About the Property
Rich History
Crab Capital USA
Crab Capital USA
Built in 1892 by the Hodson family. Managed by the youngest bank president in America who went on to found Beneficial Finance Corp and become a major philanthropist for education on the Eastern Shore.
Crab Capital USA
Crab Capital USA
Crab Capital USA
Crisfield, once a wealthy working seafood hub, now evolving to a tourist destination built around water sports, heritage, and arts & entertainment.
Exciting Future
Crab Capital USA
Ribbon Cutting: Somers Cove Canvas
Today a multi-use commercial building in the Arts and Entertainment District of Crisfield with water views on three sides on the edge of the Tourist Maritime Zone.
Ribbon Cutting: Somers Cove Canvas
Ribbon Cutting: Somers Cove Canvas
Ribbon Cutting: Somers Cove Canvas
In 2014, the building became home to a marine canvas shop under the direction of Proprietor Greg Smith. Somers Cove Canvas has since relocated to a local Crisfield boatyard.
Built for the Ages
Ribbon Cutting: Somers Cove Canvas
Ribbon Cutting: Bay Gift Vault
This unique building was constructed for the ages atop the oyster shells that created blocks of land where once was only marsh. With its two magnificent bank vaults, marble wainscoting, wood and tile floors, modern restrooms, air conditioning, and outstanding location, it is sure to be a hub of tourist activity for years to come.
Ribbon Cutting: Bay Gift Vault
Ribbon Cutting: Somers Cove Canvas
Ribbon Cutting: Bay Gift Vault
In 2017, the building became home to The Bay Gift Vault, a unique jewelry, clothing, gift and art center featuring items personally curated by proprietor Linda Singh.
The Hodson's & The Bank of Crisfield
Hodson is a name occasionally heard around Crisfield, but most people do not know the history
of Thomas S. Hodson (1837-1920) and his son Colonel Clarence Hodson (1868-1928).
Thomas Hodson, after attending both Yale and Princeton, played a major role in Crisfield and
Somerset County as a teacher, a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, a motivating force
of the Somerset County Republican Party, the owner and editor of the Somerset Herald newspaper
, Collector of Customs at the Port of Crisfield , a lawyer, a delegate to two Republican National Conventions and the first Republican state senator ever elected from Somerset
County. Clarence grew up in Crisfield and joined his father’s Crisfield law firm upon his
graduation from law school. The Bank of Crisfield was built at that time in 1892 and Clarence
became its president, making him the youngest bank president in America at the age of just 25.
Four years later he was commissioned a colonel by Governor Lloyd Lowndes. Colonel Hodson
went on to be a director of more than 40 banks, insurance companies and utilities. He encouraged
state governments to make affordable small loans available to working-class Americans, and
after New Jersey passed the first small loan law in the US in 1913, he founded the Beneficial
Loan Society which is now part of HSBC, one of the world’s largest financial institutions. The
elder Hodson used funds provided by his son to establish the Hodson trust in 1920. This trust
continues to support local students with scholarships and has provided move than $224 million
to Hood College, St. John’s College, Washington College and Johns Hopkins University.
From this start in the still-existing Bank of Crisfield building, the Hodson legacy continues to
impact the region and the world. The owners of Annemessex Neck LLC would like this building
to become a symbol of the Hodson legacy in Crisfield and Somerset County.
Additional Information
Second floor is available for storage or artist lofts with separate entrance.
Two newly renovated ADA compliant restrooms.
Handicapped access possible.
Several floor plans possible including:
Front retail, rear professional office.
Front retail, rear pub.
Upstairs owner/operator studio apartment
Upstairs one, two or three artist studio / lofts.
One story or two story restaurant / bar with addition of kitchen area.
Speak with us about your ideas.
A beautiful setting with outstanding
location / location / location.