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May 22, 2025

Talbot Spy

Nonpartisan Education-based News for Talbot County Community

9 Brevities

Talbot Historical Society Opens New African American Exhibit

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The Talbot Historical Society (THS) celebrated the grand opening of the new “Voices of the African American Experience Exhibit” on Saturday, October 2, 2021.

The exhibit captures, preserves, and elevates facets of the rich history of the African American population at work, play, worship, home and school in Talbot County. It recognizes the pivotal roles African American churches have played in helping to shape that history, especially in the face of racial oppression, obstruction, and other challenges.  The exhibit focuses on the timeframe of the 1970s and earlier and gives voice to the African American experience primarily through the lens of eleven early African American churches in the county, established during the 1800s and still functioning today: namely, Asbury United Methodist Church, Easton; Bethel A.M.E. Church, Easton; New Queen Esther A.M.E. Church, Ivytown; New St. John’s United Methodist Church, Wittman; Scotts United Methodist Church, Trappe; St. Luke United Methodist Church, Bellevue; St. Matthew United Methodist Church, Longwoods; St. Stephen’s A.M.E. Church, Unionville; Union Baptist Church, Easton; Union United Methodist Church, St. Michaels; and Waters United Methodist Church, Oxford.

Public at the opening of the new museum space.

The opening for the exhibit featured a live performance of the “Evolution of Gospel Music” created by Leroy and Richard Potter.  Performance participants included soloist Lane Morgan, soloist Chris Barnett, the Friends for Christgospel singing group, and praise dancer Raven Gill.

The exhibit was a project of the THS Board of Directors African American Advisory Committee, chaired by Dr. L. Bradley Baker.  The lead researcher and archivist for the exhibit was Dr. Willie G. Woods.  Other committee members included Cathy Hill, Larry Denton, Bob Shannahan, Elinor Cecil, THS General Manager Peggy Morey, and early-on Michael Cone.

Input from a host of community members was received, with primary contributions from Naomi Thomas, Leola Brown, Carlene Phoenix, Marcia Potter, Pamela Clay, Jo Ann Asparagus Murray, Harriette Lowery, Rev. Nancy Dennis, Walter Black, Blanche Jenkins, Richard Potter, Teresa Greene, Shirlee Chase, Albert Brooks, Colonel William De Shields, Edsel Turner, Jacqueline Greene, Sandra Butler, Ezola Webb, Paula Bell, Stephanie Chester, Eric Dashiell, Jennifer Reed, Jim Dawson, Charlene DeShields, Gladys Giddings, Mary Taylor-Acree, Vernette Palmer, and Elizabeth Stephens. The exhibit display was designed by Assemble Company’s Patrick Rogan.

The “Voices of the African American Experience Exhibit” will be a permanent exhibit housed in the Mary Jenkins House Talbot County Museum on the campus of the Talbot Historical Society on Washington Street in Easton. The exhibit is dynamic, with the opportunity for additional community input during a designated timeframe. The new museum room will be open for public viewing Wednesdays through Fridays 10:00 am – 3:00 pm and Saturdays 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.

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Virginia Hall Living History Reenactment by Rosemarie Law

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Come join us on Saturday, June 12th for a living history reenactment entitled “Time-Travel with Virginia Hall: America’s Greatest Spy.” Writer and researcher Rosemarie Law tells the story of Virginia Hall, a Maryland woman who served as a spy during WWII. Hall worked in Europe behind enemy lines and is considered one of the greatest espionage agents of the era. She was also one of the first officers at the CIA. There will be two showings of the event, one at 11:00am for members and at 1:00 pm for non-members. It will be held outdoors in the Talbot Historical Society Gardens, with 80 spots available for each showing. Call us at 410-822-0773 or email [email protected] to reserve your spot! This event is free to our members and the public. Pricing information for this event will be added soon! Rain Date: June 13th at 11 am and 1 pm. This event is supported in part by the Maryland State Arts Council (msac.org) and the Salisbury Wicomico Arts Council

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Talbot Historical Society Project Rewind: Grateful for Nurses

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Nurses Week is honored with this Talbot Historical Society Laird Wise Collection photo of Dr. Edward C. H. Schmidt teaching a class at Easton, Maryland’s Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in the early 1950’s. This photo was published in the ” Star Democrat” as a Mystery Photo in 2004 and the student nurses were identified at that time. Picture: first row l to r Sue Wood, Mildred Horst, Mary Jo Gannon, Cathy Kramer, and Evelyn Blades. Second row l to r Betty Edwards, Dorothy Bennett, Pat Howard, Barbara Tuneff, Dr. Schmidt , and Etta Willey.

Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos. Comment, Like our page and join THS!

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Talbot Historical Society Project Rewind: Enjoying Mud Season

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So glad our Talbot County back roads no longer look like this! Especially with the rain we’ve had lately! This c. 1930’s Talbot Historical Society H. Robins Hollyday Collection photo was published as a “ Star Democrat” Mystery photo in 2004 and a caller identified this as possibly Chilcutt Road off of Dover Road just outside of Easton, Maryland? Can you verify that location?
Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos. Comment, Like our page and join THS!

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

Talbot Historical Society to Reopen in the Fall

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As Talbot County, the State, and the Nation cope with the coronavirus pandemic, the Board of Directors of the Talbot Historical Society (THS) has decided to shut down until the Fall.

While essential businesses remain open to some degree, it should be recognized that THS is not one of those. We are important; we are necessary; some would argue we are uplifting. However, in wartime (and make no mistake the nation is at war), we should defer to the critically needed businesses, especially our health care facilities and service providers. When we can all return to some degree of normality is an open question, as the Stage 1, 2 and 3 guidelines so clearly demonstrate.

As you know, the very nature of museums is to attract visitors to see our exhibits, artifacts, photographs, and other historic documents. We also are charged with holding large gatherings to showcase our work, to raise awareness, and to raise funds. THS will conduct our Annual Membership drive beginning as soon as possible (usually it is the first of May), for we feel all will want to retain their membership and help us with fixed costs (utilities, maintenance, security). In addition, we will launch an online service for members so that all can view some of our newly saved historic photographs on our Website. In addition, all are encouraged to visit the THS Facebook Page where rare photos are placed weekly for comment and review.

THS will not hold its Annual Meeting in May, nor our Annual Fundraiser Event in late summer. We urge all who can, to contribute to the critically needed infrastructure entities – hospitals, soup kitchens, day care centers, and other such facilities. These are the places we need to support today without exception. Hopefully, in the fall we will be able to have celebratory events, welcome all to our exhibits, and conduct our Annual Fund drive, which typically begins in November.

While this decision is painful for all of us who love the incredible history of Talbot County, we feel it is the right thing to do at this moment of national crisis.

To end on a bright note, when THS reopens in the fall, we have much to celebrate – the renovated Tharpe building will house a new Extended Museum where we will showcase 18th and 19th century furniture, silverware, and jewelry (some never seen before), and the new Hill Research Center with library. In addition, after several years of study and preparation, we will open a permanent African American Room as part of the museum in the historic Mary Jenkins House.

We look forward to welcoming back each of you, hopefully sooner rather than later.

 

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Talbot Historical Society Project Rewind: Finding a Deere in the Street

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Project Rewind-Talbot County: Springtime brings tractors and planting on the Eastern Shore of Maryland! This Found in Collection Talbot Historical Society photo’s museum Past Perfect database information states this photo is an A. T. Earl Ewing advertisement for John Deere Tractors. Can you help identify the people and location? Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos. Comment, Like our page and join THS!

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Talbot Historical Society Project Rewind: A Ford in your Future on Dover Street

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This Dover Street Easton, Maryland Ford automobile dealership was owned by the Noble family when this photo was taken on July 5, 1920! The second floor windows and roof line of this building look exactly the same today! Maybe you guessed that it is now Hill’s Drug Store?! Photo found in the Talbot Historical Society Collections.
Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos. Comment, Like our page and join THS!

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Talbot Historical Society Project Rewind: A Bridge too Far for Old St. John’s

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St. John’s Episcopal Church was built in 1839 ,was deemed structurally unsafe in 1900 and then abandoned! Which explains the spooky ruins! The first Miles River Bridge was built in 1858 and was run as a privately owned toll bridge until 1878 when it was bought by Talbot County for $3,350! Facts: “History of Talbot County Maryland 1661-1861”by Oswald Tilghman 1915. Photo from the Talbot Historical Society Postcard Collection. Contact:

Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos. Comment, Like our page and join THS!

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Talbot Historical Society Project Rewind: Time for Dinner on Route 50

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Project Rewind-Talbot County: Another Easton, Maryland Rt 50 restaurant that has vanished! What are your memories of the Easton Manor Restaurant? Remember where this was? Photo from the Talbot Historical Society Laird Wise Collection.

Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos. Comment, Like our page and join THS!

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Talbot Historical Society Project Rewind: Packing it In

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There are several skipjacks pulling up to what appears to be a packing house! Can you help us identify the location of this special image from the past? This Talbot Historical Society found in collection photo was recently archived for data entry.

Contact: Cathy Hill [email protected] to share your old photos. Comment, Like our page and join THS!

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