Historic rifle club, converted mansion, destroyed in fire on the North East River

A landmark building on the North East River in the upper bay is a skeleton after a massive fire last week. The building, which dates back to 1792, was the home of a local restaurant owner who was fortunately not home at the time. But the homeowner’s pets were tragically killed.

The fire was discovered by a neighbor around 2:40 p.m. on June 24. The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s office says it started on the exterior of the home, on the right side in the HVAC area. The Charlestown Fire Company responded with help from the Susquehanna Hose Company, which delivered additional water from the Charlestown Boat Ramp to the fire scene.

A total of 70 firefighters fought the flames. Mike Walsh of the Charlestown Fire Company tells Chesapeake Bay Magazine that strong winds made the situation particularly difficult. “It (the fire) blew onto the house next door and set the town flagpole on fire and melted the flag.”

The fire spread to the pier next door and the Charlestown Fire Company tried to get a fireboat close enough to rescue it, but the water was too shallow. Fortunately, there were no injuries.

The historic building, which was destroyed by fire, was once the Eagle Point Rod and Gun Club, located at 125 Conestoga Street in Charlestown. When it was renovated and expanded in 2000, the then-owners used period details and salvaged artifacts, including a 26-foot ship’s mast as the focal point of the great room. According to a real estate listing, the home offered views from the North East River to Betterton Beach on the east coast.

The house, built in 1792, did not have a sprinkler system. The fire marshal estimates damage to the building and contents at $2 million, plus another $500,000 in damage to surrounding buildings and other homes nearby.

The current owner is Larry Metz, owner of the fine-dining restaurant The Wellwood and the casual crab shack The River Shack, which are also located on the river bank just a few blocks from the fire site. In a Facebook post, the restaurant owners wrote: “This house was not just a home, but a treasured piece of history, full of irreplaceable memories and artifacts. Losing it was incredibly painful, even worse was the tragic loss of our beloved cats.” The family plans to rebuild.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, but the fire marshal’s office says strong winds were responsible for the fire’s rapid spread. State deputy fire marshals, with the help of their K9 officer Blondie, have located the fire’s origin near the HVAC units. They will focus the investigation on “various accidental causes.”