5 generations of railway family By MAEGAN CLEARWOOD Student intern | Posted: Thursday, August 16, 2012 12:00 am ROCK HALL At first glance, the tracks at the edge of the water look like they lead to an underwater train station. They're actually a traditional form of boat transport, and they've been in the Leary family for as long as Rock Hall Marine Railway Inc. has: five generations. The Learys have been doing marine repairs, sales, storage and more since their business opened in 1928. Today, the waterside business on South Hawthorne Avenue is a staple in harbor life, serving hundreds of watermen and boaters each season.
The Learys Three generations of the Rock Hall Marine Railway family are represented by, from left: Elmer Leary, 74; Rick Leary, 50; and Tyler Leary, 17.
The family legacy started with George Leary and the railway, then the primary method of moving boats out of the water for repairs. The business was passed on to Elsworth, who gave it to his son, current patriarch and operator Elmer, 74. He is the face of the Railway Marina, along with son Rick, 50, and grandson Tyler, 17.
"Having a family business, customers can trust you. They know you're going to take care of their boat," Rick said last month in the same workroom where his grandfather and greatgrandfather once hauled and repaired boats. Eighty years ago, the building probably looked very much the same. Many of the tools look like antiques, but work as well as they did when the first two generations of Learys installed them. They continue to use the railway system to haul boats, though not as frequently since the first Travelift was installed in 1959. The tracks extend underwater so a boat can float onto a cradle with wheels. The cradle is pulled onto land and moved up to the storage and repair area. The Learys currently operate three Travelifts, so transporting boats isn't nearly as laborintensive as it once was. Their business includes a boating supply store, painting and maintenance services and climatecontrolled storage sheds. Rick and Elmer said keeping up with everchanging technology is one of the most challenging parts of running the business. Their customer base is also shifting; each year, Rick said they see fewer watermen and more pleasure boaters. "The mariner community is a lot different than it used to be," Rick said. "The industry isn't what it used to be, but there are still a lot of us." The Learys are as much a part of Rock Hall as their business. Elmer, who started working alongside his father in 1956, said he never saw himself doing anything else. He raised his family right next door, where he still lives with his wife, Ann. It took a little more deliberation for Rick to follow in his father's footsteps. He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting at Salisbury University, but ultimately decided to return to the family business. "In high school, I couldn't wait to get away from here," he said. "I've been here my whole life, and Salisbury was like another world. [Rock Hall] is much better than living in a larger city. It's just right." Back in his hometown, Rick spends most of his time outdoors, lifting, hauling and fixing boats. It's
laborious work, but he likes it that way. Before he moved back, he said he "knew pretty quickly I couldn't sit at a desk." "My favorite part is that I'm not trapped inside all day," he said. "I need to be moving around." Tyler, a rising senior at Kent County High School, works at the marina during the summer, cutting grass, ringing up customers in the store and doing odd jobs. Although he said he "can see myself here someday," he's looking at colleges a little farther away from home. "I want to go to college and at least leave Rock Hall," he said. "I know I can always come back." "It's his decision. He can do what he wants, and that's his call," Rick said. In the meantime, business is flourishing. The store and marina have survived setbacks and obstacles over the years, from Hurricane Isabel to the current economic recession. "You have to enjoy it or you wouldn't be able to do it," Rick said. "It has its moments. It can be tough at times, just like anything else."