The New CMM by Sherrod Sturrock, Deputy Director
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w.calvert ww ma rine mu seu m. com Vol. 39, No. 1 Spring 2014 Renovations Complete! Welcome to the New CMM By Sherrod Sturrock, Deputy Director n Tuesday, April 29, we cut the ribbon on our renovation project after years of planning and fundraising, and months Oof construction. What an exciting journey this has been. We cannot wait for you to experience the new look of the Calvert Marine Museum. The entrance appears unchanged, although the doors have migrated to the right, creating a dramatic display window for the Museum Store in their place. As you enter, you are greeted by the new admission/information desk. Riding above the desk like an undulating wave is a large curved “bulkhead” that draws you in. To the left of the desk hang large acrylic panels where images are projected of upcoming events, otters playing, children engaged in programs, the Dee of St. Mary’s sailing on the Patuxent River – communicating a vibrant place of discovery. Behind the panels, you can sit and watch the orientation film in a small 20-seat theatre before heading into the exhibits. Perhaps you’d like to check out our expanded store. The Museum Store welcomes you with open glass walls, large windows, bright lighting, and beautiful new furnishings. Always a highlight of any visit, the store now has a generous, spacious Sherrod Sturrock stands at the new admissions and information desk feeling, a showcase for unique and enticing items designed (CMM photo by Rob Hurry). Continued on page 2 Renovations Complete. Welcome to the new CMM ............1 Discover the Museum Store – You Have to See It for Yourself! ........... 2 Tribute to Alton Kersey. 3 Upcoming Events at CMM .............. 4 Screwpile Preserved and Displayed. 6 A Lifetime of Public Service – Inventorying the Archive of Sen. Bernie Fowler ......... 7 Volunteer Spotlight .................... 7 Update – River to Bay: Reflections and Connections ............. 8 Education Update ..................... 9 Development and Membership .......... 10 CMM Society Going in New Directions ... 11 How to Minimize the Impacts of Maryland Inheritance Tax by Supporting the Museum ............... 11 Staff News .......................... 12 Part of the Harms Gallery, a new multi-purpose space (CMM photo by Rob Hurry). 2 Renovations Complete! Welcome to the New CMM (Continued from page 1) to tempt you into taking a bit of the experience home. You hear an announcement that a program is starting in the Harms Gallery. As you enter what used to be our auditorium, you are greeted by a bright open room with a stage positioned at one end and seating arranged around it. At the far end of the room an accent wall covered with what appears to be frozen waves is framed by handsome dark wood. Wall sconces throw light into the beautiful wooden beams above. Floating “clouds” absorb sound to create an acoustically pleasing experience. On another occasion, you might come to the museum for a special event to find the wall between the lobby and the The accent wall in the Harms Gallery (CMM photo by Bob Hall). Harms Gallery has disappeared, and the space opened up with cafe tables arranged This project is the first phase of a Maryland Heritage Area Consortium, and around the dance floor and a band playing multi-phase renovation outlined in our the museum provided $835,672. on the stage. Or perhaps you visit during 2008 master plan. G.W.W.O. Architects The second phase of the project the Solomons Maritime Festival and from Baltimore created the design and involves expanding the mezzanine level discover that the Harms Gallery has been Desbuild, Inc. out of Hyattsville won to create additional educational space transformed into a home crafts display and the construction bid. The total project designed to accommodate our highly demonstration area. cost, including design, construction, successful and fast growing educational and equipment, is $2,165,000. Of that programming. The goal is to fund this amount, the county contributed $985,000, project and construct it within the next the state contributed $290,000 through a five years. Cost is estimated at $750,000 bond bill and a grant from the Southern in 2014 dollars. Quarterly Newsletter of the Calvert Marine Museum (A Division of Calvert County Government) DISCOVER THE MUSEUM STORE – and the Calvert Marine Museum Society, Inc. YOU HAVE TO SEE IT FOR YOURSELF! (ISSN 0887-651X) C. Douglass Alves Jr., Director Maureen Baughman, Store Manager Sherrod Sturrock, Deputy Director and Editor n the last Bugeye Times I asked Robert Hurry, Photo Editor for your support to help us make The bugeye was the traditional sailing craft Ithe new Museum Store a reality. of the Bay, and was built in all its glory Now, I want to thank all of you who at Solomons, the “Bugeye Capital of the responded and share with you my World.” Membership dues are used to fund excitement at what we have been special museum projects, programs, and able to accomplish together. this newsletter. Address comments and The beautiful tile floor has been membership applications to: laid. The contractor has installed the Calvert Marine Museum Society, Inc. new glass walls and sliding glass P.O. Box 97 doors. All the drywall is up and Solomons, MD 20688-0097 410-320-2042 painted. The new furniture has been FAX 410-326-6691 TDD 410-535-6355 installed. Our storefront window has Museum Store: 410-326-2750 been revealed … the new, expanded, www.calvertmarinemuseum.com bigger and better than ever Museum Layout by Stuller Designs Store is ready for prime time. I can’t wait to show it to you. No doubt you’ve wondered Museum Store Manager Maureen Baughman what museum staff has been doing arranges a seasonal merchandise display Continued on next page (CMM photo by Rob Hurry) SPRING 2014 3 Discover the Museum Store — You Have to See It For Yourself! (Continued from page 2) while the museum has been closed. Personally, I’ve never been busier. Once it became clear that we would be able to include the store in the project, I got busy raising funds, designing a layout, selecting a vendor, and ordering new fixtures and furnishings. Then I started working on filling all those new shelves and display cases with the unusual and delightful items you have come to expect at the Museum Store. I promise you will not be disappointed. Opening day is Saturday, May 3, which happens to be the Solomons Maritime Festival. We are especially excited to welcome all of our members, both new and old, to celebrate our reopening. Don’t forget your member’s 10% store discount, and 20% off on the 20th of every month. Consider this a special invitation to come share the excitement. We’ll be here ready to welcome you. Assistant Store Manager Kim Zabiegalski always greets customers with a warm smile (CMM photo by Rob Hurry). TRIBUTE TO ALTON KERSEY The Founders Plaque at the museum’s front door reads: In Recognition of the Founders of the Calvert Marine Museum who shared the vision, dedication, and commitment to mold their dream into a reality: Daniel Barrett Jr., William L. Dovel, Alton S. Kersey, Joseph C. Lore Jr. and James LeRoy “Pepper” Langley n February 20, the museum lost Alton took a proprietary attitude another founder: Alton Kersey. toward the museum, for obvious reasons. OAlton met his wife, Joann Lore, He was a tireless advocate, frequently at William and Mary College in the early calling with observations or suggestions or 1950s. After graduation they returned ideas on how to make the museum better. to Solomons and Alton went to work for He never wavered from that original vision his father-in-law, Joseph Lore, at the J.C. to preserve the maritime heritage of the Lore and Sons oyster house. In those early area. He was very proud of the museum years he restored and maintained the and what it had become. For several years, Wm. B. Tennison, a bugeye that served he and Joann volunteered for First Free as the buyboat for the oyster house. To Friday, teaching kids how to tie knots and quote his daughter, Melissa, the work gave lasso a piling. One night as he was leaving Alton “a newfound respect for wooden he asked a young boy what he thought of boats and the maintenance it took to keep the place. The boy looked up at him and them afloat. It also gave his father-in-law said: “This is the best place in the world!” a glimmer of hope that he really was the Alton would repeat that story with a smile right guy for Joann.” on his face and a twinkle in his eye. And In the late 1960s, Alton was part of then add a suggestion that would make it an increasingly vocal group advocating just that little bit better. to preserve the maritime heritage of Alton Kersey with golden retriever, Casey, Alton was a frequent visitor to the Solomons. And he and Joann numbered in 2014 (CMM Photo by Sherrod Sturrock). museum, and a fixture at any official among the founders who in 1970 opened event, always well turned out in a sports the “Solomons Maritime Museum” in a temporary building coat and tie. Dressing up, he said, was a sign of respect. We on Solomons Island. Later, when the Lore Oyster House honor him as a museum founder, a lifetime member of the ceased operations in the late 1970s, Alton and Joann worked museum, a tireless advocate, an active and involved citizen of with then director Ralph Eshelman to make sure both the Solomons, and a true friend.