The Talbot Historical Society’s Laird Wise Collection has some pictures of spring flower shows at the Easton Elementary School in Easton, Maryland. The date that was on the archive box full of negatives in envelopes was 1953! Can you help us identify any of these students and teachers and also verify the date?

Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos and purchase our collections photos. Comment, Like our page and join the Talbot Historical Society!

The Tidewater Inn on the corner of Harrison and Dover Streets celebrated its grand opening on September 2, 1949! The Hotel was built by A. Johnson Grymes. The interesting discovery found by looking closely at this 1954 Talbot Historical Society H. Robins Hollyday Collection photo is that there was a house where the Tidewater Inn’s Gold Room is today! Does anyone remember when that addition was added? Contact:

Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos and purchase our collections photos. Comment, Like our page and join the Talbot Historical Society!

In 1933 scheduled air transportation services named Chesapeake Air Ferries began flying passenger and cargo flights between Easton and Baltimore out of Webb Airport on Black Dog Alley near Dover Road. Webb Airport was built in 1930 on Dorsey Webb’s farm and became the area’s Airport replacing the earlier Ratcliffe Manor Air Strip. Facts: “ shorehomeandgarden.com” “ Airfields that Once Were” by Kathi Ferguson March 1, 2024. This photo of three Stinson Aircraft model plans was taken by local professional photographer H. Robins Hollyday in 1935! Our third local airport, the present Easton AirPort/ Newnam Field , was built as a World War II military built auxiliary airfield in 1943.

Photo from the Talbot Historical Society’s H. Robins Hollyday Collection. Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos and purchase our collections photos. Comment, Like our page and join the Talbot Historical Society!

March Madness is in full swing right now and the Lady Terps had a big second round 111-108 overtime win against Alabama! Many of the ladies of this Easton High School 1931 Basketball team have been previously identified but there are a few we need help with. Row 1: ? Cox, Margaret Valliant, unidentified, mascot Walter Claggett, ? Matthews , Pat Haley, unidentified. Row 2: Ginny Covey, unidentified, Eleanor Bartlett, Sis Meintzer, Toots Fountain, unidentified, unidentified. Perhaps one of these lady Easton High School basketball players is a relative of yours?

Photo from the Talbot Historical Society’s H. Robins Hollyday Collection. Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos and purchase our collections photos. Comment, Like our page and join the Talbot Historical Society!

When we think of Spring we think of the beginning of Baseball Season! Can you help us identify any of the members of this c. 1950 Trappe, Maryland Baseball team? Photo from the Talbot Historical Society’s Laird Wise Collection.

Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos and purchase our collections photos. Comment, Like our page and join the Talbot Historical Society!

Can you identify the location of this restaurant? Wish we could see through the windows so we could identify if it was in Easton or St. Michaels ! Photo from the Talbot Historical Society’s H. Robins Hollyday Collection. The Hollyday Collection photos were mainly taken in the 1930s – 1950s.

Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos and purchase our collections photos. Comment, Like our page and join the Talbot Historical Society!

The Easton, Maryland Goldsborough Street Fire of August 11th, 1954 started behind the People’s Meat Market on the South side of Goldsborough Street near Washington Street at about 3 am! The fire destroyed stores on Goldsborough, and the L shaped McCrory’s Variety Store that also had a Washington Street entrance! One hundred firemen from the Easton Volunteer Fire Department and another 100 firemen from St. Michael’s, Cordova, Oxford, Trappe, Queen Anne, Cambridge, Denton, Federalsburg, and Preston battled and put out the fire before it destroyed more of downtown Easton! This found in Collection photo is of the rebuilding of McCrory’s on Goldsborough Street after the fire! Maybe you know a firemen or a workman who were part of saving and rebuilding Easton’s devastated downtown area? Facts: “ Easton Album” by Norman Harrington 1986.

Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos and purchase our collections photos. Comment, Like our page and join the Talbot Historical Society!

Such an interesting building! Judging from the automobiles this photo was probably taken in the 1920’s or 1930’s? The store windows have Oxford Sales Company on them which may or may not be a clue about where this building is? Even though the location was not given in the database the building with those 3 little upstairs windows was so familiar to me I Google earthed it and guessed right. Do you know where this building is in Talbot County? Photo from the Talbot Historical Society’s H. Robins Hollyday Collection.

Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos and purchase our collections photos. Comment, Like our page and join the Talbot Historical Society!

 

Though President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, issued on January 1, 1863, did not free the enslaved people in Maryland, it allowed African Americans throughout the nation to serve in the Union Army as part of the United States Colored Troops (USCT). This gave Black Americans the opportunity to fight not only for their nation, but also for their freedom and citizenship – and fight they did!

Frederick Douglass, a native son of Talbot County and a leading African American abolitionist, writer, orator, and newspaper publisher, placed steady pressure on the Lincoln administration to include African Americans in the Union Army. Douglass met with the President, used his influence to the fullest, and has received great credit for the creation and support of the USCT.

During the U.S. Civil War, nearly 180,000 African Americans served in the Union Army, with almost 80,000 recruited from states that remained in the Union. Of this number, 8,718 were from Maryland, and Talbot County led all Maryland counties in total enlistments.

By the start of the Civil War, African Americans in Talbot County were nearly equally divided, with half enslaved and half free. Many enslaved individuals from Talbot earned their freedom by enlisting in the USCT, often with the support of their masters.

The high enlistment rate from Talbot County had a significant impact on its white families, forever changing their destinies. The Civil War saw the first draft in U.S. history to enroll men for battle. There were four draft rounds during the War, but Talbot County was only subjected to the first. The enlistment of Talbot’s African Americans counted toward the County’s quota of men required for the Union Army. Because so many black men enlisted, no additional white men from Talbot were drafted after the first round.

Many senior Union commanders were initially skeptical about how African Americans would perform in battle and questioned their willingness to fight. Many formerly enslaved men had little experience with firearms and could neither read nor write. However, time and time again, black USCT soldiers proved their mettle in combat, exhibiting great valor, courage, and a ferocious fighting spirit that both surprised and impressed senior corps commanders. These black soldiers earned the respect of their commanders and their fellow white soldiers alike.

Our men from Talbot County served in every USCT regiment formed in Maryland and in the United States Navy as well. They participated in major battles in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina from 1864 through 1865, including the battles to capture Petersburg and Richmond. Talbot County soldiers were also involved in the final battles leading to the defeat of General Robert E. Lee’s army and were present when Lee surrendered at Appomattox Courthouse.

This May, the Talbot Historical Society, located downtown Easton, will present an exhibit titled “With Valor and Honor – Talbot County’s United States Colored Troops During the Civil War.” This exhibit will feature numerous images and artifacts that tell the incredible story of the courage, honor, and valor displayed by these men. They served their nation at a time when many blacks in the Union states were still enslaved, and those who were free had no rights of citizenship. Our staff has been working diligently to research this history and, most importantly, to identify the names of the men who served. To date, we have uncovered the names of over 550 men from Talbot County who served in the Union’s United States Colored Troops – and we are still discovering more!  During this exhibit, the Talbot Historical Society will have these men’s military records available so those interested, including these men’s descendants, can have direct access to this rich history.  

Paul Callahan
Talbot Historical Society

Below is the list of names we have discovered so far. Do you recognize any of these family names?

Adams, Gilbert

Adams, James

Adams, James K.

Adams, James R.

Adams, John B.

Adams, Philip

Adams, William

Aikens, Henry

Aldrich, Taylor

Aldrich, Edward

Alexon, Daniel

Anderson, Alexander

Anderson, John H. C.

Anderson, Theodore

Askins, William

Bailey Stephen

Bailey, John H

Bailey, Solomon

Banks, Alfred

Banks, Josiah

Bantam, Edward

Bantum, Franklin

Bantum, John

Bantum, John W.

Bantum, Joseph H

Bantum, Perry

Bantum, Richard

Bantum, Theophilus

Bantum, Thomas H.

Barley, Isaac

Barnes, Whitley

Barnes, William

Bartiman, Mate

Bectman, William

Bennett, Edmund

Bennett, George W.

Bennett, William

Benson, William

Bentley, Henry

Bentley, William

Bidgell, Edward

Bidgell, Stephen

Bidgell, Thomas

Black, Benjamin

Blackwell, Benjamin

Blackwell, John

Blackwell, Peter

Blake, Albert

Bolden, Risden

Bond, Nicholas

Bond, Samuel

Bowlin, Andrew

Bowzer, Richard

Bracker, David C.

Brice, Isaac J.

Brooks, Alexander

Brooks, Daniel

Brooks, David

Brooks, George

Brooks, James

Brooks, John

Brooks, Perry

Brooks, Wilson

Brown, Harrison

Bryan, George

Bryan, Robert James

Burk, Perry

Burkett, Thomas

Burris, John W.

Bush, William H.

Butler, Edward

Butler, John H.

Camfer, Solomon

Camper, Alfred

Camper, Jacob

Camper, Stephen

Cannon, Levin

Carey, Elijah

Carmichael, Thomas

Carper (Copper), Isaac

Carper (Copper), John

Carper, Franklin

Carper, Matthew

Carper, William

Carroll, John

Chase, Abram

Chase, Isaac

Chase, Perry E.

Chew, Jacob

Chew, Josiah

Clark, George

Clarke, Thomas

Clay, Henry

Clayton, Ennells

Clayton, George Henry

Cluff, Aberdeen

Coleman, William

Collins, Henry

Colwell, Thomas H.

Cooper, Allen

Cooper, Charles

Cooper, Emory

Cooper, Greenberry

Cooper, Morris

Cooper, Samuel

Cooper, William H.

Copper, John

Copper, Peter

Cornish, Thomas

Cottman, Ebenezer

Cowherd, Soloman

Cox, Allen

Cox, John

Cropper, Esma L.

Curtis, William T.

Davis, Edmund

Davis, John

Demby, Benjamin

Demby, Emory

Demby, Lewis

Demby, Thomas H

Demby, Washington

Dennis, James

Derry, John L.

Deshields, John

Devines, William

Dickerson, Frisby

Dickinson, David F.

Dickson, James A.

Dillahay, Peter

Dix, William

Doane, John

Dobson, James H.

Dobson, John

Dobson, William

Docking, Levin

Dorham, Edward

Dorman, Daneil

Dorsey, Charles

Dorsey, Charles H.

Dorum, William

Downes, Isaac

Downes, Thomas

Downs, Allen

Downs, George W.

Downs, Horace

Downs, James E

Downs, Thomas E.

Earle, William

Emery, James

Ennells, Robert

Ennels, Risdon

Evans, Isaac

Farrell, William

Fassett, Robert

Ferarrow, John W.

Fisher, Isaiah

Fisher, John

Fletcher, Charles

Floyd, Edmund

Ford, Alexander

Frazier, James

Frazier, William H.

Freeman, Garrison

Freeman, George

Freeman, James

Frisby, Samuel

Furr, Samuel

Gale, Isaac

Gale, John H. T.

Gale, Joseph

Gale, Thomas

Gasper, William

Gates, John H.

Gibson, Charles

Gibson, Henry

Gibson, Horace

Gibson, Isaac

Gibson, Jacob

Gibson, Jacob G

Gibson, James

Gibson, Jerry

Gibson, John H.

Gibson, Levin

Gibson, Robert

Gibson, William

Griffin, John H.

Griffin, Thomas

Gleaves, John

Gleaves, William

Goldsboro, Frederick

Goldsboro, James

Goldsboro, John

Goldsboro, Thomas

Gooby, Robert

Gooby, Joseph

Grace, Lewis

Grace, Thomas

Graves, Henry

Grayson, John W.

Green, Alexander

Green, Benjamin

Green, James

Green, John

Green, Joseph

Green, Solomon

Green, William

Griffin, William W

Gross, Thomas

Gross, William

Gustave, Horace

Gustave, John

Hamilton, James

Handy, Henry

Handy, James

Hard, Henry

Hardman, Thomas

Harris, Edward E.

Harris, James

Harris, John

Harris, John H.

Harris, Wesley John

Harrison, Samuel H.

Haskins, Lewis

Haskins, William H.

Hearn, William E.

Henry, Harry

Henson, Ashbury

Henson, Theodore

Hinson, Isaac

Holland, Edward

Holland, John

Homely, James

Hopkins, Alexander

Hopkins, Edward

Hopkins, John

Hopkins, Oswald

Howard, Enoch

Hubbard, John E.

Hughes, Alexander

Hughes, George

Hughes, William James

Hurd, John

Hutchins, Josiah

Jackson, Anthony

Jackson, Emory

Jackson, George

Jackson, John H.

Jackson, Solomin

Jackson, Thomas

James, Isaac Henry

James, Theodore

Jarmon, Sewell

James, John W.

Jenkins, John

Johns, Asbury

Johns, Charles E

Johns, Frederick

Johns, Jacob

Johns, Joshua

Johns, Levi

Johns, Robert

Johns, Wilson

Johnson, Daniel

Johnson, Daniel J.

Johnson, David

Johnson, Edward

Johnson, Elijah

Johnson, Emanuel

Johnson, Isaac

Johnson, Jacob

Johnson, James H.

Johnson, Jeremiah

Johnson, Jesse

Johnson, John

Johnson, John Charles

Johnson, John H

Johnson, John Henry

Johnson, Joseph

Johnson, Joseph H.

Johnson, Joshua

Johnson, Levin

Johnson, Lewis

Johnson, Nathan

Johnson, Perry

Johnson, Perry B.

Johnson, Peter

Johnson, Samuel

Johnson, Thomas

Johnson, William

Jones, Henry

Jones, Henry H.

Jones, Henry J.

Jones, Isaac D.

Jones, John

Jones, Nelson

Jones, Samuel J.

Jones, Thomas

Jordon, Henry

Joshua, Alexander

Joshua, William H

Kellum, Charles

Kellum, Henry

Kellum, Isaac

Kellum, William

Kelson, James

Kelson, James H

King, James

Kinniman, William T.

Lanman, Thomas

Lewis, John H

Lloyd, Alexander

Macey, Frank

Macey, Howard

Mackey, Ralph

Mackey, Samuel

Mackey, Theodore

Madden, Isaac

Malone, Sylvester C

Manoky, Alfred

Manwell, Humane J.

Maxfield, Moses

Mayberry, Jacob

Mays, Henry

McIvin, Sime

McQuay, Lewis

Meads, Benjamin

Miller, Charles

Miller, James R.

Miller, Thomas

Milligan, William H.

Mills, Horace

Mills, James H.

Moloch, Caleb

Monokey, Moses

Mony, Ellins

Mony, Ennels

Mony, Richard

Moore, Alexander

Moore, Andrew

Moore, Isaac

Moore, James

Munson, Frederick

Murray, John

Murray, Joseph

Murray, Levin

Murray, Martin

Murray, Owen

Murray, Samuel

Nelson, Perry

Newman, Aaron

Newman, George

Newman, James

Newman, Risdon

Newman, William R

Nichols, Christopher

Nichols, George

Nichols, Hanson

Nichols, Isaac

Nichols, Joseph

Nichols, Lloyd

Nickson, Albert

Nutter, Josiah

Opher, Moses

Oxford, Charles

Palmer, John

Parker, Albert

Parker, James H.

Parker, Nathan

Payne, William H

Peck, Columbus

Peck, James

Pennerton, Henry

Pennewell, Handy

Perkins, Philemon

Perkins, Stephen

Pickkney, John H

Pinckett, Cornelius B

Pinckett, James

Pinckney, Jerry

Pinckney, Perry

Pinckney, Samuel

Pinkney, Jeremiah

Pitts, Joshua

Pony, John

Porter, Edmund

Potter, John

Powell, James

Pritchard, Charles

Raikes, John

Rakes, Solomon

Redding, Stephen

Rezin, Thomas

Rice, Frisby

Rice, Thomas

Richardson, Jerry

Ridout, John W.

Riggs, Charles

Risden, Thomas

Roberts, Charles

Roberts, Charles H.

Roberts, Frisby

Roberts, James

Roberts, Philemon

Robinson, Levin

Rodgers, William

Ross, George H.

Ross, William

Rozier, McElbert

Rugg, William

Russum, Alexander

Sample, George

Sampson, Barnet J.

Sampson, Barney

Sampson, Charles S.

Sampson, Isaac

Sampson, James

Sampson, Thomas

Scott, Joseph

Sewel, Robinson

Sherwood, Charles

Shields, Solomon

Shields, William

Showell, Peter

Simpson, Herman

Slater, James H.

Slaughter, James

Slaughter, Nicholas

Small, Zachariah

Smallwood, Moses

Smiley, Charles

Smith, Charles Moloch, Caleb

Smith, Charles

Smith, David

Smith, Edward

Smith, James

Smith, Jeremiah

Smith, John

Smith, John E.

Smith, Levin

Smith, Lloyd

Smith, Robert Henry

Smyler, Aaron

Somers, Othello

Somers, Owen

Sprouts, Frisby

Stansberry, Benjamin

Stevens, Addison

Steward, Dennis

Steward, George

Steward, Lloyd

Steward, William

Stewart, Asbury

Stewart, James W.

Sullivan, John W.

Summers, Othello

Summers, Owen

Susker, George

Sutton, Jacob

Sutton, Solomon

Sutton, William

Thomas, Adam

Thomas, Andrew

Thomas, Charles

Thomas, Charles H.

Thomas, Edward

Thomas, George

Thomas, George W.

Thomas, Green

Thomas, Henry

Thomas, Isaac

Thomas, Jeremiah

Thomas, Lemuel

Thomas, Oliver

Thomas, Risdon

Thomas, Thomas

Thomas, Washington

Thomas, Wesley

Thomas, William

Thomas, Wilson

Thompson, Mitchell

Thompson, Richard

Tilghman, Charles

Tilghman, Henry

Tilghman, Samuel

Tilghman, Thomas

Tokeley, James B.

Tripp, George

Tripp, James

Tripp, William

Tumey, John H.

Turner, Horace

Turner, Irvin

Turner, Marcellus

Turner, William A

Walker, Isaac

Wallace, Samuel

Warfield, William H.

Warrick, Robert

Washington, George

Wells, James

Wells, Lewis

Wells, Thomas

West, John

Wheatley, John E J

White, Henry

White, John

White, John H

White, Thomas

Whitticole, John

Wilkinson, Joseph H.

Williams, Adam

Williams, Frisby

Williams, Henry

Williams, Jacob

Williams, James E.

Williams, Robert

Wilson, Charles H.

Wilson, John Henry

Wilson, Wesley

Woolford, Moses

Wright, Alexander

Wright, Henry

Wright, James

Wright, John

Wright, William H

Wrightson, Joseph

Young, Jerry

 

Happy Valentine’s Day! This unidentified couple are standing in front of a 1940’s Plymouth sedan across the street from a Texaco gas station probably somewhere in Talbot County! The home in the background looks a little like the present one next to the Triangle gas station that is now at the intersection of Dover and Locust Streets in Easton, Maryland? The lady is wearing a corsage so they are definitely celebrating some special occasion! Maybe you can solve the mysteries of where this photo was taken and who the couple is? Photo from the Talbot Historical Society’s H. Robins Hollyday Collection.

Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos and purchase our collections photos. Comment, Like our page and join the Talbot Historical Society.