Tidewater Times
January 2017
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ST. MICHAELS HARBOR Big Miles River & Harbor views, 2 deepwater boat slips, beautifully updated home w/ attached guest house ~ 5 bedrooms, 4 full and 2 half baths combined. Gourmet kitchen. Fabulous waterside deck w/retractable awnings. Turn-key condition. $1,150,000
LONG HAUL CREEK Located in Martingham near St. Michaels and a new Pete Dye-designed golf course (under construction), this elegant waterfront home is a must see! High ceilings, heart pine floors, 4 BRs, 3.5 BAs, private dock, big sunsets! $1,375,000
HARRIS CREEK High-quality 4,600 sq. ft. home features 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, fabulous kitchen, 10’ ceilings and heart-pine floors. Waterside pool, porch and outdoor kitchen. Dock with 2 boat lifts. $1,895,000
BROAD CREEK Absolutely charming c. 1920 Cape Cod, sited on a prominent, south-facing point of land near Bozman. Waterside pool, deep-water dock. English gardens. Exceptional views looking directly down the Creek. New septic system. $1,195,000
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116 N. Talbot St., St. Michaels ¡ 410-745-0720 Tom Crouch: 410-310-8916 Debra Crouch: 410-924-0771
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Tidewater Times
Since 1952, Eastern Shore of Maryland Vol. 65, No. 8
Published Monthly
January 2017
Features: About the Cover Photographer: Jay Fleming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Perils of Driving: Helen Chappell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Chesapeake Watermen Celebrated: Dick Cooper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Where Gracious Plenty Rules the Board: Cliff Rhys James . . . . . . . 35 Tidewater Kitchen: Pamela Meredith-Doyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 In Search of the Snow Bunting: Michael Valliant . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 A Taste of Salt: reviewed by Margot Miller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Tidewater Gardening: K. Marc Teffeau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 The Bungalo Mystery: Gary D. Crawford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139 Exhibitions with Local Connections: Amy Blades Steward . . . . . 161
Departments: January Tide Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Dorchester Points of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95 Easton Points of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 St. Michaels Points of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Oxford Points of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Tilghman - Bay Hundred . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Caroline County - A Perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165 Queen Anne’s County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167 Kent County and Chestertown at a Glance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 January Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171 David C. Pulzone, Publisher ¡ Anne B. Farwell, Editor P. O. Box 1141, Easton, Maryland 21601 102 Myrtle Ave., Oxford, MD 21654 410-226-0422 FAX : 410-226-0411 www.tidewatertimes.com info@tidewatertimes.com
Tidewater Times is published monthly by Tidewater Times Inc. Advertising rates upon request. Subscription price is $25.00 per year. Individual copies are $4. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or whole without prior approval of the publisher. The publisher does not assume any liability for errors and/or omissions.
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About the Cover Photographer Jay Fleming Jay discovered his passion for photography at the young age of 14 upon inheriting his father’s film Nikon n90s. His father, Kevin Fleming, is a former National Geographic photographer. Jay immediately developed an affinity for looking at life through the lens of his camera, and what ensued was an exciting photographic journey that would eventually lead him to his career as a professional photographer. Now, at the age of 29, Jay has an extensive portfolio that is sure to impress. Jay looks forward to continuing to learn, refine and experiment
with his craft in the years to come. Currently, Jay has turned his attention toward the Chesapeake Bay and the industry that is directly dependent on it ~ the seafood industry. Jay has spent the last two years actively documenting all aspects of this fascinating and diminishing way of life. The cover photo is titled Chesapeake Bay Oyster Boats. Jay may be contacted at 410-2798730 or e-mail at jaypfleming@ gmail.com. Please visit his websiteJayFlemingPhotography.com.
Photo by Mike Morgan
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The Perils of Driving by Helen Chappell
One fine autumn day, I found myself between Denton and Greensboro, searching for a poorly marked side road. I was dropping something off for a friend. The drive was as much to cleanse my own mind after recent unpleasantness as to do a kindness. After visiting two gas stations and asking a perfect stranger alongside the road, I finally found my friend’s house. I’d driven almost to Goldsboro looking for this road. I had to go to the bathroom, and I was getting pretty irritated at the lack of signage in Caroline County. I’ve gotten to the point where I really hate driving. The increasing traffic around here, the lack of an ability for people to use turn signals, the old people who have no depth perception and who will pull out of their developments right into oncoming traffic, all put a strain on me. I don’t want to drive anymore. I only do it because I have to, and I can’t afford a driver. Happily, I still have enough of my wits about me that I can drive, because I know a couple of old people around here who are on the road who really shouldn’t be. There was a time, many, many years ago, when dinosaurs roamed
the earth, when I was young and restless and full of teenage angst, when I couldn’t wait to drive. Back then, driving meant freedom, getting away from the house, the parents, the whole adolescent yearning to be somewhere else.
I started learning to drive when I was about fourteen. We had a farm, and I would drive around the fields and the back roads in an old Jeep, when I could get it away from my older brother, who claimed ownership of it based on seniority and superior driving skills. And, of course, he had a license, which helped a lot. From time to time, my mother would take me out in her behemoth of a Cadillac, which was like trying to drive a tank, albeit a tank with power steering. Her Cadillacs were 11
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The Perils of Driving
huge and, to my mind, served no purpose other than display her status as a surgeon’s wife. I mean, they were huge. Elvis-going-to-Graceland huge. They had tailfins. They had chrome. They were the size of a Panzer. Needless to say, those driving lessons didn’t last long. My mother had a weak heart, and my clumsy initial attempts to learn to navigate a vehicle weren’t helping her chronic angina. I took driver’s ed in high school. Back then, schools still offered it. You spent a lot of classroom time learning all the rules and mechanics of how a car works. And we had that rite of passage, the Wreck on Highway 57 film. It made A Clockwork Orange look like Bambi, what with a carload of drunken, screaming teenagers meeting a gory death in a graphically bloody car accident. It was so graphic some kids actually threw up, or so it was rumored. As I said, I’m the child of a surgeon. It takes more than a few mangled corpses in a poorly produced training film to make me nauseated, so I just sort of sat there and
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The Perils of Driving thought, like most kids, I’m immortal, nothing like that is going to happen to me. A couple of months later, we passed a really terrible accident where there were mangled bodies and twisted chrome, and yeah, that hit home. So, I took driver’s ed with a very nice man called Mr. Messenger, in a car with a set of brakes and a gas pedal on the passenger side of the car where he sat. Mr. Messenger was very nice, but also very nervous, for some reason. Like maybe riding around with all those student drivers. He smoked in the car. I didn’t blame him. I still don’t. So I had my permit. Now, my fa-
ther drove a Ford Fairlane. In those days, doctors were united on the Ford Question, maybe a throwback to the days when they made house calls and considered Fords the most reliable cars for midnight calls. My father was born and raised on a farm, and it stuck with him all his life. He didn’t believe in washing his
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The Perils of Driving
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car, and he didn’t believe in keeping the interior sparkling clean, either. And he drove that Fairlane hard. Why go up an asphalt road when you can cut across a soybean field? As my brother recalled, “He drove the s---t out of his cars.” And he did. He also believed the only accessory any car needed was a box of Kleenex. I carry a roll of paper towels, but I notice my brother has car Kleenex in his DNA. So, I needed to practice driving where I couldn’t actually hit another car or kill someone or hit one of our cows. So I drove that beige Fairlane up and down the road. Across the rutted farm roads, up and down the circle, up and down the neck road where there wasn’t much traffic. I drove that Fairlane until I could do it blindfolded. Hours on the road eventually paid off. I passed my driver’s license test on the fi rst try. I was so nervous, I burst into tears, but I passed it. And that was when my real life began. But that’s another story. Helen Chappell is the creator of the Sam and Hollis mystery series and the Oysterback stories, as well as The Chesapeake Book of the Dead. Under her pen name, Rebecca Baldwin, she has published a number of historical novels. 22
WINK COWEE, ASSOCIATE BROKER Benson & Mangold Real Estate 211 N. Talbot St. St. Michaels, MD 21663
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St. Michaels Estate Stunning 39 acre waterfront estate with pool, hunting and private dock. See video for the whole story. $2,995,000
St. Michaels Sailor’s Delight Vast views of the Miles River. Offers new kitchen, sun room and pool. Golf course community. $1,025,000
St. Michaels Waterfront Charming rancher on 2+ acres, partially fenced, pier, 4’ MLW and wide views. Less than 3 miles to town. $899,000
St. Michaels Golf Course Brick rancher with lots of upgrades, 2-car garage, paved driveway. Golf course community. $485,000
St. Michaels Custom Rancher Boasts a screened-in porch, upgraded k i t ch e n, wo o d f l o o r s. G o l f co ur se community. $449,000
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Chesapeake Watermen Celebrated in Photographer’s First Book by Dick Cooper
The headlights of Jay Fleming’s well-traveled SUV towing an open skiff cut through the black night as he pulls into the public landing at the end of the Bozman-Neavitt road. Working with a practiced rhythm, he dons a headlamp, hoists a kayak out of the skiff and ties it to the roof of his vehicle, loads two good-sized coolers, one full of camera gear, a tackle box and fishing poles into the skiff and backs it down the ramp until it f loats off the trailer. As he starts the outboard and heads out onto the expanse of Broad Creek, the cabin lights of a dozen workboats already at anchor over oyster bars guide him to the start of a very busy day of work. Fleming, 29, wants to take advantage of the low morning light to photograph the ancient Chesapeake skill of tonging for oysters. He needs to be ready to shoot when the morning light begins pushing up behind the tree-lined banks of the creek. He is looking for silhouet tes in act ion, t hose hard-to-get photographs of rugged men doing physical labor at the very moment the sun clears the horizon. Tongers aren’t allowed to start working before dawn, so Fleming
Jay Fleming has to be at just the right place at just the right time to start shooting. He eases his boat up to a fine-looking deadrise and hails the captain. “Mind if we take some pictures while you work?” he asks. “No problem, man. Hey, you’re Jay Fleming, aren’t you?” the waterman asks. “You took those pictures of my friend before he died. This used to be his boat. They were the best pictures I ever saw of him. You got a book out, right? Where can I get a copy?” Fleming has been getting a lot of that lately, ever since his first photography book, Working the Water, was published in October. The massive, 280-page coffee table book consumed much of his life for 25
Chesapeake Watermen
and-shoot fancies themselves as photog raphers, Fleming’s work stands out as original and, in many cases, exceptional. His images grace the covers of national and regional magazines, including the Tidewater Times. He is a regular contributor to Wooden Boat and National Fisherman and has been published in National Geographic. Photo editors can quickly pick out his work, often because he takes risks in search of the perfect light or untried angle. Add that to a congenial personality, an innate curiosity and a sense of adventure and you
three years as he chronicled the weather-beaten lives of watermen t hroug h t he seasons, a massing tens of thousands of images. He has culled out por traits, action shots, still lifes, water scenes, and landscapes that illustrate a lifestyle that spans centuries of Chesapeake traditions. The book is a testament to Fleming’s ow n creat ive, a nd sometimes daredevil, approach to his chosen profession. In a time when everyone with a smartphone or a digital point-
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a natural when it comes to catching things or handling a boat. As (skipjack captain) Stoney Whitelock might say, ‘Jay follows the water.’” The November issue of Chesap e a k e B a y m a g a z i ne f e at u r e d Fleming’s photo of an oyster diver on its cover as a tease to a six-page inside spread about his book. “The book is a veritable smorgasbord of Bay seafood in the raw and focuses on the men and women and boats and equipment that comprise the Bay’s working waterfront,” the editors wrote. Fleming credits his mother, Carla, a long-time state Department of Natural Resources employee, and his father, Kevin, a prize-winning National Geographic photographer,
have the makings of a Jay Fleming photograph. Throw in a wetsuit and underwater camera, and he brings to life a new world from a crab’s or fish’s or even turtle’s-eye view of the world. Author Randall Peffer has worked with Fleming numerous times and wrote the introduction for his book. “I discovered something about Jay, something that made the watermen immediately warm to his presence and treat him as one of their own. He exudes an all-encompassing passion for aquatic creatures, wildlife in general, commercial fisher folk, the Chesapeake Bay and the virtues of locally-sourced seafood. He’s also
Fleming shoots a tonger in the early morning light. 28
Chuck Mangold Jr. - Associate Broker BENSON & MANGOLD R E A L E S TAT E C 410.924.8832
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Watch the sunrise over your deeded deep water boat slip in Bachelor Point Harbor and sunset with horizon views over the Choptank River. Spectacular Oxford property delivers the very best of Eastern Shore living. Town water and sewer. Fantastic attention to detail and quality throughout. $2,995,000 · Visit www.4506BachelorsPointCourt.com
Custom-built home situated on 5.5 +/- ac. with westerly views of the Wye River. Well protected 8’+ MLW at private pier, riprapped shoreline. Features water views from most rooms, open floor plan, vaulted and cathedral ceilings, 3 gas fireplaces, gourmet kitchen, main-level master suite. $1,995,000 · Visit www.3021BennettPointRoad.com
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Chesapeake Watermen with giving him the passion for combining nature and photography. He says he sold his first photo when he was 13 when the editor of Delaware Beach Life magazine bought his image of a great blue heron silhouetted against the sky on Silver Lake in Rehoboth. “Shooting pictures with my Dad was a major inf luence, but when I became comfortable enough with the camera, I would go on my own and spend as much time as I could shooting pictures.” While a student at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, he studied economics and environmental studies. After college, he took a job working for the National Park Ser vice in Yellowstone and brought his camera. “I started to realize my skills were of much more value behind the camera than doing other work,” he says. “My pictures had a pretty big impact, and they were well received. I continued to shoot when I got back here, and then a couple of my Yellowstone pictures were published by National Geographic. That was a big confidence booster.” He says that his early success did not immediately translate into a viable profession. “It wasn’t until I started working on this project with the watermen on the Chesapeake Bay that I was able to really market my work.” His entrée into the world of the
watermen began w ith legendar y skipjack captain Art Daniel, who took him out dredging for oysters. “Art was very accommodating and welcoming. He inspired me through his character and generosit y to pursue this. He showed me that this industry was dramatically changing and people like him were not going to be around forever. It motivated me to find more people like Art. In 2013, I connected with (Talbot County waterman) Bunky Chance, and he was another inspirational figure for the book. He connected me with other watermen, and that networking snowballed.” He says that he learned quickly that if he wanted to photograph watermen at work, he could not get the proper angles just by being on their boats with them. Too often, 30
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Chesapeake Watermen he would find himself in the way or part of the action. To solve that problem, he began taking photos from his kayak, looking at the watermen from the water and from their prey’s point of view. It eventually led to him jumping into pound nets full of fish or swimming just below the surface looking back at the watermen. “I got the under water camera housing in 2009 to do surf photography,” he says. “I would swim near these guys that were surfing, looking for another angle that would be different and unique. Not that many people are willing to go to those lengths to get that completely different image.” Once he had a substantial body of work, he had to plan how he was going to present it in book form. Organizing it chronologically seemed to be the most logical approach, and his book begins with the yellow and white perch runs on the northern Bay and ends w ith ice breakers bringing supplies to Tangier Island.
Rather than shop his concept around and hope to find a publisher, Fleming set out on yet another adventure; self-publishing and marketing his book. To help finance this endeavor, he turned to social media and offered signed and numbered copies to the first 1,000 customers willing to order and pay for his book in advance. He met his goal, found a printer he liked and waited until the books showed up. He is now the
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Chesapeake Watermen primary marketing agent, celebrity spokesman, and delivery person for Working the Water. Fleming says he is already working on his next book, Wild Chesapeake, a volume that will focus his lens on the critters that swim in, f ly over or roam around the waters of his favorite estuary. On the morning that he was taking photos of the tongers at dawn on Broad Creek, Fleming had also scheduled himself to help a Maryland Public Television crew do some underwater photography and then get to Cambridge in time to present a signed copy of his book to U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski during a function at the J. M. Clayton Seafood Company. As he turned his skiff back toward the dock, he spotted a big f lock of gulls working hard over a school of rockfish boiling on the surface of the creek. He slowed the boat and then killed the motor, gliding toward the excited birds. He handed a rigged rod and reel to a guest and then began casting into the churning water with his own. “It has been a week since I caught
a rockfish,� he says, as if just realizing he had missed a very important assignment. No sooner had he spoken than his pole bowed sharply as fish hit the lure. He expertly worked the fighting fish to the boat, ending that seven-day dry spell. After all, on the Chesapeake Bay, there is a certain rhythm and order to life and first things come first. Working the Water is available at area bookstores or online at workingthewater.com. For more information about Jay Fleming and to see his online photography portfolio, go to jayflemingphotography.com. Dick Cooper is a Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist. An eBook anthology of his writings for the Tidewater Times and other publications, East of the Chesapeake: Skipjacks, Flyboys and Sailors, True Tales of the Eastern Shore, is now available at amazon.com. Dick and his wife, Pat, live and sail in St. Michaels, Maryland. He can be reached at dickcooper@coopermediaassociates.com. 34
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From the Tidewater Inn to the Inn at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club Where Gracious Plenty Rules the Board by Cliff Rhys James Even after the fire’s hateful roar had faded, when the flames were long vanquished and smoke had cleared from the smoldering ruins ~ even after the bay breezes had driven off the pungent odor of charred remains ~ even then, especially then, the fever-dream shock of it all lingered in the minds of the townspeople. For
weeks and months, many of them shuffled around like blinking storm survivors emerging into the light from underground shelters trying to absorb a lesser, harsher reality. The Avon Hotel, whose advertising slogan was “Where Gracious Plenty Rules the Board,” had stood in the center of that charming Eastern
Avon Hotel, in downtown Easton. 37
Tidewater Inn
a rich tradition of gracious Eastern Shore hospitality, he rebuilt one of the most iconic social, cultural and architectural touchstones in the community’s history. Employing only the finest materials and methods, like a one-foot-thick rebarred cement floor, steel I-beam, Colonial-inspired brick exteriors, high ceilings and fine interior appointments, cost considerable time and money. But it also ensured that his treasured showcase was built to last. Finally, on September 3, 1949, with over 4,000 people in attendance, the Tidewater Inn, rising like a phoenix from the ashes in the heart of Easton, celebrated its grand opening. Nestled in the bucolic scenery of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, with
Shore town for longer than most could remember ~ for longer than many had lived. In fact, hotel roots on that corner dated all the way back to Colonial times, to 1712. Now, in the aftermath of the blazing inferno, the once stately wood structure was reduced to blackened timbers scattered among gray heaps of ash. In 1947, three years af ter the Avon was consumed by fire, and in the midst of a post-WWII materials shortage when construction steel was expensive and hard to find, local businessman Arthur Johnson Gr y mes broke ground on a new hotel. In stepping forward when he did, Mr. Grymes not only restored
The Tidewater Inn 38
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Tidewater Inn
spread far beyond. The hotel to became a crossroads to history in the making. It was, and is, a history fueled by the presence of many famous people from the worlds of politics, sports and entertainment. Some sought the town’s historic charm to escape the harsh glare of public lives or the pace of hectic schedules. Others stayed at the Tidewater Inn while filming movies, celebrating with friends, or performing at the Avalon Theater. Political figures staying at the Tidewater included John and Robert Kennedy, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. From the sports world came champions such as Johnny Unitas and the Williams sisters of tennis fame ~ Serena and Venus.
its rich soil, abundant wildlife and Chesapeake Bay vistas, the Tidewater Inn (and Avon Hotel before it) had always attracted more than its share of gentlemen hunters and genteel estate owners. They would arrive with dogs on leash and birds in hand after a successful day in the nearby fields and streams. Then, while the dogs were fed in a basement kennel, the hunters would shower and dress in their luxurious guest rooms before reconvening in the hotel’s restaurant for a fine meal: the catch of the day cleaned, cooked and served by the kitchen staff under the expert guidance of the executive chef. It didn’t take long for word to
Guest room at the Tidewater Inn. 40
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Tidewater Inn
nation. And so, at various times in the past, the hotel fell upon hard times. Then the Freeman Companies purchased the property in 2005 and not only had it successfully placed on the National Historic Register, but invested millions of dollars in long-overdue restoration work of the physical structure. Their litany of improvements was by no means complete, but did succeed in raising hopes that the Tidewater Inn would once more reclaim its rightful place and landmark status. Unfortunately, both company namesakes, Messrs. Freeman ~ Sr. and Jr. ~ passed away within a year of each other, one in a tragic helicopter accident. The combination of a depressed national economy, declining hotel operating profit and the sudden loss of company leadership proved to be a bridge too far for the Freeman Companies, who put the Tidewater Inn back up for sale. For a while, things looked bleak. One group of possible investors was concerned about the age and condition of the building. They also seemed to lack a vision for how to construct a viable operating plan during the recession. Other potential investors approached the hotel with the thought of converting the property to condominiums. Yes, that’s right; Maryland almost lost an historic hospitality gem in the heart of Easton. What was clearly needed was the emergence of a modern-day Arthur Johnson Grymes, someone
Not surprisingly, it was the glamorous world of entertainment that supplied the most colorful parade of high-profile celebrities through the years. Among them were the likes of Bing Crosby, Jackie Gleason, Elvis Presley and Elizabeth Taylor; Robert Wagner, Ozzie Davis, Walter Cronkite and John Forsythe; Robert Mitchum (who lived in nearby Trappe), Whoopi Goldberg, Dionne War w ick and Joan R ivers. A nd, not too long ago, those notorious wedding crashers Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn tilted a pint or two of ale at the bar. Famous author James Michener stayed and dined many times during his Eastern Shore years. And to the surprise and delight of townspeople on the street, Ann Miller, whose famous legs were insured for a million dollars, once tap danced her way across the intersection of Dover and South Harrison between the Avalon, where she was performing, and the Tidewater Inn, where she was staying. A lt houg h a major ex pa n sion added the Gold Ballroom and an additional wing of guestrooms in 1954, the salad days would not last forever ~ they never do. Even a blue-chip establishment with name recognition must weather the ups and downs of the business cycle, as well as the economic storms that periodically batter a town, a region, an entire 42
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TIDE TABLE
OXFORD, MD
HIGH PM AM
JANUARY 2017
1. Sun. 5:23 5:53 2. Mon. 6:09 6:35 3. Tues. 6:59 7:21 4. Wed. 7:53 8:10 5. Thurs. 8:51 9:02 6. Fri. 9:53 9:57 7. Sat. 10:56 10:55 8. Sun. 11:58 11:54 9. Mon. 12:59 10. Tues. 12:54 1:57 11. Wed. 1:51 2:52 12. Thurs. 2:47 3:44 13. Fri. 3:41 4:34 14. Sat. 4:34 5:22 15. Sun. 5:26 6:08 16. Mon. 6:18 6:53 17. Tues. 7:12 7:37 18. Wed. 8:08 8:21 19. Thurs. 9:06 9:07 20. Fri. 10:06 9:54 21. Sat. 11:06 10:44 22. Sun. 12:03pm 11:36 23. Mon. 12:54 24. Tues. 12:28 1:40 25. Wed. 1:18 2:21 26. Thurs. 2:06 2:59 27. Fri. 2:50 3:36 28. Sat. 3:33 4:14 29. Sun. 4:16 4:52 30. Mon. 5:00 5:32 31. Tues. 5:46 6:14
AM
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12:32 11:29am 1:10 12:17 1:48 1:11 2:29 2:14 3:11 3:28 3:56 4:48 4:44 6:06 5:35 7:17 6:28 8:21 7:23 9:18 8:18 10:11 9:12 11:00 10:06 11:47 11:00 12:31 11:53am 1:14 12:46 1:55 1:42 2:36 2:43 3:15 3:49 3:55 4:58 4:37 6:06 5:20 7:07 6:06 8:00 6:52 8:47 7:38 9:29 8:23 10:07 9:07 10:44 9:51 11:19 10:36 11:55 11:22 12:30 12:13
SHARP’S IS. LIGHT: 46 minutes before Oxford TILGHMAN: Dogwood Harbor same as Oxford EASTON POINT: 5 minutes after Oxford CAMBRIDGE: 10 minutes after Oxford CLAIBORNE: 25 minutes after Oxford ST. MICHAELS MILES R.: 47 min. after Oxford WYE LANDING: 1 hr. after Oxford ANNAPOLIS: 1 hr., 29 min. after Oxford KENT NARROWS: 1 hr., 29 min. after Oxford CENTREVILLE LANDING: 2 hrs. after Oxford CHESTERTOWN: 3 hrs., 44 min. after Oxford
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Tidewater Inn
day rescuer. It’s a role he seemed to embrace with a certain equanimity as we sat talking in the refurbished library room just off the main lobby. “When I looked around and saw all these wonderful public spaces, with all the detail work set beneath high ceilings, I wanted to make it a place of celebration,” John said from his comfortable upholstered leather chair. I knew his chair was comfortable because I was sitting in the matching one next to the coffee table at the time of our first meeting. “Weddings, social gatherings, company meetings, we had experience with all of that from running the Beach Club, in almost the same market.” The Beach Club he refers to is the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club.
to once again step forward into the breach of uncertainty with the resilience, resources and skill to revive a foundering business. You need a champion in a community to make something happen; someone with political and or economic power to articulate a vision of what they want and then the persistence to see it through. A f ter t wo and a half years of tough negotiations, during which time an anemic recovery stumbled along, one man would accept the challenge and inherit the mantle. By stepping forward in October of 2009 to acquire the Tidewater Inn, John Wilson inhabited the role of latter-
Chesapeake Bay Beach Club 46
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Tidewater Inn
make it work. The Inn’s name and reputation were attractions for us as well. The unique history, its role in the life of the Eastern Shore, we felt there was real value here that we could better promote and leverage.” John warmed to his subject. “We could feel it in the hallways and see it in the employees ~ the hospitality tradition that had grown over the years ~ and all the wonderful stories about the famous people who had stayed as guests. There was and is a really unique sense of place here.” Despite the prev ious ow ners’ $5 million-plus investment in improvements, John knew that the Inn would require still more to realize
“We bought some proper t y at the base of the Bay Bridge on Kent Island in 1999,” he continues. “The marina had been expanding and actually the dredged material from the bay formed the six acres of land where we built the Beach Club. We’ve recently added another 15 acres on a long-term lease w ith Queen A nne’s Count y, but we’ll come to that a bit later,” he says shifting back to the hotel. “My basic feeling here was that this was simply too good of a classic asset not to buy and fix up. The price had to be right, but we felt we had a business plan that would
Cozy gathering area at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club. 48
ly. “The vibe, the market segments, the price points ~ it didn’t work.” What did work was for John to invest another $5 million-plus in post-acquisition improvements. The upgrades were designed to en ha nc e t he g ue s t e x p er ienc e, improve staff effectiveness, and reduce operating costs. “One month during our first winter of operation, we had a $17,000 f uel bill!” He still grimaces when talking about it. The Inn stored #2 fuel oil in a 10,000-gallon underground storage tank, and burned it in two 1945 vintage boilers in the basement. “It took us a year and a half, some creative contractors and a bunch of money, but now we have a modern gas-fired forced-air heating and
its potential and achieve the vision he had for the property. As an experienced investor, he also “went to school” on actions of the previous owners by evaluating what had been tried, what had worked, what had failed, and, most importantly, why. “They tried to make this place into a five-star facility with highend products, expensive gourmet meals, high thread count sheets, the works,” he tells me. “In the basement we found boxes of silverplated wine menus that probably c ost $400 each, a long w it h a l l kinds of expensive china. It was all presentation. Then they brought in architects and interior designers to give the place an almost New York Chic feel.” He shakes his head slow-
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Tidewater Inn
Tidewater Inn as a work in progress. But what’s also clear is that he’s a man who plans his work and then works his plan with discipline and determination. After showing me the then newly completed circular brick-walled garden gathering space w ith its permanent tent supported by beautifully finished yacht-quality wood beams, I realized just how well coordinated his plan was for the Inn’s confident expansion into the event market, or, as he prefers, the “celebration market.” “We learned to become experts in that market at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club,” he tells me. “Brides, families, planners; their different needs for weddings; the product, the service, the relationships; we now do it here as well.” Standing beneath the wood beams and canvas of the unique public gathering space, he added, “Between the combination of the Cr ystal Ballroom with its adjacent courtyard and the Gold Ballroom with this space,” he gestures with a sweep of his arm, “we can now easily accommodate two weddings simultaneously.” But he’s quick to point out that while weddings will play a major part of the Tidewater Inn’s expansion plans into the “event/function” market, they won’t be the only part. “It includes charity balls, group reunions and seminars, as well as festival events such as the Waterfowl Festival, Plein-Air, and Festi-
air conditioning system with individual room controls.” “What else did $5 million-plus get us in the way of restorations and improvements?” he asks rhetor ic a l ly. “Onc e we dug up t he 10,000-gallon tank, we made both hardscape and landscape improvements in the walled courtyard area just outside the Crystal Ballroom; we totally renovated the Gold Ballroom; created Hunter’s Tavern; upgraded computer-based management and accounting systems so we could make better decisions, and then went through and improved the guest rooms, including fully refurnishing all rooms on the fourth f loor, which were empty when we bought the place.” In addition to bringing in new guest room furniture, beds, bathroom upgrades, artwork, sheets, blankets and shams, pillow covers, dust ruff les and carpet; they completed the renovations by knocking dow n walls and creating suites. “We have,” he paused to think for a moment, “about eighteen various kinds of suites, including Grand Suites and Junior Suites, among our 97 total rooms. They’re on all four floors, and most of them are unique and different in some way.” Bet ween continuing improvements, attention to detail, and a willingness to embrace new ideas, it’s clear that John Wilson views the 50
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Tidewater Inn
took place in early 2013. Several years later, it was time for an update, not only on the Tidewater Inn, but on his other Eastern Shore business activities that have come to f r uit ion. A nd so, conversing again three years later, he begins the recap. “The year prior to us taking ownership, the Tidewater Inn had nine weddings, and now they typically have one or two every weekend for most months of the year.” And the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club? “With their three ballrooms, they might do seven or eight weddings per week throughout much of the year. In fact, this past year was our best ever and, of course, that means wedding guests are looking for inviting and convenient hotel rooms and a lot more.” Which brings us to that previously mentioned 15-acre lease close by the Beach Club. “We felt that a nearby hotel/spa would be a natural fit. But all things take time, and so it wasn’t until 2014 that we finalized the lease and our plans.” Then, he adds, “I didn’t want to do a typical franchised hotel that looked like every other property, and so we’re very pleased with the way our new Inn at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club campus turned out.” The Inn itself, just of f Route 50, with its welcoming lobby and 54 boutique luxury rooms/suites, opened in October of 2015. Its two boardrooms are ideal for board or
val of Trees, for which Easton has become famous. We’re also hosting many more business retreats and professional meetings for group sizes between 15 and 150 people, and they’re coming from all over the place.” In summing it all up, he said, “We feel pretty good about where we are. We sit in the heart of a charming, historic town with great walk- ability, we’re staffed by a wonderful group of people who understand our unique tradition of hospitality, and we’ve now completed many of the larger restoration projects to upgrade the property. We’ll continue getting better and making improvements like that,” he motions toward the new Skipjack bar opposite the Decanter Room, “so that over time it will all come together for us, the Town of Easton, the Eastern Shore and points beyond.” That interview with John Wilson
The Market at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club. 52
smaller group meetings. Then, in quick succession over the next three months, a half dozen more inviting attractions/gathering spaces opened. In the main building, The Market provides breakfasts and lunches that can be enjoyed on a large attached porch, as well as clothing and gift items. Honey from the Honey Lady is one example of local artisan involvement. John’s wife’s maiden name is Knox, his nickname for her is Knoxie, and so the new 150-seat restaurant is, appropriately enough, called Knoxie’s. The Ballroom at the Inn has its own attached walled and tented courtyard, perfect for pre- or post-event gatherings. The Spa at the Inn is a full-service
spa with four treatment rooms, a salon, courtyard and quiet gathering area. Want to take a course on healthy living and eating? This is the place. For groups that want to have their own separate meeting, The Toolshed is just the ticket. It offers an area with bar, another gathering or meeting room, two bathrooms and a large porch with rockers overlooking the grounds. Corporate meetings, wedding rehearsal dinners, parties, you name it ~ they all work perfectly at the Toolshed. With an emphasis on the farmto-table fine food experience, it’s not surprising that this campus-like retreat also has an elaborate chef’s garden where fresh vegetables and
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Tidewater Inn
can be completely rented out by wedding parties, corporate meeting planners and the like. “We like the business we’re in,” says John, “and we’re reminded of that every day when our customers/ guests approach us, happy and smiling, with nice things to say about their experience. It makes all of this very gratifying.”
flowers are grown. Included is a potting shed for horticultural activities and large trellis-like structures to support the 12- to 15-foot-tall hops plants grown on site. The middle of all this is anchored by the commons, a large lawn area next to a terrace off the restaurant. Fireplace, bar, fountain, fire pit with rocking chairs ~ it’s all here ~ even a Secret Garden enclosed by curtains for private ceremonies. With Phase II plans for the remaining 7.5 acres completed and approved, 2018 should usher in a brewery, distillery, winery, and additional retail, not to mention a separate 21-room boutique inn that
Cliff James and his wife have been Easton residents since September 2009. After winding down his business career out west, they decided to return to familial roots in the Mid-Atlantic area and to finally get serious about their twin passions: writing and art.
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Bird is the Word! Easily prepared, reasonably priced and infinitely versatile, chicken is one of the best foods to rely on for weeknight meals. From crispy fried, to golden roasted, chicken is a staple in every kitchen. There was a time when chicken was more expensive than beef or pork. Then came the large chickenproducing conglomerates like Perdue and Tyson. There is indeed now a chicken in every pot. To enjoy a chicken dinner, you must start with a really good bird. Ask for the source of the chicken and what it was fed. Free-range chickens, those allowed to hunt and peck for their food, will be more f lavorful. This doesn’t mean that all large-scale production chickens will be tasteless, however. Look for chickens that were fed a diet rich in grains. To clean and store the chicken, loosen the wrapping and place it in the coldest part of the refrigerator. Make sure you cook it within two days. Do not rinse the chick-
en. Rinsing could spread salmonella to your sink and counter. Instead, pat the chicken dry with paper towels and discard them. Cooking will destroy the bacteria. To freeze the chicken for up to two months, wrap it in a large airtight freezer bag. Thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours before cooking. ROASTED CHICKEN The sign of a great cook is his/ her ability to roast a chicken! If you really want to make life easy, roast two birds at the same time. Brining is a cook’s insurance that the bird will be moist and 57
Bird is the Word
21 25 BEERS ON TAP
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the skin golden and crispy. Coat it with butter before roasting. Turning the chicken during roasting helps keep the breast from drying out before the legs and thighs are fully cooked. Roasting chickens are slightly older and heavier, and are raised for roasting in the oven. They weigh 3.5 to 8 pounds or more. This recipe is for one 3.5-pound whole chicken.
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To brine the chicken, dissolve 1/2 cup salt and 1/2 cup sugar in 2 quarts of water in a pot large enough to submerge the entire chicken. Add the chicken and refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 400°. Place chicken on a v-shaped rack in a large roasting pan. Remove the bird from the brine and rinse under cold water, pat dry with paper towels and place on a cutting board. Carefully loosen the skin from the breast and spoon softened butter under skin on both sides of the breast. Spread butter over the breast by massaging it through the skin. Rub the
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entire bird with butter and season with pepper. Cut a lemon in half and place it in the body cavity along with two sprigs of rosemary. Move the chicken to the rack, placing it on its side with wing facing up and let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. Roast for 15 minutes, then rotate the chicken in the rack to the other side, so that the other wing is facing up. Roast for another 15 minutes. Rotate so the breast is facing up. Roast for another 25 minutes, or until the thickest part of the thigh reaches 175°. Remove to a clean cutting board and allow to rest for 15 minutes, then carve and serve. Serves 4 to 6.
1 cup basmati rice 2 cups water Sea salt to taste 1 T. lime juice 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk 2 T. curry powder 1 t. sugar 1 medium onion, chopped 1 T. grapeseed oil 3-4 boneless and skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch strips 3 cloves garlic, pressed Cilantro (optional)
CURRIED COCONUT CHICKEN over BASMATI RICE Since the purpose of spices is to enhance the f lavor of your food, make sure you only buy the best quality. Most spices will last from 1 to 1-1/2 years, and curry powder should be stored in the refrigerator for best results.
Combine the rice, water and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes on low heat with the lid on. Turn off the heat and let rice stand for another 5 minutes.
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Bird is the Word While the rice is cooking, combine the lime juice, coconut milk, curry powder, sugar, onion and cilantro in a bowl. Heat the oil in a wok or heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Toss the chicken breast slices in the wok to stir-fry for three minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for another minute. Pour the coconut milk mixture over the chicken and simmer for four minutes. Spread the rice on the bottom of a heated individual plate or serving platter, then add the chicken and sauce.
CHICKEN ENCHILADAS Serves 4-6 Teens love this dish! It may be prepared ahead and refrigerated, or frozen. Simply thaw and bake an additional 15 minutes. Great served with Spanish rice. 4 large chicken breasts, cooked and diced 1 medium onion, chopped 1 small can mild green chilies, drained and chopped 1 10.5 oz. can cream of chicken soup 1 pint sour cream 1 lb. shredded mozzarella cheese 8-10 f lour tortillas sliced ripe olives - optional taco sauce - optional salsa - optional
A Taste of Italy
Mix chicken, onion and chilies. In a separate bowl mix soup, sour cream and cheese. Grease a 9x13inch pan; place a thin layer of tortillas on the bottom. Add half of the chicken mixture, then half of the sour cream mixture. Repeat layers.
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Bird is the Word
pilaf and steamed green beans.
Bake at 375° for 30 minutes. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before cutting and serving. Serve with olives, taco sauce or salsa, if desired.
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin. If the breasts are larger than 10 oz. each, use only 2 and slice them in half horizontally to make 4 thick cutlets. 4 thin lemon slices 4 sage leaves, plus 1 t. finely chopped (if you use dry sage, press between the palms of your hands to release f lavor) 4 large slices prosciutto 3 T. extra virgin olive oil 1/2 cup dry white wine 1/2 cup chicken broth 1 14.5-oz. can petite diced tomatoes (cook and reduce before adding cream)
CHICKEN and LEMON SALTIMBOCCA Serves 4 This is just as good made with veal chops that have been pounded to 1/2- to 1/4-inch thick. Chicken breasts are easy to cook, and dishes based on them come together quickly. This classic is an exciting combination of sage, ham and chicken that will really spice up a weeknight dinner. Serve with rice
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melize, about 2 minutes. Turn the chicken over and sautĂŠ for another 2 minutes. Remove to a platter and set aside. Deglaze the pan with the white wine, scraping the brown bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Add the chicken broth and reduce by half. Add the tomatoes, cream, salt and pepper. Stir until combined and hot. Pour the sauce over the chicken and top with the remaining teaspoon of finely chopped sage. Serve immediately. CHICKEN POT PIE Serves 6-8 The fresher the chicken and vegetables, the more delicious the pot pie, but I will often use a storebought rotisserie chicken to save time. I combined elements from several recipes until I came up with one I like. Serve with mashed potatoes and a salad.
1/2 cup cream 1/2 t. sea salt 1/4 t. freshly ground pepper Place the chicken on a cutting board and season with salt and pepper. Place a slice of lemon on top of each breast. Top with one sage leaf. Lay a large piece of prosciutto on each chicken breast and press to seal. If you are using dried sage, sprinkle a little on the chicken before topping with the ham. Warm the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken breasts in the hot oil, lemon side down. SautĂŠ until the prosciutto starts to cara-
Sauce: 4 T. butter 4 T. f lour 1-1/2 cups chicken stock or broth 1 T. fresh lemon juice Sea salt and freshly ground pepper 1/2 cup heavy cream Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan, add the f lour and whisk constantly for one minute. Then add the chicken stock, stirring with a 63
Bird is the Word whisk until it comes to a boil and simmer 5 minutes. Add the lemon juice, salt, pepper and cream. Set aside while cooking your vegetables. Vegetables: Meat from 1 3.5-pound rotisserie chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces 3 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2inch slices 1/2 stick butter 1 medium onion, chopped 8 oz. fresh baby bellas, thickly sliced 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
cup water for 10 minutes. Sauté the onion and mushrooms in the 1/2 stick of butter until soft. To assemble the pie, put the cooked chicken, carrots, mushrooms, onions and peas in an ovenproof large pie plate or quiche casserole dish (not more than 10
Simmer the carrots in about 1/2
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inches in diameter). Pour sauce over the chicken and vegetables.
F lying Fork
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Crust: 1 pkg. refrigerated pie crusts
Roll out the crust larger than the size of your baking dish. Make a hole in the middle to let the steam escape. Put crust on top of chicken, overlapping the sides of your dish, and brush with a mixture of egg yolk and 2 tablespoons heavy cream mixed together. Bake chicken pot pie in a preheated 375° oven for about 45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. A longtime resident of Oxford, Pamela Meredith-Doyle, formerly Denver’s NBC Channel 9 Children’s Chef, now teaches both adult and children’s cooking classes on the south shore of Massachusetts, where she lives with her husband and son. For more of Pam’s recipes, visit the Story Archive tab at www.tidewatertimes.com.
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In Search of the Snow Bunting by Michael Valliant
Neck in January of 2015 and saw two brilliant blue birds in the trees along the road. They had orangishbrown bellies. I was stunned by the color, and rif led through my Audubon Field Book when I got home. They were Eastern Bluebirds. In 40-plus years living in Talbot County, I had never seen one. Or maybe I wasn’t paying attention. Birding is about paying attention. It’s about noticing what is all around us. Though people f lock to the region in spring and fall as the
Peter Matthiessen was not a slacker. When he decided to go search for a winter animal, he went to the Himalayas. In 1973, he and naturalist George Schaller went to the Dolpo region of Nepal to look for snow leopards. Matthiessen won the 1978 National Book Award for his account of that trip in his book Snow Leopard. I’m not so ambitious. I’m just trying to see a Snow Bunting on the Eastern Shore. I have not been birding for very long. I was running on Baileys
Photo by Bill Hubick
Eastern Bluebird 67
Snow Bunting
birds, I sat with Cardinals, large gangs of Blue Jays, a resident RedBellied Woodpecker, who daily made his way down a tree to see what was in the birdfeeder, and a Northern Flicker. I appreciate the “see what comes along” attitude of birding. And then it hit. The notion, the need to seek, find, and watch a particular kind of bird. After moving to Oxford and reading more about birds, I became fascinated by Cedar Waxwings. “A treat to find in your binocular viewfield, the Cedar Waxwing is a silky, shiny collection of brown, gray, and lemon-yellow, accented with a subdued crest, rakish black mask, and brilliant-red wax droplets on the wing feathers. In fall
migratory birds fill the f lyways, winter is a great time to enjoy birds, and there is less foliage to obstruct your view. Winter birding is my preferred time. In her book Birding with Yeats: A Memoir, Lynn Thomson puts things in perspective: “I think the most important quality in a birdwatcher is a willingness to stand quietly and see what comes. Our everyday lives obscure a truth about existence - that at the heart of everything there lies a stillness and a light.” It’s that stillness and being open. My first winter of birding down Baileys Neck, along with the blue-
Photo by Bill Hubick
Cedar Waxwing 68
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Snow Bunting
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these birds gather by the hundreds to eat berries, filling the air with their high, thin whistles.” That description comes from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which is a go-to resource, both via their website, www.allaboutbirds. org, and for their smartphone app, “Merlin Bird ID.” I can see a bird, enter where and when I saw it, its size and colors, and Merlin gives me likely options of what it might be, as well as what the songs of each possible bird sound like. Their Cedar Waxwing description comes close to communicating how cool and striking photos of these banditlooking birds look. I had to see one.
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The more I heard from people, the more it seemed the Waxwings were getting close. On a December day, I stopped by the Oxford Market for lunch. I got talking birds with a friend who was waiting in line, who told me that he had just seen a f lock of Cedar Waxwings on Bachelor Point. I picked up my daughter, a friend, and binoculars, and went to find them. We stood watching the trees, noticing mostly Robins, when the Waxwings came in. Not one or two, but dozens. They were everywhere. It was birding nirvana for me. I’d been looking and listening for where they might be, I finally found them, and they did not disappoint. The first bird I really had it in my mind to see, and it was during the winter months that they are around. My new search is the Snow Bun-
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Red Bellied Woodpecker 71
Snow Bunting
Christmas bird count for the Oxford sector and reports those numbers to the Maryland Ornithological Society. Corl and Mary Cotton led a November beginning birding class and observation walk around the new Oxford Conservation Park. “The long, warm fall has delayed the arrival of ducks in numbers,” Corl said. “The Canada Geese are already abundant. There are still sparrows, bluebirds, and meadowlarks around. The new Oxford Conservation Park is a great place for these birds. In December, a pair of Northern Harriers were working this area for several days. North winds and colder weather should change species and bring in more ducks.”
Photo by Bill Hubick
Snow Bunting ting. But I’m still trying to take advantage of the birds that are on the Eastern Shore this winter. Birder Tom Corl coordinates the
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Corl’s advice for those trying to make the most of birding this winter is to monitor your bird feeders and then try to look in different habitats, such as open water, creeks, woodlands, marshes and fields. “There are still a lot of birds around, including a good variety of late migrants and wintering birds,” Corl said. “Pickering Creek Audubon Center and Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge are very good this time of year.” For those looking for more information on birding in the area, the Maryland Ornithological Society is a great resource, with individual groups in each county in
the state. And the website eBird lists what birds have been seen in any given area, as well as when and where they were seen. There are great and knowledgeable birding communities both online and on the Eastern Shore. For me, it’s the simplicity of it. On a winter morning, I can sit at the window with a cup of coffee and see what birds are at the feeders or in the bushes. In Oxford in the winter at my window, I have seen Carolina Wrens, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, RubyCrowned Kinglets, Cedar Waxwings, Cardinals, and Tufted Titmice, just to name a few. And if I am going for a walk or a
Photo by Bill Hubick
Northern Harrier 73
Snow Bunting
ately named, the Snow Bunting is a bird of the high Arctic and snowy winter fields. Even on a warm day, the mostly white plumage of a bunting f lock evokes the image of a snowstorm.” I’m querying birding friends. I’m looking for sightings. I’m looking to make it the winter of the Snow Bunting. But I’m not heading to the Himalayas.
Photo by Bill Hubick
Michael Valliant is the Executive Director of the Oxford Community Center. Valliant was born and raised in Oxford and has worked for Talbot County non-profit organizations, including the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and Academy Art Museum.
Eastern Meadowlark in flight. hike, I take a small pair of binoculars, a field guide, a pocket notebook and pen, and I am set. The Snow Bunting is waiting. From the Cornell Lab, “Appropri-
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A Taste of Salt
by Harold Wilson reviewed by Margot Miller As Hal Wilson’s A Taste of Salt unfolds, it appears as if the entwined narratives will explore the question posed by Clay Oaks after the suicide of his sister, Rachel: “Where is the difference between vengeance vs. justice?” But the title is the first clue about where the real theme lies. Angel Dupree tastes a bit of salt to preserve the memory of Rachel Oaks, whose story, as another brother, Bennett, has pointed out to their father, is identical to the biblical tale of Amnon and Tamar. From that taste of salt and Angel’s comment, we are reminded that memory and story, especially of sorrow, are essential to life. They cannot be separated from life or from each other without devastating results. Memory exists in time, in history and in herstory, and the more we try to hide a terrible memory from ourselves or our children, the more surely it is passed on as an unnamed anxiety, a kind of PTSD that resides in the genes until it is expiated by the family member who goes looking for its explanation. Explanation, however, is not the end of family trauma. We cannot separate ourselves from the inherited damage we carry into the world
in our bones and our blood. The work of life is the process of discovering the memories of our ancestors, memories that inform our own anxieties, our desires and our fears, and it is work that, no matter how hard we try, cannot be completed. There is no life without suffering, although certainly trauma is not required, but these two experiences exist on a continuum of pain. While loss is often healed in time, there is no “closure” for trauma. PTSD is
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A Taste of Salt not curable. “Closure” is an illusory contemporary notion born in postmodern, emotion-driven journalism rather than an achievable or even advisable psychological state. Suffering, whether traumatic or mundane, becomes a part of the sufferer; it informs his or her life and, if the work is done at all well, it eases into something possible to live with and through, rather than escape from. It enriches the soul, and no life without at least a modicum of suffering can possibly be very interesting, let alone meaningful. There are two story lines in A Taste of Salt, skillfully peeled back a layer at a time by Wilson as he elaborates the mechanisms of memory, loss, trauma, suffering, community, and hope. Sarah Morgan meets Oarsman in a diner in East Millinocket, Maine, in 1967. They are both on road trips: she after the loss of her husband, a paraplegic who fell, or possibly hurled himself, down the stairs; he apparently on summer
Harold O. Wilson vacation from the north Georgia college where he teaches. They meet at the Sea Fury Diner, where Sarah is suddenly taken with the story of Canadian Navy Lt. Mervin “Butch” C. Hare, whose plane went down in 1950 in the area north of Millinocket and has never been found. Hare is the one factual part of the novel, but his is a pretext for the
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A Taste of Salt
Sarah recovers from her injury on the hike/search for Hare and his plane, just as she faces her feeling of guilt over the death of her husband. It is at this moment that she recovers the lost story of her ancestors. It is not a coincidence. She is given a reprieve at the River Styx. Angel lives out her life as the madam of a brothel after the loss of her husband, Clay Oaks. She has been a slave, a servant, the victim of sexual abuse, but she has retaliated by killing Captain Oaks and recovered by building for herself the only kind of power available to her: business. She dies in prison, it is true, but unrepentant, save for the loss of her daughter, Rachel, named in memory of Rachel Oaks. Cybil McFall, a Vietnam veteran nurse, saves Sarah’s life and leg and returns to Vietnam to face her demons, the Tiger, the shuddering din of the helicopters, the shocking fear and the reality of death. Wilson’s aim seems to be to give life to his female characters in a way that is not offered to or required from his male characters. The men in Wilson’s novel fall basically into two categories: the good and the bad…. The latter are Captain Oaks and his son, Harley, as well as Dorgon Price, who abets Harley in the rape of his sister, though Price seems to regret it and later tries to assuage his guilt by adopting (stealing) Angel’s daughter and rearing
story Wilson tells: a text before the present text as well as a vehicle for the telling of the story that brings Sarah and Oarsman together. In the diner are two Tibetan lumberjacks as well, and they will be important. The third main character in this part of the story is Cybil MacFall, who will be Sarah and Oarsman’s guide in the search for Hare and his plane. She has her own issues, and she is no less in peril than is Sarah. And, like Sarah, she will recover herself through the work of investing herself in the story and life of another. The other narrative takes place in the early 19th century in north Georgia. Rachel Oaks, a daughter ill regarded and unprotected since the loss of her mother, is raped by her oldest brother, and her father thinks nothing of it. Angel Dupree, a mixed-race slave, is her companion in the household but just distant enough to not know how Rachel suffers from humiliation and shame. When Rachel kills herself, Angel collects her clothing and makes a small chest/shrine of them, which will be passed down in the family for generations. In fact, Sarah is the current holder of this covenant, which she little understands. In Wilson’s novel, all of the female characters who live beyond their traumas ~ Sarah, Angel and Cybil ~ return to life, to struggle, to continue their individual work. 80
it is in the treatment of the female vs. male characters. The men in the patriarchal world of the 19th century, which Wilson seems to be saying has not changed all that much, do not deserve the nuanced treatment he gives his female characters, whom he places at the center of the novel. In contemporary fiction, strong female characters are more and more the norm, while male characters are (sometimes) justly relegated to supporting roles. Wilson has plumbed biblical and mythological as well as implicit fairy tale resources to support this sometimes overt, sometimes covert view of human culture. But the main male character, the one who deserves a central role, is
her as his own. The younger Oaks brothers, Bennett and Clay, argue over the vengeance vs. justice question when Bennett kills Harley and lights out for the West, never to be heard from again. Clay understands that in his effort to seal up Rachel’s rape and suicide, Bennett has opened a future that will be unexpected and unwanted. To protect Angel, they organize the demise of Captain Oaks and burn the house to the ground two centuries before forensic technology could catch up with them. They head for New Orleans to make the best they can of their lives ~ or not. If the question of vengeance vs. justice is addressed in the novel,
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A Taste of Salt
they have to teach her. She will presumably go forward enriched, as we are meant to, as readers of Wilson’s novel. While the pretext for the novel is the only factual detail, the novel itself is true in every way that fine literary fiction is true. It takes us into ourselves; it refers us to classic story lines we already know, either from our reading or from introspection; it offers us characters we can identify with for ourselves and for our ancestors, allowing us to imagine our own and their narratives in time, the stories that haunt every existence and that are universally disturbing as well as rewarding upon examination. There is no shame in knowing the truth of A Taste of Salt; it is the expression of our common humanity. Unspeakable stories of who we are, if left unshared, are passed on through generations at a cellular level, whether we know it or not, making A Taste of Salt an exceptional and important novel.
Oarsman, who is obviously Charon of the River Styx incarnated as a gentle guide on Sarah’s journey in search of Hare, as well as herself, in the dark Maine forest, her unconscious self. It is Oarsman who has the key to Sarah’s ancestral tale because he teaches at Price College and has just heard Rachel Price Braxten “out” her father for the heel he was and identify Angel Dupree as her mother. Oarsman is able to bring information to Sarah just as she is at the edge of knowing herself, at the moment she is ready to hear these details, and after hearing it, she plummets off the path and into the hands of Cybil. The story brings her, literally, to the precipice and then back to life. The two Tibetan foresters reappear, as if by magic, just when Oarsman and Cybil need a way to get a medevac helicopter for Sarah. The intervention of the Buddhist assistance, signaled by the bells the Tibetans carry, underscores the theme outlined above: sorrow is not an event that ends, thus allowing us to go on once it is over, but a catalyst that changes us, enlightens us, gives us the opportunity to find strength within ourselves ~ but not alone. Oarsman, Cybil and the Tibetans are all encountered on Sarah’s path on the day she is ready to learn what
Margot Miller teaches contemporary French women writers in translation and other fiction, often by women writers but not exclusively, for the International Academy of Learning (Continuing Education) at Chesapeake College. She was a fiction editor at The Delmarva Review from 2007 to 2012. 82
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TIDEWATER GARDENING
by K. Marc Teffeau, Ph.D.
The Winter Wait not having to surf through all this other media. I am sure that enthusiastic gardeners will agree that it can be difficult to find the time to review every publication, e-mail, and YouTube promotion we get. Speaking of YouTube, a lot of videos are available on home food production and landscaping. Some, as with any media, are better than others. The ones I look at from
With holiday activities behind us, we settle into the winter stretch. The seed and gardening catalogs are filling up the mailbox, and a boatload of promotional e-mails from gardening supply companies are arriving. Now is a good time to sort out all the “information� we are getting. Sometimes ~ showing my age, now ~ I wish for the pleasure of looking at the printed catalog, and
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Tidewater Gardening
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gardening supply, seed, nursery, and greenhouse companies are usually professionally produced and of a higher quality. And, of course, many times they are promoting a product or plant ~ but that’s okay, too. One YouTube video that I like is an amateur production by a home gardener named Patrick and his cat Oscar. Yes, Oscar gets some creds in the promotion ~ he usually shows up at the end. The videos, which focus on home food production, are practical and low key, without a lot of hype. You can find them at One Yard Revolution/ Frugal and Sustainable Organic Gardening on YouTube. If you are a home vegetable gardener, in addition to the triedand-true vegetable varieties that you usually plant, be a little more
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Tidewater Gardening adventurous in 2017 and experiment with a few new and different varieties. The 2017 All-American Selections (AAS) winners are out, and you will find them listed in seed catalogs and at all-americaselections.org. Do you grow standard green peppers like Bell Boy every year? Put a little South American f lair in your pepper plants this spring by growing some Pepper Mad Hatter F1. Per AAS, this unique pepper is commonly used in Bolivian and Peruvian cuisine. It is unique in its three-sided shape and has a sweet, citrusy f lavor. Looking for a different small
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this year? What plant varieties were successful, or which ones bombed out?
patio-type yellow tomato? Try growing some Tomato Patio Choice Yellow F1. The way you grow this compact, determinate type of small tomato is no different than the other varieties. Its bright yellow fruits are 1/2 inch in diameter, and it sets over 100 fruit on compact plants. Because of its size, you can even grow the plant in a hanging basket. January is the best time to review our gardening efforts from this past year. If you keep a gardening journal, spend a few minutes rereading what you recorded. What happened in the garden and landscape? What practices seemed to work, and what should you avoid
On one of the clearer, warmer winter days, take a leisurely walk around your yard. Do you need to make more or fewer plantings next year? Have certain sections of the
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ing on whether the perennial bed comprises predominantly partial shade- and shade-loving plants, you might consider removing some of the lower tree branches. You can do this during the winter, as the falling branches will not harm the beds. For large branches, you should contact a licensed and certified arborist or tree care company. Vines that are strangling trees, such as bittersweet, wisteria, wild grape, poison ivy, Virginia creeper, and Japanese honeysuckle, should be cut off and removed during the winter. Don’t forget to feed the birds, and make sure they have water. Birds like suet, fruit and nuts, as well as bird seed. Sometimes the
landscape become overgrown, and are they in need of renovation? Landscape renovation is especially an issue in landscapes that are 15 years or older. Renovation may include removal of specific plants that have overgrown their limits, or sometimes an entire section of landscape that needs a “do-over.” If you have questions, contact a qualified, professionally trained landscape designer, or nursery and landscaping company for possible recommendations. There may be a fee involved for the service, but it is well worth it. As you are doing the walkaround, take note of tree branches that cast excess shade over herbaceous f lower beds. Depend-
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Tidewater Gardening
dense branches of an old Christmas tree are just the thing for sheltering little birds from the wicked winds of winter. Greenery used in your Christmas decorations can be used again in the garden. Wreaths and branches stripped from Christmas trees make excellent mulch for protecting newly planted ornamentals. Remove the material in spring and compost it. If you are getting the itch to start growing something during January, you can start seeds of slow-growing f lowers like alyssum, coleus, dusty miller, geraniums, impatiens, marigold, petunias, phlox, portulaca, salvia, vinca and verbena. If you start gerbera seed now, it will be ready to bloom in June. You can also start tuberous begonias and caladiums now to be set out in spring. Set the roots in pots or shallow boxes in a soil mixture of 1/3 sand, 1/3 peat, and 1/3 loamy soil. Cover them with 1 inch of this soil mixture. Keep the pots moist, but not wet, and in good light at 65°. Transplant to larger pots in 6 weeks, and set outside after all danger of frost is past. Gardeners who are also cooking aficionados like fresh herbs, and sometimes have a pot of chives growing in the kitchen. If you grow chives inside and they are looking a little shabby, cut them back to one inch above the soil. Place in the re-
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Tidewater Gardening frigerator for two weeks, then place the pot in a sunny window to rejuvenate them. Some gardeners also like to start parsley seeds indoors. These seeds are slow to germinate, sometimes taking as much as three or more weeks before they show signs of growth above the soil. To encourage them to sprout more rapidly, soften the seeds by soaking them overnight in warm water before planting. Then put 3 or 4 seeds in a pot full of soilless mix, such as equal parts of peat moss and vermiculite, plus a tiny bit of ground limestone and fertilizer. Keep the media moist during the entire germination time. You might want
to cover the pot with plastic wrap to keep the moisture in until the seeds germinate. Set the plants in the garden in early May. Our foliage houseplants need attention during January. Since many of them are tropical or semitropical species, they usually have a hard time in winter because of low light intensity and dry interior air. If you are having problems with any houseplant, the first thing you need to know is the name of the plant and its cultural requirements. Check with the local garden center, the garden shelf at the local library, or the Internet for information on the care and feeding of your specific plant. I am still appreciative of the local library, as sometimes you can find plant-growing tips from older gardening books that are not found on the Internet. Light is always a critical factor for houseplants, but especially during the winter months. The shorter days and lower light intensities result in slower plant growth. It’s important to be aware of each plant’s light
Chives 94
needs and provide accordingly. A sunny south or southeast windowsill is good for houseplants that require a lot of light, but be careful that the foliage doesn’t touch the cold windowpane, as that could cause frostbite. Flowering houseplants require more daily sunlight, while foliage plants require a bit less. Because of reduced growth during the winter, houseplants should not be fed as heavily. Most potted plants should be fed regularly between March and October, and sort of ignored from November through February. If leaves are smaller and paler than usual, it may be due to the lower light intensities. If you must feed your houseplants, do so with a water soluble fertilizer. Use it at one-half the labeled rate to avoid encouraging leggy growth. If your houseplant is having problems, make sure the source of that problem isn’t an insect infestation. Such clues as cottony bits on the stems may mean a mealy bug infestation. Sticky sap and/or brown bumps may indicate a scale problem, while grayish or pale green leaves could be spider mites. Treat these problems with an aerosol houseplant insect spray per label instructions. During the winter months, many houseplants tend to develop brownish spots on the undersides of the leaves. This is particularly true of African violets and many succulents. Most of these brown
spots are caused by sloppy watering practices. Allowing water to splash on the foliage activates microorganisms that are generally not active when the foliage is dry. The best method of preventing this disease is to always water the plants carefully, making sure that the leaves remain dry. Overall leaf drop may occur when you move a plant from one room to another or drastically change its environment in some way. Chilling the plant or exposing it to drafts or hot air vents can cause the same symptoms. If the leaves are turning yellow and dropping from the bottom toward the top, the culprit is usually over-watering. This damages the root system of the plant. Sometimes the leaf loss problem is because the plant is in too large a pot. The excess soil around the roots holds too much water, leading to low oxygen levels and root rot. To avoid this problem, don’t put a plant into a pot that’s more than 1 to 2 inches wider than the root ball. Wilting of the plant can also be caused by too much water, too little water, or over-fertilizing. Happy Gardening! Marc Teffeau retired as Director of Research and Regulatory Affairs at the American Nursery and Landscape Association in Washington, D.C. He now lives in Georgia with his wife, Linda. 95
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Dorchester Points of Interest
Dorchester County is known as the Heart of the Chesapeake. It is rich in Chesapeake Bay history, folklore and tradition. With 1,700 miles of shoreline (more than any other Maryland county), marshlands, working boats, quaint waterfront towns and villages among fertile farm fields – much still exists of what is the authentic Eastern Shore landscape and traditional way of life along the Chesapeake. FREDERICK C. MALKUS MEMORIAL BRIDGE is the gateway to Dorchester County over the Choptank River. It is the second longest span 97
Dorchester Points of Interest bridge in Maryland after the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. A life-long resident of Dorchester County, Senator Malkus served in the Maryland State Senate from 1951 through 1994. Next to the Malkus Bridge is the 1933 Emerson C. Harrington Bridge. This bridge was replaced by the Malkus Bridge in 1987. Remains of the 1933 bridge are used as fishing piers on both the north and south bank of the river. HERITAGE MUSEUMS and GARDENS of DORCHESTER - Home of the Dorchester County Historical Society, Heritage Museum offers a range of local history and gardens on its grounds. The Meredith House, a 1760’s Georgian home, features artifacts and exhibits on the seven Maryland governors associated with the county; a child’s room containing antique dolls and toys; and other period displays. The Neild Museum houses a broad collection of agricultural, maritime, industrial, and Native American artifacts, including a McCormick reaper (invented by Cyrus McCormick in 1831). The Ron Rue exhibit pays tribute to a talented local decoy carver with a re-creation of his workshop. The Goldsborough Stable, circa 1790, includes a sulky, pony cart, horse-driven sleighs, and tools of the woodworker, wheelwright, and blacksmith. For more info. tel: 410-228-7953 or visit dorchesterhistory.org.
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DORCHESTER COUNTY VISITOR CENTER - The Visitors Center in Cambridge is a major entry point to the lower Eastern Shore, positioned just off U.S. Route 50 along the shore of the Choptank River. With its 100foot sail canopy, it’s also a landmark. In addition to travel information and exhibits on the heritage of the area, there’s also a large playground, garden, boardwalk, restrooms, vending machines, and more. The Visitors Center is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about Dorchester County call 410-228-1000 or visit www.visitdorchester.org or www.tourchesapeakecountry.com. SAILWINDS PARK - Located at 202 Byrn St., Cambridge, Sailwinds Park has been the site for popular events such as the Seafood Feast-I-Val in August and the Grand National Waterfowl Hunt’s Grandtastic Jamboree in November. For more info. tel: 410-228-SAIL(7245) or visit www. sailwindscambridge.com. CAMBRIDGE CREEK - a tributary of the Choptank River, runs through the heart of Cambridge. Located along the creek are restaurants where you can watch watermen dock their boats after a day’s work on the waterways of Dorchester. HISTORIC HIGH STREET IN CAMBRIDGE - When James Michener was doing research for his novel Chesapeake, he reportedly called
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Dorchester Points of Interest Cambridge’s High Street one of the most beautiful streets in America. He modeled his fictional city Patamoke after Cambridge. Many of the gracious homes on High Street date from the 1700s and 1800s. Today you can join a historic walking tour of High Street each Saturday at 11 a.m., April through October (weather permitting). For more info. tel: 410-901-1000. High Street is also known as one of the most haunted streets in Maryland. join a Chesapeake Ghost Walk to hear the stories. Find out more at www. chesapeakeghostwalks.com. SKIPJACK NATHAN OF DORCHESTER - Sail aboard the authentic skipjack Nathan of Dorchester, offering heritage cruises on the Choptank River. The Nathan is docked at Long Wharf in Cambridge. Dredge for oysters and hear the stories of the working waterman’s way of life. For more info. and schedules tel: 410-228-7141 or visit www.skipjack-nathan.org. CHOPTANK RIVER LIGHTHOUSE REPLICA - The replica of a six-sided screwpile lighthouse includes a small museum with exhibits about the original lighthouse’s history and the area’s maritime heritage. The lighthouse, located on Pier A at Long Wharf Park in Cambridge, is open daily, May through October, and by appointment, November through April; call 410-463-2653. For more info. visit www.choptankriverlighthouse.org. DORCHESTER CENTER FOR THE ARTS - Located at 321 High Street in Cambridge, the Center offers monthly gallery exhibits and shows, extensive art classes, and special events, as well as an artisans’ gift shop with an array of items created by local and regional artists. For more info. tel: 410-228-7782 or visit www.dorchesterarts.org. RICHARDSON MARITIME MUSEUM - Located at 401 High St., Cambridge, the Museum makes history come alive for visitors in the form of exquisite models of traditional Bay boats. The Museum also offers a collection of boatbuilders’ tools and watermen’s artifacts that convey an understanding of how the boats were constructed and the history of their use. The Museum’s Ruark Boatworks facility, located on Maryland Ave., is passing on the knowledge and skills of area boatwrights to volunteers and visitors alike. Watch boatbuilding and restoration in action. For more info. tel: 410-221-1871 or visit www.richardsonmuseum.org. HARRIET TUBMAN MUSEUM & EDUCATIONAL CENTER - The Museum and Educational Center is developing programs to preserve the history and memory of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday. Local tours by appointment are available. The Museum and Educational Center, located at 424 100
Friends of Blackwater
The Friends of Blackwater is a nonprofit citizens support group founded in 1987, assisting Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Cambridge, Maryland and the Chesapeake Marshlands National Wildlife Refuge Complex to carry out their educational, interpretive, and public use missions.
410-228-2677 Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge 2145 Key Wallace Drive, Cambridge, Maryland 21613 www.friendsofblackwater.org 101
Dorchester Points of Interest Race St., Cambridge, is one of the stops on the “Finding a Way to Freedom” self-guided driving tour. For more info. tel: 410-228-0401 or visit www. harriettubmanorganization.org. SPOCOTT WINDMILL - Since 1972, Dorchester County has had a fully operating English style post windmill that was expertly crafted by the late master shipbuilder, James B. Richardson. There has been a succession of windmills at this location dating back to the late 1700’s. The complex also includes an 1800 tenant house, one-room school, blacksmith shop, and country store museum. The windmill is located at 1625 Hudson Rd., Cambridge. For more info. visit www.spocottwindmill.org. HORN POINT LABORATORY - The Horn Point Laboratory offers public tours of this world-class scientific research laboratory, which is affiliated with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. The 90-minute walking tour shows how scientists are conducting research to restore the Chesapeake Bay. Horn Point Laboratory is located at 2020 Horns Point Rd., Cambridge, on the banks of the Choptank River. For more info. and tour schedule tel: 410-228-8200 or visit www.umces.edu/hpl. THE STANLEY INSTITUTE - This 19th century one-room African
Tidewater Times - Print and Online! Tidewater Times
February 2015
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American schoolhouse, dating back to 1865, is one of the oldest Maryland schools to be organized and maintained by a black community. Between 1867 and 1962, the youth in the African-American community of Christ Rock attended this school, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tours available by appointment. The Stanley Institute is located at the intersection of Route 16 West & Bayly Rd., Cambridge. For more info. tel: 410-228-6657. OLD TRINITY CHURCH in Church Creek was built in the 17th century and perfectly restored in the 1950s. This tiny architectural gem continues to house an active congregation of the Episcopal Church. The old graveyard around the church contains the graves of the veterans of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the American Civil War. This part of the cemetery also includes the grave of Maryland’s Governor Carroll and his daughter Anna Ella Carroll who was an advisor to Abraham Lincoln. The date of the oldest burial is not known because the wooden markers common in the 17th century have disappeared. For more info. tel: 410-228-2940 or visit www.oldtrinity.net. BUCKTOWN VILLAGE STORE - Visit the site where Harriet Tubman received a blow to her head that fractured her skull. From this injury Harriet believed God gave her the vision and directions that inspired her to guide
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Dorchester Points of Interest so many to freedom. Artifacts include the actual newspaper ad offering a reward for Harriet’s capture. Historical tours, bicycle, canoe and kayak rentals are available. Open upon request. The Bucktown Village Store is located at 4303 Bucktown Rd., Cambridge. For more info. tel: 410-901-9255. HARRIET TUBMAN BIRTHPLACE - “The Moses of her People,” Harriet Tubman was believed to have been born on the Brodess Plantation in Bucktown. There are no Tubman-era buildings remaining at the site, which today is a farm. Recent archeological work at this site has been inconclusive, and the investigation is continuing, although there is some evidence that points to Madison as a possible birthplace. BLACKWATER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE - Located 12 miles south of Cambridge at 2145 Key Wallace Dr. With more than 25,000 acres of tidal marshland, it is an important stop along the Atlantic Flyway. Blackwater is currently home to the largest remaining natural population of endangered Delmarva fox squirrels and the largest breeding population of American bald eagles on the East Coast, north of Florida. There is a full service Visitor Center and a four-mile Wildlife Drive, walking trails and water trails. For more info. tel: 410-228-2677 or visit www.fws.gov/blackwater. EAST NEW MARKET - Originally settled in 1660, the entire town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Follow a self-guided walking tour to see the district that contains almost all the residences of the original founders and offers excellent examples of colonial architecture. For more info. visit http://eastnewmarket.us. HURLOCK TRAIN STATION - Incorporated in 1892, Hurlock ranks as the second largest town in Dorchester County. It began from a Dorchester/Delaware Railroad station built in 1867. The Old Train Station has been restored and is host to occasional train excursions. For more info. tel: 410-943-4181. VIENNA HERITAGE MUSEUM - The museum displays the last surviving mother-of-pearl button manufacturing operation in the country, as well as artifacts of local history. The museum is located at 303 Race, St., Vienna. For more info. tel: 410-943-1212 or visit www.viennamd.org. LAYTON’S CHANCE VINEYARD & WINERY - This small farm winery, minutes from historic Vienna at 4225 New Bridge Rd., offers daily tours of the winemaking operation. The family-oriented Layton’s also hosts a range of events, from a harvest festival to karaoke happy hour to concerts. For more info. tel. 410-228-1205 or visit www.laytonschance.com. 104
presents
Constantine Lyketsos, M.D. M.H.A. World Expert in Alzheimer’s and Dementia Wednesday, March 8, 2017, 6 p.m. Easton High School Auditorium
Dr. Lyketsos is the Interim Director of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. He has carried out pioneering work in the epidemiology and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Dr. Lyketsos founded the Johns Hopkins Memory and Alzheimer’s Center and has authored five books and numerous articles. He also leads efforts to ensure state-ofthe-art dementia care. Prior to the presentation, guests are invited to visit with representatives from local agencies about resources and care in Talbot County. Following the presentation, a panel of representatives from Copper Ridge Institute, the Alzheimer’s Association, Unidine and others will be available to respond to inquiries. Free of charge and open to the public. Register at TalbotHospice.org/ events or call 410-822-6681. Sponsored by 105
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Easton Points of Interest Historic Downtown Easton is the county seat of Talbot County. Established around early religious settlements and a court of law, today the historic district of Easton is a centerpiece of fine specialty shops, business and cultural activities, unique restaurants and architectural fascination. Tree-lined streets are graced with various period structures and remarkable homes, carefully preserved or restored. Because of its historical significance, Easton has earned distinction as the “Colonial Capital of the Eastern Shore” and was honored as #8 in the book, “The 100 Best Small Towns in America.” Walking Tour of Downtown Easton Start near the corner of Harrison Street and Mill Place. 1. HISTORIC TIDEWATER INN - 101 E. Dover St. A completely modern hotel built in 1949, it was enlarged in 1953 and has recently undergone extensive renovations. It is the “Pride of the Eastern Shore.” 2. THE BULLITT HOUSE - 108 E. Dover St. One of Easton’s oldest and most beautiful homes, it was built in 1801. It is now occupied by the Mid-Shore Community Foundation. 3. AVALON THEATRE - 42 E. Dover St. Constructed in 1921 during the heyday of silent films and vaudeville entertainment. Over the course of its history, it has been the scene of three world premiers, including “The First Kiss,” starring Fay Wray and Gary Cooper, in 1928. The theater has gone through two major restorations: the first in 1936, when it was refinished in an art deco theme by the Schine Theater chain, and again 52 years later, when it was converted to a performing arts and community center. For more info. tel: 410-822-0345 or visit avalontheatre.com. 4. TALBOT COUNTY VISITORS CENTER - 11 S. Harrison St. The Office of Tourism provides visitors with county information for historic Easton and the waterfront villages of Oxford, St. Michaels and Tilghman Island. For more info. tel: 410-770-8000 or visit tourtalbot.org. 5. BARTLETT PEAR INN - 28 S. Harrison St. Significant for its architecture, it was built by Benjamin Stevens in 1790 and is one of Easton’s earliest three-bay brick buildings. The home was “modernized” with Victorian bay windows on the right side in the 1890s. 6. WATERFOWL BUILDING - 40 S. Harrison St. The old armory is 107
Easton Points of Interest now the headquarters of the Waterfowl Festival, Easton’s annual celebration of migratory birds and the hunting season, the second weekend in November. For more info. tel: 410-822-4567 or visit waterfowlfestival.org. 7. ACADEMY ART MUSEUM - 106 South St. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Academy Art Museum is a fine art museum founded in 1958. Providing national and regional exhibitions, performances, educational programs, and visual and performing arts classes for adults and children, the Museum also offers a vibrant concert and lecture series and seasonal events. The Museum’s permanent collection consists of works on paper and contemporary works by American and European masters. Mon. through Thurs. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. First Friday of each month open until 7 p.m. For more info. tel: (410) 822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. 8. CHRIST CHURCH - St. Peter’s Parish, 111 South Harrison St. Founded in 1692, the Parish’s church building is one of the many historic landmarks of downtown Easton. The current building was erected in the early 1840’s of Port Deposit granite and an addition on the south end was completed in 1874. Since that time there have been many improve-
New work by
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Trippe-Hilderbrandt
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Red is Passionate Orange is Optimistic Yellow is Thoughtful Blue is Peaceful Purple is Imaginative
Green is Mature Indigo is Idealistic Pink is Loving Magenta is Harmonious Brown is Friendly
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Easton Points of Interest ments and updates, but none as extensive as the restoration project which began in September 2014. For service times contact 410-822-2677 or christchurcheaston.org. 9. TALBOT HISTORICAL SOCIET Y - Located in the heart of Easton’s historic district. Enjoy an evocative portrait of everyday life during earlier times when visiting the c. 18th and 19th century historic houses, all of which surround a Federal-style garden. For more info. tel: 410822-0773 or visit hstc.org. Tharpe Antiques and Decorative Arts is now located at 25 S. Washington St. Consignments accepted by appointment, please call 410-820-7525. Proceeds support the Talbot Historical Society. 10. ODD FELLOWS LODGE - At the corner of Washington and Dover streets stands a building with secrets. It was constructed in 1879 as the meeting hall for the Odd Fellows. Carved into the stone and placed into the stained glass are images and symbols that have meaning only for members. See if you can find the dove, linked rings and other symbols. 11. TALBOT COUNTY COURTHOUSE - Long known as the “East Capital” of Maryland. The present building was completed in 1794 on the site of the earlier one built in 1711. It has been remodeled several times.
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Easton Points of Interest 11A. FREDERICK DOUGLASS STATUE - 11 N. Washington St. on the lawn of the Talbot County Courthouse. The statue honors Frederick Douglass in his birthplace, Talbot County, where the experiences in his youth ~ both positive and negative ~ helped form his character, intellect and determination. Also on the grounds is a memorial to the veterans who fought and died in the Vietnam War, and a monument “To the Talbot Boys,” commemorating the men from Talbot who fought for the Confederacy. The memorial for the Union soldiers was never built. 12. SHANNAHAN & WRIGHTSON HARDWARE BUILDING 12 N. Washington St. It is the oldest store in Easton. In 1791, Owen Kennard began work on a new brick building that changed hands several times throughout the years. Dates on the building show when additions were made in 1877, 1881 and 1889. The present front was completed in time for a grand opening on Dec. 7, 1941 - Pearl Harbor Day. 13. THE BRICK HOTEL - northwest corner of Washington and Federal streets. Built in 1812, it became the Eastern Shore’s leading hostelry. When court was in session, plaintiffs, defendants and lawyers all came to town and shared rooms in hotels such as this. Frederick
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Douglass stayed in the Brick Hotel when he came back after the Civil War and gave a speech in the courthouse. It is now an office building. 14. THOMAS PERRIN SMITH HOUSE - 119 N. Washington St. Built in 1803, it was the early home of the newspaper from which the Star-Democrat grew. In 1911, the building was acquired by the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Club, which occupies it today. 15. ART DECO STORES - 13-25 Goldsborough Street. Although much of Easton looks Colonial or Victorian, the 20th century had its inf luences as well. This row of stores has distinctive 1920s-era white trim at the roofline. It is rumored that there was a speakeasy here during Prohibition. 16. FIRST MASONIC GR AND LODGE - 23 N. Harrison Street. The records of Coats Lodge of Masons in Easton show that five Masonic Lodges met in Talbot Court House (as Easton was then called) on July 31, 1783 to form the first Grand Lodge of Masons in Maryland. Although the building where they first met is gone, a plaque marks the spot today. This completes your walking tour. 17. FOXLEY HALL - 24 N. Aurora St., Built about 1795, Foxley Hall is one of the best-known of Easton’s Federal dwellings. Former home of Oswald Tilghman, great-grandson of Lt. Col. Tench Tilghman. (Private)
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Easton Points of Interest 18. TRINITY EPISCOPAL CATHEDR AL - On “Cathedral Green,” Goldsborough St., a traditional Gothic design in granite. The interior is well worth a visit. All windows are stained glass, picturing New Testament scenes, and the altar cross of Greek type is unique. For more info. tel: 410-822-1931 or visit trinitycathedraleaston.com. 19. INN AT 202 DOVER - Built in 1874, this Victorian-era mansion ref lects many architectural styles. For years the building was known as the Wrightson House, thanks to its early 20th century owner, Charles T. Wrightson, one of the founders of the S. & W. canned food empire. Locally it is still referred to as Captain’s Watch due to its prominent balustraded widow’s walk. The Inn’s renovation in 2006 was acknowledged by the Maryland Historic Trust and the U.S. Dept. of the Interior. 20. TALBOT COUNTY FREE LIBRARY - Housed in an attractively remodeled building on West Street, the hours of operation are Mon. and Thurs., 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tues. and Wed. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fri. and Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-822-1626 or visit tcf l.org. 21. MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AT EASTON - Established in the early 1900s, now one of the finest hospitals on the Eastern Shore. Memorial
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Hospital is part of the Shore Health System. shorehealth.org. 22. THIRD HAVEN FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE (Quaker). Built 1682-84, this is the earliest documented building in MD and probably the oldest Quaker Meeting House in the U.S. William Penn and many other historical figures have worshiped here. In continuous use since it was built, today it is still home to an active Friends’ community. Visitors welcome; group tours available on request. thirdhaven.org. 23. TALBOT COMMUNITY CENTER - The year-round activities offered at the community center range from ice hockey to figure skating, aerobics and curling. The Center is also host to many events throughout the year, such as antique, craft, boating and sportsman shows. Near Easton 24. PICKERING CREEK - 400-acre farm and science education center featuring 100 acres of forest, a mile of shoreline, nature trails, low-ropes challenge course and canoe launch. Trails are open seven days a week from dawn till dusk. Canoes are free for members. For more info. tel: 410-822-4903 or visit pickeringcreek.org. 25. W YE GRIST MILL - The oldest working mill in Maryland (ca. 1682), the f lour-producing “grist” mill has been lovingly preserved by
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Easton Points of Interest The Friends of Wye Mill, and grinds f lour to this day using two massive grindstones powered by a 26 horsepower overshot waterwheel. For more info. visit oldwyemill.org. 26. W YE ISL A ND NATUR AL RESOURCE MA NAGEMENT AREA - Located between the Wye River and the Wye East River, the area provides habitat for waterfowl and native wildlife. There are 6 miles of trails that provide opportunities for hiking, birding and wildlife viewing. For more info. visit dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/eastern/wyeisland.asp. 27. OLD WYE CHURCH - Old Wye Church is one of the oldest active Anglican Communion parishes in Talbot County. Wye Chapel was built between 1718 and 1721 and opened for worship on October 18, 1721. For more info. visit wyeparish.org. 28. WHITE MARSH CHURCH - The original structure was built before 1690. Early 18th century rector was the Reverend Daniel Maynadier. A later provincial rector (1764–1768), the Reverend Thomas Bacon, compiled “Bacon’s Laws,” authoritative compendium of Colonial Statutes. Robert Morris, Sr., father of Revolutionary financier is buried here.
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St. Michaels Points of Interest Dodson Ave.
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On the broad Miles River, with its picturesque tree-lined streets and beautiful harbor, St. Michaels has been a haven for boats plying the Chesapeake and its inlets since the earliest days. Here, some of the handsomest models of the Bay craft, such as canoes, bugeyes, pungys and some famous Baltimore Clippers, were designed and built. The Church, named “St. Michael’s,” was the first building erected (about 1677) and around it clustered the town that took its name. 1. WADES POINT INN - Located on a point of land overlooking majestic Chesapeake Bay, this historic inn has been welcoming guests for over 100 years. Thomas Kemp, builder of the original “Pride of Baltimore,” built the main house in 1819. For more info. visit www.wadespoint.com. 119
St. Michaels Points of Interest 2. HARBOURTOWNE GOLF RESORT - Bayview Restaurant and Duck Blind Bar on the scenic Miles River with an 18 hole golf course. For more info. visit www.harbourtowne.com. 3. MILES RIVER YACHT CLUB - Organized in 1920, the Miles River Yacht Club continues its dedication to boating on our waters and the protection of the heritage of log canoes, the oldest class of boat still sailing U. S. waters. The MRYC has been instrumental in preserving the log canoe and its rich history on the Chesapeake Bay. For more info. visit www.milesriveryc.org. 4. THE INN AT PERRY CABIN - The original building was constructed in the early 19th century by Samuel Hambleton, a purser in the United States Navy during the War of 1812. It was named for his friend, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. Perry Cabin has served as a riding academy and was restored in 1980 as an inn and restaurant. For more info. visit www.belmond.com/inn-at-perry-cabin-st-michaels/. 5. THE PARSONAGE INN - A bed and breakfast inn at 210 N. Talbot St., was built by Henry Clay Dodson, a prominent St. Michaels businessman and state legislator around 1883 as his private residence. In 1877, Dodson,
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e
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After-Christmas Sale Begins Monday, December 26th at the “Outfitters.” Doors open at 8 am. Absolutely incredible bargains on most seasonal clothing & footwear. cbostyle.com • 410-745-3107 Open 7 days year ‘round Corner of Talbot & Railroad Sts. St. Michaels, MD
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St. Michaels Points of Interest along with Joseph White, established the St. Michaels Brick Company, which later provided the brick for the house. For more info. visit www. parsonage-inn.com. 6. FREDERICK DOUGLASS HISTORIC MARKER - Born at Tuckahoe Creek, Talbot County, Douglass lived as a slave in the St. Michaels area from 1833 to 1836. He taught himself to read and taught in clandestine schools for blacks here. He escaped to the north and became a noted abolitionist, orator and editor. He returned in 1877 as a U.S. Marshal for the District of Columbia and also served as the D.C. Recorder of Deeds and the U.S. Minister to Haiti. 7. CHESAPEAKE BAY MARITIME MUSEUM - Founded in 1965, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of the hemisphere’s largest and most productive estuary - the Chesapeake Bay. Located on 18 waterfront acres, its nine exhibit buildings and floating fleet bring to life the story of the Bay and its inhabitants, from the fully restored 1879 Hooper Strait lighthouse and working boatyard to the impressive collection of working decoys and a recreated waterman’s shanty. Home to the world’s largest collection of Bay boats, the Museum regularly
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hosts temporary exhibitions, special events, festivals, and education programs. Docking and pump-out facilities available. Exhibitions and Museum Store open year-round. Up-to-date information and hours can be found on the Museum’s website at www.cbmm.org or by calling 410-745-2916. 8. THE CRAB CLAW - Restaurant adjoining the Maritime Museum and overlooking St. Michaels harbor. Open March-November. 410-7452900 or www.thecrabclaw.com. 9. PATRIOT - During the season (April-November) the 65’ cruise boat can carry 150 persons, runs daily historic narrated cruises along the Miles River. For daily cruise times, visit www.patriotcruises.com or call 410-745-3100. 10. THE FOOTBRIDGE - Built on the site of many earlier bridges, today’s bridge joins Navy Point to Cherry Street. It has been variously known as “Honeymoon Bridge” and “Sweetheart Bridge.” It is the only remaining bridge of three that at one time connected the town with outlying areas around the harbor. 11. VICTORIANA INN - The Victoriana Inn is located in the Historic District of St. Michaels. The home was built in 1873 by Dr. Clay Dodson, a druggist, and occupied as his private residence and office. In 1910 the property, then known as “Willow Cottage,” underwent alterations when
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St. Michaels Points of Interest acquired by the Shannahan family who continued it as a private residence for over 75 years. As a bed and breakfast, circa 1988, major renovations took place, preserving the historic character of the gracious Victorian era. For more info. visit www.victorianainn.com. 12. HAMBLETON INN - On the harbor. Historic waterfront home built in 1860 and restored as a bed and breakfast in 1985 with a turn-ofthe-century atmosphere. For more info. visit www.hambletoninn.com. 13. SNUGGERY B&B - Oldest residence in St. Michaels, c. 1665. The structure incorporates the remains of a log home that was originally built on the beach and later moved to its present location. www.snuggery1665.com. 14. LOCUST STREET - A stroll down Locust Street is a look into the past of St. Michaels. The Haddaway House at 103 Locust St. was built by Thomas L. Haddaway in the late 1700s. Haddaway owned and operated the shipyard at the foot of the street. Wickersham, at 203 Locust Street, was built in 1750 and was moved to its present location in 2004. It is known for its glazed brickwork. Hell’s Crossing is the intersection of Locust and Carpenter streets and is so-named because in the late 1700’s, the town was described as a rowdy one, in keeping with a port town where sailors
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St. Michaels Points of Interest would come for a little excitement. They found it in town, where there were saloons and working-class townsfolk ready to do business with them. Fights were common especially in an area of town called Hells Crossing. At the end of Locust Street is Muskrat Park. It provides a grassy spot on the harbor for free summer concerts and is home to the two cannons that are replicas of the ones given to the town by Jacob Gibson in 1813 and confiscated by Federal troops at the beginning of the Civil War. 15. FREEDOMS FRIEND LODGE - Chartered in 1867 and constructed in 1883, the Freedoms Friend Lodge is the oldest lodge existing in Maryland and is a prominent historic site for our Black community. It is now the site of Blue Crab Coffee Company. 16. TALBOT COUNTY FREE LIBRARY - St. Michaels Branch is located at 106 S. Fremont Street. For more info. tel: 410-745-5877 or visit www.tcfl.org. 17. CARPENTER STREET SALOON - Life in the Colonial community revolved around the tavern. The traveler could, of course, obtain food, drink, lodging or even a fresh horse to speed his journey. This tavern was built in 1874 and has served the community as a bank, a newspaper
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St. Michaels Points of Interest office, post office and telephone company. For more info. visit www. carpenterstreetsaloon.com. 18. TWO SWAN INN - The Two Swan Inn on the harbor served as the former site of the Miles River Yacht Club, was built in the 1800s and was renovated in 1984. It is located at the foot of Carpenter Street. For more info. visit www.twoswaninn.com. 19. TARR HOUSE - Built by Edward Elliott as his plantation home about 1661. It was Elliott and an indentured servant, Darby Coghorn, who built the first church in St. Michaels. This was about 1677, on the site of the present Episcopal Church (6 Willow Street, near Locust). 20. CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH - 301 S. Talbot St. Built of Port Deposit stone, the present church was erected in 1878. The first is believed to have been built in 1677 by Edward Elliott. For more info. tel: 410-745-9076. 21. THE OLD BRICK INN - Built in 1817 by Wrightson Jones, who opened and operated the shipyard at Beverly on Broad Creek. (Talbot St. at Mulberry). For more info. visit www.oldbrickinn.com. 22. THE CANNONBALL HOUSE - When St. Michaels was shelled by the British in a night attack in 1813, the town was “blacked out” and
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St. Michaels Points of Interest lanterns were hung in the trees to lead the attackers to believe the town was on a high bluff. The houses were overshot. The story is that a cannonball hit the chimney of “Cannonball House” and rolled down the stairway. This “blackout” was believed to be the first such “blackout” in the history of warfare. 23. AMELIA WELBY HOUSE - Amelia Coppuck, who became Amelia Welby, was born in this house and wrote poems that won her fame and the praise of Edgar Allan Poe. 24. TOWN DOCK RESTAUR ANT - During 1813, at the time of the Battle of St. Michaels, it was known as “Dawson’s Wharf” and had 2 cannons on carriages donated by Jacob Gibson, which fired 10 of the 15 rounds directed at the British. For a period up to the early 1950s it was called “The Longfellow Inn.” It was rebuilt in 1977 after burning to the ground. For more info. visit www.towndockrestaurant.com. 25. ST. MICHAELS MUSEUM at ST. MARY’S SQUARE - Located in the heart of the historic district, offers a unique view of 19th century life in St. Michaels. The exhibits are housed in three period buildings and contain local furniture and artifacts donated by residents. The museum is supported entirely through community efforts. For more info. tel: 410-745-9561 or www.stmichaelsmuseum.org. 26. KEMP HOUSE - Now a country inn. A Georgian style house, constructed in 1805 by Colonel Joseph Kemp, a revolutionary soldier and hero of the War of 1812. For more info. visit www.kemphouseinn.com. 27. THE OLD MILL COMPLEX - The Old Mill was a functioning flour mill from the late 1800s until the 1970s, producing f lour used primarily for Maryland beaten biscuits. Today it is home to a brewery, distillery, artists, furniture makers, and other unique shops and businesses. 28. ST. MICHAELS HARBOUR INN, MARINA & SPA - Constructed in 1986 and recently renovated. For more info. visit www. harbourinn.com. 29. ST. MICHAELS NATURE TR AIL - The St. Michaels Nature Trail is a 1.3 mile paved walkway that winds around the western side of St. Michaels starting at a dedicated parking lot on S. Talbot St. across from the Bay Hundred swimming pool. The path cuts through the woods, San Domingo Park, over a covered bridge and past a historic cemetery before ending in Bradley Park. The trail is open all year from dawn to dusk.
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Oxford Points of Interest Oxford is one of the oldest towns in Maryland. Although already settled for perhaps 20 years, Oxford marks the year 1683 as its official founding, for in that year Oxford was first named by the Maryland General Assembly as a seaport and was laid out as a town. In 1694, Oxford and a new town called Anne Arundel (now Annapolis) were selected the only ports of entry for the entire Maryland province. Until the American Revolution, Oxford enjoyed prominence as an international shipping center surrounded by wealthy tobacco plantations. Today, Oxford is a charming tree-lined and waterbound village with a population of just over 700 and is still important in boat building and yachting. It has a protected harbor for watermen who harvest oysters, crabs, clams and fish, and for sailors from all over the Bay. 1. TENCH TILGHMAN MONUMENT - In the Oxford Cemetery the Revolutionary War hero’s body lies along with that of his widow. Lt. Col. Tench Tilghman carried the message of Cornwallis’ surrender from Yorktown, VA, to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Across the cove from the
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Oxford Points of Interest cemetery may be seen Plimhimmon, home of Tench Tilghman’s widow, Anna Marie Tilghman. 2. THE OXFORD COMMUNITY CENTER - This former, pillared brick schoolhouse was saved from the wrecking ball by the town residents. Now it is a gathering place for meetings, classes, lectures, and performances by the Tred Avon Players and has been recently renovated. Rentals available to groups and individuals. 410-226-5904 or www.oxfordcc.org. 3. THE COOPERATIVE OXFORD LABORATORY - U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Maryland Department of Natural Resources located here. 410-226-5193 or www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/oxford. 3A. U.S. COAST GUARD STATION - 410-226-0580. 4. CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY - Founded in 1851. Designed by esteemed British architect Richard Upton, co-founder of the American Institute of Architects. It features beautiful stained glass windows by the acclaimed Willet Studios of Philadelphia. www.holytrinityoxfordmd.org. 5. OXFORD TOWN PARK - Former site of the Oxford High School.
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Oxford Points of Interest Recent restoration of the beach as part of a “living shoreline project” created 2 terraced sitting walls, a protective groin and a sandy beach with native grasses which will stop further erosion and provide valuable aquatic habitat. A similar project has been completed adjacent to the ferry dock. A kayak launch site has also been located near the ferry dock. 6. OXFORD MUSEUM - Morris & Market Sts. Devoted to the preservation of artifacts and memories of Oxford, MD. Admission is free; donations gratefully accepted. For more info. and hours tel: 410-226-0191 or visit www.oxfordmuseum.org. 7. OXFORD LIBRARY - 101 Market St. Founded in 1939 and on its present site since 1950. Hours are Mon.-Sat., 10-4. 8. BRATT MANSION (ACADEMY HOUSE) - 205 N. Morris St. Served as quarters for officers of the Maryland Military Academy. Built about 1848. (Private residence) 9. BARNABY HOUSE - 212 N. Morris St. Built in 1770 by sea captain Richard Barnaby, this charming house contains original pine woodwork, corner fireplaces and an unusually lovely handmade staircase. Listed on Tidewater Residential Designs since 1989
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Oxford Points of Interest the National Register of Historic Places. (Private residence) 10. THE GRAPEVINE HOUSE - 309 N. Morris St. The grapevine over the entrance arbor was brought from the Isle of Jersey in 1810 by Captain William Willis, who commanded the brig “Sarah and Louisa.” (Private residence) 11. THE ROBERT MORRIS INN - N. Morris St. & The Strand. Robert Morris was the father of Robert Morris, Jr., the “financier of the Revolution.” Built about 1710, part of the original house with a beautiful staircase is contained in the beautifully restored Inn, now open 7 days a week. Robert Morris, Jr. was one of only 2 Founding Fathers to sign the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution. 410-226-5111 or www.robertmorrisinn.com. 12. THE OXFORD CUSTOM HOUSE - N. Morris St. & The Strand. Built in 1976 as Oxford’s official Bicentennial project. It is a replica of the first Federal Custom House built by Jeremiah Banning, who was the first Federal Collector of Customs appointed by George Washington. 13. TRED AVON YACHT CLUB - N. Morris St. & The Strand. Founded in 1931. The present building, completed in 1991, replaced the original structure. 14. OXFORD-BELLEVUE FERRY - N. Morris St. & The Strand. Started in 1683, this is believed to be the oldest privately operated ferry in the United States. Its first keeper was Richard Royston, whom the Talbot County Court “pitcht upon” to run a ferry at an unusual subsidy of 2,500 pounds of tobacco. Service has been continuous since 1836, with power supplied by sail, sculling, rowing, steam, and modern diesel engine. Many now take the ride between Oxford and Bellevue for the scenic beauty. 15. BYEBERRY - On the grounds of Cutts & Case Boatyard. It faces Town Creek and is one of the oldest houses in the area. The date of construction is unknown, but it was standing in 1695. Originally, it was in the main business section but was moved to the present location about 1930. (Private residence) 16. CUTTS & CASE - 306 Tilghman St. World-renowned boatyard for classic yacht design, wooden boat construction and restoration using composite structures. Some have described Cutts & Case Shipyard as an American Nautical Treasure because it produces to the highest standards quality work equal to and in many ways surpassing the beautiful artisanship of former times. 136
~ EVENTS ~ 1/7 ~ RMI Cooking Demo. - All Italian! 410-226-5111 for res. 1/7 ~ Claire Anthony Folk Music @ RMI Tavern, 6:30 p.m. Free 1/7 ~ Trivia @ Latitude 38, 7:30 p.m. 1/8 ~ Oxford Firehouse Breakfast 8-11 a.m., $10 1/13 & 14 ~Rabbie Burns Nichts @ RMI, Sold Out! - Call for cancellations. 410-226-5111 1/20 ~Alexander Barnett “Tavern Live� music @ RMI, 6:30 p.m., Free 1/21 ~ Trivia @ Latitude 38, 7:30 p.m. 1/27 ~ Guitar Concert @ OCC featuring Flavio Sala, 7:30 p.m., $15 Res. 410-226-5904 January Coronna Estate Sales www.coronnacollections.com Coming in February! 2/12 ~ Second Annual Polar Dip to support Camp Sunshine Reg. online at csun.convio.net or www.freezeinforareason.com
Oxford-Bellevue Ferry est. 1683
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Tilghman’s Island “Great Choptank Island” was granted to Seth Foster in 1659. Thereafter it was known as Foster’s Island, and remained so through a succession of owners until Matthew Tilghman of Claiborne inherited it in 1741. He and his heirs owned the island for over a century and it has been Tilghman’s Island ever since, though the northern village and the island’s postal designation are simply “Tilghman.” For its first 175 years, the island was a family farm, supplying grains, vegetables, fruit, cattle, pigs and timber. Although the owners rarely were in residence, many slaves were: an 1817 inventory listed 104. The last Tilghman owner, General Tench Tilghman (not Washington’s aide-de-camp), removed the slaves in the 1830s and began selling off lots. In 1849, he sold his remaining interests to James Seth, who continued the development. The island’s central location in the middle Bay is ideally suited for watermen harvesting the Bay in all seasons. The years before the Civil War saw the influx of the first families we know today. A second wave arrived after the War, attracted by the advent of oyster dredging in the 1870s. Hundreds of dredgers and tongers operated out of Tilghman’s Island, their catches sent to the cities by schooners. Boat building, too, was an important industry. The boom continued into the 1890s, spurred by the arrival of steamboat service, which opened vast new markets for Bay seafood. Islanders quickly capitalized on the opportunity as several seafood buyers set up shucking and canning operations on pilings at the edge of the shoal of Dogwood Cove. The discarded oyster shells eventually became an island with seafood packing houses, hundreds of workers, a store, and even a post office. The steamboats also brought visitors who came to hunt, fish, relax and escape the summer heat of the cities. Some families stayed all summer in one of the guest houses that sprang up in the villages of Tilghman, Avalon, Fairbank and Bar Neck. Although known for their independence, Tilghman’s Islanders enjoy showing visitors how to pick a crab, shuck an oyster or find a good fishing spot. In the twentieth century, Islanders pursued these vocations in farming, on the water, and in the thriving seafood processing industry. The “Tilghman Brand” was known throughout the eastern United States, but as the Bay’s bounty diminished, so did the number of water-related jobs. Still, three of the few remaining Bay skipjacks (sailing dredgeboats) can be seen here, as well as two working harbors with scores of power workboats. 139
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The Bungalo Mystery by Gary D. Crawford
This month’s article is about a bizarre crime. It happened in our area just over a century ago and captured the public’s attention for weeks. The story was carried in newspapers from coast to coast and beyond. There were many reasons for the widespread interest in this story. One was that the tragedy occurred in such a remote and pastoral spot, here on our quiet Eastern Shore. But the big appeal was the extraordinary people involved. Their bizarre and fascinating histories were revealed bit by bit as an army of reporters dug deep into the story, each day bringing forth new revelations. So this is where we shall begin, by meeting the cast. A word of warning: this is a twopart story. If you hate having to wait for the ending, just read the rest of the magazine and then set it aside somewhere safe. In a month, you can read both parts together. Or you can begin now and devote the month between to speculating how it will play out. (Unless you already know about this one, you’ll never guess.) So, your choice. Will you take the second option ~ and delve with me now into the past? Edith’s Story Hi! Welcome aboard. To meet
the f irst major character in our story, we need to go back in both time and space, to the year 1886 and the tiny town of Asotin in the far West on the Snake River. There, three years before the Washington Territory became our 42nd state, a baby girl was born, on November 30. Her mother, Zetella Roup, was just 17 and unmarried. Zetella gave her new daughter the charming name of Anna Pearl. In May of the follow ing year, 1887, Zetella was able to give her child a home when she married a local farmer, Matthew Witz. Unhappily, the new home was to last for just six short months. Early on November 15th, just two weeks before Anna’s first birthday, her stepfather was struck in the back by a shotgun blast from a man with whom he had been arguing about money. Mat thew Witz died four days later. William Henry Grayson was arrested for his murder and the following spring went on trial for his life. The jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity, however, and he was committed to a mental asylum. Zetella was now a w idow and without resources. Unable to care for her child, she arranged for Anna Pearl to live with Dr. William Roup,
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The Bungalo Mystery a relative in Kansas City, Kansas. When his wife fell ill, Dr. Roup sent Pearl off to his niece, a Mrs. Greene, in Minneapolis. She, in turn, asked a friend, Mrs. Delos Matterson, to look after the girl. One day in 1890, a man (perhaps Mr. Matterson) applied to a charitable institution seeking help. He was a streetcar driver and said he was having difficulty providing for the child now in his care. A volunteer at the institution, Mrs. Laura Thompson, took an immediate and profound interest in the child. Little Anna Pearl Witz, by then three years old, was pretty, br ig ht , a nd c h a r m i ng. L au r a’s
husband, Col. Charles Thompson, also was taken with her. Although they had two children, Carrie, 14, and Charles, Jr., 11, the Thompsons resolved to adopt the child. Several members of the Roup family resisted the adoption, however. When a court battle ensued, Laura sidestepped the controversy by going directly to Pearl’s mother. Zetella had remarried by this time and was living in Idaho as Mrs. Zetella Kight. After satisfying herself that the Thompsons could provide a good home for Pearl, Zetella gave written permission for the adoption. On October 13, 1890, the adoption became official, and Pearl was renamed as Edith May Thompson. She now had a stable home and a
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mother, father, sister, and a brother. Pearl was never to know the truth of her origins; years later she could recall vaguely only that her name had been Pearl and that she had been “abducted.” In effect, Anna Pearl Witz had vanished into thin air. A few years later, the Thompsons began thinking about leaving Minneapolis. Col. Thompson, Civil War veteran and harness-maker by trade, was approaching 60 years of a ge. He w a s r e ady to r e t i r e somewhere rural and warmer; the Eastern Shore of Maryland came to mind. They learned that a 131acre farm was available in the village of McDaniel, five miles west of St. Michaels in Talbot County. The property included a beautiful house, in immaculate condition thanks to the owners, Thomas and Sylvia Dearborn. The Thompsons purchased the farm for $12,000 cash on February 20, 1893. By April, they had arrived from Minneapolis with their family and belongings. It was Edith’s sixth childhood home. Now six years old, Edith was by all reports pretty, well-spoken, and vivacious. She seemed to charm everyone she met. Also, she began to develop a f ine singing voice. Her early schooling soon would include both academic instruction and musical training. Little Edith’s development, as we shall see, was quite extraordinary. A b out t h i s t i me, E d it h’s l i fe
so on to ok a not her sudden a nd curious turn. She somehow met and charmed the Honorable Frank Brown, Governor of Maryland. And she really must have wowed him, for he would later write: “I was ver y much ta ken w it h Edith Thompson when she was but a little girl. She was a very beautiful child, had a most marvelous voice and was most accomplished at the piano. At that time she gave promise of a glorious future. I myself paid for her musical education during the years of 1895 and 1896.” Through her connections with Governor Brow n, Edith became acquainted with many inf luential people across the Bay in Washington. There, it is said, she became
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Governor Frank Brown
The Bungalo Mystery something of a child sensation, for in addition to her sweet voice, she was now proficient on the piano. When William McKinley of Ohio was elected president in 1896, he appointed Lyman Gage, a Chicago banker, to be his Secretary of the Treasury. Both families moved to the District for McKinley’s inauguration on March 4, 1897. How Lyman Gage came to take an interest in Edith Thompson was later explained by her father, Colonel Thompson: “[Edith] was about 8 years old when Mr. Gage first saw her, and it
Lyman Gage
was in this house that he saw her. He had come here to visit me, as we had been friends for some time. My introduction to him was through my wife, who had met Mr. Gage in Minneapolis when they were both taking an interest in the work of the Associated Charities. Our acquaintanceship ripened, and when we came east he was an occasional visitor to our home here. From the day he first saw the little girl he took a deep interest in her, and was much impressed with the possibilities of her voice. He later took much pride in her accomplishments as a vocalist and instrumentalist.” Gage did more than take an interest in his friends’ child: he made Edith his protégée. She and her mother stayed with the Gages in Washington for extended periods over the next few years. Through Gage, they were introduced to other members of the administration, including Mrs. McKinley herself. Edith was even invited to sing at the White House. A s G over nor Brow n later re called: “She and her foster-mother made frequent trips to Washington and had entrée to all the fashionable homes in that city. She made a favorable impression upon Mrs. McKinley while she was at the White House, and was frequently seen on the streets of Washington driving with the wife of the President. She was a favorite with many Congressmen and Senators.”
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When President McKinley was assassinated in September of 1901, Gage moved to New York City to resume his ba n k ing c a reer. He remained in touch with the Thompsons, however, and his commitment to Edith’s musical training and career went far beyond Gov. Brown’s. In 1904, he arranged for Edith, by then a young woman of 17, to receive musical training in Paris. Lyman Gage paid all expenses of the trip for both Edith and her mother, Laura. Upon her return from Europe ~ and again, it seems, with financial support from Lyman Gage ~ Edith went to Boston to pursue her voice a nd pia no st ud ies. There, nea r the end of June 1905, 19-year-old Edith met a 25-year-old osteopath na med Wa lter C a swel l. A f ter a whirlw ind courtship of just two weeks, on July 9th, she became Mrs. Walter Caswell. W hen new s of t h i s ma r r iage reached Lyman Gage in New York C it y, he i m med isately d ropped everything and went to Boston and met with Edith. It would appear that he did not approve of the union,
however, for Edith soon left Boston ~ and Dr. Caswell.
Edith as a teen.
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Then, just week s later, Edith suffered another loss. On July 22, 1905, Laura E. Thompson died in McDaniel at age 54. In just a few weeks, Edith lost her husband and her adopted mother. She still had “Papa Gage,” however, who enrolled her in the Peabody Institute in Baltimore. Lodgings were ar ranged in a respectable boa rd i ng hou se where she wa s known simply as Edith Thompson, and several months later the marriage was annulled. Gage continued to provide money during her residence in Baltimore, sending Edith regular checks, sometimes ver y substantial amounts. The following year, in October of 1906, Edith’s adopted brother Charles, Jr., 31, took his own life in Courtland, New York. Apparently despondent over losing his job in the recession, he died after taking an overdose of laudanum. Young Charles was not the only person experiencing financial difficulties at this time. The New York stock market, so healthy for the past several years, began a slide early in 1906. The San Francisco earthquake in April prompted a f lood of money from New York to aid in reconstruction and, later in the year, the Bank of England raised interest rates. By July, stock prices had dropped 18% from their Januar y peak. As we 146
shall see, it was to get much worse. Meanwhile, Carrie Thompson continued to look after her father, b ot h of t hem s addene d by t he loss of Charles. Edith remained in Baltimore through most of 1906, cont inuing her music a l st udies w ith financial help from Lyman Gage. Coincidentally, just three months before the death of Charles Thompson, Jr., Gage also lost a son to suicide. The tragedy prompted Gage to retire. In August of 1906, he purchased a proper t y in San Diego and began building a home and a new life. The ye a r 1907 proved rat her more pleasant for our Edith. In the spring, she met Harry Adams, a former West Point cadet, and they began a courtship. This time, several months went by before the inevitable happened. Harry popped t he que st ion ju st a f ter E d it h’s 21st birthday, probably during the holidays. And once again, Edith said yes. Perhaps they planned a June wedding. But Fate stepped in again, for in March, Edith received an invitation from Lyman Gage. He was doing splendidly in southern California and suggested she come out for a visit. She accepted. Whether she went out alone, or with her fiancÊ Harry Adams, is unclear. What we do know is that in March of 1908, Edith met Gilbert Woodill. Gilbert was 25 and prospering, t he ow ner of t he Wood i l l Auto 147
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The Bungalo Mystery Company in Los Angeles. At an e vent s ome w her e , Gi lb er t s aw Edith seated nearby and immediately was smitten. When they were introduced, Edith also felt an attraction. She was engaged to Harry Adams, however, and soon returned to New York City. Days later, Gilbert dropped everything and raced across the country after her. Edith was staying at the Hotel Navarre, and he caught up with her there. After a whirlwind courtship of just five days, they were madly in love. Edith broke her engagement w ith Harr y Adams and married Gilbert Woodill. T he y le f t for C a l i for n i a i m mediately, and by early April the newly weds were in Los Angeles. This time Lyman Gage must have approved, for he gave the couple a generous wedding gift of $5,000 ~ $125,000 in today’s money. Soon the Woodills had a beautiful Los Angeles residence and a summer home at posh Ocea n Pa rk nea r Ma libu. In t he socia l circles of sout her n Ca lifor nia, t he young Wood i l ls stood hig h, host ing a number of brilliant entertainments at their homes. Edith turned 22 in November. She was now happy and secure with a loving husband. The first year of their marriage passed amiably for the newlyweds out there in southern California. Edith had grown curious about her
origins, for the Thompsons had told her nothing except that she was adopted. In March of 1909, Gilbert placed advertisements in three Chicago newspapers, seeking anyone “who had a girl named Pearl stolen from them 18 years prev iously.” There were no replies, however. I n t he s pr i n g , t he Wo o d i l l s made a trip back East. Gilbert had business in New York C it y a nd wanted to visit Detroit; Edith was delighted by the oppor tunit y to visit her family and friends on the Eastern Shore. After spending a few days in New York City, they came down to Baltimore on Saturday, May 22. At Pier 4 on Light Street, they boarded the screw-steamer Cambridge for the trip across the Bay. Three and half hours later, they landed in Claiborne, crossed the jetty, and got aboard the train waiting there. The train was bound for Ocean City, but they stepped off just five minutes later at the very first stop, McDaniel Station, just a few hundred yards from the Thompson home. The reunion of the Thompson family ~ now just Carrie, Edith, and Col. Charles ~ was a happy one. When they got to the house, Carrie announced with a smile that she and her father had planned a party ~ a reception to welcome home their illustrious girl and to introduce her new husband. Friends and neighbors had been invited to their home next week, on Tuesday, May 25th.
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Having met our sparkling Edith, fol lowed her ma ny advent ures, and gotten her back safely to the Eastern Shore, it is time to introduce another major character in our story. Bob’s Story This time we jump back only three years and just up the coast to
Vinnie and Bob
New York City. Robert E. Eastman (Bob, if I may call him that) was the senior partner at Eastman and Company, a Wall Street stock trading and investment firm. Because of a twisted foot and a leg brace, he had a noticeable limp. (Some of his more unkind colleagues nicknamed him “Lame Bob.”) Like the late Charles Thompson, Jr. and many others, Bob was troubled by the market’s downturn during 1906. Between September 1906 and March 1907, the stock market slid, losing 7.7 percent of its capitalization. Bob and his junior partner, John T. Garrison, struggled to stay af loat, but the banking situation worsened. At this time Bob was 51, single,
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The Bungalo Mystery and liv ing w ith his sister in an apartment house in Upper Manhattan. One day she introduced him to an actress named Lavinia C. Brady. Her stage name was Lavinia Bradcombe, but to her friends she was “Vinnie.” Despite the difference in their ages ~ she was just 22 ~ a relationship developed over the next year. Me a nw h i le , at E a s t m a n a nd C ompa ny, Bob a nd h is pa r t ner worked feverishly to recover from a string of financial reverses and misjudgments, struggling to keep his company af loat. The Panic of 1907 was much like our own economic recession exactly one century later. It began with the collapse of several major Wall Street institutions, firms that had gotten overextended, but it went on to affect many smaller banks throughout the U.S. and to have far-reaching international implications. The economy gradually slipped into a recession a nd t hen, in mid-October, the New York Stock E xcha nge went into f ree -fa l l ~ dropping almost 50 percent from t he prev ious yea r in just t hree disastrous weeks. Panic quickly spr e ad t h r oug hout t he n at ion, and many of Eastman and Company’s investments were hit. A s his customers became increasingly demanding, Bob was forced to borrow additional capital from the
Mechanics National Bank of NYC. Despite these financial worries, Bob and Vinnie decided that fall to get married. The wedding took place on January 26, 1908, followed by a five-day honeymoon. For Vinnie, apparently, the honeymoon did not go well. Bob behaved very strangely on the honeymoon, acting “highly stressed.” He blamed problems at work, but his behavior was so odd that he frightened Vinnie. When she disclosed these fears to her mother, Mrs. Brady urged Vinnie to leave Robert and move in with her again. Vinnie did so, hoping that whatever was bothering her husband, it would pass. Robert’s financial situation worsened. He over-borrowed and began t a k i ng mone y f r om c l ient s for stock purchases and not providing them. His estrangement from Vinnie continued. In March, Vinnie discovered she was pregnant and contacted Bob, seek ing suppor t for the child; apparently he agreed to do so. It was their only meeting since their honeymoon. Congress investigated the causes of the Panic of 1907 and sought ways to regulate the banking industry, and soon the Federal Reserve Board was created. No remedies would come soon enough to relieve Bob’s troubles, however, for they were seriously over-extended and the company’s debt was piling up. He began defaulting on commitments.
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The Bungalo Mystery Everything changed for Robert Eastman on Wednesday, July 29, 1908. That night he stayed late in the office, reviewing his situation, looking for a solution. Finally, he came to a fateful conclusion. He gathered up the company’s account books, all their negotiable stock, their cash reserve of $15,000 ~ and left the office. Rober t E . Ea st ma n va nished into thin air. When his partner Garrison returned to the office the next day, he immediately filed charges against Eastman for grand larceny. The New York authorities issued a fugitive warrant, and bulletins were sent by telegraph to other cities. Bob had boa rde d a t r a i n for Chic ago. Upon ar r iva l t he nex t day, he checked into the Morison Hotel, registering as “R. E. Jordan.” A week later, the Chicago police ar rested him on charges of obtaining money under false pretences. The vice president of Mechanics National Bank of New York then arrived, accompanied by two Pinkerton detectives. Bob pleaded innocence, claiming he was on his way to Minneapolis to raise money to pay his debts and save his company. He denied being a thief and an absconder; he claimed to be broke. When a search revealed that he had $54,000 in bonds and cash, he was thrown in jail.
On Aug u st 28, E a st ma n w a s extradited to New York City, arraigned, and jailed. Event ua lly released on $7,500 bail, he awaited a series of court appearances. The f irst hear ing was on December 17, 1908, where he was to answer charges of stealing 100 shares of Chicago Subway Station stock. But when the court convened, the defendant failed to appear. Forfeiting his bail, Bob was gone. Once again, Robert E. Eastman had vanished into thin air. Emmett’s Story There is one more member of our cast to be introduced before we can plunge into the concluding drama. Exciting action is just ahead. T he T homp s on s h ad i nv ite d several dozen people to the reception for Gilber t and Edith ~ all t he nea rby neig hbors, t he pa stor, friends from the towns of St. Michaels and Easton, old school friends, prominent local citizens. All were Eastern Shore folk, people who had know n the Thompsons since they arrived sixteen years before and who had accepted and welcomed them. They had shared in Edith’s accomplishments and were proud of her. One guest, though, was a relative newcomer. He was a nearby neig hbor, k now n to Ca r r ie a nd Colonel Thompson, but a stranger to Edith. His name was Mr. Emmett E. Roberts. He had arrived
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in St. Michaels late the previous year. Within days, he had arranged for room and board at the home of George Taylor, the stationmaster at McDa niel for t he Ba lt imore, Chesapeake, and Atlantic railway. Roberts was a writer and had b e en e d itor of a ne w s pap er i n Denver. He was a quiet man who minded his own business, yet he liked people and they soon warmed to him. He participated in community events, helped out where he could, and contributed to worthy causes. And he had a bit of money; in March, he bought the 22-acre E d g a r pr op e r t y i n t he ne a r b y village of Bozman. Although the dwelling house there had burned down, it offered a fine view of Broad
Creek. Best of all, the Edgar heirs were keen to sell and it was a bargain at just $700. Roberts bought it and immediately began building a cabin there. It came to be known locally as “the bungalo,” though why they dropped the “w” remains a mystery to this day. Now, having met the principal players, we can transport ourselves 108 years back in time. At the Thompson reception, the action is about to begin. The writer Emmett Roberts sits quietly on a chair against the wall, out of the way, sipping his lemonade. Gazing around the Thompsons’ spacious dining room, he contemplates his various fellow guests.
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The Bungalo Mystery Many of them he knows; some he recognizes but has not met; a few are unknown to him. Old Dr. Joseph Seth is there, who has the boarding house on the Miles River not far away. So too is Emmett’s landlord, George Taylor and his wife Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Caulk, an older couple who have a farm nearby on Hemmersly Creek, nod and smile; Emmett sometimes uses their dock as a landing for his boat. Emmett is quite pleased to have been asked to attend this reception. As a newcomer, he could easily have been passed over. He suspects his invitation may have been Carrie’s doing, for she has always been hospitable to him. He feels little attraction for this 37-year-old spinster, though he is appreciative of her kindness. It is a mark of acceptance here. He has been looking forward to this evening since he first heard about the Woodills coming for a visit. There were a great many stories told of Mrs. Edith Woodill. He learned that when the Thompsons arrived from Minneapolis, she was just six years old, but so attractive and charming. All his neighbors had stories about this girl! Some were so extraordinary he could scarcely credit them. He was told that Edith and her mother hobnobbed with all the important people in Washington DC, “with Senators and such.” Edith even became pals with the Governor
of Maryland, the Secretary of the Treasury, and Mrs. McKinley herself! And not only was she beautiful and charming, they said she could play the piano marvelously and sing like a nightingale. Someone said she even performed at the White House, though Emmett still wonders about that one. As a teenager, they say she went off to study music in Baltimore, Boston, and all the way to Paris. Then, last year, she married some wealthy auto magnate from Los Angeles and they moved to California. Emmett smiles to himself, wondering how few people in this room, besides himself, have been as far even as Chicago. Yes, he is glad to be here tonight, for he is now most curious about this couple, especially Mrs. Woodill. He does appreciate pretty young women, after all, especially ones with talent. Just then, Miss Carrie Thompson and her father enter the room. Behind them are the guests of honor. All eyes turn to the striking young woman. Edith Woodill is diminutive; she cannot weigh more than 100 pounds. She stands just under five feet tall, though her elegant dress in the latest color (ashes of roses) and the stylish hairdo make her appear taller and the tight bodice reveals a womanly figure. She has the air of a delighted child, though Roberts has been told she is now 22. Edith’s smile lights the room and Emmett immediately is impressed. The girl is definitely a stunner, he decides. She moves gracefully from per-
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son to person, her husband looking on proudly as people crowd around. Carrie makes the introductions; Edith gives hugs and kisses to old friends and meets new ones; Gilbert smiles and shakes hands. Emmett stays put and sips his drink. He is content to wait until the first wave of excitement is past. He wants a good look at this woman. Soon Carrie is taking the Woodills to the older people seated along the walls. As she approaches Roberts, she smiles. “Why, Emmett, how nice of you to come tonight. May I present my sister, Mrs. Woodill? Edith, this is Mr. Emmett Roberts, a new neighbor of ours.” Edith steps away from the couple she has just greeted and turns to face Emmett. She is struck by his ruddy complexion, luxuriant black hair, and flashing dark eyes. Stunned by her open manner and youthful beauty, he struggles awkwardly to his feet. Looking up at him, Edith notes his reaction and holds out her hand with a pleased smile. Emmett hesitates, then says, “I am
delighted, Mrs. Woodill.” Then he adds, “And welcome home.” “Perhaps it is I who should be welcoming you, as a new neighbor,” she replies. “Do you live here in McDaniel, sir?” she says, her hand still in his. “Only temporarily, ma’am. I have taken a room with the Taylors.” He covers his slight hesitation with a warm and gentle smile. “Mr. Roberts has bought the old Edgar place,” adds Carrie, “and we hear he is building a cabin there.” “Indeed?” Edith removes her hand and steps back, “My husband, sir, Mr. Gilbert Woodill.” From that point on Emmett remembers little, for he is a bit shaken. Edith Woodill is a rare personality and she makes a memorable and lasting impression. Later, the guests implore her to sing; Edith obliges, accompanying herself on the piano. Emmett quickly recognizes that, indeed, she is gifted. She has a rich and sensuous contralto voice and plays confidently and well. Emmett watches every graceful movement. There is enthusiastic applause. The reception over, the guests
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The Bungalo Mystery depart. Edith and Gilbert stand with Col. Thompson and Carrie on the wide porch, making their goodbyes. Emmett takes his leave quickly, thanking the Thompsons and smiling shyly at the Woodills. As he steps down from the porch, Edith notices that he wears a brace, for his foot is oddly twisted. Back at his room at George Taylor’s home, Emmett is strangely unsettled. He can’t get Edith out of his mind and resolves to see her again soon. At the reception, he has learned that Gilbert will be leaving soon for Detroit, his childhood home, and will return to Los Angeles from there. Edith will stay on here a
few weeks before joining him. Smiling, Emmett drifts off to sleep. A few days later, Emmett encounters the couple again as they wait at McDaniel Station for the train to Easton. Edith is radiant and they exchange smiles; it is clear she remembers him. He and Gilbert fall into conversation; they speak about automobiles. Gilbert assures him that autos are about to take over in Los Angeles, where they are literally crowding streetcars off the streets. He says the Woodill Auto Company is well positioned and is sure to make handsome rewards. Emmett says he has thought about buying a car, a Maryland-built one he saw in Easton for $1500. When he asks for some advice, Gilbert invites him to the Thompsons for lunch the next day. Emmett soon becomes a regular guest at the Thompson home. He and Gilbert chat about cars and business, for Emmett seems to have some experience with financial investments. On Thursday, June 3rd, Gilbert boards the train for Detroit. There are tearful goodbyes; Edith begs him to take care; he says he will miss her terribly until she returns to California. She
McDaniel Rail Station 156
promises to leave McDaniel after the Fourth of July celebrations. The nex t day, Emmet t shows up a bit earlier than usual. Edith is pleased to see him. He is good company and today she admits she is feeling a bit lonely. He immediately suggests that she dry her eyes and come for a ride with him. Edith agrees to a buggy ride after lunch. And so their relationship begins. As the days go by, Emmett becomes her almost daily companion, sometimes with Carrie, sometimes with her father, but often just the two of them. The neighborhood notices his rapt attention, but they are hardly surprised that Emmett, too, has fallen under her spell. Edith is glowing and healthy; they talk of music and books and places they have been. At some point, Emmett begins hinting how nice it would be to have some private time, to be alone together. Edith recognizes his growing infatuation and is flattered by it, as always. But Emmett is a mature gentleman, not a boy, who clearly appreciates her and her accomplishments. He is a welcome escort, now that Gilbert has left, as she makes her rounds visiting schoolmates and family friends, shopping, and touring the beautiful countryside. The thirty-year difference in their ages helps to discourage gossip; besides, he is crippled. Emmett doesn’t have his own horse and carriage, but he has acquired a boat ~ a fine gasoline-powered launch
Mrs. Edith Woodill that he berths nearby at Tom Caulk’s dock in Hemmersly Creek. As the weather warmed, he began to explore the many waterways in the area; he finds it a pleasurable way to take in the beauties of the Eastern Shore. One morning, Emmett shows up at the Thompson home rather early, before Edith is up and about. When Carrie lets her know that Emmett has come calling and is waiting downstairs, Edith jots this note: “Dear Wobby ~ Can’t come down; haven’t even had my morning ablutions, and I know how men hate waiting. Why, I’m afraid you’d wear out the parlour rugs plus your temper if you tried it. Even without imagination, you know I must be thinking of you. ~ Doll Baby” It is a joke, of course, and Emmett is more pleased than disappointed. Apparently his pet name for her has
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The Bungalo Mystery met with approval and he does like her to call him Wobby, rather than Mr. Roberts. The little note also indicates that his fond feelings are shared and that they are becoming more intimate. Emmett tucks the note away in his waistcoat pocket as a keepsake. One thing mars Edith’s pleasant holiday ~ a nagging toothache. Carrie urges her to visit their dentist in Easton, Dr. Smithers. An appointment is made for her on the coming Saturday morning, June 19th. When Emmett hears of this, he immediately sees the opportunity he has been seeking. “Say,” he says, “I have a thought. I was going to take my launch out for a spin on Saturday. When you come back from Easton, why not get off at Royal Oak? I’ll meet you there in Oak Creek and we can go for a boat ride.” Smiling, Edith thinks it over. “The weather has been quite beautiful and a boat ride would be lovely ~ especially after the awful dentist. But how would I get home afterwards from Royal Oak?” Emmett grins. “Well, actually, I’d
Royal Oak Rail Station, 1921
thought of us coming all the way out here in the launch. We can come in at Caulk’s place where I keep the boat and we walk from there. She hesitates. Emmett touches her arm. “What do you say, Doll Baby?” “Well, if you’re sure I’ll be safe,” replies Edith with a grin. “We need to be home before dark. We don’t want people thinking we’re up to something, Wobby.” “Not to worry,” he assures her. “The train arrives in Royal Oak around 3:30, right? I’ll bring my launch around to Oak Creek and be waiting for you at the station. In that boat we can make it all the way down the river in less than an hour.” And so the plan is made. On Saturday morning, Edith rises early and the Thompsons walk her over to the McDaniel Station. “Good luck at the dentist, my dear,” says the Colonel. “I’ll be fine, Papa, don’t worry. And Emmett says he is coming this way anyway, so he has agreed to pick me up and bring me home.” Edith steps aboard, smiling and waving goodbye as the train pulls out. Later that morning, Emmett picks up his launch at Tom Caulk’s place on Hemmersly Creek. Stowing a basket with some snacks and a bottle of wine for the little excursion he is planning, he soon is speeding up the Miles River toward the Royal Oak Station beside Oak Creek. As he circles past St. Michaels, the engine begins to sputter. Quickly Emmett turns into the harbor and ties up at the town dock.
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He is no mechanic but after tinkering for some time, he finds the fuel filter to be clogged and cleans it. In trying to re-start, however, he floods the engine badly. Unable to get the launch started, Emmett becomes increasingly frustrated. He is now well behind schedule for it is nearly 3 o’clock. In half an hour, Edith will be arriving at Royal Oak Station over four miles away. Emmett makes a decision and changes the plan. Hurrying up from the harbor to a livery stable, he hires John Butler to drive him up to Royal Oak. They set off at a trot, arriving at the station around 4:30. Emmett is told that yes, Edith did arrive on the train, and yes, she waited impatiently to be picked up, and then finally walked over to a nearby house for some refreshments. Emmett walks Claiborne Claiborne RR Station & Ferry Landing Thompson McDaniel RR Station
over and finds Edith rather annoyed ~ first, because he wasn’t there to meet her, then by the long wait, and now by the sight of the shabby buggy. “Need I remind you that I have had a perfectly awful morning at the dentist, that I could barely manage a cup of tea for lunch?” pouts Edith. “I was expecting to be met at the station by a gentleman in an elegant launch. Instead, I find this,” waving disdainfully at Butler and his rig. “Do you suppose I’m going with you in that rig?” Emmett apologizes profusely for being so late and promises it will never happen again. He explains that engine trouble had forced him to leave the launch in St. Michaels. It is working now, he says, and begs her to come with him. Eventually, Edith accepts his apologies and they drive off for St. Michaels. Demurely, Edith pulls
Seth Point
Taylor
Wittman
Unionville
St. Michaels RR Station Bungalo Oa
Radcliffe RR Station
kC ree
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Royal Oak RR Station
Royal Oak
Kirkham RR Station
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The Bungalo Mystery
the veil down from her hat, though her stylish pink dress, white silk sash, and bronze shoes make her recognizable to all who know her. At the dock, she refuses to go aboard until Emmett succeeds in getting the launch started, which he finally does. Edith then steps in and they motor off through the harbor, then turn west down the Miles River. A charming sunset may have helped soothe the frustrations of the day. Besides, Edith always has enjoyed
boat rides and Emmett is in no hurry. Dusk is falling by the time they turn into the creek beside Seth Point. Suddenly, as they approach Joseph Seth’s boarding house, the launch comes to a halt with a bump and a scrape. In the fading twilight, Emmett has brought them in too close to the Point and the launch is now hard aground on the sand bar. He backand-forths in the darkness, turning the wheel frantically while Edith rocks the boat by lunging from side to side. It is all to no avail, however, though the fellows on Seth’s porch watch with interest and shout friendly advice. Emmett responds by shaking his fist at them good-naturedly. Finally, Emmett steps overboard and wades ashore. Seth says there are enough men there to shove the boat off, but Roberts refuses, saying he has a woman aboard and simply wants to borrow a rowboat. Emmett then rows out to the launch, transfers Edith and their things to the rowboat, and rows off to their original destination at Caulk’s Landing. The launch is abandoned and night has fallen. Arriving on shore at last, Emmett and Edith walk down the long lane to the St. Michaels road and turn toward her home a half-mile away. As they approach, they see that all is dark and quiet in the Thompson house. It is now nearly 11 p.m. and they pause. Suddenly, Emmett urges Edith not to go in. “Stay with me tonight, Edith. I so want to be with you. We can go to my bungalow.”
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The Bungalo “But that’s over four miles away,” Edith says. “How could we possibly get there at this time of night without people knowing?” Emmett has a ready answer. He says they can walk up to where he is staying at George Taylor’s house, “borrow” a horse and rig, and be there in a flash. Edith is swept up in this mad adventure and now wants to go ~ but still, she hesitates. “Don’t worry, Baby Doll. My Bungalo is way out in the woods and the neighbors don’t come around unless I invite them. No one will ever know you’d been here.” “I’m thinking of my family. They expected me home tonight and will be worried.” “We can say that after seeing the dentist, you felt awful so you stayed over in Easton with friends. And then went over to Baltimore.” He smiles at her, “Baby Doll, we could have a couple of wonderful days together.” “Well, maybe that could work. But how do I let them know? If I’m not home soon, they will come looking for me.” Again, Emmett is quick with a solu-
tion. “Why not write them a note? I can find someone tomorrow to take it into Easton and mail it for us. Carrie will get it in Monday’s morning mail.” Edith considers. “Well, Carrie and I had talked about maybe going over to Baltimore to see that new movie we’ve read about. But….” Emmett sees she wants to say yes. “Come on, Doll Baby, what do you say? A letter to Carrie would give us the chance we’ve been hoping for. You know we won’t get another!” There on the roadside in the darkness near her home, Edith hesitates. Then she comes to a fateful decision ~ and they stroll past the Thompson lane, hand in hand. At Taylor’s barn, Emmett “borrows” a horse and cart. Edith helps him get it harnessed up quickly. Soon they are off down the Bozman road. Emmett drives carefully and very quietly as they pass through the little village and turn down the side road to his Bungalo. It is just on midnight as they enter the tiny cabin. They’ve done it! Emmett takes her in his arms and they embrace…and at this point we must draw the curtain. Stay tuned for the conclusion of our story in the February issue of Tidewater Times. Gary Crawford and his wife, Susan, own and operate Crawfords Nautical Books, a unique bookstore on Tilghman’s Island.
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Academy Art Museum Two Exhibitions with Local Connections by Amy Blades Steward T he A c ademy A r t Mu s eu m opened two exhibitions in December ~ The 17th National Exhibition of the American Society of Marine Artists (ASMA) and Nanny Trippe: Trees, Majesty and Mystery. Both exhibitions have local connections. The Academy Art Museum is cosponsoring the National Exhibition
of ASMA with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels. A merica has a long histor y as a seafaring nation. Since the 1970s, ASMA has worked with professional artists and illustrators to prepare exhibitions on America’s marine heritage, and to further promote American marine art and history.
Meeting at the Dock by Lois Salmon Toole is a transparent watercolor. 163
Local Connections
A Stellar Symphony is a watercolor by Robert Tandecki. Of course, those of us who live on the Eastern Shore have a close connection with and fascination for the sea and ships. The special world of marine art is not limited to “a painted ship upon a painted ocean.” The exhibition travels from Williamsburg, Virginia, to Easton and St. Michaels, and cont inues on to various other museums in the United States. Curators Anke Van Wagenberg (AAM) and Pete Lesher (CBMM) have worked closely to get the best selections in their respective museums. This exhibition will be at the Academy Art Museum through April 2. Nanny Trippe: Trees, Majesty and Mystery will feature the photographs of a local photographer. Trippe, whose family has been on the Eastern Shore for many generations, has studied and created photographs from a young age. What began as pictures of her pets and nature de-
veloped into a love of composition. Trippe has studied and created photographs through high school at St. Timothy’s School in Baltimore, and next at Denison University in Ohio and Richmond College in London, England. She joined Tidewater Studios in 2009 and has exhibited in Lexington, Virginia, as well as in regional art shows. In December 2010, she and painter Don Hilderbrandt opened Trippe-Hilderbrandt Studios on Harrison Street in Easton. She has won Best Black and White, Best Amateur, and Best in Show in the 2009 Plein Air Easton Photography Contest, and was published in Best of
To Infinity is a digital photograph by Nanny Trippe.
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TO U RC A RO LI N E .CO M 166
Caroline County – A Perspective Caroline County is the very definition of a rural community. For more than 300 years, the county’s economy has been based on “market” agriculture. Caroline County was created in 1773 from Dorchester and Queen Anne’s counties. The county was named for Lady Caroline Eden, the wife of Maryland’s last colonial governor, Robert Eden (1741-1784). Denton, the county seat, was situated on a point between two ferry boat landings. Much of the business district in Denton was wiped out by the fire of 1863. Following the Civil War, Denton’s location about fifty miles up the Choptank River from the Chesapeake Bay enabled it to become an important shipping point for agricultural products. Denton became a regular port-ofcall for Baltimore-based steamer lines in the latter half of the 19th century. Preston was the site of three Underground Railroad stations during the 1840s and 1850s. One of those stations was operated by Harriet Tubman’s parents, Benjamin and Harriet Ross. When Tubman’s parents were exposed by a traitor, she smuggled them to safety in Wilmington, Delaware. Linchester Mill, just east of Preston, can be traced back to 1681, and possibly as early as 1670. The mill is the last of 26 water-powered mills to operate in Caroline County and is currently being restored. The long-term goals include rebuilding the millpond, rehabilitating the mill equipment, restoring the miller’s dwelling, and opening the historic mill on a scheduled basis. Federalsburg is located on Marshyhope Creek in the southern-most part of Caroline County. Agriculture is still a major portion of the industry in the area; however, Federalsburg is rapidly being discovered and there is a noticeable influx of people, expansion and development. Ridgely has found a niche as the “Strawberry Capital of the World.” The present streetscape, lined with stately Victorian homes, reflects the transient prosperity during the countywide canning boom (1895-1919). Hanover Foods, formerly an enterprise of Saulsbury Bros. Inc., for more than 100 years, is the last of more than 250 food processors that once operated in the Caroline County region. Points of interest in Caroline County include the Museum of Rural Life in Denton, Adkins Arboretum near Ridgely, and the Mason-Dixon Crown Stone in Marydel. To contact the Caroline County Office of Tourism, call 410-479-0655 or visit their website at www.tourcaroline.com. 167
Old Skipton Road 181+ ac., 177 tillable in one large field. Morton building, grain tanks. 3,000 sq. ft. Dutch Colonial ca. 1724. 3 BR, LR, DR, FR, 4 fireplaces. $1,950,000 TA8517149
Wye River Lot Stop dreaming and start building! 5/6 BR house permitted. 380 ft. frontage with 5’ MLW. Easy 10/15 min. to the Bay Bridge. $700,000 QA8111342
Chester Newly renovated 4 BR, 2.5 BA, full basement with detached garage. New kitchen with granite counter tops and app. 10 min. to Bay Bridge. $450,000 QA9723993
Church Hill 3 BR, 2 BA, 2,150 sq. ft. home on 6.6 ac. Living room, dining room, family room with fireplace. 2-story barn, implement sheds, pool, attached garage. $395,000 QA9730152
TIDEWATER PROPERTIES REAL ESTATE
410.827.8877 Barbara Whaley Ben McNeil Elaine McNeil Fitzhugh Turner 410.490.8001 410.490.7163 443.262.1310 410.310.7707 121 Clay Drive, Queenstown, MD ¡ bwhaley@tidewaterproperties.com 168
Queen Anne’s County The history of Queen Anne’s County dates back to the earliest Colonial settlements in Maryland. Small hamlets began appearing in the northern portion of the county in the 1600s. Early communities grew up around transportation routes, the rivers and streams, and then roads and eventually railroads. Small towns were centers of economic and social activity and evolved over the years from thriving centers of tobacco trade to communities boosted by the railroad boom. Queenstown was the original county seat when Queen Anne’s County was created in 1706, but that designation was passed on to Centreville in 1782. It’s location was important during the 18th century, because it is near a creek that, during that time, could be navigated by tradesmen. A hub for shipping and receiving, Queenstown was attacked by English troops during the War of 1812. Construction of the Federal-style courthouse in Centreville began in 1791 and is the oldest courthouse in continuous use in the state of Maryland. Today, Centreville is the largest town in Queen Anne’s County. With its relaxed lifestyle and tree-lined streets, it is a classic example of small town America. The Stevensville Historic District, also known as Historic Stevensville, is a national historic district in downtown Stevensville, Queen Anne’s County. It contains roughly 100 historic structures, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is located primarily along East Main Street, a portion of Love Point Road, and a former section of Cockey Lane. The Chesapeake Heritage and Visitor Center in Chester at Kent Narrows provides and overview of the Chesapeake region’s heritage, resources and culture. The Chesapeake Heritage and Visitor Center serves as Queen Anne’s County’s official welcome center. Queen Anne’s County is also home to the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center (formerly Horsehead Wetland Center), located in Grasonville. The CBEC is a 500-acre preserve just 15 minutes from the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Over 200 species of birds have been recorded in the area. Embraced by miles of scenic Chesapeake Bay waterways and graced with acres of pastoral rural landscape, Queen Anne’s County offers a relaxing environment for visitors and locals alike. For more information about Queen Anne’s County, visit www.qac.org. 169
Offering an exceptional selection of decoys, antiques, furniture, rugs, sterling, glassware and other collectables.
Queenstown Next to the Prime Outlets · Rt. 301, ¼ mile from the 50/301 split
Open 7 Days a Week: Mon. - Sat., 10 to 5; Sun., 11 to 5
410-827-0555 · www.jrsantiques.com 170
Kent County and Chestertown at a Glance Kent County is a treasury of early American history. Its principal towns and back roads abound with beautiful old homes and historic landmarks. The area was first explored by Captain John Smith in 1608. Kent County was founded in 1642 and named for the shire in England that was the home of many of Kent’s earliest colonists. When the first legislature assembled in 1649, Kent County was one of two counties in the colony, thus making it the oldest on the Eastern Shore. It extended from Kent Island to the present boundary. The first settlement, New Yarmouth, thrived for a time and, until the founding of Chestertown, was the area’s economic, social and religious center. Chestertown, the county seat, was founded in 1706 and served as a port of entry during colonial times. A town rich in history, its attractions include a blend of past and present. Its brick sidewalks and attractive antiques stores, restaurants and inns beckon all to wander through the historic district and enjoy homes and places with architecture ranging from the Georgian mansions of wealthy colonial merchants to the elaborate style of the Victorian era. Second largest district of restored 18th-century homes in Maryland, Chestertown is also home to Washington College, the nation’s tenth oldest liberal arts college, founded in 1782. Washington College was also the only college that was given permission by George Washington for the use of his name, as well as given a personal donation of money. The beauty of the Eastern Shore and its waterways, the opportunity for boating and recreation, the tranquility of a rural setting and the ambiance of living history offer both visitors and residents a variety of pleasing experiences. A wealth of events and local entertainment make a visit to Chestertown special at any time of the year. For more information about events and attractions in Kent County, contact the Kent County Visitor Center at 410-778-0416, visit www. kentcounty.com or e-mail tourism@kentcounty.com. For information about the Historical Society of Kent County, call 410-778-3499 or visit www.kentcountyhistory.org/geddes.php. For information specific to Chestertown visit www.chestertown.com. 171
Readbourne, c. 1731, is one of the earlier major Georgian structures to remain in the sate of Maryland. The most significant part of the house is the center T-plan which is laid in Flemish Bond. Located near Centreville in Queen Anne’s County, the estate overlooks a series of terraced “falls” which carry the symmetry of the house out into the garden and overlook the Chester River. The property is comprised of multiple parcels with dependencies and encompasses nearly 1,000 acres. For details visit www.readbourne.com. Offered at $15,100,000. Fruit Hill Farm, with more than 800 acres of fields, forest and salt marsh, including 4.5 miles of shoreline on Slaughter Creek, is one of Dorchester County’s premier sporting estates. The property has been impeccably maintained and groomed to maximize the game potential and is improved with ponds, blinds and pits. The main residence with 6,800 sq. ft. and 4 bedrooms, a hunting lodge with 2nd floor gathering room overlooking the property, bunk rooms, pool, kennel and barns complete the offering. www.fruithillfarms.com. Offered at $3,650,000.
Schuyler Benson Benson & Mangold Real Estate, LLC 27999 Oxford Road, Oxford, MD (c) 410-310-3251 or (o) 410-822-1415 sbenson@bensonandmangold.com 172
JANUARY 2017 CALENDAR OF EVENTS 1
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“Calendar of Events” notices: Please contact us at 410-226-0422; fax the information to 410-226-0411; write to us at Tidewater Times, P. O. Box 1141, Easton, MD 21601; or e-mail to info@tidewatertimes.com. The deadline is the 1st of the month preceding publication (i.e., January 1 for the February issue). Daily Meeting: Mid-Shore Intergroup Alcoholics Anonymous. For places and times, call 410822-4226 or visit midshoreintergroup.org.
exhibit their work in the lobby gallery area of the Todd Performing Arts Center at Chesapeake College, Wye Mills. The exhibit showcases a variety of mediums and subject matter, and all art is offered for sale. Open to the public during college hours and during all events at the Todd Performing Arts Center.
Daily Meeting: Al-Anon. For times and locations, v isit EasternShoreMD-alanon.org. Every Thurs.-Sat. Amish Country Farmer’s Market in Easton. An indoor market offering fresh produce, meats, dairy products, furniture and more. 101 Marlboro Ave. For more info. tel: 410-822-8989. Thru Jan. 3 Exhibit: Members of the Working Artist Forum will
Thru Jan. 15 Chesapeake City’s Winterfest of Lights. Enjoy the Victorian candlelight house tour, a horse-draw n carriage ride, Dickens carolers, ice-skating. Marvel at the holiday lighting displays. A nd don’t miss the Town Christmas Tree made entirely of crab pots.
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Trippe ~ Trees, Majest y and Myster y at t he Academy A r t Museum, Easton. Trippe, whose family has been on the Eastern Shore for many generations, has studied and created photographs from a young age. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org.
T h r u Ja n . 2 7 E x h i bi t : B i r d C hr oni c le s, work s by K e v i n Garber, at Adkins Arboretum, Ridgely. The watercolors, stone l it hog raph s a nd monopr i nt s in Bird Chronicles are loosely s k e t c he d a nd br u s he d w i t h colorful washes, yet they are also f ull of curiously precise de t a i l s t h at c le a rly ident i f y each species. For more info. tel: 410 - 634-2847, ext. 0 or v isit adkinsarboretum.org. T h r u Ja n. 31 E x h ibit: Small Treasures at the 717 Galler y, Easton. Small paintings, perfect for gift-giving. For more info. tel: 410-241-7020. Thr u Feb. 26 Exhibit: Nanny
Thru Feb. 26 Exhibit: The Myth Ma k e r s in Mar yl an d ~ T he Mighty Merganser with artists Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein (a.k.a. the Myth Makers) at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. The artists will build one of their iconic 16-foot-high sapling sculptures on the Museum’s grounds. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. Thru Feb. 26 Exhibit: Jacob Kainen - Washington Colorist at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. This exhibit features works that reveal K ainen’s gradual shif t from figural to abstract forms. For more info. tel: 410 -822ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. Thru Feb. 26 Exhibit: The Washington Por tfolio at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. The Washington Portfolio is a recent acquisition made possible with funds provided by the Collection Society. For more info. tel:
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Blood Pressure Screening from 9 a.m. to noon, Mondays and Wednesdays at Universit y of Maryland Shore Regional Health Diagnostic and Imaging Center, Easton. For more info. tel: 410820-7778.
410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. Thru Apr. 2 The American Society of Marine Artists 17th National Exhibition at the Academy Art Museum and the Chesapeake Bay Ma r it i me Mu seu m. T he ex hibit ion t ravels f rom Wi lliamsburg, VA, to Easton and St. Michaels. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. 2 Meeting: Live Playwrights’ Society at the Garfield Center, Chestertown. 7:30 to 9 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-810-2060. 2,4,9,11,16,18,23,25,30 Free
2,9,16,23,30 Meeting: Overeaters Anonymous at UM Shore Medical Center in Easton. 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. For more info. visit oa.org. 2,9,16,23,30 Monday Night Trivia at t he Ma rke t S t r e e t P ubl ic House, Denton. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Join host Norm Amorose for a fun-filled evening. For more info. tel: 410-479-4720.
20 Goldsborough St. Easton M-S 10:30-5:30 410.770.4374 175
January Calendar 3 Meeting: Breast Feeding Support Group from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at UM Shore Medical Center in Easton. For more info. tel: 410-822-1000 or visit shorehealth.org. 3 Mov ie Night at Evergreen: A Center for Balanced Living in Easton. 7 to 9 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-819-3395 or visit evergreeneaston.org. 3-31 Resident’s Art Show at Heron Point, Chestertown. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. For more info. tel: 410-778-3224. 3,5,10,12,17,19,24,26,31 Adult Ballroom Classes with Amanda Showel l at t he Ac ademy A r t Museum, Easton. Tuesday and T hu r s d a y n i g ht s . Fo r m o r e info. tel: 410-482-6169 or visit dancingontheshore.com. 3,17 Grief Support Group at the Dorchester County Library, Cambr idge. 6 p.m. Sponsored by Coastal Hospice & Palliative Care. For more info. tel: 443-978-0218. 4 Nature as Muse at Adkins Arboretum, Ridgely. 9 to 11 a.m. Enjoy writing as a way of exploring nature. A different prompt presented in each session offers a suggestion for the morning’s theme. Free for members, $5 for
non-members. For more info. tel: 410-634-2847, ext. 0 or visit adkinsarboretum.org. 4
Community Acupuncture Clinic at Evergreen: A Center for Balanced Living in Easton. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. For more info. tel: 410819-3395 or visit evergreeneaston.org.
4 Meeting: Nar-Anon at Immanuel United Church of Christ, Cambridge. 7 p.m. For more info. tel: 1-800 -477- 6291 or v isit naranon.org. 4,11,18,25 Meeting: Wednesday Morning Artists. 8 a.m. at Creek Deli in Cambridge. No cost. All disciplines and skill levels welcome. Guest speakers, roundtable discussions, studio tours, and other art-related activities. For more info. visit Facebook or tel: 410-463-0148. 4,11,18,25 Chair Yoga with Susan Irwin at the St. Michaels Hous-
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bot Count y Free Librar y, St. Michaels. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free instruction for knitting, beading, or anything else that fuels your passion for being creative. You may also bring a lunch. For more info. tel: 410-822-1626 or visit tcfl.org.
ing Authority Community Room, Dodson Ave. 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Free. For more info. tel: 410-7456073 or visit stmichaelscc.org. 4,11,18,25 The Senior Gathering at the St. Michaels Community Center, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-745-6073 or visit stmichaelscc.org. 4,11,18,25 Meeting: Choptank Writers Group from 3 to 5 p.m. at t he Dorchester Center for the Arts, Cambridge. Everyone interested in writing is invited to participate. For more info. tel: 443-521-0039. 5 Arts & Crafts Group at the Tal-
5
Blo o d B a n k don at ion d r i ve f r om no on to 7 p.m. at I mmanuel United Church of Christ, Cambridge. For more info. tel: 800-548-4009 or visit delmarvablood.org.
5 Family Unplugged Games at the Talbot County Free Library, St. Michaels. 3:30 p.m. Bring the whole family for an afternoon
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academyartmuseum.org.
of board games and f un. For all ages (children 5 and under accompanied by an adult). For more info. tel: 410-822-1626 or visit tcfl.org. 5,12,19,26 Men’s Group Meeting at Evergreen: A Center for Balanced Living in Easton. 7:30 to 9 a.m. Weekly meeting where men can frankly and openly deal with issues in their lives. For more info. tel: 410-819-3395 or visit evergreeneaston.org. 5,12,19,26 Dog Walking at Adkins Arboretum, Ridgely. Thursdays at 10 a.m. For more info. tel: 410 - 634-2847, ext. 0 or v isit adkinsarboretum.org. 5,12,19,26 Mahjong at the St. Michaels Communit y Center. 10 a.m. to noon on Thursdays. Open to all who want to learn to play this ancient Chinese game of skill. Drop-ins welcome. Free. For more info. tel: 410-745-6073 or visit stmichaelscc.org. 5,12,19,26 Class: Thursday Studio - a weekly mentored painting session with Diane DuBois Mullaly at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. Full day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; half day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1 to 4 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit
5,12 ,19,26 Kent Island Farmer’s Market from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. every Thursday at Christ Church, 830 Romancoke Rd., Stevensville. For more info. visit kifm830.wixsite.com/kifm. 5,12,19,26 Meeting: Ducks Unlimited - Bay Hundred Chapter at the St. Michaels Community Center, St. Michaels. 7 to 9 p.m. For more info. tel: 410 -886 2069. 5,12,19,26 Open Mic & Jam at R A R Brew ing in Cambr idge. Thursdays f rom 7 to 11 p.m. Listen to live acoustic music by local musicians, or bring your own instrument and join in. For more info. tel: 443-225-5664. 6 Monthly Coffee & Critique with Katie Cassidy and Diane DuBois Mullaly at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. 10 a.m. to noon. $10 per person. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. 6 First Friday in downtown Easton. Art galleries offer new shows and have many of their artists present throughout the evening. Tour the galleries, sip a drink and explore the fine talents of local artists. 5 to 8 p.m.
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and observers are free. Refreshments provided. Enjoy a fun night of dancing and socializing. For more info. tel: 410-221-1978 or 410-901-9711.
6 First Friday in downtown Chestertown. Art galleries offer new shows and have many of their artists present throughout the evening. Tour the galleries, sip a drink and explore the fine talents of local artists. 5 to 8 p.m. 6 First Friday reception at Studio B Gallery, Easton. 5 to 8 p.m. For more info. tel: 443-988-1818 or visit studioBartgallery.com. 6 Dorchester Sw ingers Square Dancing Club meets at Maple Elementary School on Egypt Rd., Cambridge. $7 for guest members to dance. Club members
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6-28 RiverArts Members’ Show at Chestertown River Arts. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exhibition open to all media. Members only. For more info. tel: 410-778-6300. 6,7,13,14,20,21,27,28 Rock ‘N’ Bowl at Choptank Bowling Center, Cambridge. 9 to 11:59 p.m. Unlimited bowling, includes food and drink specials, blacklighting, disco lights and jammin’ music. Rental shoes included. $13.99 every Friday and Saturday night. For more info. visit choptankbowling.com. 6,13,20,27 Meeting: Friday Morning Artists at Denny’s in Easton. 8 a.m. All disciplines welcome. Free. For more info. tel: 443955-2490. 6,13,20,27 Meeting: Vets Helping Vets at the Hurlock American
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Legion #243. 9 a.m. Informational meeting to help vets find services. For more info. tel: 410943-8205 after 4 p.m. 6,13,20,27 Bingo! every Friday night at the Easton Volunteer Fire Department on Creamery Lane, Easton. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and games start at 7:30 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-822-4848. 6,13,20,27 Meeting: Al-Anon at Minette Dick Hall, Hambrooks Blvd., Cambridge. 7 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-228-6958.
limited to the first 20. Children over 12 are permitted, but no dogs. Free. For more info. tel: 443-691-9370 or visit http://bit. do/winterwaterfowlwalks. 7
6 -Fe b. 10 Home S c ho ol A r t C l a s s e s w i t h S u s a n Ho r s e y at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. For ages 10+. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or v isit academyart museum. org. 6-Feb. 10 Home School Art Classes with Constance Del Nero at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. For ages 6 to 9 (please do not register 5-year-olds in this class). For more info. tel: 410 -822ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. 7 Winter Waterfowl Walk in the Sanctuary areas at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge. Guided walks begin at 8 a.m. with a local birding expert. Registration is 181
Cooking Demonstration and Lunch with Master Chef Mark Salter at the Robert Morris Inn, Oxford. All Italian! Demonstration at 10 with lunch at noon. $68 per person. For more info. tel: 410-226-5111.
Brides Love Berrier, Ltd
1 North Harrison St., Easton 410-819-0657
January Calendar 7 First Sat urday g uided wa lk. 10 a.m. at Adkins Arboretum, Ridgely. Free for members, $5 admission for non-members. For more info. tel: 410-634-2847, ext. 0 or visit adkinsarboretum.org. 7 The Met: Live in HD with Nabucco by Verdi at the Avalon Theatre, Easton. 1 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-822-7299 or visit avalonfoundation.org. 7 Claire Anthony to play at the Robert Morris Inn, Oxford. 6:30 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-226-5111. 7 Concert: Darius Christian in the Stoltz Listening Room, Avalon Theatre, Easton. 8 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-822-7299 or visit avalonfoundation.org. 7,14,21,28 Cars and Coffee at the Classic Motor Museum in St. Michaels. 9 to 11 a.m. For more info. tel: 410-745-8979 or visit classicmotormuseumstmichaels.org. 7,8,14,15,21,22,28,28 Apprentice for a Day Public Boatbuilding Program at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels. Pre-registration required. 10 a.m. Saturday to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more info. tel: 410-745-2916 and ask to speak with someone in the boatyard.
8 All You Can Eat Breakfast at the East New Market Volunteer Fire Department from 7 to 10 a.m. For more info. tel: 410-943-3663 or visit eastnewmarketvfd.com. 8 Firehouse Breakfast at the Oxford Volunteer Fire Company. 8 to 11 a.m. Proceeds to benefit fire and ambulance services. $10 for adults and $5 for children under 10. For more info. tel: 410-226-5110. 8,15 All You Can Eat Breakfast at the American Legion Post 70 in Easton (behind WalMart). 8 to 11 a.m. $9. For more info. tel: 410-770-5778.
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9 Meeting: Caroline County AARP Chapter #915 at the Church of the Nazarene, Denton. Noon. For more info. tel: 410-482-6039. 9-Feb. 13 Class: Intermediate/Advanced Pottery with Paul Aspell at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. Mondays from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. $195 members, $234 non-members. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. 9-Feb. 13 Class: Intermediate and Advanced Potter’s Wheel with Paul Aspell at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m. $195 members/$234 non-members. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. 10 Homemade chicken and dumpling d inner at t he A mer ic a n Legion Post 70 in Easton (behind WalMart). 4 to 6 p.m. $9. For more info. tel: 410-822-9138. 10,24 Buddhist Study Group at
Evergreen: A Center for Balanced Living, Easton. 6:30 to 8 p.m. Open to the public. For more info. tel: 410-819-3395 or visit evergreeneaston.org. 10,24 Meeting: Tidewater Stamp Club at the Mayor and Council Building, Easton. 7:30 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-822-1371 or visit twstampclub.com. 10-April 11 Story Time at the Talbot County Free Library, Easton. Tuesdays at 10 a.m. For children 5 and under accompanied by an adult. For more info. tel: 410822-1626 or visit tcfl.org. 11 Early Morning Members’ Walk at Adkins Arboretum, Ridgely. 8 to 9:30 a.m. Dress for t he weather. Cancellations only in extreme weather. For more info. tel: 410-634-2847, ext. 0 or visit adkinsarboretum.org. 11 Meeting: Bayside Quilters from 9 a.m. to noon at the Easton Volunteer Fire Department on Au-
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January Calendar rora Park Drive, Easton. Guests are welcome, memberships are available. For more info. e-mail mhr2711@gmail.com. 11 Workshop: Introduction to Pastels with Katie Cassidy at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. $50 members/$60 non-members (plus $5 materials fee). For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. 11 Craft Explorers at the Talbot County Free Librar y, Easton. 3 to 4:30 p.m. Create from a variety of craft materials. For
Support Groups Together - Positive Approaches Easton mariahsmission2014@gmail.com
Together - Silent No More Easton & Pasadena www.talbothospice.org www.hospicechesapeake.org
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more info. tel: 410-822-1626 or visit tcfl.org. 11 Grief Support Group Meeting ~ Together: Silent No More at Talbot Hospice, Easton. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Support group for those who have lost a loved one to substance abuse or addiction. For more info. tel: 410-822-6681. 11 Peer Support Group Meeting ~ Together: Positive Approaches at the Bank of America building, 8 Goldsboro Street, Easton. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Peer support group for family members currently struggling with a loved one with substance use disorder, led by trained facilitators. Free. For more info. e-mail mariahsmission2014@gmail.com. 11 Meeting: Baywater Camera Club at the Dorchester Center for the Arts, Cambridge. 6 to 8 p.m. All are welcome. For more info. tel: 443-939-7744. 11
Me e t i ng: O pt i m i s t C lub at Hunter’s Tavern, Tidewater Inn, Easton. 6:30 to 8 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-310-9347.
11,18,25,31 Watercolor Basics - a free video course with Sterling Edwards at the Talbot County Free Library, St. Michaels. 10 a.m. to noon. Sponsored by the St. Michaels A r t League. For 184
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January Calendar
Count y Free Librar y, St. Michaels. 3:30 p.m. Explore Minecraft on the Library’s computers. For ages 5 and older. For more info. tel: 410-822-1626 or visit tcf l.org.
more info. tel: 410-253-3262 or visit smartleague.org. 11,25 Stor y Time at the Talbot Count y Free Librar y, St. Michaels. 10:30 a.m. For children age 5 and under accompanied by an adult. For more info. tel: 410-822-1626 or visit tcfl.org. 11,25 Chess Club from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Talbot County Free Library, St. Michaels. Players gather for f r iendly competition and instruction. For more info. tel: 410-745-9490. 11,25 Mi necra f t at t he Ta lbot
11-Feb. 15 Class: Intermediate/Advanced Hand Building with Paul Aspell at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. $195 members/$234 non-members. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. 11-Feb. 15 Class: Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced Pottery with Paul Aspell at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. Wednesdays
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Lu-Ev
FRAMING SHOP AND GALLERY 25 E. Dover St., Easton ¡ 410-822-5770 186
f rom 6 to 8 p.m. $195 members,/$234 non-members. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org.
13 Concert: Whitney Akridge in the Stoltz Listening Room, Avalon Theatre, Easton. 8 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-822-7299 or visit avalonfoundation.org.
12 Soup Day at Christ Church, Cambridge. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. $3.50. Carry-outs available. For more info. tel: 410-228-3161.
13,27 Judy Center 0-3 Playgroup at the Talbot County Free Library, Easton. 10 to 11 a.m. For more info. tel: 410-822-1626 or visit tcfl.org.
12 Young Gardeners Club, spons or e d by t he Ta lb ot C ou nt y Garden Club. 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. at the Talbot County Free Library, Easton. For grades 1 to 4. Pre-registration is required. For more info. tel: 410-822-1626 or visit tcfl.org. 12 , 2 6 Memoi r Wr it i ng at t he Talbot County Free Library, St. Michaels. Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Record and share your memories of life and family with a group of friendly folk. Participants are invited to bring their lunch. Please pre-register. For more info. tel: 410-745-5877 or visit tcfl.org. 12-Ma rch 2 A f ter School A r t Club with Susan Horsey at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. For grades 2 through 8. 3:45 to 5 p.m. $115 members/$125 nonmembers. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org.
1 4 Friends of the Librar y Second Saturday Book Sale at the Dorchester County Public Library, Cambridge. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-228-7331 or visit dorchesterlibrary.org. 14 Second Saturday at the Artsway from 2 to 4 p.m., 401 Market Street, Denton. Interact w ith artists as they demonstrate their work. For more info. tel: 410-4791009 or visit carolinearts.org. 14 Second Saturday and Art Walk in Historic Downtown Cambridge on Race, Poplar, Muir and High streets. Shops will be open late. Galleries will be opening new shows and holding receptions. Restaurants w ill feature live music. 5 to 9 p.m. For more info. visit cambridgemainstreet.com. 14 Martin Luther King Memorial Concert: Lift Up Our Voices in Song at the Garfield Center for the Arts, Chestertown. 5 p.m. For
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Ha l l, Trappe. 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. TUMC is also the home of “Martha’s Closet” Yard Sale and C om mu n it y O ut re ach Store, open during the breakfast and every Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to noon. 17 Alexander Barnett to play at the Robert Morris Inn, Oxford. 6:30 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-2265111.
more info. tel: 410-810-2060 or visit garfieldcenter.org. 14 Second Saturday Art Night Out in St. Michaels. Take a walking tour of St. Michaels’ six fine art galleries, all centrally located on Talbot Street. For more info. visit historic.stmichaels.org. 14-Feb. 11 Class: 4th annual Winter Challenge - A Painting a Day for 30 Days! with Diane DuBois Mullaly and Katie Cassidy at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. Sat urdays f rom 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. $185 members/$222 nonmembers. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. 14,28 Country Church Breakfast at Faith Chapel and Trappe United Methodist churches in Wesley
17-Feb. 21 Class: Oil Painting From Concept to Creation with Brad Ross at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. $160 members/$192 non-members. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. 18 Arts Express Bus Trip to the Baltimore Museum of Art sponsored by the Academy Museum of Art, Easton. $60 members/$72 non-members. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. 18 Meeting: Dorchester Caregivers Support Group from 2 to 3 p.m. at Pleasant Day Adult Medical Day Care, Cambridge. For more info. tel: 410-228-0190. 18 Book Discussion: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. 3:30 p.m. at the Talbot County
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19 Stroke Survivor’s Support Group at Pleasant Day Medical Adult Day Care in Cambridge. 1 to 2 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-2280190 or visit pleasantday.com. 19 Third Thursday in downtown Denton from 5 to 7 p.m. Shop for one-of-a-kind floral arrangements, gifts and home decor, dine out on a porch with views of the Choptank River, or enjoy a stroll around town as businesses extend their hours. For more info. tel: 410-479-0655. 19 Meeting: Tidewater Camera Club with guest speaker David Blecman f rom 7 to 9 p.m. in the Talbot County Community Free Library, St. Michaels. Open to all. For more info. tel: 410822-1626 or visit tcfl.org. 18 Yoga Therapy at Evergreen: A Center for Balanced Living in Easton. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-819-3395 or visit evergreeneaston.org. 18-Feb. 22 Class: Pastel Painting - Capturing the Light in Landscapes with Katie Cassidy at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. $200 members/$240 nonmembers. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. 189
Tandem Antiques is moving to the historic Linchester Mill property in Preston, MD. Opening February. See our next ad or call for updated info. 410-829-3559 www.TandemAntiquesEaston.com
January Calendar
Public Library, Cambridge. 1 to 3 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-6908128 or visit midshoreprobono. org.
Center’s Wye Oak Room. Blecman will speak on Becoming a Better Photographer. In his presentation, full-time professional photographer and instructor, Blecman will demonstrate how to become a better photographer without even mentioning aperture, shutter speed, or other technical aspects of the camera. The public is invited to attend. For more info. visit tidewatercameraclub.org. 19-March 9 Class: Boating Skills & Seamanship at Chesapeake College, Cambridge Campus, from 6 to 9 p.m. The local Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla is offering this class designed for experienced and beginning boaters alike. For more info. tel: 410-827-5810 or e-mail amslater@chesapeake. edu. 20 Mid- Shore Pro Bono L ega l Clinic at the Dorchester County
20 Concert: Aztec Two-Step in the Stoltz Listening Room, Avalon Theatre, Easton. 8 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-822-7299 or visit avalonfoundation.org. 20-Feb. 5 Play: Jake’s Women by Neil Simon at the Church Hill Theatre, Church Hill. Wildly comic and sometimes moving. For more info. tel: 410-556-6003 or visit churchhilltheatre.org. 21 The Met: Live in HD with Romeo et Juliette by Gounod at the Avalon Theatre, Easton. 1 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-822-7299 or visit avalonfoundation.org. 21 Inside the Academy Awards with William Gordean. 2 p.m. at the Talbot County Free Library, St. Michaels. Film editor and producer William Gordean to speak about The Histor y and Inner
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23 Book Arts for Teens and Adults at the Talbot County Free Library, St. Michaels. 3 p.m. Accordion Book - explore the fascinating process of creating a personal journal. For more info. tel: 410745-5877 or visit tcfl.org. 23 Easton Library to Reveal ... The Future! Join Bill Peak for a discussion of Scientific America’s September issues, devoted exclusively to an examination of the future. 6 p.m. at the Talbot County Free Library, Easton. For more info. tel: 410-822-1626 or visit tcfl.org. Workings of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. For more info. tel: 410-745-5877 or visit tcfl.org. 21 Concert: Brad & Ken Kolodner in the Stoltz Listening Room, Avalon Theatre, Easton. 8 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-822-7299 or visit avalonfoundation.org. 21-Feb. 25 Class: Oil Painting Understanding Tone with Matt hew Hillier at t he Ac ademy Art Museum, Easton. Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. $205 members/$246 non-members. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org.
24 Lecture: Successful Gardening in Deer Country with local author Ruth Rogers Clausen at the Talbot County Free Library, Easton. 1 p.m. Sponsored by the Talbot County Garden Club. Clausen will share how choosing plants carefully can help ward off hungry deer in your garden. Free and open to the public. For more info. tel: 410-226-5184. 24 Meeting: The CARES Breast Cancer Support Group at UM Shore Regional Breast Center, Easton. 6 to 7:30 p.m. For more info. tel: 410 -822-1000, ex t. 5411. 24 Meeting: Women Supporting Women, lo c a l bre a s t c a nc er support group, meets at Christ
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more info. tel: 410-822-1000, ext. 5196.
Episcopal Church, Cambridge. 6:30 p.m. For more info. tel: 410-463-0946. 24-Feb. 14 Class: Introduction to Printmaking Class - Monoprints w ith Sher yl Southw ick at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. Tuesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. $150 members/$180 non-members, $30 materials fee. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. 25 Meet ing: Diabetes Suppor t Group at the Dorchester Family Y MCA, Cambridge. 5:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. For
•Fresh coffee roasted on the premises. •Hot Chocolate and Hot Tea •French Presses, single cup pour overs, and tasting flights. •On-Site Parking Gift bags for the Coffee Connoisseur! 500 S. Talbot St., St. Michaels 410-714-0334
26 Easton Library to Reveal ... The Future! Join Bill Peak for a discussion of Scientific America’s September issue devoted exclusively to an examination of the future. 3 p.m. at the Talbot County Free Library, St. Michaels. For more info. tel: 410-822-1626 or visit tcfl.org. 26 Dorchester Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and dinner at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort, Cambridge. 5:30 p.m. $75 per person or $550 for a table of 8. For more info. tel: 410-228-3575 or e-mail info@ dorchesterchamber.org. 27 27th annual Spaghetti Dinner at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, St. Michaels. 4:30 to
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Art at the Academy Art Museum, Easton. 6 p.m. $20 members/$24 non-members. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org.
7:30 p.m. All you can eat for $10 (children 11 and under $3). Takeouts available. For more info. tel: 410-745-2534. 27 Among Friends Gala: Celebrity Stumpers ... A Battle of Wits at the Talbot County Free Library, Easton. 5:30 to 8 p.m. Enjoy an evening of fine food and drink, great company and a live, TV-style game show. $50. For more info. tel: 410-822-1626 or visit tcfl.org. 27 Lecture: The Kittredge-Wilson Lecture Series presents Mark L eit h au s er, Ch ie f of D e sig n and Senior Curator of the National Gallery of Art ~ Behind the Scenes at the National Gallery of
28 Children’s Class: Make Your Own Fantasy Bird at the Academy A r t Museum, Easton. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free. For more info. tel: 410-822-ARTS (2787) or visit academyartmuseum.org. 30 Coloring for Teens and Adults at the Talbot County Free Library, St. Michaels. 3 p.m. Explore the relaxing process of coloring. For more info. tel: 410-822-1626 or visit tcfl.org.
Celebrating 25 Years Tracy Cohee Hodges Vice President Area Manager Eastern Shore Lending
111 N. West St., Suite C Easton, MD 21601 410-820-5200 tcohee@ďŹ rsthome.com
www.tracycohee.com
NMLS ID: 148320
This is not a guarantee to extend consumer credit. All loans are subject to credit approval and property appraisal. First Home Mortgage Corporation NMLS ID #71603 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)
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St. Aubins Gracious Federal-style home ca. 1803. Gorgeous period home with original wood floors, moldings and fireplaces. Extensively renovated retaining the character of the home with modern amenities. Property includes large garage with workshop. Situated on a large town lot, close to downtown dining, shops and entertainment. $365,000
Sailors Retreat It’s all in the details! Modern Cape Cod brimming with Old World Charm: hand-painted hardwood floors, custom cement kitchen sink, galvanized countertops, high-end appliances, pot filler, 1st floor master bedroom w/built-ins and full bath (currently gentleman’s library). Formal living room and dining room, family room w/gas fireplace and so much more. Ideal Oxford location on 2 acre lot. $462,000
Waterfront Estates, Farms and Hunting Properties also available.
Kathy Christensen
410-924-4814(C) · 410-822-1415(O ) Benson & Mangold Real Estate 27999 Oxford Road, Oxford, Maryland 21654 kccamb@gmail.com · info@bensonandmangold.com
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Architecturally important former church, 1913, now an art studio and/ or private residence. Spectacular cathedral ceilings, colorful stained glass windows, towering oak trees, privacy. 3 bedroom,s 2 bath, kitchen, dining room, reading room. $385,000
Handsome brick Colonial awaiting updating. Pine paneled FR with southern light all winter. Formal DR, LR w/fp. HW floors, basement, 1st floor MBR, bath and large closet. 2-car garage. 4 blocks to downtown. Reduced from $489,500 to $399,000
‘GALLOWAY” ca. 1760 - Once magnificent manor house now in need of restoration. 6,000 sq. ft. Superlative Georgian woodwork including paneled chimney breasts and 3-story staircase (see online photos). Gardens, barn, old greenhouses. 20 ac. on edge of Easton. $695,000
TRIPPE’S CREEK, Oxford Road 8’ MLW at pier. Huge water view, high ground, rip-rapped shore. 5 BR brick house with modern HVAC, hardood floors, granite countertops, MBR suite w/walk-in closets, library, home office. Reduced from $2,450,000 to $1,499,000
SHORELINE REALTY
114 Goldsborough St., Easton, MD 21601 410-822-7556 · 410-310-5745 www.shorelinerealty.biz · info@shorelinerealty.biz
2016 Floor Model Clearance Sale!
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