3203 Betheden Church Rd Pocomoke City, MD 21851

THIS PROPERTY IS OFFERED THROUGH A SEALED BID OFFERING. BID PACKAGE AVAILABLE THROUGH LISTING AGENT. LIST PRICE IS THE MINIMUM BID AMOUNT ALLOWED. ALL BIDS DUE BY 5PM ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2025
Set in the quiet crossroads community of Klej Grange, this 284.91-acre farm presents a rare opportunity to acquire a substantial, contiguous tract of land in southern Worcester County—just minutes from Pocomoke City and the Pocomoke River. The property features a blend of tillable ground, managed woodlands, and natural cover, offering a diverse platform for production agriculture, recreational use, or long-term conservation strategies. With road frontage along Klej Grange Road and expansive acreage under unified ownership, the farm is well-positioned for both operational scale and land-based investment.

LAND COMPOSITION
- Productive cropland ready for row crop or hay rotation
- Mixed pine and hardwood timber stands with wildlife habitat value
- Rolling topography with natural drainage and soils common to the Lower Eastern Shore

RESIDENTIAL IMPROVEMENT
The property includes a custom-built residence constructed in 1989 with Atlantic white cedar siding and a metal roof (installed 2014). This approximately 2,800 square foot home features 3 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms. Interior highlights include an open-concept first floor with an eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, and a sunroom with a built-in spa. The house includes a high-ceiling basement, 10KW Wisconsin engine home generator, attached garage, hot water baseboard heat, and central air conditioning. Quality craftsmanship is evident throughout, with custom trim and detailed woodwork. This well-appointed home offers flexibility as a primary residence, guesthouse, or land manager’s quarters and complements the property's agricultural and recreational character.

AGRICULTURAL CONSERVATION EASEMENT
This property is subject to a Rural Legacy conservation easement held by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The easement permanently preserves the farm for agricultural use and restricts subdivision and certain development rights in order to protect the rural character and natural resources of the property.

Under the terms of the easement, the land must be maintained primarily for agricultural, forestry, and open space uses. Forestland management, including selective timber harvesting, is permitted in accordance with a state-approved Forest Stewardship Plan.

The construction of additional residential dwellings is prohibited, with the exception of pre-approved agricultural structures or existing improvements. The property may not be further subdivided.

A full copy of the easement is available upon request. Buyers are encouraged to consult with legal counsel and/or the easement holder to understand all permitted and restricted uses prior to purchase.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Today, the property is permanently preserved as agricultural land under a Rural Legacy Easement held by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. This easement ensures the land’s continued use for farming, forestry, and habitat protection while offering potential eligibility for tax benefits and conservation incentives.

Klej Grange isn’t just a dot on the map—it was part of a bold agrarian experiment in the late 1800s. In 1878, Joseph William Drexel, a New York financier and philanthropist, purchased land here and renamed the area after his four daughters—Katherine, Lucy, Elizabeth, and Josephine (K‐L‐E‐J)—adding “Grange” in homage to the national farming movement. Drexel aimed to build a self-sufficient rural community where farmland could be sold “at cost” to working-class families. Though the utopian effort faded after his death, the grid he laid out and the agricultural character he seeded remains embedded in this landscape today. This farm lies within that original footprint—a rare link between 19th-century agricultural reform and 21st-century land stewardship.