Born Before
the Town Was Built.
The Eagle Harbor Citizens Association didn't follow the town's founding. It preceded it — and has driven every milestone since 1927.
Community before
corporation.
When developer Walter L. Bean began selling lots along the Patuxent River in May 1925 — advertising in Washington's Eagle weekly to middle-class African Americans seeking refuge from a segregated city — the first seeds of organized community took root almost immediately.
Families weren't just buying property. Myrna White, a former Town Commission chairman whose grandfather was one of Eagle Harbor's founders, described it simply: they were building something with intention.
By 1927, those residents had formally organized the Eagle Harbor Citizens Association. Two years before Eagle Harbor appeared on any government map, the EHCA was already functioning as its backbone — acquiring land, planning infrastructure, and making the case for self-governance.
1927
EHCA Founded
Two years before incorporation
1929
Town Incorporated
Smallest in Prince George's County
~100
Years of Service
Continuous civic leadership
67
Residents
Generations of families
Three Pillars. One Mission.
Built before there was a town to govern.
The EHCA was organized in 1927 — two years before Eagle Harbor incorporated. When the town needed roads, signs, utilities, and a community hall, it was the Citizens Association that made it happen.
The resident voice at every table.
The Association works in partnership with the Board of Commissioners, ensuring that the people who actually live in Eagle Harbor have a direct say in how the town is shaped, maintained, and protected.
A century of stewardship.
From jetties on the Patuxent to national historic designation, every milestone in Eagle Harbor's story has the Citizens Association behind it. That work continues today.
"Let us sincerely trust that the Township of Eagle Harbor, MD will live long as a thriving community and that the boards of commissioners, to follow, and future citizens associations will work in harmony to achieve the same or more."
Dorothy J. Russ
Eagle Harbor Resident · May 1975
Key Milestones
Lots First Sold
Developer Walter L. Bean sells the first lots under a big cherry tree in May 1925, advertising in Washington's Eagle newspaper to middle-class African Americans. Sisters Mrs. Ethel Fields and Mrs. Sophie Fields become the first purchasers.
Citizens Association Founded
Eagle Harbor residents formally organize the Citizens Association — two years before the town exists on any government map. The EHCA immediately acquires the Town Hall site and constructs jetties to protect the riverbank.
Push for Incorporation
The Citizens Association begins actively pursuing official town incorporation, organizing polling for residents to vote on whether to become an official municipality.
Official Incorporation
Eagle Harbor officially incorporates on March 8, 1929 — becoming the smallest incorporated town in Prince George's County. John T. Stewart, Sr. serves as the first chairman of the Board of Commissioners and the town's early financial backer.
Building the Town Hall
The Citizens Association appoints a building committee, purchases 2,000 cinder blocks for $225, and Mr. Easy Smith lays the bricks for $100. The community builds its own civic center from scratch.
Town Day Established
The 1953–1955 board establishes the first Saturday in August as Town Day — a tradition that continues to this day and brings generations of Eagle Harbor families together on the riverfront.
Dorothy J. Russ Writes Her Vision
"Let us sincerely trust that the Township of Eagle Harbor will live long as a thriving community and that future citizens associations will work in harmony to achieve the same or more." — A charge that still guides the Association today.
Major Infrastructure Expansion
A major renovation is made to the town hall. Water and septic services are added to the community for the first time. The town hall becomes a full community center, eventually gaining a kitchen.
Community Center Renovated
The center is completely renovated with a spacious rear deck built overlooking the Patuxent River — the latest chapter in a century of resident-led investment in community infrastructure.
Recognition & Resilience
Eagle Harbor has earned national recognition as one of the few remaining historic waterfront African American communities in the United States.
National Heritage Area
Destination Southern Maryland National Heritage Area has designated Eagle Harbor a Historic Black Site — recognizing the community's singular role in African American history.
Sustainable Community
The State of Maryland has designated Eagle Harbor as a Sustainable Community, affirming the EHCA's long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship on the Patuxent.
Historic District Candidate
The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission identifies Eagle Harbor as meeting criteria for National Register of Historic Places designation as an African American resort community.
Legal & Organization Information
93-2899921
501(c)(3) Nonprofit
Officers of the Association
The same spirit.
Nearly 100 years later.
The Eagle Harbor Citizens Association continues to serve as the resident governing body working in direct partnership with the Town's Board of Commissioners. The Association holds regular meetings, maintains its Constitution and By-Laws, and is led by elected officers representing every household in the community.
With urban development steadily approaching Eagle Harbor's borders, the work of the Citizens Association has never been more critical. Preserving the town's character, stewarding its environment, and ensuring that the families who built this community still have a voice in its future — that is the mission.
Eagle Harbor remains what it was always meant to be: a place built by its people, governed by its people, and preserved for the generations that follow.