Sometimes in life you encounter something that is too good to keep to yourself. Anyone who has crossed paths with the book, “This Was Potomac River” knows this to be true. They also know that if you have not yet been exposed to this reading, you may havesome difficulty doing so, as the Alexandria author self-published the hard bound book, and to my knowledge is now only available in the after market. Understandably so, as this gem covers our beloved Potomac Rivers culture and history from Capt. John Smiths 1608 exploratory voyage up the river, covering Indian inhabitants, tobacco trade, profoundly busy seaports that have long ago slipped into obscurity, fisheries, the Civil War, Lincolns assassination and the Potomac River flight of John Wilkes Booth, prohibition, rum-running, brothels afloat, river gambling, river towns, canals, railroads, aquaducts, ferries, Sea Scouts, river lore and stories, as-well-as personal recollections, memorabelias, and Potomac River lighthouses. If the Potomac River holds a warm and fuzzy spot in your life, or if you are the avid Potomac River boating enthusiasts that most Captain’s Quarterly readers are, then “This Was Potomac River” is required reading. While availability of Tilp’s book is scant at best, I acquired one some years ago from the Chesapeake Bay Society in Annapolis, MD. A recent Gooogle search had five (5) available on the after market ranging from $118. for a soft 2004 black and white facsimile of the original book, to a used but “signed” original copy for $175. Publishing rights were recently aquired by Richard Willich who has plans to Publish the existing book with a 30 year sequel.From the Author: Here is an immensely readable treasure-trove of Potomac River lore. It is a rich chronicling of the river’s history, filled with sprightly and spicy memorabilia. It enlivens the significant events which have taken place on or near the mighty tidewater stream, and the men and women who have sailed its waters and trod its shores. And it recaptures inimitably the human foibles, frailties, and eccentricities that have touched life along its expanses.

In important respects, the Potomac River is renowned above all other rivers. Throughout its tidal reaches, the river’s history is infused with the story of the men and women active along its shore, some of whom rank among the most eminent of Americas immortals. The Nations Capital stands at the river’s tidal head; this paramountly distinguishes the Potomac River. The book reflects in detail the author’s lifetime fascination with the Potomac. In undertaking to chronicle the river’s past, he has focused major research upon old records, diaries, and newspaper and archival resources. The volume’s sweeping range recalls the river landings reaching out from the tidewater shores of yesteryear and it perceives the river life, today somewhat faded, yet imbued with aspects of the past. Grandeur, traditions, achievements, romances, and mischievous goings-on are all intertwined in the saga of this eternally beautiful estuary. About the Author: FREDERICK TILP, a native of Bladensburg, MD, the erstwhile bustling seaport town on the Potomac River whose heydays encompassed both of the wars with England. For over 60 years he sailed on the Potomac River, talking with watermen and their families, as well as with shipbuilders, tobacco farmers, historical minded doctors, lawyers, and clergymen, and all kinds of people who lived and worked on both sides of the Potomac. In recent years he had spent most of his spare time ashore doing research in the many local libraries and other repositories, all while building up his extensive lifetime of Potomac historical lore that includes many rare marine photographs. Mr. Tilp inherited his interest in the river and it’s small and large boats from his great uncle who in the late 1800’s owned a fleet of tugs and barges operating out of the Washington-Georgetown-Alexandria area. He became exposed to the fascination of the tidewater Potomac region while working as a youngster on sand barges and fish lighters. While sailing as a Sea Scout leader during the summers and almost every weekend in the 1930’s, he gradually came to the conclusion that someoneeven if it was him-had a bounden duty to put on paper for future generations to read a recital of the way of life that he so well knew and which was fast passing out of existence.

When he graduated with a degree in Architecture from Catholic University in Washington in 1930, he began practicing his profession with the paramount idea of specializing in the design of buildings located solely on lands drained by the Potomac tidewaters. And he continued to collect relics and to become further and further involved in research at the National Archives, The Library of Congress, and the Mariner’s Museum. Except for a brief period of Coast Guard Duty during World War II, Mr. Tilp had always been in motion (for the past 69 years) along the shores of “His” Potomac River. Frederick Tilp and his Pennsylvania Dutch wife, Fay, have lived overlooking Little Hunting Creek in Virginia, Canoe Neck Creek, an estuary of St. Clements Bay in Maryland, and more recently were ensconced in a row house on the Alexandria waterfront until his death in May of 1988. Mr. Tilp wrote numerous articles about the river, its architecture, foods, watercraft, lighthouses, fisheries, and people for many newspapers and magazines and he also lectured extensively on those subjects in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. He was a Charter member of the Chesapeake

Bay Chapter of the American Institutes of Architects and was awarded a Fellowship by the Construction Specifications Institute. He belonged to every historical society in every county bordering the Potomac River to make sure he was adequately “covering the waterfront.” Frederick Tilp was even buried at Fort Lincoln Cemetery at a selected place overlooking his birthplace on the Eastern Branch (Anacoustia) of the River. Chances are good that his epitaph was illustrated with carven images of Bugeyes, Longboats, and maybe even a Sidewheeler. It is with great delight that myself and The Captain’s Potomac Quarterly, through the efforts and encouragement of Carlton Phillips of Prince William Marina, and with the blessings of Richard Willich, can introduce this incredible literary work by Frederick Tilp to those of our readers who are not already familiar with “This Was Potomac River.” The book was published by Mr. Tilp in 1979, and then again in 1987. Richard Willich (current owner of the publishing rights) indicated his intention to Re-publish the book sometime in the near future, and already has two staff writers on deck for the 30 year sequel. So if you know of a boating buddy who happens to be the proud owner of this coveted book, you may have to do some serious foot work and bribing to borrow it, but the effort will not go ungratified.

While we wont be covering the book in it’s entirety, I am pleased to say that, where permissable, relevant excerpts from Tilp’s book will be regular ingredient of the Captain’ Quarterly, furthermore, the answer to your question . . . . .(the envelope please) . . . . . . . NO, you cannot borrow my copy!

Frederick ederick Tilp
(b. 9, Oct, 1909-d. 10 May 1988)
Author and Historian
“THIS WAS POTOMAC”