A PUBLICATION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY MARITIME MUSEUM The Chesapeake Log WINTER/SPRING 2014 Mission Statement The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is Winter/Spring 2014 In Loving Memory dedicated to preserving and exploring the contents history, environment, and people of the of Chrys Alvarado Chesapeake Bay. NOTICE: HELP WANTED Museum Values CBMM Summer Sailing Relevance. We provide meaningful and On January 20, 2014, our long- accessible experiences to everyone who Program instructor time volunteer and friend Chrys cares about our Mission—all of our communities and constituencies. Alvarado passed away. Chrys became a CBMM volunteer in Authenticity. We seek genuinely to repre- sent the people and cultures whose stories 2005, acting first as a docent and we preserve and tell. a Crab Cakes and ecology cruise Stewardship. We value the priceless assets educator before assisting as a entrusted to us and accept their preserva- receptionist, membership assis- tion and enhancement as our paramount tant, volunteer association board responsibility—our collections, our campus and facilities, our financial resources, and member, volunteer support committee member, and special event volunteer. Chrys the volunteers and staff who perform our had her hand in almost every facet of what we do and was always here to help when Mission and make our Museum the rich we put out a call. enterprise it is. Chrys was always a surprise—she regaled us at board meetings with stories Sign up for our e-Newsletter and from her youth, including saving lives as a lifeguard. She led an amazing life and stay up-to-date on all of the news we were fortunate to have her here with us to share her energy and enthusiasm. and events at the Museum. Email Help the Chesapeake Bay Maritime [email protected] to be added to Later we were awed by her strength as she fought an amazing battle for her life. Museum teach the fun, excitement, our mailing list. and adventure of sailing on the She will be very missed by the staff and volunteers at CBMM. Our sincerest Miles River! We are currently seek- condolences are with her beloved husband Ed, and her lovely family. CONNECT WITH US: 19 22 ing sailing instructors and volunteers to assist the Education Department with teaching children and adults the basic fundamentals and technical Beautifulswimmers.tumblr.com skills of sailing on our JY 15 vessels. Chesapeakeboats.blogspot.com FEATURES 4 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE 16 All instructors must be certified in by Tom D. Seip Rosie Parks Floats Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Boaters Safety and/or life guarding by Dick Cooper Navy Point, PO Box 636 through the American Red Cross. PRESIDENT’S LETTER Showboat Days are here again: St. Michaels, MD 21663 5 Applicants for the head sailing by Langley R. Shook The James Adams Floating Theatre 410-745-2916 • cbmm.org by Kate Livie instructor position must additionally 6 CURRENTS be US Sailing Certified Level 1. HOURS: CBMM awarded grants; new oyster drop-off CALENDAR April to May, 9am–5pm 24 Employment dates: June to August, 9am–6pm location; Oyster Stew Competition winner; Speaker Series, Member Nights, June 10th – August 28th. Sept. to Oct., 9am–5pm ALL announces new officers; New Governors education and boatyard programs, To apply for an instructor position Nov. to March, 10am–4pm welcomed to board; New decoy exhibit in WineFest, Elf Classic Yacht Race, Maritime please send résumé to: April; New choices for Membership, and more. Model Expo, and save-the-dates for 2014. On the cover: Human Resources CURATOR’S CORNER ON THE RAIL Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum The skipjack Rosie Parks was relaunched at the annual 12 26 OysterFest celebration on November 2, 2013. Gloucester of the Merchants Updates on the Potomac River Dory Boat, P. O. Box 636 Photo courtesy of William Wilhelm, williamwilhelm.com. & Miners Transportation Company tug Delaware, draketail Martha, and Rosie St. Michaels, MD 21663 by Norman H. Plummer Parks' pushboat. Plus, meet the newest Editors: Marie Thomas & Tracey Munson addition to the CBMM Boatyard crew. Résumés can also be emailed to Creative Director: Marie Thomas CBMM receives several gifts to collection [email protected]. To apply for a Apprentice for a Day Public JOURNEYMAN'S SPECIAL: Copy Editor: Mariana Lesher volunteer position, please contact Contributing Writers: Choose any four classes for $150 CBMM members LIFELINES [email protected] or 410-745-4956 Boatbuilding Program Dick Cooper, Esty Collet, Kate Livie, 15 & $200 non-members. Drop-in rate $45/ $55. Volunteer Profile: Martha Austin for more information. Tracey Munson, Norman Plummer, by Marie Thomas Learn traditional boatbuilding skills under the Current project: 17-1/2 foot lapstrake sailing skiff Tom Seip, Langley Shook, Marie Thomas. Service learning hours are available direction of a CBMM shipwright. Be a part of the The Chesapeake Log is a publication of Questions? [email protected] or 410-745-4980 for Maryland high school students! whole 17-week process or just sign up for those the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. aspects of boatbuilding you want to learn. Schedule: bit.ly/afad2014 2 WINTER/SPRING 2014 THE CHESAPEAKE LOG THE CHESAPEAKE LOG WINTER/SPRING 2014 3 Chairman’s Message Board of Museum Staff President’s Letter Governors by Tom D. Seip, Chair of the Board by Langley R. Shook, President 2013-2014 President Langley R. Shook, President, 4951 It’s been a little over three months since the historic Tom D. Seip, Chair Breene M. Kerr Center Soon I will step down as President of the relaunch of the skipjack Rosie Parks, and I can still feel Richard C. Tilghman, Jr., Vice Chair for Chesapeake Studies Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum when a James P. Harris, Treasurer the excitement of that warm November afternoon. Pete Lesher, Chief Curator, 4971 successor is named. It’s been an honor and a Richard J. Bodorff, Secretary More than 4,500 people joined us at OysterFest—the Richard Scofield, Assistant Curator of Watercraft, 4966 privilege to serve for the past four years. Karen Rob Forloney, Director of the Kerr Center, 4959 largest, single day crowd in the Museum’s 48-year Schuyler Benson and I have enjoyed almost every moment of it. Paul Berry Kate Livie, Director of Education, 4947 history—to witness Rosie kissing the water for her well- Harry W. Burton Eric Applegarth, Exhibits Specialist, 4945 Sometimes the best things in life are serendipi- deserved homecoming. From the rechristening ceremony William B. Carter Lynne Phillips, Collections Manager, 4972 tous. This has been both. Helen Van Fleet, Education & Reservations Assistant, 4941 with Parks family members, to the solo performance William S. Dudley Several things stand out in my mind—diver- of the hymn, “A Closer Walk with Thee” as the iconic David E. Dunn Boatyard sifying the Museum’s audiences with events like skipjack headed down the railway, the day was filled Dagmar D. P. Gipe Michael Gorman, Vessel Maintenance Manager, 4968 Watermen’s Appreciation Day and Frederick E. Brooke Harwood, Jr. Mark Donohue, Rosie Parks Project Manager, 4967 with moments many will remember for a lifetime. Douglass Day; restoring the skipjack Rosie Parks Christopher A. Havener, Jr. Jennifer Kuhn, Boatyard Program Manager, 4980 To me, the relaunch marks one of the most significant Francis Hopkinson, Jr. Joe Connor, Vessel Maintenance Assistant to her former glory; increasing donations to the milestones in the 48-year history of this institution, one Fred Israel Bill Bronaugh, Shipwright Apprentice Annual Fund and planned giving; enhancing the Museum’s waterfront with a new Brooke Ricketts, Shipwright Apprentice that will remain a part of Museum President Langley Richard J. Johnson bulkhead and living shoreline; and seeing our staff and volunteer forces strengthened. Shook’s rich legacy. With Langley’s retirement plans announced this past December, it’s Peter M. Kreindler Communications & Special Events None of this would have been possible without your support, and I thank you for it. a great time to reflect on his four-plus years of contributions to the Museum serving as its Elizabeth S. Loker Tracey Munson, Vice President of Communications, 4960 During the quieter winter months we’ve focused on how we can serve our members Frank C. Marshall, Jr. Marie Thomas, Communications Manager & Art Director, 4953 fourth President. And as he stays on board until his successor is found, Langley’s contri- and visitors better while increasing visitor related, or “earned” revenue that is an Patrice Miller Melissa Spielman, Director of Events & Volunteer Program, 4956 butions continue to strengthen the Museum through this transitional period. Geoffrey F. Oxnam Ida Heelan, Events Coordinator, 4944 important goal of the Museum’s new strategic plan to sustain the institution for the Coming out of his law practice retirement with a commitment to lead the Museum for Bruce A. Ragsdale Development & Constituent Services long term. Besides improving amenities for our boaters—adding air conditioning in up to five years, Langley began his tenure guiding the Museum through tough economic Mitchell B. Reiss René Stevenson, Vice President of Constituent Services, 4950 the showers, at last!—we’ve restructured membership levels to better align dues with D. Bruce Rogers times. Today, his leadership is marked by a long list of major accomplishments, includ- Debbie Collison, Membership Manager, 4991 the corresponding benefits. The new membership levels and their dues are set outn o S. Stevens Sands ing fundraising for the Rosie Parks restoration, living shoreline extension and bulkhead Cheryl Miller, Constituent Services Assistant, 4943 page 10. A modest increase in general admission charges also will allow us to expand Lelde Schmitz projects, as well as attracting more diversified audiences to the Museum. e’sH doubled Megan Fisher, Visitor Services Manager, 4945 many of our programs, upgrade our facilities, and better serve our members, visitors, Diane J.