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June 18, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

7 Ed Notes

Tilghman Watermen’s Museum Opens May 10 – New Sharps Island Exhibit

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OPENING ON MAY 10

On Saturday, May 10, the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum will re-open for the 2025 season. Standard hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 3 pm, and tours at other times may be scheduled by emailing [email protected].

Committed to celebrating, documenting, preserving, and sharing the history, traditions, heritage, and culture of Tilghman’s Island, the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum has dozens of oral histories by local watermen; hosts an exceptional collection of paintings by local artists; and has a treasure trove of artifacts and boat models.

Sharps Island Lighthouse

NEW SHARPS ISLAND EXHIBIT

Located about three miles south/southwest of Tilghman Island, Sharps Island once measured 700 acres. Now, none of it is visible above the water (except for its last lighthouse), making it one of roughly 400 islands to have disappeared into the Bay.

The new exhibit takes us back to when Sharps Island rose above the Chesapeake Bay and housed a community of families and lighthouse keepers. The history begins with the first patent granted in 1652 was continued by the Exhibit Committee, which has researched, collected, and archived the rich history of this region.

The exhibit is based on the geology and archeological findings of Dr. Darrin Lowery, a distinguished archaeologist, who is from the area and has done extensive work on Sharps Island.  It begins in time with geological and archeological findings along with timelines and maps, including a collection of arrowheads that were collected from Sharps Island by Dr. Darrin Lowery, prior to its disappearance, some dating back 16,000 years.

The history continues with narratives from families who owned and lived on the island, along with some of their personal family documents. And of course the exhibit covers the various lighthouses that have stood on Sharps Island and the lighthouse keepers who took care of them. This portion of the exhibit includes an actual logbook, beautifully written by the keepers, which captures their daily observations.

Admission to the museum is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.

The museum is located in the Lee House at 6031 Tilghman Island Road. For additional information, contact us by email: [email protected] or visit our website: www.tilghmanmuseum.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Tilghman Watermen’s Museum Speaker Series

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On Saturday, March 22, at 1:00 PM, the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum Speaker Series will host Jim Duffy at the Tilghman Island Volunteer Fire Department, 5979 Tilghman Island Road.  

Jim is a storyteller and the author of the popular Secrets of the Eastern Shore series of books, along with Shore Fun! The Wanderer’s Guide to Delmarva, You Wouldn’t Believe! 44 Strange and Wondrous Delmarva Tales, and Tubman Travels: 32 Underground Railroad Journeys on Delmarva. Jim will regale us with tales from Talbot County and the Delmarva region. Join us for a fun afternoon!

Copies of Jim’s books will be available for sale, and he will sign each one.

The event is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. 

Committed to celebrating, documenting, preserving, and sharing the history, traditions, heritage, and culture of Tilghman’s Island, the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum hosts an exceptional collection of local artists such as Bill Cummings, Colleen Sadler, Marc Castelli, and Nancy Tankersley. The museum contains a treasure trove of artifacts, oral histories, and boat models. 

Located in the Lee House at 6031 Tilghman Island Road, the museum is closed for the winter and will re-open in the spring. For additional information, contact us by email: [email protected] or visit our website: www.tilghmanmuseum.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Tilghman Watermen’s Museum announces Splendor for 2025

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The Tilghman Watermen’s Museum announces the date for Splendor in 2025, This fundraising event supports the Museum’s vision of preserving and sharing the history, traditions, heritage, and culture of Tilghman Island. 

The event will take place on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 5 to 8 PM at the Tilghman Island Volunteer Fire Hall at 5979 Tilghman Island Road. This popular event has a reputation for Eastern Shore hospitality with a raw bar of oysters freshly shucked by local watermen, fine wines, craft beer, and light fare from local restaurants. 

  • Paintings, photographs, unique woodwork, jewelry, and other artwork from well-known local artists
  • Chartered fishing trips, crabbing trips, and sunset cruises on the Chesapeake
  • Overnight packages and gift certificates to hotels, restaurants, and shops
  • And tickets for the Ravens!

Tickets for Splendor are $40 per person and are available by contacting the Museum at [email protected]

or purchasing at 

  • Two If By Sea
  • Fairbank Tackle
  • 2 Vintage Chics
  • Tilghman Island Country Store

Located in the Lee House at 6031 Tilghman Island Road, the museum is currently closed for the winter. For additional information, contact us by email: [email protected] or visit our website: www.tilghmanmuseum.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Tilghman Watermen’s Museum announces Splendor for 2025

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Annual Fundraiser Supporting the Heritage of Tilghman Island

The Tilghman Watermen’s Museum announces the date for Splendor in 2025, This fundraising event supports the Museum’s vision of preserving and sharing the history, traditions, heritage, and culture of Tilghman Island. 

The event will take place on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 5 to 8 PM at the Tilghman Island Volunteer Fire Hall at 5979 Tilghman Island Road. This popular event has a reputation for Eastern Shore hospitality with a raw bar of oysters freshly shucked by local watermen, fine wines, craft beer, and light fare from local restaurants. 

  • Paintings, photographs, unique woodwork, jewelry, and other artwork from well-known local artists
  • Chartered fishing trips, crabbing trips, and sunset cruises on the Chesapeake
  • Overnight packages and gift certificates to hotels, restaurants, and shops
  • And tickets for the Ravens!

Tickets for Splendor are $40 per person and are available by contacting the Museum at [email protected]

or purchasing at 

  • Two If By Sea
  • Fairbank Tackle
  • 2 Vintage Chics
  • Tilghman Island Country Store

Located in the Lee House at 6031 Tilghman Island Road, the museum is currently closed for the winter. For additional information, contact us by email: [email protected] or visit our website: www.tilghmanmuseum.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Tilghman Watermen’s Museum academic scholarship available

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The Tilghman Watermen’s Museum is pleased to announce the availability of their academic scholarship application for 2025.  The $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a deserving Talbot County high school senior who graduated from the Tilghman Elementary School, or is living in the Tilghman Elementary School District, and has been accepted as a full-time student at an accredited technical school or a 2-year or 4-year college. 

Applications for the scholarship are available on the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum website at TWM-Scholarship-Info-and-Application.pdf.  Students who wish to be considered must complete the application and send the requested supporting documentation to the attention of the TWM Scholarship Committee, PO Box 344, Tilghman, MD 21671.  

Applications must be postmarked no later than April 1, 2025.

The recipient will be announced in May 2025. Please contact The TWM Scholarship Committee Chair by phone at 410-215-1575 or email at [email protected] with any questions regarding the application process. 

The Tilghman Watermen’s Museum is dedicated to the vision of celebrating, documenting, preserving and sharing the history, traditions, heritage, and culture of Tilghman Island.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Tilghman Watermen’s Museum Speaker Series: Nick Hargrove

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On Saturday, February 22, at 1:00 PM, the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum Speaker Series will host Nick Hargrove from Tilghman Island Seafood at the Tilghman Island Volunteer Fire Department, 5979 Tilghman Island Road.   The event is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. 

Nick Hargrove was a traditional seafood buyer and processor on the Eastern Shore until the declining crab population made him change direction. With encouragement from potential customers, he converted the old packing house at Phillips Wharf on Tilghman Island to a state-of-the-art facility for processing wild Chesapeake blue catfish. By supplying ice to the watermen who catch the catfish, hiring a staff that is passionate about the environment, and processing the fish as soon as they are offloaded, Tilghman Island Seafood is sending blue catfish throughout the U.S. to satisfied chefs. 

Committed to celebrating, documenting, preserving, and sharing the history, traditions, heritage, and culture of Tilghman’s Island, the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum hosts an exceptional collection of local artists such as Bill Cummings, Colleen Sadler, Marc Castelli, and Nancy Tankersley. The museum contains a treasure trove of artifacts, oral histories, and boat models. 

Located in the Lee House at 6031 Tilghman Island Road, the museum will close for the winter and will re-open in the spring. For additional information, contact us by email: [email protected] or visit our website: www.tilghmanmuseum.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Tilghman Watermen’s Museum speaker series: Jay Fleming

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On Thursday, November 21, from 5:30 to 7:30, the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum Speaker Series will host Jay Fleming at the Tilghman Island Volunteer Fire Department, 5979 Tilghman Island Road. Jay will speak about his photography of the Chesapeake Bay. 

The event is free, but donations are gratefully accepted. Buck-a-shuck oysters will be available from the Talbot Watermen Association!

Annapolis-based photographer Jay Fleming specializes in documenting complex interactions between humans and the water. His documentation of the Bay’s seafood industry has been a powerful educational tool in raising awareness for the people and the processes involved with bringing commonly consumed seafood products to market. His most recent book, Island Life, explores the environment and the seasonal Chesapeake harvests that provide the rhythm for community life on Smith and Tangier islands, while documenting the tenacity and determination of the islanders who honor their traditions while facing an uncertain future.

Whether it’s a dramatic sunrise over the water or fishermen hauling gear, the passion for his craft and for visual storytelling is obvious in every photograph.

Committed to celebrating, documenting, preserving, and sharing the history, traditions, heritage, and culture of Tilghman’s Island, the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum hosts an exceptional collection of local artists such as Bill Cummings, Colleen Sadler, Marc Castelli, and Nancy Tankersley. The museum contains a treasure trove of artifacts, oral histories, and boat models. 

Located in the Lee House at 6031 Tilghman Island Road, the museum will close for the winter at the end of October. For additional information, contact us by email: [email protected] or visit our website: www.tilghmanmuseum.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Tilghman Watermen’s Museum reveals 2024 Christmas ornament

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The 2024 Christmas Ornament commissioned by the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum is now available for purchase.  

This is the 10th ornament in the Museum’s unique collection related to Tilghman Island. Crafted by Salisbury Pewter, the 2024 ornament features Tanker 75 from the Tilghman Island Volunteer Fire Company. The TIVFC was established in 1925. It is now based at 5979 Tilghman Island Road and serves the entire Bay Hundred area.

The 2024 ornament may be purchased for $25.00, which includes tax. They are available at the Museum, located in the Lee House at 6031 Tilghman Island Road, Two if by Sea restaurant, 2 Vintage Chics Boutique, and Fairbank Tackle. Online purchases can be made by visiting the museum website: www.tilghmanmuseum.org, or by email: [email protected]. Phone orders will be taken at 410-886-1025.

The Tilghman Watermen’s Museum is in their sixteenth year of celebrating, documenting, preserving and sharing the history, traditions, heritage and culture of Tilghman Island. The museum is open on weekends from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM from late April until the end of October. Off-hour tours are available by calling 410-886-1025. For additional information, contact us by email: [email protected] or visit our website: www.tilghmanmuseum.org. 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

The Tilghman Watermen’s Museum Announces 2024 Scholarship Winners

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The Tilghman Watermen’s Museum awarded scholarships for $1,000 each to three outstanding Seniors who started their education at Tilghman Elementary School. Brianna Crow, Caeden Harrison, and Henry Mullikin were selected because of their excellent academics and community service involvement.

 

Brianna Crow graduated from St. Michaels High School, and she will be studying business at Chesapeake College with plans to start her own photography business.
Caeden Harrison graduated from The Gunston School and is attending Stevenson University to pursue film production. He said his goal is to inspire and entertain people through film.
Henry Mullikin graduated from St. Michaels High School and is pursuing a Physician Assistant degree at Salisbury University. As a catcher for the SMHS baseball team for four years, he can continue this interest at Salisbury.

 

Each year, the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum awards scholarships to seniors who attended Tilghman Elementary School and are pursuing academic or technical degrees.  For more information on how to apply for future scholarships please contact [email protected].

Located in the Lee House at 6031 Tilghman Island Road, the museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am – 3 pm, and by appointment at other times. Admission to the museum is free; donations are gratefully accepted.

For more information, contact the museum at [email protected] or visit our website at www.tilghmanmuseum.org .

The Tilghman Watermen’s Museum celebrates, documents, preserves, and shares the history, traditions, heritage, and culture of Tilghman Island.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Tilghman Watermen’s Museum Announces Splendor for 2024

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Tilghman Watermen’s Museum Announces Splendor for 2024 , Annual Fundraiser Supporting Local Heritage

The Tilghman Watermen’s Museum announces the date for Splendor in 2024, This fundraising event supports the Museum’s vision of preserving and sharing the history, traditions, heritage, and culture of Tilghman Island. 

The event will take place on Saturday, April 13, 2024, from 5 to 8 PM at the Tilghman Island Volunteer Fire Hall at 5979 Tilghman Island Road. This popular event has a reputation for Eastern Shore hospitality with a raw bar of oysters freshly shucked by local watermen, fine wines, craft beer, and light fare from local restaurants. 

  • Paintings, photographs, unique woodwork, jewelry, and other artwork
  • Chartered fishing trips and sunset cruises on the Chesapeake
  • Overnight packages and gift certificates to hotels, restaurants, and shops

Tickets for Splendor are $40 per person and are available for purchase at 

  • Two If By Sea
  • Fairbank Tackle
  • 2 Vintage Chics
  • Tilghman Island Country Store

or by contacting the Museum at [email protected]. 

Located in the Lee House at 6031 Tilghman Island Road. For additional information, contact us by email: [email protected] or visit our website: www.tilghmanmuseum.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.