportunity in this old town - let's make it new again and better than ever before!