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St. Michaels Map and History
Dorchester’s Own Dave
by A.M. Foley
The Life of Dave (As Told by Himself) tells us that the English Setter, Dave, was born in a shed near East New Market in the mid1910s. The shelter where he and his litter mates were penned was quite undistinguished, as was their post-whelping diet. His lineage, on the other hand, was distinguished. Though he had no memory of him, his sire reputedly was a field trial winner named California Bell Boy. Many people were later heard to say that in maturity he resembled his champion sire, who apparently had gained some fame, at least around Dorchester County.
Dave’s story was conveyed through the pen of Frank E. Butler, who had sought him out for his wife, who wanted a bird dog to take along on the treks afield that she enjoyed above all things. She and Frank had traveled for decades while she performed as Annie Oakley, internationallyrenowned sharpshooter. When the middle-aged couple finally felt
St. Michaels Map and History
© John Norton
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.
For a walking tour and more history of the St. Michaels area visit https://tidewatertimes.com/travel-tourism/st-michaels-maryland/.
ready to slow down and establish a home base for themselves, out of a thousand towns where they had appeared, the Butlers chose to settle in Cambridge, Maryland, which they judged “a sportsman’s paradise.”
They planned to build a home on the Choptank River but were newly arrived and still staying in a downtown hotel when Frank went to East New Market and found the dog for Annie. Over some weeks before, all Dave’s litter mates had found new homes, leaving him penned up alone with his beautiful mother. She had lost interest in him, making life dull for the
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Dorchester's Own Dave ten miles out of town, likely the down-river duPont estate, where solitary, precocious puppy. When the Butlers were frequent guests. Frank Butler came along, they Frank trained Dave afield on the instantly felt drawn to each oth- fine points of quail hunting; Annie er. Initially the owner denied he taught him show tricks. He picked would ever part with either mother up on both so quickly, the Butlers or pup. This may likely have been were soon besotted with Dave. The a bargaining ploy, because Frank feeling was mutual. eventually succeeded in buying the puppy. They left in a wagon togeth- On Dave’s behalf, Frank opened er, the setter snuggled against the The Life of Dave philosophically: fall chill under a blanket with his new human. I’ve often heard my friends and
Frank surely took pleasure in in- admirers say, ‘I wish you could troducing the soulful-eyed young- talk so you could tell us what you ster to Annie. Ten years her senior, are thinking about.’ I suppose they Frank was anxious that she be con- meant well, but I always got along tent with their new, quieter life. very nicely without talking, and Now that her time was her own, from my own observations, I find she needed only a canine compan- that many people get in trouble by ion to complete her pleasure in forays afield. She and Frank were both jollier than Dave’s first human. The Butlers chose to name their new addition Dave in honor of a well-known friend, comedian Dave Montgomery (the original Tin Man in the Broadway musical, The Wizard of Oz).
After Dave spent one night exiled in a Cambridge stable, bedded down along with a pointer, Frank gained permission for him to join the Butlers in their hotel room. The well-trained pointer was on loan from a neighboring sportsman to model good behavior in the field for the pup. Frank took the two dogs hunting on a property about 102