Shoespiration – BCBGMaxAzria Amilia Stiletto Sandals – Mallows Bay, MD

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 20 Comments

One night several months ago, my dad was flipping channels and came across an episode of “What on Earth” (Season 5, episode 4 for those interested) featuring a ghost fleet of ships in Mallows Bay here in Southern Maryland.  It caught our attention because we had a couple photo shoots at Mallows Bay around this time last year.   Click here for a look back at one of those shoots. 

Mallows Bay is a graveyard to over 200 shipwrecks dating back to the American Revolutionary War, but the majority of the wreckage accumulated in the early 20th century when the United States entered World War I in 1917. 

Isn’t this an awesome/eerie shot?! Photo credit here for this pic and all pics except the last pic. This link also has a great article that dives deeper into the Mallows Bay history, if you’re interested.

To aid in the war efforts, the U.S. government commissioned 1000 steamships to be built in 18-months, a lofty goal that was impossible to achieve.  However, that didn’t hinder the American spirit and effort.   

Almost 90 contractors were selected to build these steamships.  In an attempt the meet the time goal and reduce costs, shipyards transitioned from steel parts to wooden components.  In addition, standards were relaxed with virtually no consistency among the ship builders resulting in shoddy construction and ships plagued with a range of issues including leaking. 

Fortunately, Germany surrendered in November 1918 ending the first World War and these ships became obsolete because the Navy had no use for wooden steamships.  As such, the government housed the ships on the James River for $50K/month.  Some years later, the government sold the fleet to a salvage company which then moved the ships to Mallows Bay.  When this company went out of business, the ships were burned in 1925 and left in their present location.  During the Great Depression, people would remove metal for money. 

A shot of the fleet being burned in 1925. Photo credit here.

Today, the area is designated a National Marine Sanctuary (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)).  Mostly visible during low tide, then nearly disappearing during high tide.  It is a sight to behold seeing the decaying fleet swallowed up by nature and creating a landscape of ship-shaped artificial islands.  The area is teeming with wildlife, above and below.  It is the largest ship graveyard in the Western Hemisphere. 

Pic credit here.

Imagine kayaking through this! Pic credit here.

Pic credit here.

Now, had Dad and I not known Mallows Bay’s history, we would have been quite fascinated by this episode and the theories concocted.  One theory had the fleet of ships linked to the original colony of Jamestown, VA.  Another theory blamed the local Powhatan Indians for a failed mass attack on the colonists and ships.  And yet another theory blamed the infamous pirate, Blackbeard.    

All that fluff to fill an episode!  We wondered if anyone on that production team bothered to read the signage at Mallows Bay to get the brief summary of its history. 😉 And since this episode was full of histrionics, what does that say about other episodes?  

Our favorite part of the episode and most interesting was an interview with local, Arthur Willetts, 90 years old at the time of the interview.  He talked about how he was one of the people who removed scrap metal for money during the Great Depression.  He said he would get $1 or $2 for one hundred pounds of scrap metal!  The interviewer asked how the scrap metal was removed and Mr. Willetts said with dynamite, of course.  Dynamite?!  Sure, according to Mr. Willetts, dynamite could be bought at the local grocery store!  What on earth?!  😉

Pic credit here. And another great article to give you more insight, if you’re interested.

This week, Lizzy’s Latest’s Shoespiration segment is featuring the BCBGMaxAzria Amilia stiletto heels in an orangey/red hue.  These leather heels are lovely, comfy, and not too high.  I paired them with a floral jumpsuit.  It’s an effortless look for date night, girls night, and/or a summer party. 

Have a great week, my lovelies!  Next post is coming!  I know I always say a new post will come in the next week or two and then it turns into three or four.  Sorry!  Life just gets so busy.  But, not this time!  My 4th of July post will post next week on the 4th.  I work better with actual deadlines.  😉  So until then, enjoy the pictures and stay safe.

Style with Smile!

XoXo,

Lizzy