"Paddle Your Own Canoe" - a Brief History of Solomons High School, 1921 to 1939 by Clara M
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QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER of CALVERT MARINE MUSEUM "Paddle Your Own Canoe" - A Brief History of Solomons High School, 1921 to 1939 By Clara M. Dixon [Editor's Note: this article is based on a draft chapter in a history of Solomons employ another teacher and to appoint Mr. William Hellen to that Clara Dixon worked on for several years. The article is a fitting memorial chair a committee to investigate housing. recognition of Clara Dixon's contributions both to education in Calvert County The committee reported back to the board on February 9, (as a student in the Solomons High School and a teacher in Prince Frederick), and to the Calvert Marine Museum. It is also timely in relation to the planned 1922 — again with unusual speed — with the recommendation renovation of the Solomons school as the museum's administration building. Much that a six-room school be erected and that transportation be pro- of the material in the article appeared in a Solomons High School reunion booklet vided by boat for students from Olivet, Rousby, and Mill Creek, issued in 1979, a copy of which is in the museum's library.] and by bus from Coster, and possibly Sellers. The Lower Calvert Educational Association was formed with Marcellus Mitchell he first high school in Calvert County opened on Solomons Davis as president to undertake the raising of funds for the pur- Island on January 13, 1921, in the Episcopal Parish Hall, near chase of land for the school. Since it was not until June 24, 1924, T the end of the present State Route 2. The Reverend Dr. that the school board met to receive a deed for 4.11 acres, the William Wilberforce Costin of the Solomons-Olivet Methodist two years needed to raise the money was the most time- churches read the scriptures, offered prayer, gave an address, and consuming job of all. On that date, Messrs. Davis and Hellen later noted in a release to the church paper, The Methodist, that ". presented on behalf of the Lower Calvert Education Associa- there was an enrollment of twenty-nine students. tion a deed to four acres of land at that place for the purpose Governmental machinery evidently moved more rapidly in of erecting a building for high and elementary school purposes the early 1920s than it does today, for records indicate that Dr. thereon." The school board, having been saved the purchase price Costin initiated work for a high school at Solomons before of land, immediately accepted the deed for the ". land at Christmas 1920. Minutes of the Calvert County Board of Educa- Solomons purchased most generously by the citizens of that tion for January 6, 1921, report that the board voted to locality..." and expressed "...its thanks for the splendid ". .establish a group high school at Solomons. Miss Ruth Mills cooperation of the citizenry of that locality." The land had been of Cambridge was appointed purchased from Mr. and Mrs. J. teacher at $720, to begin Cook Webster for $2,400 with teaching in the week of January contributions from the citizens 10, 1921, in a room to be rented of the several communities. for the purpose." Barely six Perhaps two years was not too week elapsed between public long a time in those days for the initiation of the idea and ac- raising of that sum of money. complished fact! Bids for the construction of the By late 1921 the State Board building were advertised, but of Education expressed its con- the first two bids were rejected cern for the status of the in July. Three others offered in Solomons school by citing the August ranged from a high of need for an extra teacher and $40,150 to a low of $19,850, the making a plea that an effort be low bid being from John B. made to remedy the unsatisfac- Lusby, to whom the contract was tory housing conditions. The finally awarded. (The final cost, local board's response was to however, increased to $21,500.} authorize the superintendent to (Continued on page 14) MEMBERS, PLEASE NOTE! Postage rates are up again! We need to keep our mailings down, so we shall use the Bugeye Times to announce most special events from now on. Watch for events listed in the calendar so you don't miss out. Bugeye Ti TURTLES, AGAIN! FOSSIL FACTS The museum is interested in any By Sandy Roberts sightings in the region of marine turtles, Isognomon maxillata live or dead. Large turtles, primarily log- gerheads, migrate occasionally to this The large bivalve Isognomon maxillata ment joins the two valves and pushes area, especially in the springtime. We are is common in Calvert Cliffs exposures of them apart when the adductor muscle is interested in maintaining records of the mid-Miocene Calvert and Choptank relaxed. The ligarnental area in /. max- sightings and will send the data to state Formations. The genus first appeared illata is composed of a series of fifteen and federal agencies that monitor marine some 210 million years ago fin the Up- to twenty wave-like ridges separated by turtle populations. per Triassic) and survives today shallow grooves. These run transversely If you see a marine turtle, please call throughout many of the world's oceans. on a raised, flat surface across the margin Ken Kaumeyer at the museum. If possi- The thick, white shell has a somewhat of the shell. ble, we will attempt to determine the quadrangular outline. Its beak is pointed Despite its large size — five or more species, sex, size, and certain other and curves slightly forward, while the inches — /. maxillata is a somewhat information. posterior edge of the shell is gently fragile fossil. In life the shell is highly rounded. The two valves are nearly equal nacreous, with layers of organic material in size and moderately convex. Concen- interspersed between limy layers. In fossil tric growth lines show on the outer sur- specimens this organic material has long Two Canoes for Sale face, while the inside surface of the shell since decayed and disappeared, causing CMM has two used aluminum canoes bears a single muscle scar. the limy layers to flake and separate in for sale, each twelve-feet long, in good Isognomon maxillata is readily iden- layers perpendicular to the ligarnental condition. Call Craig DeTample tified by its broad, heavily grooved area. A whole specimen of /. maxillata (326-2042) for further information. ligarnental area, where an elastic liga- is a rare find. /. maxillata Exterior Clara M. Dixon: 1912-1991 On February 7 the museum lost long- Solomons by Foot, Bicycle or Boat, a pro- time volunteer Clara M. Dixon. She died ject of Southern Maryland Today. Signifi- in St. Mary's Hospital following a stroke cant articles for the Bugeye Times includ- on February 6. ed one on the Weems Steamboat Line in A native of Calvert County, Clara Dix- 1982 and another on the steamboat pain- on had attended school in the local area tings of Joseph Saunders Bohannon in /. maxillata through high school. (See the article on 1983. For several years thereafter, Clara Interior - showing the Solomons High School in this issue.) worked on collecting material fora fuller ligamental area After attending the University of history of Solomons, but this project re- Maryland, she returned to teach for nine mained unfinished at the time of her years in the high school in Prince death. Frederick. She then taught in Prince Clara Dixon's knowledge of maritime George's and Anne Arundel counties, at activities grew from her personal interest Bugeye Timed the same time completing graduate work in the bay and river. She demonstrated Quarterly Newsletter of the in library science, enabling her to seafood cookery; taught the skill of mak- Calvert Marine Museum establish the library for Glen Burnie High ing eel pots at several museum courses; and the School. She retired in 1973 and return- was an excellent guide for tours through Calvert Marine Society, Inc. ed permanently to Calvert County. the collections; and was most willing to (ISSN 0887-651X) In the early 1970s Clara became in- pass on her knowledge of the area C. Douglass Alves, Jr., Director terested in the Calvert Marine Museum whenever asked. She gave freely of her Paul L. Berry, Editor where she served as a host, decent, and skills and energies for many other wor- Other contributors to this issue: member of the Board of Governors. Clara thwhile activities, particularly for her Layne Bergin organized the museum's library when it church in Olivet and with the Calvert Ken Kaumeyer was first formed; for a decade she work- Retired Teachers Association. Above all, Rita Adams ed at cataloging the museum's large col- Clara was a gentle friend to all those who The bugeye was the traditional sailing craft of lection of photographic slides. In the knew her, but with a quiet self-assurance the Bay, and was built in all its glory at Solomons, spring of 1976 she began as editor of the that conveyed strength. Her help and the "Bugeye Capital of the World." Membership museum newsletter, Bugeye Times, counsel will be missed at the museum. dues are used to fund special museum projects, programs, and printing of this newsletter. Ad- which she continued to edit through Clara Dixon was one of four long-term dress comments and membership applications 1983. Clara also served on the museum's volunteers to be recognized at the to: publication committee, with special ex- volunteer dinner on January 23. In Calvert Marine Society, Inc. pertise and interest in the history of recognition of her many services to P.O.