To Discover, Identify, Restore and Preserve the Heritage of Kent Island Newsletter of the Kent Island Heritage Society, Inc. SUMMER 2020 Officers President’s Message PRESIDENT Wishing health and safety to all of you! We are now living in a Jack E. Broderick vastly diff erent world than when we reached out to you in our VICE PRESIDENT last newsle er in late February. The COVID19 pandemic and Robert Lowe our na on’s response is upon us and has aff ected virtually every aspect of our lives. That certainly includes plans and ac vi es RECORDING SECRETARY of the Kent Island Heritage Society that involve hos ng and Nancy M. Cook par cipa ng in community events and receiving visitors. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY Our largest event of the year, the iconic Kent Island Carole P. Frederick Day 2020 was cancelled. We realized in mid-March that such a large community event TREASURER in May a rac ng over 2,000 people, requiring extensive coordina on and planning Lynne Riley-Coleman was simply unthinkable. We thus made the formal announcement of cancella on, which proved to be a mely decision and pledged to do our part to support the DIRECTORS health, safety, and welfare of our ci zens and community as our top priority. In the Linda Collier John Conley months to come we will monitor the situa on to see if some kind of special Kent Island celebra on is warranted and appropriate a er this cloud has passed. Lou Crouch Jay Gibson Toni Gibson Likewise, the planned presenta on on Kent Island’s archaeology by Dr. Darrin Kristin Green Lowery was cancelled in mid-March. We made this decision at the front edge of the Mark Lidinsky COVID19 restric ons out of an abundance of cau on, due to the close quarters of the Lesley Moore mee ng venue and the expected overfl ow crowd for this popular subject. However, Linda Moore Dr. Lowery’s archaeological project on Kent Island/Parson’s Island will proceed this Annie May Price summer with volunteer assistance from the Society. The Docent Tea we had planned for mid-March was also cancelled for similar PAST PRESIDENTS Marian Steuart 75-77 reasons. We’ll consider another opportunity to honor and thank our important team Gordon Seward 77-79 of docents at a future me as circumstances permit. Julius Grollman 79-81 Mary White 81-82 For the protec on of our visitors and docents, our Stevensville and Chester Walter T. Denny 83-84 historic sites will remain closed un l mandated by the Governor and agreed to by Eva C. White 85-86 our Board. Special programs and visits have been postponed as well. Please visit us C. Gilbert Dunn 87-89 virtually and explore what we have to off er online. When we are able to re-open, Audrey Hawkins 90-92 Charles Koegel 93-94 no fi ca on will be available in the local media and on our website containing our Twi er and Facebook links. Hugo Gemignani 95-98 Nancy M. Cook 99-08 Schools have been closed since late March aff ec ng the Heritage program at KI High School. We had presented only one session this semester, but the students were so engaged that we off ered student membership to those classes. We look forward to resuming that program in the fall with the next junior class. Continued on page 2 KIHS Committees Continued from page 1 Membership John Conley, Chair We have not been able to access historic and genealogical fi les housed at the KI Budget Library since it is closed. However, materials can be retrieved by special request. Any other Bob Lowe, Chair Heritage Society presenta ons on the calendar are on a temporary hold as well. Jay Gibson Linda Collier In the mean me, however, we are commi ed to doing all we can to support our Lynne Riley-Coleman mission to discover, iden fy, restore and preserve the heritage of Kent Island. Our board has Newsletter met successfully via conference call to carry on the society’s business. For example, each Carole Frederick, Editor year the heritage society awards a scholarship to an eligible gradua ng senior. Our 2020 John Conley, Managing Editor scholarship recipient has been chosen and will be awarded as circumstances permit. Library/Genealogy Dr. Darrin Lowery’s archaeology fi eld work is on! He has received his approved grant Bob Lowe, Chair from the Maryland Historic Trust to con nue exploratory surveying and digging on Parson’s Lynne Riley-Coleman Island, an extension of Kent Island in Prospect Bay and Crabrab Kirwan House Alley. His previous explora ons resulted in fascina ng newew Linda Collier, Curator informa on about early man in this area. This summer’sr’s Gina Cuza eff orts will con nue that work with assistance from Heritagege Cray House Society volunteers. See website for ongoing details. Sally Lewis, Curator Post Offi ce The Kirwan blacksmith shop is progressing – slowly Fran Peters, Curator but surely. The building is now completed and approved Docents by the county. Our next step is to complete the interior Sally Lewis, Coordinator work-space and acquire necessary smithing tools and Butch Collier equipment, such as the original Kirwan anvil donated byby Linda Collier Kirwan family friend and neighbor, Cur e Chance. Thank you,ou John Conley Cur e! Nancy Cook Betty Folz The restora on aspect of our mission will be met by Carole Frederick maintenance and repairs at all of our Stevensville sites which Jay Gibson include: the Train Sta on and Caboose, Cray House, Historic Toni Gibson Post Offi ce, and Historic Bank. Gary Haigley Chris Kilian An an que wrought iron fence was donated to us by Mr. Nick Neboshynsky, of Lynnda Kratovil Stevensville, The fence is being repaired and will be relocated to the family cemetery on the Kirwan Farm. Thank you Nick! Carmen Mendez Fran Peters The metal roof over the Kirwan House museum store entrance is being repaired Hanna Wall Marilyn Wilson and repainted. There is also ongoing work to improve drainage around the property and to Cheryl Valentine control the ck infesta on in an environmentally safe way. We are determined to deal with those “dang cks” eff ec vely. PROGRAMS I’m sorry to share a sad note about the recent death of a true Kent Island icon, Capt. Kent Island Day Bobby Aaron of Stevensville. Capt. Bobby owned and operated, for many decades, one of Jack Broderick, Chair the greatest businesses on Kent Island – his Metal Working/Blacksmith Shop on Main St. in John Conley Stevensville. Please see my thoughts on Capt. Bobby Aaron in this Newsle er. Nancy Cook Carole Frederick As we progress through this unusual and challenging me, we are working to keep Bob Lowe you updated through our website that contains Facebook and Twi er links. Please check us Picnic out regularly at ken slandheritagesociety.org. Carole Frederick, Chair Toni and Jay Gibson Looking to the future, we are exploring the use of current technology to bring Linda and Butch Collier the sites, characters, and stories of our Kent Island heritage alive through virtual tours, presenta ons and other media. Stay tuned! June General Meeting Jack Broderick, Chair We hope you and your families stay healthy and safe as you weather these next Annual Election Brunch several months. Toni Gibson, Chair Jack Broderick 2 CALENDAR 2020 JANUARY 21 BOARD MEETING FEBRUARY 19 KENT ISLAND DAY PATRONS BOARD MEETING -2020- MARCH 18 GENERAL MEETING Darrin Lowery, Ph. D. Lorraine and Robert L. Aaron Stoopley Gibson Theo Ransom Phyllis and George Abendschoen Sharon and Pat Goss Sandy Reinhard Guest Speaker Joann and Mike Anderson Jeanne and Jack Guidera Lynne Riley-Coleman Historic Christ Church @ 7:00 p.m. Mark Anderson Nancy and Bryan Hall Elizabeth and Stan Ruddie Anonymous M. Hamilton & Sons Dorotheann and Bernard Sadusky APRIL 15 Roz and Marty Appel Pat and Jerry Harris Carol and Harry Sanders BOARD MEETING Betty Baker In Memory of Audrey Hawkins Henry A. Schmidt Holly and Wheeler Baker Barbara and Thomas Helfenbein Pat and Bob Schocke MAY 16 Patty Baker Sandra and James Herbert Stacey and Tracy Schulz Harry Bly Valerie and Thom Hirsch Jane P. Schwarz KENT ISLAND DAY Diana Bonner Ava Kelley Honeycutt Elizabeth Aiello Seidel Janet B. and Theophilus C. Breeding T. and Wayne Humphries Shirley Severa MAY 20 Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Britt Mae Hutchison Mindy, Jamie and Cameron Sewell BOARD MEETING Liz Jack Broderick Cindy Ringgold Johnson Ellen and Ernie Smith Ethel and Madison Brown Claire and David Kelley Jarrett and Frank Smith JUNE 17 Ida Jean Buckel Ernestine Kepley Flora and Richard Sossi Dr. Earl L. Chambers, Jr. Joyce K. Kerlin Rita H. Stowe GENERAL MEETING Curtie Chance Mr. and Mrs. William T. Key Anne Baker and Tom Tate Annual Cruise Chesapeake Light Tackle Tracie and Jamie Kinsel Dorothy Tolson Thompson Forrest Chisman In Memory of Harry and Ellen Klages Kathryn Thompson JULY 15 Debbie and Spencer Clarke Eddie Larrimore Don Thomson BOARD MEETING Dolores B. Cockey Mary Jane Leaverton Rosalie Usilton and Richard Tillman Anita and Joe Collins Nancy Lee Lewis Bill Tucker and Tracy Diamond Darlene and John Conley Sally Lewis Carole Tulip AUGUST 19 Nancy MacGregor Cook Mark L. Lidinsky Anne Kyle Tyler BOARD MEETING John (Jack) Coursey Debbie and Rudy Lukacovic Valainis Family Don Crouch and Susan Walters Carolyn and Scott MacGlashan Rev. Ken and Cheryl Valentine SEPTEMBER 16 Louis Crouch Jr. Phyllis V. McClintock Mindy and Mike Voelker BOARD MEETING Clara Bryan Davidson Shirley “Bailey” Morrell Hanna Wall Norman Davidson Karen and Arthur Oertel Gayle and Jim Walls Pamela Dawson James Parker Gary Legg Walters SEPTEMBER 27 Carolyn T.