Tug-Of-War, Bridge Run Planners Celebrate 25 Years Of Putting Eastport On The Map

EASTPORT, MD — Annapolis is in a civil war. Well, kind of.

Residents of the town's Eastport neighborhood have carved out their own identity over the years. "Eastportericans" or "Eastporters," as they call themselves, often feel more attached to Eastport than the greater City of Annapolis.

A few decades ago, some Eastportericans even jokingly "seceded" from Annapolis and declared themselves an independent country. They dubbed themselves the Maritime Republic of Eastport.

The micronation, also known as the MRE, celebrated its 25th anniversary on Jan. 25. In its quarter-century, the nonprofit has grown some of the city's strongest traditions and fundraised for charity through its annual tug-of-war and bridge run.

The MRE was founded in 1998 after routine maintenance shut down the Spa Creek Bridge, which is the only crossing between downtown Annapolis and the Eastport peninsula. Visitors could still access Eastport, but they had to drive around Spa Creek.

Eastport leaders worried about the community's economy during the temporary bridge closure. They jokingly called it an "unprovoked act of aggression" and formed the MRE in response.

The group started planning events to draw visitors to Eastport. That's when the tug-of-war and the bridge run were born.

"I wish that I was here when it all started," MRE Premier Patti Slaughter told Patch in an exclusive interview. "It was all just tongue-in-cheek, and it's just grown."

The tug-of-war pits Eastport against downtown Annapolis each fall.

The rivalry gets serious before the big day. The MRE marches to City Hall beforehand to declare war, a tug-of-war that is.

Tuggers then line up on either side of Spa Creek and yank at a 1,600-foot rope draped over the waterway. The rope weighs 800 pounds and takes eight people to set up.

Eastport leads the series with 13 wins, Slaughter said. Annapolis has 10 victories. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled the tug in 2020 and 2021.

The tug returned on Nov. 5, 2022. Annapolis won that battle, taking five of the seven heats.

Eastport reluctantly surrendered the trophy during a Jan. 12 ceremony at Annapolis Market House.

Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley was on hand to accept the trophy and emphasize the importance of unique traditions like these. He called the city "a beautiful, big-hearted community."

"So many people volunteer in Annapolis and make this wonderful place to live," Buckley said. "It's not like this everywhere you go in the country. I swear we live in one of the most special, special places on the waterfront where we can do tugs-of-war between two peninsulas."

The MRE may have lost the 2022 contest, but it still raised $35,095 in the process.

During the trophy ceremony, the organization presented checks to local charities including:

• Annapolis Police Foundation (A nonprofit that fundraises for the city's police department)
• Annapolis Elementary School
• Civil Air Patrol (The nonprofit civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force)
• Eastport Elementary School
• Eastport Volunteer Fire Company
• Oyster Recovery Partnership (A nonprofit restoring oyster beds in the Chesapeake Bay)
• Seeds 4 Success (An Annapolis nonprofit supporting kids from communities with low income)
• The Bernie House (A nonprofit Annapolis shelter for survivors of domestic violence)

The MRE has raised more than $500,000 since its inception.

"We focus on local charities that are in the community," Slaughter, 62, said. "It's the smaller charities that really need the support."

The donations are all possible because of the bustling party surrounding the tug.

Slaughter estimated that 4,000 people attend each tug. Attendees have traveled from as far as Boston just to see the spectacle. The tug-of-war has even witnessed proposals and hosted bachelorette parties.

Such a large event takes quite a bit of planning.

There are bands to hire and permits to file. Thirty vendors must prepare, and three beer trucks have to roll in. Workers start setting up at 5:30 in the morning, and they continue until 7 o'clock at night.

"People don't realize that we have to talk to the highway administration," Slaughter said. "We have to call the Coast Guard in to shut down the waterway."

The bridge run has also blossomed into a booming production each spring.

The course is just a few hundred feet across the drawbridge, but the MRE dresses it up like a full-fledged marathon.

The organization fires a cannon to start the race. A pacer car leads the pack, and there's a watering hole in the middle for breaks from the rigorous sprint.

The race is officially dubbed The 0.05K Bridge Run. True runners are quick to point out that the bridge is not 0.05 km long, but the name is based on good fun and not a true distance or a real measurement.

The bridge run is what introduced Slaughter to the MRE. Originally from Damascus, Slaughter and her husband started visiting Annapolis on the weekends around 2006. They fell in love with the city and moved to Eastport full-time in 2008.

Slaughter eventually got involved with the MRE and started ascending through its ranks. She served as the vice premier for over eight years before becoming the top dog last year.

All that work keeps Slaughter busy, but she would do anything to help her neighbors. She loves Eastport's small-town vibe and tight-knit relationships.

"Eastportericans, we just know how to have a good time," Slaughter said. "We love fun people. Party with a purpose."

Residents can follow the MRE on Facebook and learn more at themre.org.