In 1972 concerned Talbot County citizens made a successful effort to save Easton, Maryland, Washington Street’s four Langsdale houses. Local photographer H. Robins Hollyday lived across the street and took this incredible picture of moving this house to its present location on Bay Street! Facts: Memories and “ Easton Album” by Norman Harrington 1983. Photo from the Talbot Historical Society’s H. Robins Hollyday Collection.

Contact: Cathy Hill cvhill@atlanticbb.net to share your old photos. Comment, Like our page and join THS!

Talbot County resident and Spy columnist drove over the bridge to be part of a panel discussion of the life and legacy of his former boss, George H.W. Bush on The Hill’s Rising program yesterday. The Spy was able to grab a link for our viewer’s interest.

It’s basketball season again! This Talbot Historical Society H. Robins Hollyday photo is of St. Michaels High School’s 1944 team! When this photo was published as a “Star Democrat” Mystery Photo in 2004 these student athletes were identified. The front row left to right – Robert Fairbanks, Billy Sutton, Dan Higgins, Kenny Wrightson and Charles Marshall. The back row left to right is Coach Earle Corkran, Gordon Firstman, Powell Harrison, Dale Larrimore and Louis Tarr! Are you related to any of these St. Michaels High School students?

Contact: Cathy Hill cvhill@atlanticbb.net to share your old photos. Comment, Like our page and join THS!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Talbot Historical Society! Enjoy this 1937 very special photo of a lovely lady on a turkey farm in Talbot County! Our Past Perfect Museum database information identifies this H. Robins Hollyday Collection photo as the Moore Turkey Farm. Can you add history facts about the Talbot County turkey farms of the past?

Contact: Cathy Hill cvhill@atlanticbb.net to share your old photos. Comment, Like our page and join THS!

Dave Calloway being pulled into the Tilghman Rescue boat

During the morning hours of November 17, Captain Paul Callahan, who is an Oxford Fire Department Lieutenant, took his sister Susan Callahan Aistrup, son Mike Callahan and friend Mark Ledford out for a fishing expedition in his boat Deven Marie II, only to be alerted by a call from fellow Oxford Volunteer Fireman, Matt Hall checking their location. Matt heard on the emergency radio that three brothers were in the water as their boat capsized, near the location of Paul’s fishing destination.

Paul confirmed that they were only about two miles from the location of the capsized boat. They immediately winded up their rods and set target for Nelson’s Point. As Mark describes it, “Paul hammered down full throttle towards the area of the incident as we all scanned the waters hoping to find the boat.” As they approached they realized it was them. Two men on top of the flipped boat, and one overboard clinging to the side. Mark continued, ”Mike Callahan miraculously spotted the brothers as Paul was doing everything possible to get us coordinated to bring them aboard safely.” Paul added, “it was a team effort.”

The three men in the water were brothers Jon, Dave and Daryl Calloway. Eastern Shore men out duck hunting. Their boat started taking on water and suddenly capsized throwing all three into the frigid water. Daryl and Jon were pulled from the sinking hull of the overturned boat, into Paul’s Deven Marie II, but Dave was weighed down with his gear and the freezing water temperature pushing his body into hypothermia.

Paul captained the boat alongside while Mark and Mike held Dave up. Dave had lost his eyesight and had no strength to help himself aboard. He kept saying, “I can’t see you but I can hear you. Don’t let go. I can’t see!” His arms stiff from shock, the men held steadfast until the Tilghman Island Volunteer Fire Company Rescue boat arrived on the scene. The Deven Marie II crew transferred Dave to the safety of the Tilghman Island Rescue boat. Captain Paul followed the Tilghman Island Rescue boat swiftly with brothers Jon and Daryl onboard. They rushed to meet the ambulance waiting for them at Nelson Point near Bozman, MD. All three brothers survived and Dave’s health has returned and all is well for the Calloway family. Thanks goes to the efforts of well-trained Talbot County firefighters. This is a true Eastern Shore Thanksgiving story.

On the Deven Marie II, Mark Ledford, Mike Callahan, Susan Callahan Aistrup and Captain Paul Callahan

Astronomical conjunctions are events that bring two or more objects together into the same area of the sky, as seen from us on Earth. Conjunctions of 2 or 3 planets, 1 or 2 planets and the Moon, or a planet and a bright star can provide sky-watchers with memorable sights. Two fine planetary conjunctions will grace our December night skies this year.

The first involves Mars and Neptune. Mars is conspicuous at magnitude 0.0 among the dim stars of Aquarius in the southern sky. Neptune, on the other hand, is so far away and thus so dim, that we cannot see it at all without optical aid. But the two planets will appear so close that Mars will point the way to see Neptune —- provided we use binoculars.

On December 1st, Neptune’s dim bluish light may be seen just slightly above and left of Mars. Five days later on the 6th, Mars’s faster orbital speed will have closed the gap between them even more, so that Neptune will appear nearly on top of Mars! The next night, December 7th, the two will have switched, with Neptune then seen just below and right of Mars. It is rare to have the great guide, such as Mars is providing, to find something so faint as Neptune (magnitude +7.9). Indeed, it will not be until October 19, 2210 that Mars and Neptune will again appear this close together to us!

The second conjunction occurs in the pre-dawn southeastern sky between Jupiter and Mercury. Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation from the Sun on December 15th, which puts it 10 degrees above the southeastern horizon, 45 minutes before sunrise, at magnitude –0.4. Jupiter’s orbit is making it appear to rise higher each day in December, and after the 15th, Mercury will appear to descend toward the giant planet. On December 21st, Mercury and Jupiter will be seen less than a degree apart, about 8 degrees above the horizon and 45 minutes before sunup.

Meanwhile, Venus is rising around 4 am in the eastern sky and is at maximum brightness, –4.9 magnitude on December 1st; fading only to –4.6 by December 31st. Look at Venus especially on the morning of December 3rd, when the waning crescent Moon will hang just 5 degrees above it. (another beautiful conjunction!) Saturn is losing altitude in the southwest evening sky, but can be seen in twilight on December 8th, 7 degrees above the horizon, with the waxing crescent Moon sitting just above it.

Despite these wonderful conjunctions, perhaps December’s best event is the annual Geminid Meteor Shower, which peaks on the night of December 13/14. The Geminids are one of the three best meteor showers of the year and this year the Moon will have set when it is at its best for viewing —– between 1 am and 5 am. Up to 120 meteors per hour may be seen from this shower, which appears to come from the constellation Gemini. Gemini is nearly overhead by 1 am on December 13th, and over toward the western sky until 5 am. To spot the longest meteor trails, look 30 to 50 degrees away from Gemini itself —– and dress warmly. December nights are cold.

Finally the 32nd Annual Planetarium Xmas Program; this year titled —- “What Christmas Means to Me” —– will be presented by the Kent County High School Planetarium and Radio Station —– WKHS FM 90.5 ——– beginning at 7:00 pm on December 14th, and continuing on December 17th, 18th and December 20th and 21st. As usual our program blends a good dose of stars and astronomy with the rich traditions of Christmas. We welcome all 1st-time visitors and all sky-watchers, and others, who have made our show an annual event for themselves.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

This Talbot Historical Society Laird Wise Collection photo was taken sometime in the 1950’s at the Idlewild Ave. Easton High School which was on the corner of Washington Street, Harrison Street and Idlewild Avenue in Easton, Maryland! Can you help us identify any of these ping pong loving students?

Contact:Cathy Hill cvhill@atlanticbb.net to share your old photos. Comment, Like our page and join THS!

The Control Tower at the Easton Airport is a simple enough structure. On a grey day, like the one Talbot County had on Wednesday, it stands off to the side, humble in design, functional, but hardly worthy of a birthday party.

But in many ways, the control tower is perhaps one of the most important symbols of economic development we have on the Mid-Shore. With its completion eleven years ago, it became one of only 500 such FAA facilities in the entire country; allowing the airport, and the county it serves, a competitive aviation hub for the entire region. The net result of which has meant millions of dollars to the area.

Mike Henry, the airport’s former manager, led the effort to build the tower in 2007, and so the small airport community of pilots, administrators and local fans gathered to acknowledge his leadership and the tower, outside its front door for some coffee and birthday cake.

The Spy caught a few moments with very high winds.

This video is approximately one minute in length. For more information about the Easton Airport please go here

Washington Street in Easton,has been the site of many parades through the years. This R C Cola 1937 float traveling in front of the old American Store is definitely original! Are they supposed to be bottles of R C Cola? Photo from the Talbot Historical Society’s H. Robins Hollyday Collection.

Contact: Cathy Hill cvhill@atlanticbb.net to share your old photos. Comment, Like our page and join THS!