Before the War: The Faces of Chestertown in 1940
In 1940, civic leaders in Chestertown pooled resources together to commission a full feature film to promote businesses to relocate to Kent County. It is unclear if the movie was helpful in that regard, but what remains is a unique study of a American town enjoying the last full year of peace before the United States entered World War II.
The Chestertown Spy, working with the Historical Society of Kent County, has edited the original film to create a sampler to share with the community. The Society also sells a full DVD version of the 1940 film. In addition, the 1998 film: Chestertown, Maryland: An American Hometown for more than 350 years, in which community members revisit 1940s Chestertown with added commentary and footage, will be available from the Society on DVD this September.
In addition, Ann Wilmer, local family historian and civic leader, has made the generous offer to pay one US dollar for every identification of those featured in the film. Please send your ID's to Ann at awilmerh@gmail.com
The Great Escapes
As part of the Chesapeake Heartland Project of Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, students unearthed forgotten stories of local African American history. Using Kent County court records in Chestertown, Maryland, they chronicled stories of local African Americans’ struggles for freedom and prosperity in the Civil War era — as well as some formidable opposition to their success.
Military recruiter Ebenezer W. Frazier was indicted for enticing slaves to run away from their masters in 1863 to join the U.S. Colored Troops for the last years of the war. A three-year term would result in the promise of freedom for these soldiers. What were the outcomes for the lives of these recently freed slaves after serving as Union soldiers? Did they survive the war, go on to have families, did they build new lives as free men?
A film by Emilee Daniel ‘22 and Jillian Curran ‘22, with research assistance from Raymond Lewis ’21, Jack Dodsworth ‘22, and Jillian Curran ‘22.
Special thanks to the Kent County Circuit Court, Kent County Historical Society, and the Maryland State Archives.
Chestertown in the 1960s
Edited presentation of Chestertown in the 1960s. Filmed on November 15th, 2011 at Heron Point, in collaboration with the Kent County Historical Society.
An Illusion of Freedom
An Illusion of Freedom: Levi Rogers and the Rise and Fall of African American Liberty in 19th Century Maryland
As part of the Chesapeake Heartland Project of Washington College’s Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience, students unearthed forgotten stories of local African American history. Using Kent County court records in Chestertown, Maryland, they chronicled stories of local African Americans’ struggles for freedom and prosperity in the Civil War era — as well as some formidable opposition to their success.
In this film, students trace the winding road travelled by Levi Rogers of Chestertown, an African American whose family freed him from slavery in 1839. Within just a few years, Rogers became a successful landowner, entrepreneur, restaurateur, ship captain, and local political leader. He faced more than his share of challenges as he tested the limits of freedom in the era before, during, and after the Civil War.
A film by Jack Dodsworth ’22, Ervens Jean-Pierre ’21, and Patricia Woodworth ‘22, with research assistance from Lizzie Craig ’22, Jillian Curran ’22, Emilee Daniel ’22, Caroline Taranto ’22, and Lucy Maddox.
Special thanks to the Kent County Circuit Court, Kent County Historical Society, and the Maryland State Archives.
Profile in Education: Principal Williams & Kent County High School
Kent County High School, ten minutes outside of Chestertown at the edge of an anonymous expanse of cornfield, is just removed enough from the mainstream to seem remote, mysterious. You may see buses come and go, but you don't see students congregating or laughing together, or get a sense that it is a cohesive education-focused community. Add to that the sterile facade of the building, the perception that the student body has been suffering from increasing social problems, including student fights, and the inconsistencies inherent in the school's recent history of revolving-door principals, and it's easy to understand how confidence in its quality can be negatively impacted.
Newly-appointed School Principal Tracey Williams is starting to make real gains in not only combating these perceptions but in returning the school to its former glory among the high schools across the state. Focusing her first year on the day-to-day climate in school, Principal Williams has been diligently working toward achieving her primary goals: making her school a safe place to learn; reducing by over 40% the number of referrals in a given year; and concentrating on the 95% of the student body eager to have a quality education.
Not so long along, Kent County High School was considered one of the best high schools in the State of Maryland, based on state achievement scores.Tracey Williams is determined to win back that distinction.
Chestertown MD in the 1940s, Elementary and High schools
This is taken from the film made in the 1940s produced by local business and town leaders. It is owned by The Kent County Historical Society.
NOTE, The date on the opening screen was corrected but,for some reason, it doesn't show on Ipad.
Spy Profile: John Sprinkle on Saving Places on the Mid-Shore and in America
Historic preservation as a concept is not new anymore. In fact, this unique American movement proliferated from such humble beginnings of local women saving Washington's Mt. Vernon in 1858 to now a dedicated agency like the National Park Service with its multi-million dollar budget designed to certify, protect and sometimes purchase the country's most important buildings and landscapes of our history and culture.
And like many things on the Mid-Shore, the Spy came upon one man from the region who not only participated in the selection of many of those special places but has written extensively about local and national efforts to help save them.
John Sprinkle, a Chestertown native, is the offspring of a mother from the multigenerational Brooks family of Kent County, and an architect father who specialized in historic preservation, knew very early on that his future would be tied to the past. After completing a masters in historical archaeology and then a doctorate in history from the College of William and Mary, John soon joined the National Park Service and eventually led the agency's National Historic Landmark Survey, co-directs its Federal Preservation Institute, it's educational wing, and is also the bureau's historian.
While his vita has shown a broad interest in the field, he has also participated at the local level where he serves on the City of Alexandria's Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission and teaches at the University of Maryland's School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. And in his spare time, John writes books on the subject, with the latest being Saving Spaces: Historic Land Conservation in the United States.
John came back to his hometown last month to give a reading at the Bookplate and was willing to stop by the Spy HQ for a chat about his unique background and his observations on how historic preservation has changed over the years.
George Washington’s Birthday Convocation & The Celebration of the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial
Tune in for George Washington’s Birthday Convocation and the Celebration of the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial on February 23, 2018.
SOLD A Great Home For Sale In Kent County MD
SOLD A Great Home For Sale In Kent County Maryland
This video is proudly presented by
Beyond the front door lies the foyer with gleaming hardwood floors. On your right is the formal dining room awaiting your guests and family. The spacious living room with fireplace and plenty of glass is a cozy gathering place year round. The eating area has sliders leading to the pergola and don't forget the gourmet kitchen, with silestone, countertops, stainless steel appliances and a butcher block island.
The main floor master suite allows the owners one floor living at its best. The in-suite bath has a separate shower, soaking tub, and double bowl vanity.
Upstairs is the spacious yet comfortable media room for you and the kids. Enjoy a good movie, listen to your favorite music or just curl up with a good book and enjoy the solitude. There are also three more bedrooms, a full bath and a large bonus room on this level. The third floor has a large unfinished area awaiting your creativity.
Outside in the warmer months you can enjoy the brick floored Pergola with its colorful hanging baskets. The views of the forest retention area and the open fields is very soothing and relaxing.
When the urge strikes you can go to Galena and check out all the new finds in the Antique stores. The kids will love stopping at Scoop De Ville and enjoying a delicious ice cream cone.
Order your favorite drink with lunch or dinner while you enjoy the marvelous views of Georgetown Harbor on the Kitty Knight House deck. This treasure is only minutes from your new home. Watch boats returning from a fun day on the Chesapeake Bay and the camaraderie that boaters around the world embrace.
This beautiful home offers much more than living space....it provides you with the Eastern Shore lifestyle.
Check out my videos at
Chesapeake City MD Waterfront Specialist - Rich Cotton Serving the Waterfront/Water Oriented Buyers and Sellers since 1989 in Elkton, Chesapeake City, Earleville, Cecilton, North East, Charlestown, Perryville, Port Deposit, Galena, Kennedyville and surrounding areas. 800-757-7412.
MPT's Our Town: Chestertown
Maryland Public Television presents the premier installment of Our Town, a new, on-going series!
For more information, go to:
Airing on MPT:
Saturday, December 12th at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 13th at 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, December 19th at 4:00 p.m.
The series is a collection of documentaries showcasing different towns across the great state of Maryland, from the Eastern shore to the Western mountains. But with a twist.
Unlike a lot a historical documentaries seen on television, the Our Town series explores different Maryland communities through the eyes (and camera lenses) of the members of these communities.
MPT has solicited the involvement of a wide variety of the community's populace, from the mayor to the bartender, from the high school student to the chief of police, new residents, old residents, medium residents.
Chestertown Lines Up to Keep Its Hospital (Part One)
More than 300 people filled the Chestertown Fire Department Hall on Sunday to air their grievances about a possible discontinuation of inpatient care and diminished services at Chestertown Hospital Center. More than 100 people, who could not enter the facility, listened from doorways and windows as a panel of elected official and others made their case for continuing and enhancing medical services locally.
The Save the Hospital town meeting, orchestrated by Sen. Stephen Hershey R-Upper Shore, District 36 Delegate Jay Jacobs, Dr. Gerry O’Conner, and County Commissioners, along with President and CEO of UM Shore Regional Health Ken Kozel made their cases.
Mr. Kozell opened the forum with an overarching history of the Chestertown Hospital, the 2008 merging with University of Maryland Health System, the current national state of health care delivery and how it impacts rural hospitals and how the changing state of medical delivery could impact the future of Chestertown Hospital.
Kozell also said that UM Shore Health has made no decision about the future of the hospital and that they were currently waiting for recommendations set up by a regional board. Their recommendations should be available by May of this year, Kozel said.
Dr. Gerry O’Conner, a physician at CHC, and primary advocate for the meeting challenged UM Shore Health’s public mission statement saying that during meetings with hospital officials that they, in fact, conveyed a plan to substantially reduce the hospital to emergency services only and to eliminate inpatient care. Patients needing inpatient care would then be sent to Easton’s hospital. OConner questioned the logic of eliminating services from a hospital that has been operating with positive revenue and went as far as saying that were CHC to downsize that he wouldn't want to be taken there during a medical emergency.
The full spectrum of impacts sustained by a reduction of inpatient services and specialists, complex and profound, were addressed by speakers. Issues included: the erosion of health service delivery, a lack of network transportation for patients, distances family would have to travel to be with loved ones, dramatic economic impacts on the community at large—loss of jobs, diminished attraction for new residents and students and professors at Washington College, job placement with businesses in the community, the impact on services for children at county schools, the effect such a change would have on providing for an aging community, and an overall sense that as the town shows signs of productive growth it will not be able of offer core health services.
In an effort to change the decision-making process impacting the future of rural hospitals, Sen. Stephen Hershey will introduce a bill to the Maryland legislature requiring that such decisions be made by a local board, rather than remotely. It was pointed out that of the current regional board readying their recommendations, few were residents of Kent County. The bill will be co-sponsored by Sen. Jim Rosapepe, D-Prince George County.
In Part 1 of the video, key points made by Mr. Kozell, Dr. O’Conner, Jay Jacobs, William Pickrum and Chris Cerino are presented.
It was noted that Ben Steffens of the Maryland Health Care Commission was in attendance to observe the proceedings.
Excerpts of Kent Island, Maryland Legacy of Slavery Presentation
A talk me and my colleague Tanner Sparks gave to 14 interested persons in the Queen Anne's County Free Library in Stevensville, on Kent Island, Maryland. My portion concerned freedom petitions and how slaves used matrilineal descent to invalidate their bondage in the legal system. The complete video video was created by librarian Kristin Bombard using a still camera, edited by me, and is the result of my work with The HistoryMakers: Mentoring, Training and Placement Institute IMLS fellowship at the Maryland State Archives.
I do not claim to represent The HistoryMakers nor the Maryland State Archives (and the Legacy of Slavery in Maryland research project) in any way.
Uploaded with Free Moyea Video4Web Converter
Guilty Verdict for Pocomoke's 1st Black Police Chief Divides Town as Violence Flares
Residents say repercussions from the fall-out over chief's dismissal continue to affect the small town on Maryland's lower eastern shore
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Something on the Inside, Is Working on the Outside by Jaelon Terrele Moaney
I did not choose the Black tidewater tradition of the Chesapeake, it was instilled within me at birth.
My father’s lineage hails from the shipbuilding tradition of Talbot County, Maryland, which is home to the first free Black community in the United States of America, the only American town founded by United States Colored Troops and the birthplace of Frederick Douglass. The renowned artwork of Ruth Starr Rose presents many portraits of my ancestors that formed the Copperville community where she developed her progressive perspectives.
Surrounded by the Wye, Miles, Tred Avon and Choptank Rivers, my paternal grandmother, born of indigenous ancestry, and my paternal grandfather, a local farmer, inherited a near spiritual appreciation for the natural world and its bounty.
These teachings, that shunned wastefulness in the consumption of God’s creations, and emphasized a duty to live a life in with nature were deeply rooted in each of their four sons, one of which being my father. My mother’s lineage is wedded to the sprawling rural, maritime center of Kent County, MD. For generations, this half of my family has immersed themselves in the distinguished African Methodist Episcopal Church fellowship on the Delmarva peninsula and the livelihoods afforded atop the Sassafras and Chester Rivers. An African American museum, run by and featuring my maternal lineage, rests on Worton Point and details the nuances of Black tidewater life on the Upper Shore.
My family as a whole has found sustenance from Chesapeake Bay tributaries for over ten generations. With such legacy comes a humbling responsibility to preserve the traditions of free Black citizenship on the Maryland Eastern Shore and protect the spirit that would touch so many lives from the Atlantic to the Pacific; my latest contribution is this succinct study of the origins of the MD Eastern Shore’s most prized polities and how they continue to evolve over time.
In this four part series, I explore three planes of the Black tidewater tradition of the Chesapeake: what people produce with their hands, how communities establish what they value and which spiritual connection to physical space and place make them whole. Part one is a case study of the Curtis brothers of Oxford, MD. Part two details the predominant civic and interest groups and how their political agendas interact with one another. Part the places the beginnings of the African Methodist Episcopal Church under a microscope in hopes to uncover its influence in maritime communities throughout the Delmarva peninsula. These three chapters are distinct, yet also reinforce one another to introduce an ever-changing era of American citizenship to the sacred political tools of interdependence and liberty.
Brickshire, New Kent County Virginia - lizmoore.com/magazine/BrickshireHomes
Located in Historic New Kent County, set half way between Williamsburg and Richmond, is one of the area's best kept secrets. Brickshire is a golf community offering the amenities todays home buyers want, with, price points ranging from the upper $200's for villa style homes and smaller semi-custom homes to well over $1,000,000 for large custom homes. While Blue-Green, the developer, had sold out all of the lots several years ago, there are now re-sale lots currently available, both on the golf course or backing to woods, ranging from, one third of an acre to over an acre. Buyers have a choice of finding the right lot and building a custom home with the builder of their choice, or selecting from some of the wonderful resale homes currently available at surprising reasonable prices. When compared with the Williamsburg market, buyers can expect to save around $100,000 on an equivalent home. And we have a varied inventory for buyers to select from. With a 30 minute drive from central Williamsburg and Richmond, you will find the peaceful golf community, set among the pines and 2 golf courses: Royal New Kent is at the front of the subdivision and our homes are built all around Brickshire's golf course. Near the front of Brickshire are our 2 Home Owner buildings; one houses our HOA manager who is available 5 days a week from 9 to 5, as well as a large meeting room, and the other is the HOA Clubhouse with a meeting room and exercise facility. This building has a large porch overlooking one of the stocked ponds here in Brickshire. And across the parking lot are the tennis courts and pool (with lifeguard), and pool house. The golf club is part of Traditional Golf Properties and is semi-private, so you can either pay to play or become a member. Membership has no initiation fee and brings 3 courses to play: Brickshire, Royal New Kent and Stonehouse. The grill room is open to the public. Brickshire is a Curtis Strange Signature Golf Course, rated 4 ½ stars by Golf Digest. Brickshire also offers miles of walking trails through the woods and by the ponds and are well used by residents. Kings Pond also is stocked and has a fountain, providing the sound of water to everyone nearby. Further along Kentland Trail is the Recreation area offering a playground, sports field, covered picnic area and horseshoe pit, as well as a basketball backboard. An RV/Boat storage lot is available for a small fee for residents. Brickshire is one of the friendliest places I have been. The social committee and children's committee schedule frequent activities for residents to get together and have fun -- on cinqo de Mayo there was a great picnic/dinner in a huge tent. The Women's club has activities to help support those in need in New Kent County. There is an out to lunch bunch that tries a different restaurant every month and all kinds of groups and clubs ranging from golf for varying levels of expertise, to card, sewing, art, poker, etc. And one-2 Friday's a month the grill room is open for dinner and we get together to catch up with everyone. Brickshire's HOA is self- managed and our Board and committees are volunteers from the community. Our dues are $560 a year, significantly lower than similar subdivisions. The villa homes provide exterior maintenance and a separate $207 per month applies to them for that maintenance and trash collection. Whether looking for a place to build a new home, or just find that perfect place to move right into, come take a look at Brickshire; you will be surprised at how fast you fall in love with all that we have to offer.
Humane Society of Washington County Maryland
Images of our new facility and the progress made to improve services to our community the animals we love in Washington County.
Chestertown Lines Up to Keep Its Hospital (Part II)
More than 300 people filled the Chestertown Fire Department Hall on Sunday to air their grievances about a possible discontinuation of inpatient care and diminished services at Chestertown Hospital Center. More than 100 people, who could not enter the facility, listened from doorways and windows as a panel of elected official and others made their case for continuing and enhancing medical services locally.
The Save the Hospital town meeting, orchestrated by Sen. Stephen Hershey R-Upper Shore, District 36 Delegate Jay Jacobs, Dr. Gerry O’Conner, and County Commissioners, along with President and CEO of UM Shore Regional Health Ken Kozel made their cases.
Mr. Kozell opened the forum with an overarching history of the Chestertown Hospital, the 2008 merging with University of Maryland Health System, the current national state of health care delivery and how it impacts rural hospitals and how the changing state of medical delivery could impact the future of Chestertown Hospital.
Kozell also said that UM Shore Health has made no decision about the future of the hospital and that they were currently waiting for recommendations set up by a regional board. Their recommendations should be available by May of this year, Kozel said.
Dr. Gerry O’Conner, a physician at CHC, and primary advocate for the meeting challenged UM Shore Health’s public mission statement saying that during meetings with hospital officials that they, in fact, conveyed a plan to substantially reduce the hospital to emergency services only and to eliminate inpatient care. Patients needing inpatient care would then be sent to Easton’s hospital. OConner questioned the logic of eliminating services from a hospital that has been operating with positive revenue and went as far as saying that were CHC to downsize that he wouldn't want to be taken there during a medical emergency.
The full spectrum of impacts sustained by a reduction of inpatient services and specialists, complex and profound, were addressed by speakers. Issues included: the erosion of health service delivery, a lack of network transportation for patients, distances family would have to travel to be with loved ones, dramatic economic impacts on the community at large—loss of jobs, diminished attraction for new residents and students and professors at Washington College, job placement with businesses in the community, the impact on services for children at county schools, the effect such a change would have on providing for an aging community, and an overall sense that as the town shows signs of productive growth it will not be able of offer core health services.
In an effort to change the decision-making process impacting the future of rural hospitals, Sen. Stephen Hershey will introduce a bill to the Maryland legislature requiring that such decisions be made by a local board, rather than remotely. It was pointed out that of the current regional board readying their recommendations, few were residents of Kent County. The bill will be co-sponsored by Sen. Jim Rosapepe, D-Prince George County.
In Part 1 of the video, key points made by Mr. Kozell, Dr. O’Conner, Jay Jacobs, William Pickrum and Chris Cerino are presented.
It was noted that Ben Steffens of the Maryland Health Care Commission was in attendance to observe the proceedings.
Mid-Shore Health Future: Dr. Jerry O'Connor on Chestertown's Hospital
Dr. Jerry O'Connor, a surgeon who has practiced for 32 years at the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Chestertown, has some very serious concerns about the future of the Chestertown hospital. After three decades of watching the medical center be downsized and merged into the UM Health system, he has decided to speak out about those concerns as Shore Health begins a final review process for its long term strategic master plan.
One of Dr. O'Connor's issues is related to the process that Shore Health has used in this planning effort, which he feels has ignored or marginalized the concerns of many medical professionals in Chestertown. But his main concern is the possible loss of in-patient care in Kent County. He believes this is a result of Shore Health, and other Maryland health care providers, relying on GBR (global budget revenue) and population health metrics which focuses on numbers rather than people.
In his Spy interview, Dr. O'Connor also indicates that Shore Regional Health has not closed the door for working out a good solution for Chestertown. In particular, he is eager for UM to look more carefully at seeking state and federal government approval to make Chestertown a Critical Access Hospital allowing for a more flexible reimbursement structure. While that might take some time, he feels Shore Health can in the meantime do far more outreach and consultation with doctors in Kent County before a final plan of action has been decided.
One of Dr. O'Connor's issues is related to the process that Shore Health has used in this planning effort, which he feels has ignored or marginalized the concerns of many medical professionals in Chestertown. But his main concern is the possible loss of in-patient care in Kent County. He believes this is a result of Shore Health, and other Maryland health care providers, relying on GBR (global budget revenue) and population health metrics which focuses on numbers rather than people.
In his Spy interview, Dr. O'Connor also indicates that Shore Regional Health has not closed the door for working out a good solution for Chestertown and its patients in the future. In particular, he is eager for UM to look more carefully at seeking state and federal government approval to make Chestertown a Critical Access Hospital allowing for a more flexible reimbursement structure. While that might take some time, he feels Shore Health can in the meantime do far more outreach and consultation with doctors in Kent County before a final plan of action has been decided.
July 4th Parade Rock Hall, MD 2010
Independence Day Parade - Rock Hall, MD USA
Profile: Crow Winery's Winemaker Catrina North
There comes a moment in the life of a young winery when a decision is made to hire a full-time winemaker. It is a seminal point for most, representing a big step into the big leagues of wine production with a major investment in one person, rather than part-time consultants or amateur instincts, to decide what wines to grow and when to harvest.
Crow Winery in Kennedyville crossed that threshold a few months ago when they brought on Catrina North to head up their growing wine production. The product of a grape-growing family from upper New York State, trained in Austraila, Napa, and the Finger Lakes District, and most recently the winemaker in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Catrina brings a level of expertise to the Kent County winery that clearly indicates Crow's intention to be serious player in the fledgling Maryland wine scene.
In her Spy interview, Catrina talks about her background, some of the bias she has developed in producing good wine, and her aspirations for Crow Winery. She also talks about the challenges Maryland wine faces as being the relatively new kid on the block next to New York and Virginia as well as its great potential on the East Shore.