Could this be Aurora Street, Easton, Maryland across from Idlewild Park? The houses look familiar? So many things to look at in this Talbot Historical Society H. Robins Hollyday Collection photo! Can you help identify what years these vintage cars were manufactured? There must have been an event that day in what is now Idlewild Park!

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Tred Avon Yacht Club Sends Sailors into the Storm

Of course, into the weather is exactly where they wanted to be after light winds over prior weekend events.

The Hammond Memorial Regatta is one of TAYC’s biggest events of the year and foul weather was not going to interfere with the competition. Beginning in front of the Tred Avon Yacht Club in Oxford, the race from the Tred Avon River to Poplar Island includes Alberg 30s, Catalina 27s, PHRF, Multi-Hulls, Beach Cats, and J boats.

Spy Agent 7  followed the Naval Academy competitors into the Choptank and produced a short slide show to share the experience.

This beautiful Talbot Historical Society H. Robins Hollyday Collection glass negative image was featured in “ National Geographic” Magazine’s September 1939 issue. The database information also identifies the sailing background location as being Ferry Neck. It was most likely an Oxford, Maryland Tred Avon Yacht Club racing event. The Tred Avon Yacht Club was established in 1931. Such a peaceful scene! Definitely the calm before the storm!

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This 1931 Talbot Historical Society H. Robins Hollyday Collection photo of Avalon Island off of Tilghman Island, Md. is another recently found 6”x 8” glass negative!! How about that huge pile of oyster shells and the boats next to the seafood packing plants!!

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I’m not an early morning person, so the idea of meeting people from the Eastern Shore Community Rowers at 5:30 in the morning seemed way out of my comfort zone. Which is why I showed up for their second session at 7:00 AM on the Tred Avon River at the Landing at Evergreen in Easton. At least the sun had risen.

The first thing that stood out was how sweaty the 5:30 group was. Then there was the smiling and camaraderie as the nine men and women tended the oars and shell. That’s what happens according to Terry Gleim, Safety Officer and ESCR Board member. “When people start to row, they drink the ‘Kool-Aid,’ they get really into it; they get hooked. Why? Because it’s a total body exercise, particularly the legs and core.” Additionally, Gleim mentioned how “the teamwork involved in rowing it is a great way to bond with others.” The members I spoke to agreed that they all felt stronger and fitter being part of the group. In the process, they’ve made some new friends.

As I learned, this is what makes this sport so interesting: it’s appropriate for all ages, all experience, and all walks of life. “We have members aged 21, and we have members in their 70s,” said Gleim. “We have a retired naval commander, an architect, physicians and people who work in an office.”

Despite the diversity, there is also a oneness that is necessary. “There are no stars, you can’t be doing your own thing,” says Gleim. “You have to work together as a team. If your movement is different than anyone else’s, it’s going to throw everyone off. It’s all about synchronization. Everyone has to do the exact same thing at the exact same time.” Part 1 of their motto is “One Stroke. One Spirit.”

The 7 AM group showed me precisely what this meant. (DISCLAIMER: I was in the chase boat which follows the rowers at each session. I got to watch, not do.) What I saw was four women and a man lift the over 100-pound 4-man boat over their heads, and as one, walk to the river, and put it in the water. They climbed in, barely making a ripple and pulled away from the dock. We followed.

I watched as a heron took off, disturbed by our presence. Saw the sun rise higher in the sky and heard the osprey yell in protest over our approach. The four rowers dipped their oars in and out of the water in perfect harmony, barely making a splash. I was told the coxswain was giving instructions that were being broadcast and heard through the speaker system by their seats. All I heard was the sounds of the river. It was a beautiful and calming beginning to the day.

By the time we returned to the dock an hour later, and the sweaty rowers picked the shell out of the water, I understood why this sport is such a hit.

The program was created only two years ago by President and Head Coach, Chloe Tong. Tong, who used to belong to the youth group, Freedom Rowers, moved to Australia and joined a large rowing club. After returning to the States, she realized she missed the sport and found others who were interested. Initially, they had to borrow Freedom’s equipment, but as word got around, it became evident that this was something the Eastern shore of Maryland community wanted—a master’s rowing program.

The group filed for a 501(c)3 (nonprofit status), took in donations and were able to buy a used 8-man boat. Now, they also own a couple of singles, one quad (rowers use two oars), two 4-seaters, and this month picked up another 8-seater. They meet six days a week at 5:30 AM and four days at 7:00 AM. There are three seasons: Early March through May, June through August, and September through “you can’t get out anymore.” Although the program is recreational, they are starting to compete and will be racing the 13 miles around Wye Island on September 8. Not bad for a startup!

Those interested in finding out more about rowing, are invited to a FREE clinic on the first Saturday of every month at 9 AM. Potential members, who have never rowed before, are required to attend a three-day clinic before joining.

ESCR will be holding a fundraiser on October 13, hoping to raise money for more shells, new equipment, and educations for the coaches. They dream about building their own boathouse, and they even have a design in the works. This group also firmly believes in the second part of their motto which now, more than ever, is essential to remember: “In life and in sport, we row hard – young or old – toward the finish line, because we are, all of us, in the same boat.”

Val Cavalheri is a recent transplant to the Eastern Shore, having lived in Northern Virginia for the past 20 years. She’s been a writer, editor and professional photographer for various publications, including the Washington Post.

Dr. Laurence Claggett donated this undated photo of Tilghman, Maryland to the Talbot Historical Society. Do you recognize this street? Are these beautiful homes still standing?

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

Easton’s Mayor Bob Willey designated Thursday, August 16, 2018, as “Kathy Weaver Day” with a presentation at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Center on Canvasback Drive in Easton last week.

Mayor Willey chose to recognize Kathy and the many volunteers of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) for their contributions to Easton and Talbot County. This is a distinctive honor that the Mayor presents, on rare occasions, when he believes the honorees have rendered a service far above the usual call of duty. A generous donor has asked the Scottish Highland Creamery from Oxford to serve ice cream at the Center. All St. Vincent de Paul volunteers are welcome to attend.

Kathy Weaver has been manager of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul food pantry in Easton for more than 18 years. It’s Talbot County’s largest food pantry and has become the hub collecting point for 12 other food pantries in the County. SVdP picks up food from the Maryland Food Bank, many local retail food stores as well a variety of food resources, including local farms. Food comes in every week day, with volunteers needed to be at the SVdP Center to unload and handle the food

Kathy manages every aspect of the food operation. Alex Handy, SVdP President says, “I don’t know how SVdP would function without her daily involvement. It’s particularly impressive when you consider that Kathy and all of the people receive no compensation for their efforts. Each of them does it because they believe in our mission, that is to serve those in need, plus they love Kathy.”

Along with other honorees, Kathy Weaver was inducted in the MD Senior Citizens Hall of Fame during an awards luncheon on October 25.

Here are some photos from that special day.

Kathy with Mayor Willey

Kathy and Alex Handy with Proclamations from City of Easton and Governor Hogan.

With Father Nash

Standing Room Only

While one can never be truly indifferent to the sight of a vintage car on a Talbot County country road, it is statistically true that there are a lot more antique automobiles and trucks here than most places. From Saturday coffee car gatherings in Oxford and St. Michaels every month, and a host of shops and storage facilities focused on these 500 plus cars, the frequent contact with these beautiful examples of design makes it extremely hard for local car watchers to have a real “peak experience” in seeing a special one on the road.

The Spy had one of those moments in Easton last weekend. Just a few blocks from its international headquarters. One of Spy’s newest recruits, Agent 8–00 Section, filed their first report of a 1930s Bugatti T50B spotted near Hanson Street.

Bringing back memories of Monopoly’s iconic race car for many, or a salute to one of the Bugatti family’s most successful designs, the watching of a restored T50B peel down North Street was a sight indeed to behold.

This video is approximately is 45 seconds in length

The Miles River Yacht Club Regatta on August 5, 1939 was in some ways similar to today’s regattas but the ladies wore pretty dresses and hats and the gentlemen button up shirts and long pants! Notice the many empty bottles! Wonder what type of sailing vessel this was? Possibly a Bugeye? 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!