Newsand Notes AE E3 Prince Coun$ gE EE George's IE HistoricalSocie$ -
Januarv/Februarv 2001 Our 49thYear XXX NumberI
Preservinga Quatify of Life
In November 2000, Governor Parris N. Glendening's Task Force on the Preservationand Enhancementof Maryland'sHeritage Resources issued a report with importantramifications to us and other historical and cultural organzations. The Task Force, chaired by First Lady Frances HughesGlendening, with assistancefrom state Budget andManagement secretaries, undertook the study of public involvementand education,protection and preservation,and enhancementand sustainabilityof heritageresources. Historical Societymembers Patricia E. WiWiams,Cha\rman, PrinceGeorge's Heritage, Inc. andPatricio E. Hayes Purker, ExecutiveDirector, Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, Inc. servedon the public involvementand educationcommittee. To appreciate Maryland'sHeritage the report recommends.getting information about Maryland's past, discovering communityhistory, experiencing history, engaging primary and secondary school students, expanding opportunitiesin higher education,and enhancinglifetime learning.We believethat our historical societyis a major contributortoward thesegoals. In proof thereof,let me point out the following.
Getting Information About Maryland's Past
The Society,and especially its FrederickDeMarrMemorial Library ofCounty History, arecontinually involvedin the acquisitionof informationabout both Maryland'sand our County'spast; throughthe acquisitionofbooks and accumulation ofother manuscriptsrelating to pastpeople, places and events, as well as the accumulationof oral historiesand personalmomentos and collections(such as the HyattsvilleHardware papers,the Slingluffpapers,and the FrancisGeary archives). Discovering and Experiencing Expanding Opportunities in Higher Community History Education
Agairq through our recu*ing programs, the The Societyhas hosted interns in the past and Society is dedicatedto ensuringits members continuesto maintainclose working relations and the public at large have additional with the University of Maryland's Historic opportunitiesto discoverthe uniquehistory of Preservation Certificate program and with our County, State and Nation. We would other collegesand universitiesin the area. point to the June2000 eventwhere First Lady Internshipshave been used in the pastand are Frances Hughes Glendening (a lon-time certainlywelcome in the future. memberof the Society)spoke about the First Ladies of Maryland and her effiorts as the Enhancing Lifetime Learning current First Lady to bring greater public knowledge of the women who stood behind This is one areawhere I truly believethat we Maryland'sgovernors. We also considerthe are doing an excellentjob. By providing October 2000 bus trip to York, Pennsylvania volunteeropportunities, and by supportingthe in this light. The many events involving researchefforts of our citizensof all ages,we Marietta Mansion (such as the recurring continueto nurturethose who spendtheir time military re-enactments and the historic delving into the past - whether their family exhibits) and the restored mansion itself are genealogyor the sourceof variousgeographic part of our commitmentto aidingour members namesthey come across. In the past 12 andthe public in discoveringand experiencing monthsalone, we had 70 walk-in visitorsand history at leastan equalnumber oftelephone enquiries came into the Library and were served by Engaging Primary and SecondaraSchool Susan,Sharon, Sarah, Diane, and Bonnie - our Students stalwart crew of volunteers. Our efforts to expandthe accessto theseservices through The Society,especially through the efforts of electronic means continue to be "in Susanand Jim Wolfe and JaneEagen (among development"but we have had some e-mail others)has spent many hours and quite a bit of enquiriesand will - with the help of volunteer our resources in developing programs, professional web-meisters - remount the curricula, and other opportunities for the Societyweb site. studentsin the County public and private schoolsto havea closerconnection with the As you can readilysee, the Societyhas taken historyofthe County. Specialprojects such as Governor Glendening'sreport to heart. We the travelingtrunk; teacherteas, and children's would like to think that it was groupssuch as programsat Marietta havesupplemented these ours that the Committeewas thinking about efforts. I would point out that this is one area when it reachedits recommendations.On where we would like to see an expansionof behalfof the Board of Directors, I can assure programs, but that requires both a greater our membersand our readersthat we shall involvement of the leaders of the school continue these efforts as we reach our first systemand accessto the individual teachers half-centuryand move forward into the future. involved. REQUEST FOR ST. GEORGE'S DAY meeting on November 6, 2000. This brings AWARD NOMINATIONS the Boardto tZ Directors. However,the by- Eachyear since 1974, the Societyhas marked laws allow for up to l5 members,so if you are the anniversary of the erection of Prince interestedin joining the Board of the Society, George'sCounty by giving St. George'sDay pleaselet us know or attendthe next meeting Awardsto deservingpeople for their effortsto of the Board of Directors - which will be at support,expand and enhance the knowledgeof Marietta beginningat 6:30 PM, Wednesday, our membersand the public at large about the March 14,2000. history of PrinceGeorge's County. We have honored more than 200 organizationsand individualsfor their publications,restorations, salvation of threatenedproperties, or just MARIETTA HOUSEMUSEUM beingwhat we lovingly referto as "Workersin CALENDAR OF EVENTS the Vineyard." Feb.l0-1 1 Sweetheart'sTour This yearwe will againcelebrate St. George's 2 for 1 admission Day - with a dinner at AscensionChurch in Noon - 4p.m.$3/A $2/Sr. Bowie (further detailsin the next issue)and we are looking for nominations. So, if you Feb.I 7-l 8 LandsknectWinter Camp know of a good book or other publication l6th Centuryre-enactors aboutthe countyor someaspect of its history Sat.9 - 5. Sun.9 -3 FREE (including church and family histories), a sensitiverestoration of anhistoric landmark, a April 21-22 MarchingThrough Time Committeeor Organ\zationthat is celebrating I l- s $s/Asztc a milestonein their history worthy of our celebration, or persons whose efforts to May 13 Mother's Day Tea at 4PM support and celebrateour history and our Reservationsrequired - 301 heritage are deserving of our recognition, 464 5291 please send a short description of your nomineeand a meansof contactingyou. You June9- 10 RomanDavs J shouldsend nominations to SecretaryJames l0 - 4 $2 Wolfe, 5626 Bell StationRoad, GlennDale, MD 20769,by February20,2001. Thank you! For further informationcall 301 464 5291
MILLENNIUM HOLIDAY PARTY
Members and friends who attended this SOCIETY BOARD ELECTS NEWEST celebrationwere impressedwith the array of MEMBER foods and explanationof their first description in print over the last 2000 yearsas researched At the Board meetingon January13, I)onna by Historian SusanPearl. Severalsuggested Schneider was elected to fill the vacant that we reprint them here and we happily position that resultedfrom the member'svote oblige with the following: to expand the board, taken at the annual AUBERGINE (EGGPLANT) RIIUBARB 5th centuryA.D. lst centuryA.D. Referenceto this handsomeand The crimson stalk we know as glossy "fruit" first appearedin a "rhubarb" was first describedby Chinesetreatise on agriculture(by Dioscorides,a Greek herbalistfrom Ts'i Min Yao Shu)in the 5th century Asia Minor, who in his first-century A.D. It cameto Europe,known as work nepi rilqq iotpuc{q (Materia "malainsana" (or "appleof Medica), indicatedthat this delicious madness"),which became root plant was nativeto Mongolia "melanzana"in Italian, and and Siberia. pel"tr(civclin Greek.
LEMONS GREEK CHEESE PASTRy (nlp 6nwq) 2nd centurvA.D. and SPINACH AND CHEESE PASTRY Native to India, thesetangy citrus (ozavurdnrteq) fruits had becomewell establishedin 6th centuryA.D. the Mediterraneanarea by the second centuryA.D., and in fact had Pastryresembling these wonderful appearedin Pompeian frescoes spinachand cheesepies, made with before79 A.D. layer upon layer of the thinnestof pastryleaves, was describedby the ASPARAGUS Romanwriter Artemidomsin the 6th 3rd centurvA.D. centuryA.D.
A memberof the lily family, asparagusfirst appearedin Persian CHOCOLATE 7th century textsas "asparag,"meaning "sprout," A.D. and cameinto English as the This favorite euphonious"sparrow grass. " first appearedin 7th CenturyA.D. Mayan inscriptions SPINACH and in paintingson pots which 4th centuryA.D. showedthe pouring of a (chocolate) drink to raise froth. The identification Cultivatedin Persiaby the 4th of the word "ka-ka-a" (cacao) centuryA.D., and known as in the inscrip,tionson these jars led "aspanakh,"this essentialand to the breaktfuoughin the decipherment quintessentialgreen did not reach of Mayan phonetic writing. Europeuntil the l lth centuryA.D., Linnaeuslater referredto - brought in by Arab traders. chocolateas "cacaotheobroma" "food of the gods." BRIE SHERBET 8th century A.D. l2th century A.D.
Charlemagne(8th century A.D.) The word "sherbet"comes from praisedthe wonderful local cheese "sharab,"the classicalArab term for madeby the monks of Meaux a sweeteneddrink, usually alcoholic. (France),by whom he was instructed By the lzth century A.D., the variant to eat the entire cheese,rind and all. "sharbat"had come to meanthe non- alcoholictype, often cooledby snow. MUSHROOMS The currentmeaning, implying a 9th centuryA.D. frozen fruit mix which one eats ratherthan drinks ("sorbetto" in "Mushroom" was first recordedas an Italian, "sorbet" in French) is fairly English word in the 9th century recent,i.e., 19thcentury. A.D., probably from the French "mousseron." (Later, in the Grete FRUIT CAKE Herbal of 1526: "There be two l3th centuryA.D. manersof them, one maner is deedly and sleath them that eateth of them This is a British invention, created and be calledtode stoles.") after dried fruits beganto be brought to England from Portugal and the Mediterraneanin the l3th centunr COFFEE A.D. 10th centuryA.D. BULGHUR The coffee plant originatedin l4th centuryA.D. Ethiopia, and was first brought to Europeby tradersthrough Venice. This componentof wheat was a It was first mentionedin the work of staplein the Balkansby the l4th Rhazes,a l0'h-centuryA.D. Arabian century A.D.; the wheat was physician;coffee berrieswere first parboiled,parched and ground eatenwhole, and roastingof the coarsely,leaving the inner layersof beansbegan in the 13th century. bran. It is most commonly usednow for a cold wheat saladknown as "tabouli." PIZZA, FOCACCIA l lth centuryA.D. RAVIOLI Descriptionsof flat disksof bread l4th centuryA.D. dough,with various hearty toppings beganto appearin the 1lth century Francescode Marco, of Prato,Italy, A.D. describedin his letters(14th century A.D.) a dish which consistedof small cushionsof pastastuffed with cheeseor meat, PEAIIUTS CROISSAI\TS l5th centuryA.D. lTth century A.D.
At the time of the travels of There is a longstandingtradition that, ChristopherColumbus, Europeans when Vienna was seizedby the first discovered"ground nuts," Turks in 1683,a Viennesebaker grown in Peru. createda crescent-shapedpastry to symbolizethe Turkish crescent,but TOMATOES the first real use of the word 16thcentury A.D. "croissant"was in Payen'sDes SubstancesAlimentaires ( I 853). Taking its name from the Aztec "tomatl," this New World fruit was brought to Seville early in the l6th CORNED BEEF century; it was at first thought by lTth century A.D. Europeansto be poisonous. Our own Dr. JohnH. Bayne(1804-1870), This term, describingbeef preserved of Salubriain PrinceGeorge's in brine, was first usedby Robert County, is reputedto have Barton in his Anatomy of introducedthe tomato as an edible Melancholy,162l - "Beef, corned fruit in this area. young,of an ox."
CASHEWS 16thcentury A.D. MERINGUE l Tth centurv A.D. Thesetasty nuts were first grown and harvestedin Brazil, and described This Frenchterm first appearedin and takenby the Portuguesein the print in Massiolot'sLe Cuisinier 16thcentury to the EastIndies. roial et bourgeois,printed in Paris in 1691; instructionswere given to beat egg whites with a whisk made SCONES of birch twigs. In England the 16thcentury A.D. delicacy cameto be known as "snow," and was seruedwith cream. The word "scones"was first seenin print in 15l3 in a Scottishtranslation of a Dutch translation BROCCOLI ("schoonbrot")of "adorea liba" tn l8th centuryA.D. Vergil'sAeneid, Book VII, lines 109-ll0: "instituuntquedapes et The term comesfrom the Italian for adorea liba per herbamsubiciunt "little arms." It first appearedin epulis . . . . and they [Aeneasand Englishin Miller's Garden his men] made ready for a feastwith Dictionaryrn 1724. cakesof wheat set out along the grass. . ." HOLLANDAISE SAUCB BROWNIES 18thcentury A.D. 19thcentury A.D.
The term for this rich butter-and-egg The term "brownies," referring to sauce,presumably from a this denseand lusciouschocolate Netherlandstradition, first appeared favorite, first appearedin the 1897 in 1758in Marin'sDons de Comus, catalogof Sears,Roebuck and in which instructions were given Company! how to makethe sauce. SPAM 20th century A.D. COOKIES 18thcentury A.D. This was a W"rld War II era innovation,developed by the Hormel Coming from the Dutch "koekje," Companyin 1937. At that time, the Englishword "cookie" first Hormel announceda competitionfor appearedin print in 1703. By the suggestionsof a catchyname, and a 19thcentury in England,"cookies" $ 100 prrzewas given for the winning and "cherry bounce" were considered "SPAM," inventedto connote the correct fare to be servedto "spicedham." visitorson New Year'sDay (even though they might alreadyhave been surfeited"by plum cakesand Artillery Punch outlandishliqueurs . . .") ll4lb. Greentea (in 2 quartscold water) 1 c. lemonjuice (bottledor freshsqueezed) EGGNOG 3 qt. Catawbawine 19thcenturv A.D. 1 qt.Rum 1 qt.Brandy "Nogs" (usuallycontaining ales) had 1 qt. Rye whiskey beenconsumed long beforethis, 1 qt. Gin and similar heartybeverages 1 lb. plus Yzc. brown sugar probably had the addition of eggs 1 can cherries(Queen Anne or dark pitted) before the 19'h century,but the 3 qt.Champagne earliestknown use of the term "eggnog"came tn Brother Jonathan Mix tea and water; let standover night. (or TheNew Englanders)in 1825: Strainif usingloose tea. Add lemonjuice, "The eggnoghad gone aboutrather sugar,cherries, wine (exceptChampagne) freelv...." and liquors. Let this stock rest for at least2 weeks,stirring occasionally. When readyto serve,pour over block of ice and add champagne.The aging period is very important if the punch is to be smoothand mellow.. Prince George's County Historical Society Heritage Calendar 2001 tr'ebruary 2&3 Concert- Newark Boys School Choir PublickPlayhouse 12 & 7 PM 30l-277 -17l0 $$
3- Pride in North Brentwood NighUNorth Brentwood Historical Society North Brentwoodcommunity Center 8PM 301-864-0756 free
2- Hollywood Flyers The TuskegeeAirmen CollegePark AviationMuseum I I & 2 PM 301-864-6029$$
4- Black History Month Reception MontpelierCultural Arts Center 2-4 PM 301-953-1993
4- An Afternoon with the Washingon Dollologists Beall-DawsonHouse 12:30-3:30301 -762-1492 $$
4- CandlelightConcerU First Ladiesof MarylandExhibit St. BarnabasChurch-Leeland 4 PM offering
8-9- Are YouReady My Sister? PublickPlayhousel0 & l2PM 301-277-1710$$
9- Hollywood Flyers The Great Waldo Pepper CollegePark AviationMuseum I IAM 301-864-6029$$
9- African Story Teller- Malaya Rucker Berwyn HeightsCommunity Center 8PM 301-345-2080 free
ValentineTea RiversdaleHouse Museum l-4 6:30-8:30 301-864-0420SS
ValentineTea BelairMansion 4PM 301-809-3089$$
Expressionsof a People-Visual Art, Music, Theatre& Dance HarmonyHall RegionalCenter I -6 PM 301-203-6070 free
Historic Restorationin the Black Community - HaydenBlanc RollingcrestCommunity Center 12:30pm 301-853-2005free
Lecfure "Cameos& EstateJewelry" BelairMansion7:30 PM 301-809-3089SS
ValentineTea MontpelierMansion3PM 301-498-8486$$
17&18- Winter CampaignEncampment Marietta HouseMuseum 30l-464-5391 free
George WashingtonMusicale MontpelierMansion2PM 301-953-1376$S l8- Concert - RaymondJackson & Salt of the Earth Strings Newton WhiteMansion 3PM 301-454-1450 free
l8- TheLiving Legendof BeniaminBanneker Goodluck CommuniWCenter 2 PM 301-582-1093free
20&21- Fourscore and SevenYears Ago PublickPlayhouse l0 &. 12 301-277-1710 $$
23- Hollywood Flyers The Bridges of Toko-Ri CollegePark AviationMuseum I IAM 301-864-6029$$
23- An Evening with Negro LeagueLegends William BeanesCommunity Center 7PM 301-568-7719 free
24- Gospel Extravaganza Kettering/Largocommunity Center 7:30 PM 301-390-8390S$
24- Cabin FeverDay National CapitalTrolley Museum l2-5 PM 301-384-6352 S$
JOIN THE SOCIETY BRING A FRM,ND
The Prince George's County Historical Society is always interestedin new membersand offers a wide rangeof benefitsto those who join us. Dues are modest,there are volunteer opportunitiesgalore, and we give the satisfactionof a lifetime of learning about our County and its rich history. Join us, and bring a ftiend!
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Member/Family' $25 Sustaining $50 InstitutionalMember $50 Life Member $300 Additional Contribution
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Pleasemake checks payable to PGCHS and sendto PrinceGeorge's County Historical Society PostOffrce Box 14 Riverdale.MD 207384014 PrinceCeorge's C-ounry Historical Society Non-Profit Or3 U S Postegc PostOffice Box 14 Paid Riverdale,Maryland ro738-oor4 Rrvcrdelc.M[) PcrmrlNo l94t
HOURS OF OPERA'I'ION l.o('ATloNoF nlt_s(x'rr r'\ l2 - '1 PN1 Lrbrary Saturdays .I'he and dunnS spectalerents Socretyrs locatedal Marrctta,5(rl6 llell Road, rn ( nn [)ale |r{[), Call 301-464-0590 Statron ile , ol] Route l9l near Route 45() I lrrsrs a 'i, Manetta Tours -Fnday, l l - Sunday. lacrlrtyoI the ]'v'larylarrd\alronal l)ark alrrl ('()nrmr 12 - 4 - and by appointment- Plannrng ssron lnformation 301-464-5291 Ballintorc ll ashingtott THE SOCIETY GIFT SHOP ['arkrt,a.y,
Featuresa wide selectionof books, gtfts, toys and small antiques Open Friday, -4 \ MARIETTA. Saturdayand Sunday, 12 PM and -464- dunng specialevents Call l0l 0 590 .;'n lfashington, D.C Newsand Notes E E3 e PrinceGeorge's County g E( EE March/April 2001 Our 49th Year XXX Number2 St George's Doy 2001 features Giannetti's Studio In 1981,Christopher Weeks wrote an article called "PreservingAn Old ll/orld Heritage" for Historic Preservation magazine. He describedthe history of Giannetti's Studio and the creationsof brothers John and Bob whosework will alsobe featuredat our annualSt. George's Day celebrationto be held at AscensionCatholic Church in Bowie. The following year the Hon. Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland included in the CongressionalRecord (September28, 1982,p.84453) remarksentitled: The GiannettiBrothers Presemethe National's Past. His remarksconcluded with the following statement:"... artistssuch as John and Bob Giannetti deserveour praise,our supportand our recognition. With their outstanding workmanship,we can remain confident that the artistry of the pastremains with us, which can only bring continuity to our lives as we approachthe new wondersof the 2l't century." And then in the Fall of 1997,Leonardo Varone, a young Italian from the Giannettifamily's Tuscanhill town of Bagni di Lucca submittedhis final paperfor Prof. David Fogel'sclass in HistoricPreservation at the University of Maryland. It was entitled: DecorativePlasterwork in America and The Legacy of a Long-Standing Tradition of Craftsmanship: The Giannetti's Studio. Although we were unableto obtainthe author'spermission, we hopehe will not object to us sharingparts of this importantstudy with our readers. Legacyfrom a Tuscanvillage The incredibly ferventactivity in building constructionduring the first decadesof the 20thcentury soon required the employmentof thousandsof artists 'new andcratlsmen, who wereinvolved in franticactivities. Most of these artisansof court' were recruitedfrom the Old Continent:hundreds of crowded ferriesleft the shoresof Englandand Italy carryingelders and young peoplefull of hopesfor the future and dreamsof fortune. Thejob was plentiful, and sometimesentire families abandoned their houses and native towns to experience the Americandream. The storyrepeated several times. And the samestory probably happened whenthe uncleof GregoryGiannetti came to Bagnidi Lucca,a smalltown betweenthe Tuscanhills nearLucca, recruiting young and old peoplefor an 'American job.' Animatedby dreamof glory andprosperity, Gregory Giannetti left his family and his nativeplaces taking with him few samplesof his youthful works and,above all, the preciouslesson of severalgenerations of craftsmen. The two brothers,Bob and John, arethe most recentrecipients of a legacy of craftsmanshiphanded to them by their father,Gregory. Following Giannetti tradition,they learnedthe art'at their father'sknee.' Sincethe mid-18thcentury, the Giannettifamily haspassed the hand-workedtradition of molding and sculptingplaster, stucco, and wood into beautifuldesigns to succeeding generations.The detailsof the family legacyand its involvementsin the art of 'unclear,' working plasterare abit becauseMr. Giannettiused to tell the old storiesa little bit differentlveach time. J In 1910,when he wasonly 14,with his unclehe [GregoryL.Giannetti] immigratedto United States;he was imbuedwith the ancientskills, andwas full of dreamsand hopesfor the future. Mr. Giannettihad 'a naturalsense of how to 'Hidden useplaster,' their sonsrecall. in the Tuscanhills, his ancestorshad been practicingthe craft for centuries.It seemslike the time hasbeing stoppedin these magic places. Hundredsof small workshopsspecialized in hand-madeornaments, stoneand wood carving,and all kinds of craftsmanshipcan still be found there today. He broughtwith him the techniquesand skills for making decorative plasterand sculpture.' Plasterwas consideredin historya 'shortcutto grandeur:'its original functionwas to imitatestone and marble, eliminating the difficult quarryingand transportof heavystone blocks. The plasterworkhas always flourished in Washington,with all its grandpublic and governmentbuildings, embassy mansions,hotels and wealthyhouses; and now it seemsto becomestronger and popularthen ever. Whenthe baronsof the GildedAge built heretheir homes, 'waves they enrichedtheir interiorswith delicateand precious of molded plasterworks;'manydetails were richly painted,merbleized, and gilded, and a lot of this plasterworkstill survives. When he [Gregory Giannetti] went to New York, America was experiencingthe ageof ornament:the greatmovie theaters,palaces, wealthy houses,and government buildings built in the 1920sand 1930sgave him plentyof work. He worked with otherfiguristi modeling,casting, and sellingreligious figures. Then he went back to Italy during the World War I; when he was returned,he lived in New York and Philadelphia.For severalyears, Mr. Giannetti worked for firms and clientsacross the country. In 1926,he movedto Washingtonand remainedhere for the restof his life; his first job in Washington was with Lombard& Ludwig, an enterprisethat madearchitectural ornaments. In 1935,after the deathof one the partnersof the compzfry,he startedhis own business,Giannetti's Studio: it was the only firm of architecturalsculptors in the Washingtonarea at that time. In 1961,he expandedand movedthe businessto Brentwood,where it still is today. At that time, the Giannetti'sstudio was one of the only two enterpriseson the EastCoast in this business;today, several firms havebeen established. Probably,the Americaneagle made him famous:he was nicknamedthe "Eagleman" of Washington.Mr. Giannettiwas consideredan authorityin sculptingand modeling eaglesand United Statesseals, displayed in government buildingsand US embassiesall over the world: amongthese hundreds, the PresidentialSeal and the largestsculptured federal eagle in the United States displayedin the lobby of the FederalDeposit Insurance Corp. on 17thStreet NW, Washington,D.C. Nevertheless,going aroundthrough the Capital'sstreets, and from everycorner, proud statues,elaborated friezes, and elegantcornices are the 'He very witnessesof his nobledraft. did expertwork,'as his sonJohn Giannetti reminds,'and always maintained the quality of it.' Mr. Giannettimade plaster models,moldings, and castsof sculptures,bas relief, ornaments,and architectural details;some of them laterwere translatedin stone,bronze, or marble;sometimes, he would paint them. After more that 60 yearsof gloriouscareer and achievements,Mr. Giannettiretired in the mid-1970sand sincethen the family companyhas being operatedby his two sonsBob and JohnGiannetti. The personalitiesof the two brothersare different, and completetheir roles. Bob Giannettiis more the artistand designer;he hasspent much of his sparetime in formal studyof sculptureand art, looking throughold patternbooks in searchof the cluesto the stylesthey recreate.John Giannetti is more the businessmanand the finisher, directing and coordinatingtheir crew in the installationof their products. He is fully involved in preservation:from the board of severalpreservation organrzations (he is a Trusteeof MarylandHistorical Trust,of the PrinceGeorge's County Historicaland CulturalTrust, and of the PrinceGeorge's County Historical Society), to the siteof his 1840historic home listedin the NationalRegister of Historic Places;he hasbeen working for several yearsremoving layers of paintingor wallpaper,restoring'cornices, and adding medallions(consistent with the style of the house,naturally). They both havea businessadministration degree from the Universityof Maryland;and they both servedfor severalyears as officersin the Marine Corps. They havestudied architecturaldrawing, sculpturing casting and designat universitiesand have visitedpalaces and villas in Europe. fhe fathernever encouraged his sonsto follow him into the field of plasterwork:'He didn't feel his work was prestigiousenough for anyonewho went to college,'Bob Giannettirecalls. But then,their fatherhad to facean emergency:one of their most prestigiouscommissions, the restorationand extensionof the EastWing of the US Capitol,had to be finishedin time forthe JohnF. Kennedyinauguration in 1961. The mostreliable artisans were his sons, who had worked for yearsin the studioduring the week endsor summer vacations:'If we weregoing to schoolMonday, Wednesday and Friday,'John 'then Giannettirecalls we worked hereon Tuesdayand Thursday.'But it was only in 1964,when their fatherlanded the task of restoringthe Ford's Theaterin Washington,DC, thatthe two brothersdefinitively decided to join the'business.' 'Dad John Giannettirecalls: really neededhelp, and I was happyto help him.' Bob Giannettisays: 'Now, the morewe do it, the morewe enjoyit.' fhe remarkableskills of the two brothersare witnesses of the deeppride they have in their work and the respectthey have for the long tradition and 'This continuity of their family craft. is a craft, not an art. But amongthe craft, it 'You is one of the more poetic,' they say. can't teachsomeone how to do this. They haveto know inside,then someonecan bring it out. I am not sayingyou haveto be Italian,but you do haveto havea little bit of soul.' As committed 'the craftsmen,'We cherish,'bothbrothers say feelingthat we arepart of the history that we arepreserving. We arejust keepingthe ancienttradition alive... When you do the work, you often can feel the presenceof the old craftsmen.It is fantasticto feel that we are thereto savewhat they have done. The Giannettibrothers take very seriouslytheir job; they seemto get a greatpleasure especially from the excellentwork doneby their assistantsand apprentices.They pride themselveson their ability to imitate another'shand, to recreatethan make anew,to honor the artistlong gonewhose work hasbeen rememberedand revealedeven if his name has been forgotten. The two brothers are so familiar with the plasterworks,especially of the area,that [they] often help the home owners to date their housesfrom the characteristicsof the decorations. It is aboveall this'senseof history and tradition'that makesGiannetti's studio one of the most charmingand uniqueenterprise in their business. Leonardo Varonegoes on to describethe process which we are only excerptinghere: A very simple formula hasproduced thousands of fascinatingartistic plastenvorks:'All it is, is plasterof Parisand water!' Bob Giannettialways 'It's remembers. an interesting,fun business:you startfrom nothingand work up I to somethingand you can seewhat you've done. You get a lot of pleasureout of it.' According to what Mr. Giannettiused to say,materials and methodshave 'multi- i changedno more than ten percentsince the daysof Michelangelo. The stepprocess' of plasterworkcasting is almostremained the sameover the I centuries:from a model,based on a drawing,a flexible mold is taken;plaster is I I ) Prince George'sCounty Historical Society Heritage Calendar2001 April l- CandlelightConcert "The AshfordTrio" St. BarnabasChurch 4PM 301-249-9671 $$ 3- Lecture "C.B. Calvertand the Foundingof the MarylandAgricultural College" RiversdaleMansion 7 PM 301-864-0420 $$ l0- Lecture "SlaveHousing in Maryland:Life Beyondthe Mansion" RiversdaleMansion 7 PM 301-864-0420$$ l0- Lecture "Chatelaines" BelairMansion 7:30 PM 301-809-3088$$ 14- CountryHouse Garden Party Mount Airy 3-6 PM 301-856-9656$$ l7- Lecture "TheHouse of Plummers" RiversdaleMansion 7 PM 301-864-0420 $$ l8- Living History "A Conversationwith FrancisScott Key" MontpelierMansion 7:30 PM 301-953-1376 $$ 2l- ColonialKids ArcheologyDay St.Mary's City 301-862-0980$$ 21122- Living History- "MarchingThrough Time" MariettaHouse Museum I l-5 301-464-5291$$ 22- St. George'sDay Dinner PrinceGeorge's County Historical Society I PM 301-464-0590 $$ 22- Lecture "The Wright Brothersand Early Aviation" CollegePark Aviation Museum 2PM 301-864-6029$$ 22- Tour " 18thCentury Architecture" BillingsleyHouse Museum l2-4 PM 301-699-2544 $$ 24- Lecture " Old World MasterPaintings at Riversdale" RiversdaleMansion 7 PM 301-864-0420$$ 27129-Civil War Conference"Murder at Ford'sTheatre, Act I" SurrattHouse Museum 301-868-ll2l $$ pouredin, and after it dries,the mold is peeledand the castis ready. Sometimes, thesecasts are made of particularmaterials that simulatenatural stones; other times,they areused as a model for making stoneor marblereproductions. The evolutionof the old method,to which the Giannettistake inspiration, started from a clay mold; then,a carvedwooden mold evolvedinto a temporarymelted glue mold: this latteris the precedentof the flexible rubbermold usedtoday. Mr. Varone'sdescription of the Giannetti's Studio related to the Ascension Catholic Church is particularly relevantto our current discussion. Originallyerected in 1893in Bowie, the churchwas completelydestroyed by a fire in 1977. It beganits most recenttransformation only during the last five years:the rebuilt churchhad polished,plain oak wood beamsand largearchways; stainglass windows were lateradded, along with paintingscollected to decorate the plain walls. Then, in 1992,the pastorJanuszkiewicz, in orderto recreatea more traditionalCatholic atmosphere,called the Giannettisand said:'I want it to look like an old Gothic church.' Now, angelsand cherubsare displayed onto the red walls; white plastercolumns support a Gothic-likeblue sky ceiling adornedby thousandsof stars,cast ornaments, medallions, buttons and rosette. The ... restorationis part of the 2.3 million projectof reconstructionafter the fire; the work requiredan enorrnousamount of time, greatdedication, and a 'the neverending patience. According to JohnGiannetti, hardestthing was to comeup with the right design:it took two monthsto do it.' The design,with its gold-leafwheat and grapemoldings, represents the body andthe blood of Christ; the goldendove aboutthe altar signifiesthe Holy Spirit. 'Thereis no average time limit one canput on this kind of work: one getsout of the constructionand into art.' This make-upwork at largescale is somethingthat really goesbeyond the usualcanons. The Giannettis,in what we can surelycall a true teamwork, coveredall the linear,plain, coid woodenbeams of the structurewith warrn, artisticplaster shaped in a way that recallsthe typical composedGothic columns and ceiling ribs. The ceiling vaultsare divided by plasterribs into panels representinga night starrysky, in one sectionof the church,or a rich patternof geometricfloral ornamentsin the otherones; the colorsused area deepblue for the sky, and a delicatelight blue contrastingwith the white plastercornices and the gilding of the edges. Most of thesecast panels and ornamentswere refined and coloredat the groundlevel on the site,then put in placeonto the vaulting. The elementswere then glued and nailed,and thejoints betweenthe panelspatiently covered with plasterand colored:the final resultis a perfecthomogeneity, and alsoa close inspectioncannot detect the presenceof the small nails and of thejoints. A lot of peoplecome to the churchjust to appreciatethis ornateNeo-Gothic masterpiece of artisticcraftsmanship: Everything was hand-craftedand hand-painted, John 'It Giannettirecalls, was donethe exactway the old cathedralswere built.' In fact, like the Gothic cathedralwas the resultof the work of an entiretown, hundredsof congregation'sparishioners helped priming andpainting the walls and ceilingsof the church,also to keepthe cost down; furthermore,they contributedfinancially, and organizedfund-raising activities. As an individual of the communitysaid: 'When one seesit, onethinks of the saint...it setsan atmospherefor prayer,' within a familiar placebuilt with the precioushelp of an entire community. And lastly, Johnprovided us with a list of Giannetti'sStudio current projects including work on the CapitolBuilding (Senate),replacement of a missingcapital at ThomasJefferson's Monticello,restoration of a ceilingin an 1872historic house in UpperMarlboro, plaster crown moulding and specialceiling work at Merrywood,childhood home of JacquelineKennedy in Mclean, and five customfireplace mantels, in the early Renaissancestyle, for an eight million dollar residencein Middleburg, Virginia. And to perpetuatethe Legacyfrom a Tuscan village, Johnproudly announcesthat his "son Gregoryhas joined the businessand intendsto carry it on " Congratulationsto all the Giannettis,past and present,and we look forward to sharingtheir legacywith ourmembersat the St. George'sDay awardcelebration on Sunday,April 22,2001 at AscensionCatholic Church in Bowie. After dinnerJohn Giannetti will leada tour of the Church andpoint out and explain someof the detailsof its fine ornamentalplasterwork. z /,/l Prince George's County Historical Societv Board of Directors President- LesterH. Sweeting - Annual MembershipAPPlicetion Vice President JohnPetro Secretary - JamesWolfe Date: Treasurer - JoyceUber Name: Membership - Phyllis Herndon Address: Historian - SusanPearl City.State.Zrp. Editor - SharonHowe Sweeting Telephone- Home: Business: Directors Pleaseindicate: -New -Renewal Mildred RidgeleyGray Check below the cetegory you select: Iris McConnell Anna Holmes Dues catcgorles: Andy Wallace EugeneRoberts Member/ FamilY...... s25.00 Lyrur Roberts SarahBourne SustainingMember...... $50.00 Wallis Cain RobertCrawlev InstitutionalMember ...... $50.00 Donna Schneider Lrfe MembcrshiP...... s300.00 Additiontl Contributlon Past Presidents as a --l am also tnterestedin helping the Society volunteer. Please contact me regarding voluntcer JohnGiannetti W.C. (Bud) Dutton opportunities. Paul T. Lanham WarrenRhoads Historicel - For mcmbcrship in the Meryland JoyceMcDonald JaneEagen Dodd Society, include an additional $30'00 for rndrvidual,or $40.00 for familY' from your ducs rnd Our opcrettnt- suPPon comes for trx .on,nbuuont Ali' contrtbuttons qualrfy deductton we apprccratcyour suPPorl Please make checks payable to PGCHS Marl checks and form to: Prtnce Ceorge's CountY Histoncal SocictY Post Office Box l4 Riverdale'MarYland 20718-0014 l0l -464-0590 r r99 PrinceCeorge's Counry H istoricalSociery Non-Profit C)rg PosrOffice Box r4 U S Post4c Riverdale, Peid Maryland ro738-oor4 Rrvcrdelc.M[) PcrmrtNo l94t HOURS OF OPERA'IION l.o('ATt0N o[ I lt1.s(x II r'\ Lrbrary Saturday,sl2 - 4 pi\i anddunng, specralerents T'heSoclet! rs locatedar Marretra 5O26 Call 3U-464-0590 llell SratronRoad. rn ( ilerrnI)alc. \,tl). oll Route 193.near Routc 45(t I lrrsrs a -Fnday, - ManettaTours I I 3, Sunday. lacrlrty Saturdayand Sunday,12 -4 PM and \ ]TT,4RIETTA. dunng specialevents Call l0 | -4&- 0590 i'n ll'ashington, D.(' Newsand Notes aE E PrinceGeorge's County gE E :E I HistoricalSocie$ May/June 2001 Our 49thYear XXX Number3 BOOITS TO READ and buA and SEE DETAILS BELOW So many books, magazines,and articlesto read; so many placesto visit and so little time! Nevertheless,we herebyadd to your list. We havejust discoveredYou should have been here yesterday:A Guide to Cultural Documentation in Maryland by Elaine Eff. Producedby the Maryland Historical Trust Pressin 1995,it is a charming and enlightenedplea for cultural documentation.We interpretthat to mean saveand documenteverything or almost everything! This is particularly evident at the Library of the Prince George'sCounty Historical Societywhere Fred DeMarr savedprinted materials,photographs, videos, artifacts, portraits, etc. etc. etc. Ms. Eff expressesthese ideas bestin her introduction: "As part of a study of painted screens,a folk art unique to Baltimore,I conducteda rigorous bloik-by-block inventory eachsummer. The secondyear I returnedto what I had previously noted as the apotheosisof screenart: a two-story Formstone-coveredrow house with every window and door outfitted in a full-length pastoralcottage scene painted on ancient, wood-framedscreens. But no screenswere visible. In fact, the housein questionnow sported new vinyl windows. Certain that I had made someerror, I inquired of a gentlemanwho emerged 'Am from the house, I mistakenor had thererecently been spectacularscreens here?' To which 'You he replied, should have beenhere yesterday. We just threw thoseold things out with the trash."' Our plea to our members is to seve those materials particularly related to Prince George's County. Another good read: Under A Wing by ReeveLindbergh, youngestdaughter of Charlesand Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The CollegePark Aviation Museumhosted Reeve Lindbergh last May for a lectureand book signing. "We grew up as the children of celebrities,but becauseour parents worked so hard to remove themselvesfrom celebrity life, our understandingof what that meant was fluid and imperfect. It remainsuncertain and idiosyncratic even today. We Lindberghsstill know ourselvesbest as a tribe: closeknit, self-enclosed,and self-defining,always prepared to be besiegedby invisible forcesupwelling from the past:the famousflight, the kidnapping,the controversyover our father'sisolationist stance just beforethe SecondWorld War." Also, if you havenot yet visited the Aviation Museum, you must. Recommendedbooks issuedby the National Trust for Historic Preservationinclude: Gardens and Landscapes of the National Trustfor Historic Preservation and Keeping Time: The History and Theory of Preservation in Americaby William Murtagh. Theseand other preservationmaterials are availablefrom the Historic Trust, 1785Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington,D.C.20036 or betterstill vrsita National Trustproperty. Many importantpublications concerning Prince George's County are also availablefrom the HistoricalSociety as demonstratedby our new flier which appearsin this publication. Also, our Gift Shopat Marietta includesstill more books and treasures.Come and visit snd betterstill VOLUNTEER to assistin the shop by calling Stella Uber at 301-345-9797. Come and visit andBUY at our Book Sale on Saturday, June 161h,from noon until 4:00gn. Jointly sponsoredby the PrinceGeorge's County GenealogicalSociety and the Historical Society,w€ will sell new and gently usedbooks from both organrzations.Come and seeus!! Anotherread and visitcombination is; Out of theDepths or The Triumph of the Crossby NellieArnold Plummer Born a slavein 1860,Nellie Arnold Plummer was the daughterof Adam FrancisPlummer, a slaveon the Riversdaleplantation of CharlesBenedict Calvert. Adam Plummerlearned to read andwrite from a local preacherand passedthese important skills to his children. This was unusualfor this period, but it is the key to this remarkabledocument of family and community; the trials, hardshipsand triumphs of the Plummer family through slavery into freedom. This family lore was preservedin diaries and colrespondence. ADAM F. PLUMMER'SOWN HOME. Built during the Summe, and Fall of 1870. Lo(s were cut and hewedon the spot. l-lenamed the place (10 acres) "Mount Rose" (1870-1888.) Shetchedbv D'. H- V. Q. Plumme'. In 1868,Adam Plummerbought ten acresof land nearRiversdale and built a four room housewhere the family lived for many years.Nellie Arnold Plummer grew up to becomean educatorin Maryland and Washington,DC for forty-five years. Out of the Depths was originally self-publishedin1927 and hasbeen re-published as apart of the African - American Women Writers Project. All who have lived in our county will find it a fascinating accountof familiar namesand places. And then visit: TheRiversdale Dependency which wasfeatured at the 2001Prince George's County Historic Preservation WeekReception. rp{ 1'frq--p:ef''fur d€'{t# WE"ffdE:-F*d rs%'"fu&" .fua4:/. f' d CelebrateFlag Day on Thursday, June 14 by first, displayingthe flag to recognizethat on June 14, 1777,the ContinentialCongress adopted the designfor a new flag and then visiting Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. "This later 18thcentury star-shapedfort is world famousas the birthplaceof the United States' national anthem. The guardianof Baltimore's harbor,it was the valiant defenseof Fort McHenrybyAmericanforcesduringaBritishattachonSeptemberl3-l4,1814,thatinspired35 yearold poet-lawyer,Francis Scott Key to write'the Star-SpangledBanner.'f "Following the Battle of Baltimoreduring the War of l8I2,the fort neveragain came under attack. However,it remainedan activemilitarypost off and on forthe next 100years." "It becamean areaadministered by the National Park Servicein 1933,two yearsafter Key's poem becamethis country's national anthem. Of all the areasin the National Park System,Forf McHenry is the only one designateda national monument and historic shrine." (From their website) Field trip on Saturday, June 30 to Giannetti's Studio We are still getting rave reviews about our recent St. George'sDay program, and in particularthe tour of AscensionCatholic Church led by John and Bob Giannetti. Many peoplehave told us how much they enjoyed viewing the outstanding ornamentalplastet *ork in tttr church, and listeningto John and Bob tell the story of the project. Severalhave asked about visiting the Gannetti Studio to learn more about their ornamentalplaster design. We are happy to-announce that John and Bob havegraciously invited the Historical Societyto visit the studio ilgoo 38th Streetin Brentwood) on Saturday afternoon, June 30, beginning at 2:00. Pleasecall the Sweetingsat 301-927-4514to let us know whetheryou will be ableto attend. And yet anothersuggested visit: Within These lltalls, a new perrnanentexhibition at the NationalMuseum of AmericanHistory, l2'h and Constitution,NW, Washington,D.C. The centerpieceof the exhibition is a 250-year-oldhouse from Ipswich, Massachusetts,which was movedpiece by pieceto the Smithsonianfacility as recommendedby a local historicalsociety. Accordingto the May 17, Home sectionof The WashingtonPost "Visitors canpeer through openingsin the restoredGeorgian facade to glimpseperiod rooms representative of the 1700s, 1840sand 1940s,settings chosen to shedlight on colonial America,slavery and abolitionism, immigration during the industrial age and World War II." With all the previous suggestions,we feel we have enrichedour own personal"cultaral documentation" so fervently espousedby Elaine Eff. Board of Directors President - LesterH. Sweeting Vice President - JohnPetro Secretary - JamesWolfe Treasurer - Joyce[fber Membership - Phyllis Herndon Historian - SusanPearl Editor - SharonHowe Sweeting Directors SarahBourne Wallis Cain Robert Crawley Mildred Ridgeley Gray Anna Holmes Iris McConnell John Mitchell EugeneRoberts Lynn Roberts Donna Schneider Bill Uber Andy Wallace Past Presidents John Giannetti W.C. (Bud) Dutton Paul T. Lanham Warren Rhoads JoyceMcDonald JaneEagen Dodd Prince George'sCounty : Atlas of Fifteen Miles Around ll/ashington Prince George'sCounty Maryland A Pictorial History including the County of Prince George Indexesof Church Registers1686-1885 by Alan Virta Maryland VolumeI ProtestantEpiscopal Church, Revised1991 Updated Edition. by C. M. Hopkins Reprint 1975. King George'sParish & QueenAnne's Hardcover308 pages. 542.95 Soft-cover47 pages. $7.00 Parish. by HelenW. Brown Reprint2000. The history and essenceof PrinceGeorge's Complied,drawn & publishedfrom actual Soft-cover200 pages. $18.00 County come alive in words and picturesin surveysby C.M. Hopkins1878. Indexed. this beautifulcollector's edition. Written in a fascinatingnarrative with more than 350 photographs,maps and illustrationsmany Out of the Past in full color andpreviously unpublished. Prince Georgeonsand their Land by R. Lee Van Horn Reprint 1996. Hardcover422pages. $20.00 Calvert of Maryland JamesOtis Kaler's1910 publication. Chronicleof everydaylife in PrinceGeorge's Reprint L991. Hardcover166 pages. County from the time of it's foundingin 1696 Prince GeorgetsCounty Maryland Penand ink illustrations. $6.95 until the beginningof the Civil War from Indexesof Church Registers1686-1885 informationgleaned from public records, Volume2 ProtestantEpiscopal Church, This fact-basednovel showsthe home newspapersand private papers. St.Paul's Parish & Prince George'sParish. life of the colonistsfrom a by Helen W. Brown Reprint2000. child's viewpoint. This Soft-cover196 pages. $18.00 story is told in the first Journey Through Time personby young George A Pictorial History of the Prince Calvert, godsonof the first GeorgetsCounty Police Department Tricentennial Cook Book Lord Baltimore,George by Lt. Dennis Campbell Printed 1991. Compiled& editedby Dorothy Rainwater Calvert. Hardcover304 pages. $29.00 and the TricentennialCelebration Committee Printed1996. Soft-cover150 pages spiral A history of the countypolice department bound. $10.00 coveringover 200 years. Indexed. Containsrecipes collected from county Atlas of Prince George's residentsas part of the tricentennial County, Maryland 1861 celebration. Drawn and publishedby Simon J. Martenet Reprint 1966.Soft-cover 32 pages. $ 10.00 Atlas was adaptedfrom Martenet'smap of PrinceGeorge's County, Maryland. Indexed. SendOrders to: Purchasesmay alsobe madeat the Prince George'sCounty SocietyGift Shop Historical Sociefy Publication Sales Marietta PRINCE P.O.Box 14 Riverdale,MD 20738-0014 5626Bell Station Road GEORGE'S Glenn Dale,Maryland COUNTY Qtv Title Price Total Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday HISTORICAL 12- 4 p.m. SOCIETY and during specialevents. 301-464-0590 lrl zU tr{a Subtotal Maryland Residents5olo sales tax PG PictorialHistory & Journey PUBLICATIONS ThroughTime S&H $3.00each FOR SALE All otherbooks S&H $2.50and 501 for eachadditional book Marietta TOTAL P.O.Box 14 RIVERDALE Make checkspayable to: MARYLAND Prince George'sCounty Historical Societv 20703-0014 St. George'sDay 2001 this St. George'sDay Award to Frances SelectedAward Winners HughesGlendening. Susan Neff andRohert Hanisch Frsnces Hughes Glendening is a bought a Victorian housein Glenn Dale in nativeMarylander. Although shewas raised 1987. They soon discoveredthat this little househad in Cumberland,she found her way to Prince handsome frame beenbuilt DuVal, George'sCounty, where sheearned in the 1890sfor AugustaCaroline undergraduateand graduatedegrees at the great-granddaughterof our own Justice University of Maryland, and a law degree GabrielDuvall. Miss DuVal, who died in 1896when from CatholicUniversity in Washington. unexpectedly her housewas new, As first lady of PrinceGeorge's County, and still brand had had a distinguished later of the stateof Maryland,Mrs. careerin educationin the District of Glendeninghas continued to hold down a Columbia. years purchase, full-timejob as chief legal advisorto the Within a few of their FederalElections Commission, while Susanand Bob begana seriesof repairsof painstakingly working actively in suchefforts ashospice, their house, removing the mentalhealth and suicideprevention, syntheticshingle to revealthe Germanwood patching women's issuesand history, and most siding underneath, both siding and notably the arts. She chairedthe planning porch trim where needed. Later, they began plan committeefor the publicationin 1994of to a rearaddition. Working with preservation Womenof Achievementin Prince George's staff and the Historic County,and has brought outstandingart PreservationCommission, they designed exhibitsto the StateHouse and Government this wing, which althoughnot visible from Housein Annapolis. the front of the property, addedsignificant It was Mrs. Glendening'sproject, living spaceto their small home,but was assemblingthe premiercollection of her completelycompatible with the original predecessor'sportraits ("The First Ladiesof structurein style and materials. Today their Maryland"), that inspired our own exhibit house,set back on a woodedlot, createsa last year of "First Ladies of Maryland from very attractivefeature at the north end of nice PrinceGeorge's County," andwe were Bell StationRoad, a balanceto the road. delightedto welcome her as guestspeaker at older Marietta at the other end of the restoring for the openingof that exhibit last June. Also For their work in and caring this Duvall family house,the Prince over the last two years,she has chairedthe Historical is Governor'sTask Forceon the Preservation George'sCounty Society pleased present and Enhancementof Maryland's Heritage to to SusanNeff and Bob Resources.Five monthsago the Task Force Hanischthis St. George'sDay award. issueda reportwith importantramifications Andy snd Sondra Wallace of for historical and cultural organizations,all Mount Lubentia. The Wallaceshave already aimed at preservingand enhancingthe won a St. George'sDay awardfor their historic propertiesand documentary restorationof Black Walnut Thicket,in the resourcesthat our Societyitself has long Baden areaof southernPrince George's - worked to preserve.The PGCHS County a wreck when they bought it, it was appreciatesher significant work toward a showplaceby the time they finishedwith many of our common goals,and presents it, and a real successstory. But it was not enoughfor the Wallaces. Not too long after Belair (ust down the road). John,as Black Walnut Thicket was finished, they coordinatorof Park & Planning'snew saw and fell in love with Mount Lubentia, History Division, was of courseinterested in which was then on the market. Mount work involving any of the County's historic Lubentia was a very different kind of sites. Justa few yearsout of collegeat that building, an l8th-centurybrick plantation time, John had undertakenresearch on housewith outstandingFederal-style historicplaces in both Montgomeryand decorativedetail, which had passeddown PrinceGeorge's Counties, but had through many generationsof the same consistentlypromoted the causeof Prince family: the Magruders,Bealls and Bowies. George's,and hadjust gottenthe go-ahead Mount Lubentia was essentiallyin to establisha separateHistory Division for structurallysound condition, not drastically our county, as part of the bi-county Park and changedfrom its original form, but worn PlanningCommission. Beginningwith the and gray with years. Andy and Sondra presen/ationand dedicationof the Surratt could seethemselves devoting the rest of Housern 1976,John's new HistoryDivision their lives to the restorationof this gem, and oversawthe historic structuresreports on all they simply had to have it! They were the the county-ownedhistoric sites,provided perfectmatch, for the owner was at that time researchsupport for the developmentand in searchof that rare and unusualowner who establishmentof the Historic Preservation was willing to take on the burdensof an old Program,the establishmentof the Black house,and showerit with hard work aswell History program,the archaeologyprogram, as infinite care and devotion. the first critical needsstudy, all the time Andy and Sondrahave donejust this providing supportfor the restorationand - Andy has worked steadily,carefully interpretationof the County's important removing and painstakingly restoringby Historic Sites. Although over a quarter hand many individual piecesof the trim, century,the History Division hasundergone removingdozens of layersof paint to reveal severalreorganizations, and its various glorious detail - and having plasteringand elementsnow operatefrom severalvenues, painting done on the interior, as well as their very visible successis in largepart the essentialrepairs, such as roof and chimney resultof John'searly work. work, on the exterior. Although the work John retired from the Park & Planning will probablynever be finished,Mount Commissionlate last yearafter 25 years,and Lubentia is now restoredto magnificent and will devotemuch of his time to the truly beautifulcondition, and is eminently maintenanceand interpretationof His livable aswell. Already it hasbeen the Lordship'sKindness through the Walton sceneof one of the Society'smost delightful Family Foundation.In appreciationfor his "Prince of a County" affairs. devotionto PrinceGeorge's county history, Congratulations,Andy and Sondra;you and the long-termaccomplishments of some have contributedimmeasurably to the of the work he initiated,the PGCHS heritageof PrinceGeorge's County. gratefullypresents this St. George'sDay John Walton. I first met John Award to JohnJ. Walton.Jr. Walton asbe peeredover the edgeof a trench - I was down in that trench working Editor's note:AII of the remarl Prince George's County Calencler of Events Historical Society June-December.2001 Jurrc9- 10 Ilontut l)ays. Lcgionariesdunollstrfltc Annual Membcrship Application arnlor.b:rttlc taclics, carrrll lifc. l:ducatiorral activitics,vcndors. l0 anl-4pnl Datc: $Z Inly 27 & 29 Sunrk$'Surrtmer I'\rn. l9'hc. activiticsalrd Name: crallsfor clrilch'cnK-6th grarlc. 2 plrr. Address: Aug. 5 & 12 I{cscrvatiorrsrcc;uirccl. $2 per scssiorr. City.State,Zrp: (At:tivitie.rrli// incltule: an ice creemsocial, ltouscltold chores,A.ft'ican ge,iles, nelure urilk, crnfts. Coll Telephonc - Home. for sclrcduleof nctivitiesond to register fof I or oll 4 Business: sc.rsiolts.) Pleaseindicate: New Renewal Scpt.7 Iivening CandlelightTbur, Guiderltour of (hcnrarrsiolr hy .softcarrdlcliglrt arrtl liglrt Check below the cetegory you select: rcll'eslrrncnt.I ;rnr.Rescrv. rc(1. $3 ln )^cpt.l5- 16 Ilonmn l.egiott XX. Lcarn ahout Ducscategories: AullrclrticRornarr soldicrs lifc, attirc,hattlc Member/ Family...... 325.00 t:rclicsartd rvcaponry. SustainingMember.. .$50.00 l0 arn-4prrr,$2. lnstitutionalMember ...... $50.00Oct. 5 Iivening Candleligltt'I'our. (As alrovc) Oct. l3- l4 I lastittgslI{edieval lraire. Aruruallvlarklarrtl Life Membcrship ...... S300.00 rccnaclrncrttof tlrellattlc of Ilastingsalrtl Additionrl Contribution StarrlorrlIlridgc, livirtg lristory' canlp, rnusic, cralis, crttcrtairtulcnt.l;otttl arttl am also interestedin helpingthc Societyas I 1rcriod _l vcrrcfors. lA,$zlc voluntecr.Please contact me regardingvoluntecr I I arn-Sprn$5 opportunities. Oct. 27 ('ampfire and Storytellirtg.Iirrjol, nrarslrrrrallclrvs,c(rokies, arttl cidcr. - For membershipin the Merylend Historicrl storytcllirrg artcl .scavenger lrunt. Society. include an additional $30.00 for 7 prn.$2. rndrvrdual,or $40.00for family. Nor'.2 Iivening CundleliglttTonr. (As abovc.) Nor'.3 4 I7h lkt.CSA Civil ll'ar lincampment. Our operetrnt support comes from your ducs utd contnbuuons All contrrbulrons qurlify for trx l)cpictscanlp lit'c tirr thcCivil War soldicr. deductron.We apprccratcyour suPPort l2 rtuorr-4prn.I;rcc. 'l'ee. Nor'. l0- I I "Under tlrc Sea" I:ttjoy tca rvltilc Pleasemake checks payableto PGCHS surroundctllly crcaturcsfrorrt tlte clccp artd Marl checksand form to: cfraractcrsll'onr .Sigltof the Sealtorse. Princc Ceorge'sCounty 4 prncach day. Rcscrv.Rcq. HistoricalSocietY $l2lA $8/C (ages4-12). PostOffice Box l4 l)ec.7. 8, 9 CandleliglttTours. .Sightsattrl souttds of tltc Riverdale.Maryland 20738-001 4 l0l -464-0590 scAsorrrcsturate tlrrougltout tlte lr4artsiott. l;cdcral.Oivil War artdVicloriart cra tw9 rfccrrra(iorrs.(r-8:30 pnt S4/A S2lC Princa C.-SCs Cotmry Historical Sociecy N6-?iofr (}l PostOfficc Box r+ U S Po.r1s Prid RiwrdelcT Merylend roSt-oor 4 Riverdrlc. MD Fcnnil No. lgat Mr. & Mrs. John J. Petro PO Box L668 Mitchellville, MD 2O7L7- HOURS OF OPERA'IION l.o('ATloN ()[ tlt1.s()( |r r\ Lrbrary Saturdaysl2 - .l Pt\l anddunng specral erents The Societyis locatedat Marietta.562 6 Call 301-464-0590 Bell StationRoad, in GlennDale. MD. off Route193. near Route 450 Thisis a ManettaTours -Fnday, ll - 3. Sunday. facilityof the MarylandNatronal Park and lZ - 4 - andby appointment- PlanningCommisston lnformation 301-464-SZgl I Baltintorc TIIE SOCIETY GIFT SHOP ll othinRton I'orkta 1 Featuresa wide selectionof books,grfts, toysand smallantiques OpenFnday, Saturdayand Sund"Y,12 -4 PM and - ilIARIETI A. duringspecial events Call l0l -464- 0590 ,'" ll ashittgron, D.(' c € HEHH-H News and Notes HH HH P rince George's C ountY E E E E H is torical Society "Mariettan July/August2001 Our 49thYear XXX Number 4 THE GLORIOUS FOURTH OF JULY This yearwe celebratethe 225'hanniversary of the Declarationof Independence- it seems impossibleto believethat the bicentennialwas 25 yearsago! It is also the 275thAnniversary of the deathof two of America'sgreatest heros and Presidents- JohnAdams and ThomasJefferson who both died on July 4, 1826. Jeffersonis, of course,the onemost of us rememberbest - partially becauseof the Mt. Rushmoretribute and the Jefferson Memorial in the Nation's Capital. Adams is the lesserknown. But thereare those who would changethat - andbring recognitionto this Hero of America. On Flag day (June14)2001, The Wall StreetJournal includedan articleentitled "Adams: Persistent,Principled, Patriotic and Unrecognized." We quote: The setting this weekwas perfect: With the eastfront of the House of Representativesin the background and two of the nation's most eminent historians present to pay homage, there sat huge portraits of the honorees: John and Abigail Adams. Tlte occasion was theformal launch of a move to appropriately honor and celebrate the country's secondpresident, who was a crucial force behind the creation of America. The catalyst is David McCullough's magnificent new biography of Adams, following the superb work offellow historian Joseph Ellis. They were both at the Capitol this week to talk about the inexplicably forgotten hero of the Founding Fathers or, as Prof. Ellis calls tltem, the Founding Brothers. The recognition of these accomplishments ,s .ro meager that Rep. Tim Roemer (D- IN) is proposing a national memorial to honor the Adamses. There is a WashingtonMonument and a Jffirson Memorial, but no monument commemorating Adams. His likene^ss,.s not even on any currency. Currently, there is a stamp thatfeatures one of his mony letters to Abigail. The Roemer legislation, sponsored by Mr. Adams's fellow Bay Stater, Edward Kennedy in the Senate,has bipartisan support and the backing of the Bush administration. The historians testifiedbefore a House committeeTuesday. "If this congressionalcommittee were able to call George lVashingtonand ThomasJefferson as expert witnesses,"noted Prof. Ellis, "they would almostsurely expressamazement that this hearing was occurring at all. " Thegoal is Housepassage of the legislation by July 4. It's a perfect target date. Not only was the Declorationsigned on that day, but 50 years later both John Adamsand Thomas Jffirson died on the half-century anniversaryof that most extraordinary document. For the reader'senjoyment in this issuewe arepleased to presentreviews of both Prof. McCullough's new book and Prof. Ellis' Founding Brothers, as well as anothernew book that reportson how America celebratedthat 50thanniversary. We alsodiscuss the particularsof the Roemer-Kennedybill, and someof the reasonswhy the proposedmemorial is not to one man - but to the Adams clan - which dominatedAmerican politics andpolitical thoughtfor nearly 150years. The Adams Familv - an American provedher spirit andperspicacity in her letters Oynasty to John during their long separationsas the new nationwas being born. If shehad just From our schoolbooks we all rememberthe donethat, and John had just beenthe founding tales of Sam Adams and John Adams in fatherand the secondpresident of the United Boston in the 1760sand 1770surging their States - the one who kept us out of a colonial brethren to throw off the yoke of potentially disastrouswar with France,and oppressionof the English crown. Their who establishedthe Presidencyas a non-regal, exploits,especially those of Sam - the more but respectedoffice after succeedinga man dashingof the two - are the stuff that made thoughtto be a deity by many Americansof history so enjoyablefor someof us. the time - the Adams' would be deservingof a memorial. But, this couplealso sired a son, Then came the Philadelphiastory - the long John Quincy Adams,who served(from his hot June period when the Continental 16'hyear) his nationas diplomatic secretary to Congressdebated in the hall in Philadelphia Franklin, Jefferson and his Father, was now known asIndependence Hall. And John ambassadorto Russiaand Englandat crucial Adamswas theretoo - againworking mightily periodsin our earlyhistory, was the Secretary towardsthe goal of an independentAmerica - of Statewho formulatedthe MonroeDoctrine, but overshadowedby such personagesas served as our 7'h President,and then was BenjaminFranklin, his fellow BostonianJohn electedto the Houseof Representativeswhere Hancock,ffid a youngsterfrom Virginia with his distinguishedcareer ended with his death a way with words - Thomas Jefferson. on the floor of that augustbody. And John Quincy Adams also had Adams was a farmer and a lawyer - a man of children - one of whom servedthe United principle who tn 1770successfully defended Statesin many ways throughoutthe latterpart the British troops in the so-called Boston of the 19thcentury. CharlesFrancis Adams Massacre.And he had one secretweapon that was a diplomat - perhapsthe bestof his day. sustainedhim in his failures and guided him He served in numerous foreign posts in his successes- his wife Abigail - who, more including succeedinghis fatherand his grand- than any other spouseof the founding fathers, father as Ambassadorto the Court of St. This first sentencesets the stagefor this James'- wherehis skills exercisedduring the "modest-sizedaccount of a massive Civil War successfully kept the English historical subject" as its author,Professor neutral. JosephEllis, Ford FoundationProfessor of Charles' son, Henry Adams, was a Historyat Mt. HolyokeCollege, calls it in "liberal Republican"journalist who detested his acknowledgments. the partisanbickering that followed Lincoln's death and was the scourgeof Washington Herewe havesix chapterscovering specific throughoutReconstruction. He alsodisplayed eventsin the lives of sevenmen who were courageand public spiritednessin exposing truly the leadersof the AmericanRevolution political comrption and numerousscandals - JohnAdams of Massachusetts,Thomas thatcame to light in the lastquarter of the 19'h Jefferson,James Madison and George century. In 1918 he was awardedthe Pulitzer Washingtonof Virginia, BenjaminFranklin pr:zefor his autobiographyThe Education of of Pennsylvania,Alexander Hamilton and Henry Adams. Aaron Burr of New York. Eachchapter dealswith one or two of thosemen - how Thus, Representative Roemer, Senator they cameto be a bandof brothersand how Kennedyand their co-sponsorsare suggesting their actionshelped forge a new nation. a memorial to the entire remarkableAdams clan. HR 1668 was introducedon May l, We seeHamilton and Burr at the duelthat 2001,has 19 co-sponsors(12 Democrat,'7 robbedboth - Hamilton of his life andBurr Republican)and is scheduledto move to a of his rightful placein history asa patriot. vote shortly. The bill, by the way, would createa Foundationto collectfunds to pay for We seeJefferson as host to a secretdinner the memorial- which would be funded solely bringing archantagonists James Madison by contributionsfrom the public. and AlexanderHamilton togetherto work out a compromisethat would allow the Lester Sweeting nascentgovefirment of the United Statesto establishinternational credibility financially by assumingthe debtsof the 13new states. Book Reviews The chapterentitled "The Silence"is most Founding Brotlrers: The Revolutionary intriguing - dealingas it doeswith a major Generation debatethat took placein Congressin 1790; that was managedwith skill by Madison,but JosephEllis' that resultedin a tacit understandingthat the "No event in American history which was so issuewas not to be spokenof - andit was improbableat the time hasseemed so not until the few decadesbefore the Civil inevitablein retrospectas the American War - the issuewas slaveryand the slave Revolution." trade. Ellis' descriptionof the men who framedthe debateand the manipulationsof Mr. Madison,as leaderin the House,are tEllir, most illuminating. All-in-all, this is a very Joseph,Founding Brothers: The well researchedbook goodread. RevolutionaryGgneration, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, and a 2000,288 pp. Notesand index. pleasureof seeinghis eldestson become President. fohn Adams He was far more widely traveledthan most David McCullough2 presidentsof the 19'hcentury - havingmade diplomatictrips to and throughoutEurope ThomasJefferson once called John Adams beforebecoming our first vice president. "the colossusof independence."Close associatesin the yearsup to the end of the And he sireda family that gaveits eldest 18thcentury, political rivalriesdrove these sonsto the nationalgood - from his son two apart for a decadeor more in the early JohnQuincy, to his grandsonCharles l gthcentury, but in retirementthe Sageof Francis,and his great-grandsonHenry. Monticello and the "old oak" (as Abigail oncecalled him) becameclose friends and McCullough canwrite history in a way that avid correspondents.The irony of the erais, invitesthe readerto listento a storv - and of course,that both died on the sameday - this is a goodstory. July 4, 1826- the 50'hanniversary of the signingof the Declarationof Independence both had worked so hard to produce. American Jubilee: How in 1826 s GenerationRemembered Fifty Yearsof McCullough,who won a Pulitzer for his Independence excellentbiography of Harry Truman,is one of our bestknown historians. He has By Andrew Bursteins recentlybeen quoted as sayingthat this book beganas a joint biographyof Jeffersonand As we celebrateour 225thnational birthday Adams,but the more he got into the Adams this July 4,2001, it is interestingto historythe more he wantedto limit his speculateon what theywere doing on July 4, scope. 1826. The United Statesof America.that upstartthat had the courageand tenacityto And, asmuch as it is a biographyof our breakfrom the Englishcrown, that sawher secondpresident, this is also a biographyof populationgrow incrediblyfrom 4 million Abigail Smith Adams,the wife and soul asof the first censusin 1790to 11 million matewho sustainedJohn throughout their by the time JohnQuincy Adams enteredthe long marriage- that endedwith Abigail's White Housern 1824,that had fought and deathin 1818. won not one but two warswith the mightiest empire on earth, and had started(with Adamslived longerthan any otherpresident Jefferson'sLouisiana Purchase) on the quest - 90 years(although Hoover nearlytied his for manifestdestiny that would continue - recordand Reaganmay exceedit). He, like throughoutthe rest of the l9'h century what GeorgeHerbert Walker Bush, had the was happeningand what were peopledoing to celebratethe greatday. 2M.Cullough, 'Burstein, David, John A4ams,Simon and Andrew,American Jubilee. Alfred A. Schuster,New York, 2001, 432 pp, index, illustrated. Knopf,New York, 2001, 361 pp, index,illustrations Burstein takesus on a visit to the nation and record for government service that remains someof its leadingnotables, beginning with unbroken,as U.S. Attorney Generalfor this: twelve successiveyears, through the administrationsof JamesMonroe and John "On Tuesday,July 4, 1826,cities and towns Quincy Adams. acrossAmerica celebratedthe fiftieth anniversaryof the Declarationof "Wirt arguablydid more than anyoneelse of Independence.There were elaborateparades his generationto link the Romantic and speeches,and dignified Revolutionary movementin America with the War veteranson display for awestruck Revolutionaryspirit. When all is said and youth. It is a moment that American history done,it was Wirt whom the city of has forgotten,a moment when two critical Washingtonselected to cap off the seasonof generationsreaffirmed their connections. observancesin 1826with a masterfuloration The rising generation,having come into its in the U. S. Capitol-Wirt, who had devoted political inheritance,stopped to his public life to furthering the work of the acknowledgewhat had silently occurred founders;Wirt, who admittedto having 'like sometime earlier: it had separatedfrom its wept a child' on readingnewspaper constitutingpredecessor, it had taken the accountsof Lafayette'swelcome in 1824; placein societyof thosewho had given birth Wirt, whose serializedessays Letters of the to the United States." British Spy,had much earlier establishedfor him a reputationas a patriot susceptibleto Bursteinbegins tn 1824,with the much outburstsof emotion in defenseof the heraldedreturn of the great friend of the nationalheart. But it was his Life of Patrick United States,General the Marquis de Henry, first publishedin 1817(the same Lafayette. His tnumphal tour took him to year that he receivedhis appointmentto the all cornersof the United Statesas it was cabinet),that deliveredthe pathosand then, and involved many long and arduous poignancywhich gave him the credentials trips, and many long and probably arduous for conveyingthe generalspectacle of the dinners,balls and other festivities. nationaljubilee." He then moveson to discussthe comings We recommendthis book - it is another and goingsof that son of Bladensburgin goodread. PrinceGeorge's County - William Wirt - who is describedas follows: "If the Americansof 1826were a peopleof longings,underappreciated by later historians,no better symbol existsto warrant their resuscitationthan William Wirt. A name known to very few by the twentieth century,he was once a nationally prominent figure-indeed a virtuoso. Author of fiction and biography, a famed trial attorney who arguedseveral of the most significant SupremeCourt casesof his era,he holds a AND THEN TI{ERE WAS ABIGAIL Mon. July 9, 7 PM, Cecil Community College,North East,MD Linda Myer, "founder and artistic director of History Making Productions,a professional Wed. July I 1, 7 PM, ChesapeakeCollege, non-profit national touring theatre company Wye Mills, MD. dedicated to bringing history alive for contemporary audiences" is featured in the Thu. July 12, 7 PM College of Southern mostrecent edition of MarylandHumanitiesa. Maryland,LaPlata, MD. Ms. Myer won the YankeeMagazine Edttor's Pick in 2000 as one of the outstandingreasons Fri. July 13, 7 PM, Montgomery College, to visit New England, for her portrayal of Germantown,MD Abigail Adams in a threehour walking tour of Boston. She has the following to say about All perforrnancesare free and open to the Abigail Adams in her article: public. Furtherdetails may be obtainedfrom MarylandHumanities Council, 410 771 0650. Abigail Adams neverpublished a poem, en article, a book, or a broadside. She never FROM THE PRESIDENT'S spokein public. Shenever voted. Her distinct KEYBOARI) New England voice was confined by the conventionsof her day to conversationand SOCIETY ON THE INTERNET correspondence. But within those conventions,she shared her viewsand vision Sometime ?Bo,I ratherfoolishly mentioned with everyoneslte could. She wrote to her that I was trying to createa web site for the husband, children, relatives, friends, Society.I usedmy generallyinadequate skills statesmen,presidents, and ex-presidents.Her and over-activedesires to create one at correspondentsincluded Thomas Jffirson, www.princegeorgeshistory.org.That was a Mercy Otis Warren, CongressmenJames valiant effort - but it cameto naughtbecause Lovell and Elbridge Gerry,British intellectual I immediately began to have technical Catherine Macauley, and many others. problems beyond my abilities to resolve. Throughcorrespondence she lobbied men in Thus,the sitelay dormant.But the ideahad, power about the great issuesof her day. In asthey sayin thepolitical game, "legs." That the process,she has left us o rich legacy - a meansthat someone else thought it wasgood - vibrantcomprehensive opinionated record of goodenough to follow up on. EnterJoyce and a crucialperiod of Americanhistory through RaceDowling - two computerprofessionals the eyesof a remarkable woman. who have a love of history, are membersof the Society,and who offeredtheir servicesto Ms. Tyler may be seenre-creating her Abigail rebuild the web site. Adams at the Maryland Chautauqua2001 on the following datesand places: We discussedthe particulars- I'd like to say Sun.July 8, 7PM - GarretCommunity over a nice lunch at Rips - but over email College,McHenry, MD (since I was who knows where in eastern Europe)and I managedto sign us trp for a new domainname and to actuallvtransmit some of a Maryland HUMANITIES, Summer 2001, MarylandHumanities Council PrinceGeorge's County Historical Society Page I of I {t. ..-! '*{, j- ^'--- -\r" d ad Prince Georgens Countlr Hlstorical Ssciefr Welcometo +"'i* llcmr PrinceGeorge's County Historical t?.r* &mrd Society e.$w B*o[uE The objectives of the Prince George'sCounty Historical Society are: S* f.]nlendur o To foster an understanding and appreciation of the history and 4* ,lsin t.ls heritage of Prince George's County. . The collection, recording, organization, restoration, and +rff* tjhrery preservation of historic aI data, artifacts and all associated tlffiy nnaterialsrelative to Prince George's County and the state of "#. Maryland. **F* L*rcntion o To promote and encourageresearch into all aspectsof Prince George's County history and heritage. o To acquaint and make available to members and the general public historical data and all associatedmaterials relating to W Prince George's County through programs and publications View or post to our messageboard arrangedor sponsoredby the Society. . To encourage and participate in the protection and preservation Wg of historic sites and sffuctures in Prince George's County. SinceJune 4. 2001 The Society is headquarteredin the historic Marietta Mansion where it maintains the Frederick DeMar Historical Library. The Library is open for research on Saturdaysnoon to 4 PM and by appointrnent. I Home I Board I Books I CalendarI Join Us I Libraqy I Histow Links I Location I Copynght2001, Prince George's County Historical Society, Inc. For problemsor questibnsregarding this web site [email protected] For more information aboutPGCHS, contact [email protected] Website developmentand maintenanceby Dowling WebDesign. http'.II pghistory.org/ 612410r PrinceGeorge's County Historical Society LIBRARY PageI of 1 The FrederickS. DeMarr Library '.4 -*a*j' of CountyHistory -+' iiy*+",r -.i| The FrederickS. DeMa:r Library of 4 County History wasfounded by FredDeMar, who was ,;?p l{*rre 'i;!it Presidentand Historian of the Societyfor a 4i7o *rnrd numberof years.Mr. DeMar wasa life-long residentof the Counw andhad an abidins oi?:u kxrLi.t interest in all aspectsof County History. His collection was donatedto the Socieff by the DeMarr famrly after his untimely death n 1997. -W .I*in lis The Library is open to researchers,both amateur and professional, from 12:00 noon until 4:00 PM every Saturday,and by appointnent. It is ei:,-.-t+ Lihrar.n- located in the back of the Marietta Mansion. +gw. tgg?. The Library is staffed by a dedicated team of volunteers including Sharon *!ry Loratfoin Sweeting, Librarian and Editor, SusanPearl, Historian, Sarah Boume, Bonnie Kryzek, and Diane Stultz, Genealogcal ResearchSpecialist. Specific questionsconcerning aspectsof the history of Prince George's County may be directed by telephoneto 301 464 0590, or by email to info@fghistory=org. View or post to our messageboard The Society is currently engagedin catalogtng the collections of written materials, maps and ephemera, and has a partial listing here. Materials do not circulate but may be used at the Library. Copies of non-copyrighted materials may be sesuredfor a modest copying fee. Requestfor copies of materials should be directed to @ Web site developmentand maintenanceby Dowling Web Design.. I HomeI Besrdi Eaak!| ealcsdarI JainLIS I Libraw I HistoryLinks I LocationI Copynght2001, Prince George's County Historical Society. Inc. For problemsor questionsregarding this web site [email protected] For more informationabout PGCHS, contact [email protected] Web site developmentand maintenanceby Dowling Web Design. http'.II p ghistory. o r gllibrary. html 6124101 my prior work to Joyceso that shecould add membership- whateveryou wish within the it to the site. bounds of propriety and decency. Please includeyour e-mail addressso we cancontact In this issueyou will find two pages- the you if necessary. "home" pageand one aboutthe Library - and thesewill give you a flavor of what we are This is your web site - and we want to makeit trying to build - and I can alsotell thoseof work for you - so if you haveany suggestions, you who haveaccess to the Internet- whether criticisms(constructive please), observations, at home on your own computer,at work, or at additionalmaterials, etc., may we suggestthat the Library or an InternetCaf6, how to get to you write to u'_gbm ast_crGi) p gh i -sto ry. otg" to the siteand how to exploreit. the Society by mail or e-mail to infoiS,tpghisfq-l.arg,,or directly to me at Gettingto PGHistory.orgis easy- onceyou Ies srv ee tin g(&cs. c o m.. are on the net. You just highlight the search bar nearthe top of the screen(or any search Enjoy the web site - tell all your friendsand box on your home page) and type in the bookmark it as one of your favorites. Keep following- u'rvrv.pgh i sto n,. o_rg--and then hit visiting because we do hope to add "go", "search"or whateveryou do to find a continuallyto the site. web site on your particularInternet Service Provider(ISP). SOCIETY DOINGS This shouldbring you to our homepage - the The Societyhas had to do without yourstruly one that says"Welcome to PrinceGeorge's for most of the past few months,although I CountyHistorical Society." was able to attendand presideover the very successfulSt. George'sDay Dinnerin April. Navigating on the Site. There are two Last issuecontained a few of the write-ups differentways to navigateto the otherpages and I am told by our esteemedEditor to on the site. Note theboxes along the left side expectmore in the next issue. of the page. Eachof thoseis a separatepage on the web site. So if you move your cursor Our next eventwas ratherimpromptu but is over the one that saysLibrary and click on it likely to becomea fixture. On Saturday,June you will be broughtto the Library page- that 16, we joined with the Prince George's tells aboutthe FrederickS. DeMarr Memorial CountyGenealogical Society for a book sale- Library of County History - our volunteer to benefitthe librariesof the two Societies.I staff, hours and other stuff. If you then want am pleasedto reportthat more than$120 was to return to the Home page,just click on raised for our own library (and more than Homeon the side.or on homeat the bottom. eight feet of empty spacewas temporarily gainedon my own book shelves).Because You shouldalso click on the "BOARDhost" this was considereda success,we will be block below the boxes- that takesyou to our arrangingfor anothernext year - probablyat messageboard - where you can read the an indoor locationhowever. messagesthat have been posted,respond to any that you care to, or post your own Speakingof the Library, Chair of the Library message- be it just a greeting,a question, Committee,Sharon Sweeting, advises me that somehistoric tidbit of possibleinterest to the the Societyhas received an awardof $ 511.86 from the Maryland Small Museums Dwight D. Eisenhowerand his then bride Associationto defray the cost of purchaseof Mamie lived in Laurel earlv on in his career. a micro-film - microfiche reader- which we hope to have deliveredin the next couple of But few rememberthat the only personin our months. Well Done to the Committee! historyto hold commissionsas a Generaland as an Admiral concurrentlyspent much of his By the time we go to press,we will havehad boyhood here in Prince George'sCounty. the Juneevent - a visit to the Giannettistudios Saidby someto havebeen the inspirationfor in Brentwood. Margaret Mitchell's hero, Rhett Butler, in "Gonewith the Wind", RaphaelSemmes was Our most important event of the summer born in Nanjeffioy,Charles County in 1809. almostcoincides with the autumnalequinox - His mother died when he was quite young, that is the Princeof a County fund raiserto be and his father'sdemise in 1823 left him an held at the Overseer'sHouse, hosted by the orphan at the ageof 74. Raphael'sfather, Kanellos family in September. Invitations RichardSemmes, had namedas guardianof will be goingout in earlyAugust. Raphaeland his youngerbrother (unnamed), Dr. BenedictSemmes - brotherto Richard. In October,Bill Uber andDusty Rhoadshave Dr. Semmeshad a medical practicein the planned another fun-filled bus tour. Village of Piscataway,and it was to that Scheduledfor October27 , at 8AM beginning locationthat the boysmoved. However,due at Marietta,the tour will visit StratfordHall, to his otherduties as a memberof the House historichome of the Lees(Richard Henry and of Delegatesand later (beginning in 1821)as RobertEdward - to namebut fwo) of Virginia, a Memberof Congress,Dr. Semmeshad his where, in addition to a tour of this working chargesboard for much of the yearwith their plantation,a PlantationDinner will be served. UncleRaphael at his home at3257N Streetin The tour will then go to Popes Creek Georgetown. Of course, in the summer Plantation- birthplaceof GeorgeWashington recessesthe boys spent their time at the - and anotherworking plantation. As usual, Piscatawayhome - enjoyingthe countryair seatingis limited. To sign up, pleasesend a and the life of youngstersalong Piscataway checkpayable to PGCHSin the amountof Creekand the PotomacRiver. $ 44 per person,to Bill LIber,2A Southway, Greenbelt,MD 20770. If you havequestions, With some political backing from Uncle callBill at 301 3459797 . Benedict,Raphael received his commissionas an ensignin the United StatesNavy from the GENERAL/ADMIRAL SEMME S hand of PresidentJohn Quincy Adams in 1826. He had a distinguished careerthat by RobertCrawley includedservice in the SeminoleWar of 1836 and the MexicanWar of 1846. In addition, Given its location, and the presenceof such however, he studiedlaw and developeda installationsas Fort Meadeand Andrews, it is fairly lucrativeprivate practice. By 1860he no surpriseto learnthat men who achievedthe was marriedwith 6 childrenand residingin highest ranks in the armed forces actually Washington,DC, where he servedon the lived for a time in Prince George'sCounty. LighthouseBoard. One remembers that General Hap Arnold lived for a time in CollegePark and General January11, 1861,was a datethat changed the fortunesof many a military officer - because Semmeswas given command of the James that was the day that South Carolina, River Squadron,which patrolledand protected Mississippi,Florida and Alabama seceded the confederatearmy positionsin Virginia - from the Union. On February 15, 1861, but which was in such dire straits by April Raphaelturned in his commissionand joined 1865that, to avoidtheir capture,Semmes and the Navy of the Confederate States of his sailorseffected a scuttlingof all vessels. America,then forming in Alabama. Left with no navy to command,Semmes took his sailors to join in the gallant defenseof At the openingof hostilitiesin April 1861, Richmond. He was immediately Captain Raphael Semmeshad been given commissionedBrigadier General and formed commandof the C.,S.S.Sumter - a privateer. two regimentsfrom his navy men. Roamingthe Atlantic,between July 1861and January1862, Semmes and his men captured After Appomattox,Semmes and his men were eighteen union vessels - which was a paroledat Greensboro,North Carolina,and he significantloss to the Americannavy. While returnedto Mobile - a 900 mile trek on foot. in Gibraltarfor repairsand provisioning(one Semmesremained with his family in Mobile expects),the Sumterwas blockadedby the U. until his deathat the ageof 67 on August29, S. Navy. Seeingno chanceof running the 1877. blockade,Semmes sold the shipto the British and proceededto England overlandto take BOARD OF DIRECTORS possessionand corrunand of a new ship being built in England- the C. ^S.S. Alabama. President LesterSweeting Vice President JohnPetro From the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean,to the Secretary JamesWolfe SouthChina Sea,to the Bay of Bengal,the Editor SharonHowe Alabama roamed and raged - capturing 65 Sweeting Union merchantships and destroying the U. S. Historian SusanPearl S. Hatteras.She was at seafor 534 daysout Treasurer JoyceUber of 657 days - on a journey of 75,000miles Membership Phyllis Herndon from September 1862 until April 1864. In Gift Shop StellaUber Juneof 1964,the U.S.S.Kearsage caught up with the Alabama outsideCherbourg on the Directors coast of France. The battle was short - the Mildred Ridgley Gray Iris McConnell Alabamawas sunk,but the crew, led by her Anna Holmes Andy Wallace intrepidcaptain, escaped and returnedto the EugeneB. Roberts,Jr. Lyrur Roberts Stateof Alabama. SarahBourne Wallis Cain Robert Crawley DonnaSchneider February of 1865 saw the cause of the Bill Uber JohnMitchell Confederacygasping its last. Semmescame to Richmond to be greetedas a conquering PastPresidents hero - and to receivehis promotion to Rear JohnGiannetti W.C. (Bud) Dutton Admiral "for gallant and meritoriousconduct Paul T. Lanham WarrenRhoads in commandof the stem-sloopAlabama. " In JoyceMcDonald JaneEagen Dodd rank he was second only to Admiral Buchanan,another son of Maryland. PrinceGeorge's County Historical Society BOOKS PageI of 2 TFM,SOCIETY IS PLEASEDTO OFFER THE FOLLOWINGBOOKS FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT A PictorialHistory of PrinceGeorge's County - by Alan Virta - $42.95+ $4.00s&a *"h.* Home #;* Boonl Calvertof Maryland- $ 6.95+ S 2.50s&a *"y 1861Martenet Atlas - S10.00+ S2.50s&a Cdendar # 1878Hopkins Atlas - S7.00+ $ 2.50s&a .loin [-is Out of the Past- PrinceGeorgeans and Their Past- S 20.00+ S 3.00 s&a ::'w'. ^f. . Lihrrrp' *e. Index of ParishRecords of PrinceGeorge's Cotrnty - 2 VOL - $36.00+ Txir 3.00s&a # Locatiol In addition,through special:urangement with the Historic Preservation Sectionof the MNCPPC PlanningDeparffient we offer: Landmarksof Prince George'sCounty - by JackBoucher, the noted View or post to our messageboard HABS photographer.Price is$18.00 plus 4.00 s/a To order, include completeinformation as aboveand your mailing information,make checkpayable to PGCHSand mail to: Prince George'sCounty Historical Society PostOffice Box 14 Riverdale,Maryland 20738-0014 Call 301 464 5291(TDD 277-8456)or email us for more information. Man'iettaltlouse Museum Prince George's Coungt Calenclerof Events Historical Society June-December,2001 Jttne9- l0 llonmn Days. Icgiorrariesdcrnonstratc Annual Mcmbcrchip Applicetion arfllor,[rattlc lilclics, carnp life. liducatiorral activitics,vcndors. l0 ant-4prrt $Z Itrly22 & 29 SundaySummer hhn. l9'hc. activiticsarrd Name: cralis fur clrildrcnK-6th gradc. 2 pru. Address: Aug. 5 & 12 Rcscrvaliortsrcquircd. $2 pcr sessiorr. City.Statc. Zip (At:tivitie.rrli// ittclrute:an ice creem socictl,houselnld r'horr,.r,A.frican genrcs, nalure vulk, cralls. Coll Telephonc - Home: for sclrccluleof nuivities and to regislerfor I or all 4 Business: se.rsiolt.r.) Pleaseindicate: Ncw Rencwet .Scpt.7 livening CaudlelightTbur. Guidedtour of thc rnarrsionby softcarrcllelight and liglrt Check below thc crtegory you sclcct: lcft'eslrrncrrt.8 pnr. Rcscrv.rcq. $3 ln .Sc;rt.15-16 Rotrtottl.egiott XX. Leant about Ducscatcgorics: AutlrclrticRrurtan sotcliers lifc, attirc,battlc Membcr/ Family... .S25.00 lacticsancl wcaporrry. SustainingMembcr. $50.00 l0 arrr-41trtt,$2. (As above) InstitutionalMembcr ...... t50.m Oct. .5 liveniug Candlelight'I'our. Oct. l3-14 Ilastittgsffiedieval ltaire, Atutuallvlarklarrtl Life Mcmbcrship $3m.00 rccnactrncrttof tlrcllattlc of Ilastingsarttl Additionrl Contribution Starrftrrdllridgc, livirrghistory catnp, tttusic, crafts,crrtcrtainnlcnt. I;ood artd 1rcriod am alsoIntcrestcd in helpingthe Socictyas s _l vcrrdors.I I lA,$zlC voluntecr.Please contact me regardingvoluntcer anr-Sprn$5 opportunities. Ocr.27 Camplireand Storytelling.Iittjuy rnarslrnrallorvs,cookies, alttl cidcr, - For mcmbershipin the Merylend Historicrl storytcllirrg artd scavcngcr lturtt. Society, include an additional 330.00 for 7 prn.$2. rndrvidual,or $40.00for family. Nov. 2 livening CandleliglttTour. (As abovc.) Nov. 3-4 ITh Vt.CSA Civil lYarkhcanrynren(. Our opcretrnt suppon comct from your ducr rnd contnbuuons All cootnbunons quelify for trr l)cpictscantp lit'c tilr tlrcCivil War soldicr. deductron.We epprecretcyout tuPPort l2 nrxrn-4prrt.I;rce. 'Iba' Nov' l0-l | "under lhe Sea" Iittjoy tca whilc plcescmelc chccks pry.blc ro Plccrts- tlrc deepand M.il chccks.ddform ro: surroundcdby croalurcsfronl clraractcrsftotrr Signof the Scahorse, Princcccorgc i Counry 4 pnr cach day. Rcserv.Req. Hisroric.lsocicry $12lA $8/C (agcs4-12). Posl Officc 8or 14 Rivcrda|c.Marylaod2o?]E.0ol4l)cc.7,8'9Candleligh,ro(ru..si8hlsa|x|sot|tK|soflhc l0l-464-oi9o scasollrcso|latc throughoul lhe Mansion' l;cdcral. Civil War and Victorianera I z,te dccorations.6-8:30 pm $4/A $2/C PrinceGcmget C-omrv Historicel Socicry Na-?rofh (}l Post Offt" Box U S ?oifc 4 trid Rhrcrdrlc2 Mer/end ro73t-oor4 lircrddc. MD hmt No. lgat Mr. & Mrs. John J. Petro PO Box 1668 Mltchellville, MD 2O7L7- HOURS OF OPERA'rION l.o('ATt()N O[ I lt[. S(x tI t'\ Lrbrary Saturdaysl2 - { Pt\l anddunng specral erents The Societyis locatedat Marietta. 5626 Call 301-464-0590 Bell StationRoad, in Glenn Dale,MD. off Route l9J, nearRoute 450 Thrsis a ManettaTours -Friday, I I - 3. Sunday. facility of the Maryland National Park and t2 - 4 - and by appointment- PlanningCommisston lnformation 301-464-SZgl I Ealtimorc THE SOCIETY GIFT SHOP ll othin l'a r I sr'o1 N.\Rtl:'rl.'\ . Featuresa wide selectionof books,gtRs, toys and smallantiques Open Fnday' Saturdayand Sunday,12 -4 PM and \ AIARIETI A. duringspecial evcnts Call l0l -4fi- 0590 ./t" ll oshington. D.(' Newsand Notes a E EE - PrinceGeorge's County 3 E EE : HistoricalSociety : = A^'*^vi# September/October2001 Our 49thYear XXX Number 5 PRINCE OF A COUNTY RECEPTION SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER 15, 2001 '\r, BACON HALL .) l-' lt{l i::l?tl i"- ffiffi ff:r.l ;{."' - The oldestpart of this building was built circa 1745on the Craufurdfamily's Bacon Hall plantationat the west edgeof the Town of Upper Marlboro. It was a 1-ll2-story frame building of post-and-beamconstruction, with steeplypitched roof and riven boardsiding; it was enlargedaround 1800, and a one-storywing was addedabout a century later. This building servedas the farm overseer's dwelling, and later as a tenanthouse. By the early 1990sit was in seriously deterioratingcondition, but wasrecognized as possibly the oldestsurviving frame building in PrinceGeorge's County and a uniqueexample of an earlydomestic farm structure.Through the effortsof the Sasscer-Kanellosfamily, it was moved from its siteand relocated on SouthOsborne Road in April 1993. Sincethat time, Georgeand Molly Kanelloshave worked devotedly on the structuralrehabilitation of the building,and the resultis a modelof restorationand architectural rebirth. The HistoricalSociety expresses its admirationand thanks,and is delightedto hold this year'sPrince of a Countyreception at this relocatedand beautifully Drawing by restoredhistoric house. Text bt, ll/ullis Cain Susan Pearl The Restoration of the Overseer's House: A of Expert House Movers were called upon ProgressReport once again to remove the wood and steel supportsand to lower the houseonto its new by George Kanellos foundation. Repairsto the roofing and sidingof the house were completedby Amish craftsmanfrom St. Mary's County. Benuel Yoder and his constructioncrew removedthe old tin roof andinstalled a new one. Again, very little new materialwas neededfor sheathing.The siding was ordered from the lumber yard of Sam Stoltzfus.It wasmilled poplar, planed to 1" x 8" and air-driedunder an open barn. The old siding of the house was left in place as sheathingfor the new siding The new poplar was held in place with new galvanized roseheadnails closely replicating the hand- wrought nails originallyused. On April 24, 1993,the BaconHall Overseer's After being vacant for many years, very few House moved from a hilltop near the windows remainedin the house. The few in intersection of PennsylvaniaAvenue and Old placewere much later replacements.It is the Crain Highway in Upper Marlboro to a marks left on the wood that tell the wooded portion of "Solitude Farm" about 5 architecturalhi story of the house- -fo r example, miles away on South OsborneRoad. Jerry the height of the doors and window size and Matyko of Expert House Movers orches- placement. After researchingthe correct trated the move. Once moved, although window type for both the eighteenth-and late- savedfrom furtherdeterioration, the housestill nineteenth-centuryparts of the house, new requiredrestoration. windows with wide muntins were special ordered and installed along with the new Back in 1993, the house was lifted from its siding. modestfoundations and brought in one piece to South OsborneRoad. Once positionedat Although the interior lackedwoodwork such the new site, iron beams and large timbers as doors and trim, the essenceof the house servedas temporary supportsfor the house. was completely intact including floor joists, The first major task in the restorationwas the studs,corner posts,ceiling joints and rafters. constructionof a peffnanentfoundation. This Thesetimbers were both hand-hewnand pit- was accomplishedby digging footings, by sawn; mortise and tenon and dove-tailjoints hand,below the houseand building a concrete were used,as were handmaderosehead nails. block wall up to just below the sills. A whole sectionof original riven (hand-split) Amazingly,the sills ofthe oldestsection ofthe siding remainedin one of the end gables. house were in very good condition, but the sills of the Victorian wing (on the left side)had The floor of the old hall in the "hall-parlor" to be replaced. The servicesof Jerry Matyko plan was coveredin twentieth-centurynarrow flooring which was removedto reveal a worn By August 1995, many of the major work but wonderful heart pine floor. The floor items on the building's exterior and necessary joists were logs that needed additional structural repairs have been completed, support. The floor boardswere numberedand allowing interior work to continue carefullyremoved. New timberswere sistered unintemrpted through the winter months. onto the old logs, a plywood underlayment Upcoming projectsinclude the framing for the was installed, and the old floor was laid new bathrooms, closets, and the kitchen. exactlyas it had been. Following that will be the installationof the house's mechanical systems: electricity, The reconstructionof the front porch on the plumbing, heat and air conditioning and main block of the housefollowed. The porch appliances.Final tasksinclude the installation was built using hand-hewnrafters from the of plaster and drywall and a multitude of small Newel Post,the County'sarchitectural salvage things necessaryto bring on old houseup to depot,an invaluable resource for porchrafters, modernstandards while maintainingits historic doors,mantels, and woodwork. A back porch integrity. was alsobuilt at this time. Note: This article,written by the homeowner, appeared in the Fall 1995 issue of FOP (Friends of hes ematio n) l'/ewsletter. ARCHITECTURAL American Institute of Architects and the PHOTOGRAPHER Library of Congress.)" TACK E. BOUCHER Jack was the HABS photographer who comesto l)orsey Chapel documented many important structures in Prince George'sCounty from 1988 to 1990 "Jack E. Boucher, of Silver Spring, and examplesof his work were publishedby Maryland, is the Supervisor of Architectural JohnsHopkins University Press as Landmarhs PhotographicDocumentation of the Historic of hince George's County. Join us on American Buildings Survey, HABS-HAER October6,2001 whenJack discusses his work Division of the National Park Service,U.S. and talks about photographictechniques. The Departmentofthe Interior, Washington,D.C. meetingwill be held at Dorsey'sChapel, which He has held this position since 1958, except is behindthe Goddard CorporatePark - turn for a nearly four year periodwhen he servedas onto Mission Drive (secondright north of 564 Chief of Historic Sites for the State of New on Rte 193) - drive to the farthestparking lot Jersey, his only major non-photographic in the back of the ofice park. You willsee a experience." macadampath that leadsto the Chapel- which is actuallyon the next streetover - but parking "His responsibilitiesinclude not only extensive there is limited. The meetingwill begin at I large format (5x7) field photographs PM. Seatingin Dorsey Hall is limited - so throughout the nation and possessions,but pleasecall 301927 4514and leavea message laboratory processingand printing of fine-art ifyou are coming - with the numberattending. quality, setting and maintaining the national Thankyou! photographicstandards of HABS, lecturing, conductingmulti-day seminarsdealing with the Editor's note: I have quoted liberally from architectural photography of historic Jack's BiographicalResume and I know from structures,exhibits and discussing his work for personalexperience what a thrill it is to see and with the media including television him work. I also recommenda visit to the appearances." HABS-HAER web site for many important examplesof his work nationwide. The site is "Boucher has producedan estimated65,000 at http ://www.cr. nps. gov/habshaer. photographsof more than 8,000 structures [as of November 1997f in 49 states(Alaska excepted so far), Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. He has photographedarchitecture extensively for various national and internationalpublications. ..." '?hotographing historic structuresexclusively, the major thrust of his responsibilitieswith the National Park Service has been with the Historic American Buildings Survey, the Nation's (and possibly world's) oldest survey of its type. (HABS is a architectural HABSphotographer Jack E. Federalprogram sponsoredunder a tripartite Boucherloads a filmholder agreement between the Government, the intohis monorail camera with tripod. Prince George'sCounty Historical Society Heritage Calendar September 2001 I - Music & DancingUnder the Stars PeabodyRagtime Ensemble Darnall'sChance House Museum 7-9 PM 301-952-3010$$ l- JohnWilkes Booth EscapeRoute Tour SurrattHouse Museum 7.30-7.30301-868-1121 $$ 2- Moonlight CanoeTour BladensburgWaterfront Park 7-9 PM 301-779-0371 $$ 619- PrinceGeorge's county Fair EquestrianCenter (hoursvary) 301-579-2598$$ 7- SunsetBoat Tour PatuxentRiver Park 6-8 301-627-6074$$ 7- EveningCandlelight Tour MariettaHouse Museum 8PM 301-464-5291$$ 8- RestorationShop Open House CollegePark AviationMuseum l2-4 301-864-6029$$ 9- Journeyinto Jug Bay'sPast BillingsleyHouse Museum l-3 301-627-0730$$ 14- AfternoonTea MontpelierMansion 3 PM 301-498-8486$$ 14- Buck Hill Quartet-Jazz MontpelierMansion 8PM 301-498-8486$$ l5- JohnWilkes Booth EscapeRoute Tour (seeSeptember l) 15116-Roman Legion XX MariettaHouse Museum l0-4 301-464-5291 $S l6- OpeningDay- New Exhibit & Demonstrations W.H.DuvallTool Museum 9-4 301-621-6074Free 19- History Lecture SeriesTBA MontpelierMansion 7'.30 301-953- 1376 Free 2l- Richie Havens-Jqzz MontpelierMansion 8 & l0 PM 301-490-2329$$ 22- Port Town Days 7-6 BladensburgWaterfront Park 301-779-0371 Free 22- Air Fair 2001 CollegePark Airport & AviationMuseum 9-5 301-864-6029$$ 22123- Civil War Re-enactment His Lordship'sKindness l0-3 (battleat l) 301-856-0358$$ 22123-Autumn Festival Airy Mansion l0-5 301-856-9656 Free 23- BluebirdBlues Festival l-6 PGCC Free 28- Afternoon Tea MontpelierMansion 3 PM 301-498-8486$$ 28- Chuck Reid Jqzz MontpelierMansion 8PM 301-953-1993$$ 29- Friendsof MontpelierAuction MontpelierMansion 3PM 301-953-1376 $$ 30- OpenHouse ClariceSmith Performing Arts Center U of MD 301-405-2787Free R@ftGAR$E-flGE@R{ XX tiving History fncampment €EeeRecaEaae E-eqEesE ne€ecrHESg Saturday & Sunday Septemberlltn & l6th ,2oul lO a.m. to 4 p.m. 52 per person Marietta House Museum 5626 Bell Station road Glenn Dale, MD 20769 3Of-464-5291: fTY: 50l-699 -2544 Small Museums AssociationGrant We have severalthings plannedfor the Fall - Received the Prince of a County Fundraiserat Bacon Hall is first - on 15 September.Then we have The Societyis pleasedto announcethat we the Jack Boucher lecture on 6 October. We havereceived a grantfrom the SmallMuseum think that one may be a significantevent and Association that enabled the Library hope you will call the Societyto tell us if you Committeeto acquirea microfiche/microfilm can come - or send an email to reader. This will be usedin the library so that [email protected]. or to researchers can access the Society's cs.com.You mightalso call30l collectionsof newspapersand other materials 927 4514 andleave a message- the numberof on microficheor microfilm. While there is no attendeesis importantl printing capability on this machine- we are pleasednonetheless that this additionalservice On October27 we will havethe bus tour - see can be brought to our growing band of the flyer and signup now! patrons. November 5 is the Annual Meeting - at the From the President'sKeyboard Calvert Inn in Riverdale - requests for reservationswill be in the next edition. And Well summeris upon us and thoseof us who Decemberbrings our holiday party as always. have too many things to do are spendingit working or addressingthe needs. But Fall is So join in and bring a friend - to join the too fast approaching. Suqprisingly your Societyor just to enjoy!! Presidenthas been statesidesince mid,June with no scheduledtravel outsideour borders Finally, let me say that the Nominating until Septemberat the earliest- It is Nice to be Committee is working on a slate of officers Home! and new directorsat this time, to be finalized late in September.Ifyou wish to volunteerfor It has been a somewhat quiet summer any position on the Board or as a director watchingthe grassgrow andtrying to catchup pleasecall SarahBourne at 301 277 5468,or on reading - still I have not finished John DustyRhoads at 301 4640819. We especially Adams and now I have to read Kathryn needa MembershipChair, and a Secretary. Graham's Pulitzer Prize winning autobiography- well there will be a planeride Les Sweeting soonI expect. We havebeen working with JoyceDowling to polishup the Website- someof our readers have beenvisiting it and I am most gratified about that. The Board and the Electronic CommunicationsCommittee will be discussing expansionof the site soonand we recommend that you visit it and the sites that you can cennect to from ours. The site is www.pghistory.org- drop in. *i- ]my'r(r.e ft*rrtt t tl BOARD OF DIRECTORS Annual Mcmbership Applicetion President LesterSweeting Datc: Vice President JohnPetro Secretary James Name: Wolfe Editor SharonHowe Address: Sweeting City.Statc,Zip. Historian SusanPearl Telephone'Home: Treasurer JoyceUber Business: Membership Phyllis Herndon Plcascindicate: _Ncw _Rcnewal Gift Shop StellaUber Check below the crtegory you select: Directors Mildred Ridgley Gray Ducscatcgorics: Iris McConnell Anna Holmes Andy Wallace Member/ Family.. $25.00 EugeneB. Roberts,Jr. Lynn Roberts SustainingMember...... $50.00 SarahBourne Wallis Cain InstitutionalMember ...... S50.00 Robert Crawley DonnaSchneider Life Membcrship ...... $300.00 Bill Uber JohnMitchell AdditionrlContribution Pastpresidents --t am also interestedin helpingthe Societyas a JohnGiannetti W.C. (Bud) Dutton voluntecr. mc regardingvoluntcer Pleasecontact Paul T. Lanham Warren opportunities. Rhoads JoyceMcDonald JaneEagen Dodd - For mcmbershipin the Merylend Historicel Society, include an additional $30.00 for rndividual,or $40.00for family. Our operetrnS support comcs from your ducs rnd contnbuuons All contrtbultons quelify for tlr deductron.we epprccrarcyour supPorl Pleasemake checkspayable to PGCHS Marl checksand form to; PrinceCeorge's CountY HistoricalSocietY PostOffice Box l4 Riverdale.Maryland 20718-00 I 4 l0l-464-0590 I l,/99 TAKE THE BUS TO STRATFORD ENJOYA DAY AT THE BIRTHPLACEOF THE FATHEROF OTJRCOUNTRY PRTNCEGEORGE'S COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY, INC. FALL 2OO1BUS TRIP 27 OCTOBER2001 DEPART08:00 AM FROMMARIETTA RETIJNR6:00 PM LUNCH IS INCLUDED PRICEPER PERSON IS $44 RESERVATIONS NAME TELEPHONE NUMBEROF SEATSDESIRED RETURNTHIS PAGETOGETHER WITH A CHECK PAYABLETO PGCHSTO BILL UBER,2 SOTJTHWAY, GREENBELT,MD 207744720[ PHONEIS 301 3459797] PrincgGccgat C-omry Historicet Socicy Nc-lbf,r(}r U S tbr|lr PostOfficc Box 4 rud Riwrdelq Merylend ro73t-oor4 lircrd.lc. MD ncrrril No. l9at HOURS OF OPERA'IION r.()('ATtoNor iltl. s(x't1 t\ Lrbrary Saturdaysl2 - .l Pt\l and dunng specialerenls The Societyis locatedat Marietta.562 6 C all 301-464-0590 Bell StarionRoad, in GlennDale. MD, off Routel9J, nearRoute 450 Thisis a ManettaTours -Fnday,ll - 3. Sunday. facilityof the MarylandNational Park and 12 - 4 - and by appointment- PlannrngCommrsston lnformation 301-464 -SZgl Saltintorc THE SOCIETY GIFT STIOP tt o\lringron l'arl x'ay Ir.\Rtl:'rt',\ r Featuresa wide selectionof books, grfts. toys and small antiques OPen FndaY, Saturdayand Sunday, 12 '4 PM and - AIARIETIA. during spccialevenls Call l0l -464- 0590 ,'" ll ashington, D.(' Newsand Notes aE Eg PrinceGeorge's County qE EE :E HistoricalSociety = Q"F# November2001 Our 49toYea. XXX Number6 BUS TOURTO STRJTTFORDH^A.LL, WTSTMORL^*ND COUNTY, VIReInI^n s^[TURn*{ocToBER zz, 2oo1 ii g$iH$Yg iEt }|: j aal 5!nE F[ tFB "'."*- *Jt*' nlF" .: "DOMESIIC ARCHITECTUREOF TIDEWATERVIRGINIA" DOVER.1932 From the President'sKeyboard Speaking of Donations I want to congratulatethe committee(Susan, This will be my last column,because I Susan, Jim, Sarah, Wallis, Joyce, am off again to Eastern Europe to Dusty, John and Lynn) for the bring technicalassistance to another Prince of a Gounty Reception that strugglingand emerginggovernment. was held on Saturday, September I have enjoyed the two terms I have 15, at BaconHall in UpperMarlboro. servedas the Presidentof the Society, Memberswho were unableto make and I will keep in touch with its events this event missed a treat Bacon and you through the Editor of this Hall,you may remember,was moved publication, as well as my other to this site from its originalsetting as contactson and off the Board. the Overseer'sHouse on the other side of Route4. Georgeand Molly This is an official announcement,as Kanellos are to be admired and required by the Bylaws of the thanked for the sensitive way they Society, that there will be an annual have reclaimedthis treasure of the meeting of the Society on Mond"y, 18thcentury. The event was atso November 5, at the Galvert Inn, very successfulas a fund raiser Route 1 in Riverdale. The purposeof the Societygarnered a net of $2,500 the meeting,other than to have a nice in donationsand ticket sales for the meal and to get togetheras a Society, event. is to elect officers and 5 members of the Board. I am advised of no other On a similar theme and as a businesson the agendathat evening, parting gesture --l want to mention except that we will have a special the little-knownfact that the Society speaker- and I shall leave that as a has an EndowmentFund that is surprisefor the evening. generally funded by life member- ships and outrightdesignated dona- In Novemberwe will begin our 50n' tions. In my tenure as PresidentI year - a milestonethat has not gone have attemptedto make this a formal unnoticedby the Board. Over the next Fund, with a view to developinga year, we shall hear about nurnerous much greater financial capacity for things that will be proposed and the Society-- one that would allow developedto celebratethis milestone. us to have our own staffand own our I know the Board would welcome own home. We are perhapsthe only suggestionsfrom any rnembersas to HistoricalSociety in the State that is suitablemeans of acknowledgingour all vofunteer and that owns no goldenjubilee. More importantlyI call historicreal propertyand I would like on members who have mementos of to see that change. Therefore, in those 50 years, be they programs, this 50tnyear of the Society,and in pictures,letters, or other rnemorabilia, honor of our first half century that you would lend or donate to the milestone in November 2402, I am Societyto pleasecall Sarah Bourneat callingfor pledgesof supportfor this 301 277 5/;68 and let her know what endowment. I personally pledge you wish to share. $1,000(and my check is on its way to the Treasurer)and call upon all memberswho can to pledge some For the Officesof: amountas well -- whetherit is $100, $1,000 or more. The funds will be President John Petro segregatedfrom GeneralReceipts to Vice President JamesWolfe be used solely to build an SecretaryWarren (Dusty)Rhoads endowmentso that we can continue Treasurer JoyceUber to bringprograms, new publications, Historian SusanPearl and other benefitsto you and so that Editor SharonSweeting we can, if the opportunity arises, MembershipDonnaSchneider acquire a permanenthome of our own and eventuallyperhaps hire an CurrentDirectors Bill Uber, EugeneB ExecutiveDirector and staff to do all Roberts, Jr, Mildred Gray, and lris those things that are done now by McConnellhave anotheryear on their your volunteer Board of Directors term, and Anna Holmes, Lynn and a few friends. Please give and Roberts,Andy Wallace,John Mitchell, givegenerously. and Sarah Bourne have 2 years remaining. Thank You and Thank God for Sharon Past Presidents are life rnembersof Les Sweeting the Board -- althoughthey (like Dusty Rhoads) may be elected to another Election 2001 office. The past presidentsare Jane Eagen Dodd, Joyce McDonald,Bud As mentioned by President Dutton, John Giannetti, and Paul Sweeting,on November5, 2001, at Lanham, who will be joined by Les the Calvert House Inn, Route 1, Sweeting when his term ends on RiverdalePark, beginningat 6:30, December31. the Societywill hold its 49th annual meeting. The sole item on the The slate will be put before the agenda is to elect 5 membersof the rnembershipat the annual rneetingon Board of Directorsand the 7 officers November5. Of course,nominations of the Society. The nomination from the floor for any office up for committee has proposed the election may be made (and are followingslate: encouraged,we might add) so be there and exercise your rights as For Directorshipswith terms expiring rnembers.lt is your responsibility. at the end of 2004: DianeStultz Jack Boucher - Photographer Joyce Dowling WallisCain Reminder Saturday October 6 at RobertCrawley 1:00 PM at Dorsey Chapel, HABS PhyllisHerndon Photographer Jack Boucher will describe(with plentifulillustrations) his fascinatingprofession. Call Susan at 301 4U 5291 for details and reservation(free). BTJSTOTIR SPONSORED BY PRINCE GEORGE'SCOUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OCTOBER2T(SATURDAY) 8:00 AM. Leavingfrom Marietta,the tour wifl visit StratfordHall, historic honre of the Lees (Richard Henryand RobertEdward, to narnebut two) of Mrginia,where, in additionto a tour of this working plantation,a PlantationDinner will be served. The Tour will then go to pope's Creek Plantation birthplace of George Washington another working plantation. Returningby 6:00 P.M. lf you have questions,pfease cafl Bilf Uberat 301 US glgZ PRICEPER PERSON IS $44,ALL INCLUSIVE RESERVATIONS NAME TELEPHONE NUMBEROF SEATS DESTRED @ $++ RETURNTHIS PAGE TOGETHER WITH A CHECKPAYABLE TO PGCHSTO BILLUBER,2A SOUTHWAY, GREENBELT, MD 2077A-1732[PHONE - 301 345 97971 PRINCE GEORGE'SCOUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY,TNC. ANNUAL MEETING RESERVATION FORM Theannual meeting will be heldat the CalvertHouse Inn on RouteOne in RiverdalePark - immediatelysouth of EastWest Highway on the leftas you headtoward Hyattsville. Parking and the mainentrance are in therear of the building,off QueensburyRoad. The cashbar will be openat 6:00 PM and dinnerwill be served at about6:30 PM. Therewill be a businessmeeting and a speaker. Thecost per person is $25,there are four choices of entreefor dinner,and paid reservationsmust be receivedby Monday,October 30. The entr6eson the buffetwill includePrime Rib, Chicken, Shrimp and Scallops, and VegetarianPasta. Name Numberattending Telephone Enclosea check for $25 per person payableto PGCHS and mail to Joyce Uber, 9010 NormafSchool Road, Bowie, MD 2071. Questions-- Call SarahBourne at 301 277 5468. Thankyou C'tlrs, f ,,1l,. A-(atan . /Vlr^ssr,{t?l in assbcrt&iorr ^rr+ $nsffitt+tion +t $^r*soni.r'r ycscnts F-{OLLYWOODFil_YER.S Join the College Park Aviation Museum for our third annual Hollywood Flyen -film series. The following is the schedule of historical and dramatic, sometimesfunny and often serious, aviation movies. Movies are shovn Friday mornings at II:00 and some Satarday afternoons at 2:00 and arefree with regular museurn admission: adults $4.00, seniors $3.00, and children $2.00. Pap- corn and discount couponsfor lunch ut the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant are also included. Novernber 21 IX..dM; Novernhen3, 2 PNI Drearmsaf Ffigtrtf (Snnithsonianseries) 53 mnisrutes,48 rninnetes,55 mrimutes This three-part series was produced@ the National Air and SpaceMuseun. The viewer moves throughaviation history from Otto Lilienthal's first glider flights to the launchingof the SpaceShuttle. November9, trl AM TheDtwn Farcl (1938)102 minutes Errol Flynn, David Niven, and Basil Rathbonestar in this exciting story of Royal Rying Corpspilots in France. The film is a remakeofthe 1930film ofthe samename starring DouglasFaiftanls, Jr Much of the aerial footagefrom the first frlrn wasre-used lircalt used: Nieuport 28s, Ttarclair 4000sas Fokkers, Thomas-Morse5.1C, and Pfalz D.XL November16, trl AM; Novemberl7,2PlsI The Blue Max (X968)155 minutes GeorgeFeppard stars as a G€rmanpilot in World War I. A commoneramong aristocrats, he will do anything to gst his 20 victories atrd the Porr le Mlrite, the Blw Max. tots of good flyiagstrntl€s.Aiwaf used: PfalE D.III, Moraine 230. AlbatrcssD.II, Bitish SE.SA,Caa&on 272 Foltkzr DrI , Fokker D.WII , all rcplicas; and British TrgerMoths as Fokkers. December7, 11AM The WrightStuf(1996) (documentary) 60 minutes GarrisonKeillor narrates the story of(as the subtiue states) the Wright Brothers and the invention of theairplane. This flm is part of the s€ri€sThe American Expemmce, hosf:d@ Datid McCullough. January 11,11 AM The Grcd WoldoFepper (1975) 109 minutes RobertRedford is a pilot who had missedflying in World War I. He becomesa bamstorner and later a moyie stunt pilot, wher€he g€tsto test his skills againsta German ac€.The aerial sceneswere staged b"v Frank Tallman. January 18, Xtr,{M; .Ianuary X9,2 PM tsattleaf, tsritain (195\ n32rninutes This film tells the storyof "the feq/' who battledthe GermanLuftwaffe over Britain in \\--r \* -'\j- -\; *'ltr--.--=-^"_t'-\|/' )-it "-\--'\\:\ 1940.The filnfeatures aLargecastof renownedactors,including: MichaelCaine, Trevor \b*-r. t(t}, Lfnrwlrrl Crrrf Trrrsenc T qrrrenr-e C'llirrier d'-lrrictnnhpr Plrrnrrner h;{inhael Perlrrrqrrp Oor-U-Q\-**"-ry--=-\. Howard, Curt Jurgens, Laurence Olivier, Christopher Plummer Michael Redgrave. Ralph _ ,^,,X Richardson.andRobertShaw.Aircraftused: SpanishbuiltHe IIIH-l6s,Bf I09Es,andJu52/3ms; British"'r a Spitfi res and Hurri canes. Prince George'sCounty Ilistorical Society HeritageCalendar October2001 5- Iazz Concert- Daly Yarborough MontpelierCultural Arts Center 8PM 301-953-1993 $$ 5- CandlelightTour MariettaHouse Museum 8 PM 301-464-5291$$ 5- Lecture "Photographing Historic Sites"Jack Boucher PGCHSat DorseyChapel I PM 301-464-9251Free 6&,13- JohnWilkes Booth EscapeRoute Tour SurrattHouse Museum 7'.30-7'.30301 -868 -1121 $$ 5& l3- Journeyinto JugBay's Past PatuxentRiver Park 301-627-6074$$ 7- CandlelightConcert St BarnabasChurch 4 PM 301-249-9671 12- Lecture "A Flight Over the North Pole " Gus Mcleod CollegePark Aviation Museum 7PM 301-864-6029$$ 12- JazzConcert-Ronnie Wells & Ron Ellison MontpelierCultural Arts Center 8PM 30 1-9 5 3 - 1993 $$ 12&26Afternoon Tea MontpelierMansion 3PM 301-498-8486$$ l3- CemeteryPreservation Workshop Darnall'sChance 9-3 3A1952-8010 $$ 13&l 4-HastingsMedieval Faire MariettaHouse Museum I l-5 301-464-5291$$ I 3- Tea on the Train RiversdaleHouse Museum 2-4 301-864-0420$$ 17- Lecture "Buildout Around the ChesapeakeBay" Dr. Kent Mountford MontpelierMansion 7'.30 301-953-1376 Free l9- JazzConcert - Carl GrubbsQuintet MontpelierCultural Arts Center 8PM 301-953-1993$$ 20- WW II Big Band Dance Newton White Mansion 8-l I 301-952-8010S$ 2l- DessertTea BillingsleyHouse Museum l-3 301-627-0730$$ 2l- Lecture Larry Suid talks about Aviation Films CollegePark AviationMuseum 2PM 301-864-6029$$ 26&27-Mayhem in Marlboro-Walking Ghost Tour Darnall'sChance 7-9:30 301-952-952-8010$$ 27- Book SigningEdward SteersBlood on the Moon SurrattHouse Museum l2-4 301-868-ll2l Free 27- Campfireand Storytelling Marietta HouseMuseum 7PM 301-464-5291$$ 27- FlightNight HalloweenFun CollegePark AviationMuseum 7-9 301-864-6029$$ 27- Jazz Concert- StanleyCowell & the Heath Brothers HarmonyHall 8PM 301-203-6070$$ 28- Colonial Days for All Ages MontpelierMansion I l-4 301-699-2544Free Month of October-Registration for 2nd AnnualGingerbread House Contest Darnall'sChance House Museum 301'952-8010 F-frrri{rrQ Iiftrhlf-ttf BOARD OF DIRECTORS Annuel Membership Applicetion President LesterSweeting Drtc: Vice President JohnPetro Secretary JamesWolfe Name: Editor SharonHowe Address: Sweeting City. Statc,Zip Historian SusanPearl Telcphone - Home: Treasurer JoyceUber Busincss: Membership PhyllisHerndon Pleaseindicatc: Ncw Rcncwal Gift Shop StellaUber Check below the cetegory you sclcct: Directors Mildred Ridgley Gray Ins McConnell Ducscategorics: Anna Holmes Andy Wallace ...... t25.00 Member/ Family.. EugeneB. Roberts,Jr. Lynn Roberts SustainingMember. $50.00 SarahBourne Wallis Cain Institutional Member RobertCrawley DonnaSchneider Bill Uber JohnMitchell Additionrl Contribution Pastpresidents -l am also interestcdin helpingthc Socictyas e JohnGiannetti W.C. (Bud) Dutton voluntecr. mc regardingvoluntccr Pleasecontact Paul T. Lanham WarrenRhoads oPportunities. JoyceMcDonald JaneEagen Dodd - For mcmbershipin the Merylend Historicrl Society, includc an additional $30.00 for rndrvidual,or $40.00for family. Our opcrrtrnt suppon comet from your ducs rnd contnbuuonr Alt contrtbuttons quelify for ux dcductronWe epprecrttcyout suPPorl Pleasemale checkspayable to PGCHS Marl checksand form to: PrtnceCeorge's CountY HistoricalSocietY PostOffice Box l4 Rrverdale.MarYland 20718-001 4 l0 | -464-0590 tu99 No-?lrofr(}l PrinceGcotgs's C-ounry Historkel Socicrv U S htrfc PostOffica Box rl t5d fivcdjc. MD Riwrdelq MerYlend ro73t-oot4 hilf No. l9al HOURS OF OPf RA ION t.o( ATtoN ()[ iltl. s(x rr r \ Lrbrary Saturdaysl2 - .l PNt anddunnS spectal e,'ents The Societyis locatedat Marietta.562 6 Call 301-464-0590 Bell StationRoad. rn Glenn Dale.MD' off Route l9J, nearRoute 450 Thrsis a ManettaTours -Fnday. ll - 3. Sunday. facilityof the MarylandNatronal Park and 12 - 4 - andby appointment' PlannrngCommtssron Information 301-464-5291 TIIE SOCIETY CIFT SHOP N,\Rt]:'rt'.\ . Featuresa wide selectionof books,gtfts. toys and smallantiques Open Fnday, - NARIEf I A. Saturdayand Sunday'12 -4 PM and -464- during specialevenls Call l0l 0590 ,'" ll oshington, D.(' Newsand Notes a E E - PrinceGeorge's CountY 3 E E HistoricalSocie$ ! t : December2001 Our 49thYear XXX Number7 ,ffiIofffiy&*8 6t6,[;*tioy - _F., f dfunera'cfrrdoor,{ &nnrffiy, %te'iltf,erIi -1 f'//t Holiday Celebrationfor 2001 Lastyear our Holiday Millennium party featureda thousandyears of foodstuffsdating from their introductioninto the vocabulariesof variousnations. This yearwe hopeto celebratethe history of American foods. In ReayTannahill's book Food in History, shestates: "Wlten Columbusfirst sighted Anrcricu, its inhabitunts ltuclulreurl.y developed more thurt 200 types of maize - one of the ntost rentarkableplant breeding uchievementsin hrstort'. 'ntost On his early visirs b Cuba Columbus rtotedthat it wcts tastt:boiled, rousted or ground into flour'. When he urrived back in Spaitr, his mostpopular exhibitsfrom the New Worldwere afew specimen'Indians'and some handfuls of old dust, bttt he seen$ also to have carried maize seeds in his baggage. Soon afterwards the Spaniurcls begun distributing maize around the Mediterranean, oltltough it was the Venetianswho took it to the Near East, fro* which it travelled up to the Balkans and also back to Frctnce, Britain and Holland. .., When,in 1519, Magellan set out on a new Spanish attempt to reach the Spice Islands by o westward route, he took ntaize with him. It was known in the Philippines soon after, and by 1555was sfficiently important in sonteports of Chinu to rate a mention in a regional history of the province of Henan (Honan). In the seventeenthcentury it was to transform agricultural life in Yunnun ancl Sichuun (Szechuan)and became a life-savin7 crop for migrunts forcecl out into the hills -frorn tlte overpopulated Yangtzeclel ta.'' Later, in the section called The Expanding LVorld1492-1789, Ms Tannahill discussesTlte Settling of North America. 'The potato, the tomato, nnize, avocaclos,pineapples, haricot, kiclneyantl butter beuns, 'French' lima beans, scarlet runners, beans, chocolate,peanuts, vunilla, red peppers unrl green peppers, tapioca and tlte turkey, not to mention golcl and silver, tobacco, rubber, chewing gum and quinine - what the Antericas contribttteclto Europe added up to u formidable list.* Most of it cantefrom the south, however;from the north, there wus nothing new, only fish, .frrt and timber. All were valuable." More "American" foods were discussedin the Wednesday,November 14'hedition of the lleu' York Times. An article on descendantsof the Plymouth feastmentions that cranberrieswere a native fruit while anotherarticle offers that " in Colonial America hard cider was as common as beer." And here,we have our proposedlist of American foodstuffsto honor at our December 15'hcelebration. Or just bring your favoritehors d'oeuvre. Seeyou there. THE HISTORIC AMERICAN BUILDINGS SURVEY THE VIEW FROM PRINCE GEORGE'S COIINTY The October 2001 program of the Historical Society was a special one: our speakerwas Jack E. Boucher, senior architectural photographerfor the Historic American Buildings Sr:rvey (HABS) of the National Park Service. The Historic American Buildings Survey was established in 1933 as part of the Works ProgressAdministration, hiring unemployed architects,historians and photographersto record America's historic architecture. HABS continuestoday and, in the more than 65 yearsof its existence,has produced 175,000 large-format photographs, 50,000 measureddrawings, and written histories of 32,000 structures. It was Jack Boucher whose outstandingphotographs of historic placesappear in the 1993 publication Landmarks of Prince George's County, and, having worked with him on the Landmarlrs project, I was eagerto have him addressthe Society. For about a year, three of us (Jack, HABS historian CatherineLavoie, and I) traveled to every corner of the County to record more than 60 sites for the book. We learneda great dealjust observing him at work, and had lots of fun too! Jack's methods of lighting were surprising and instructive - for example, he would occasionallyset up floodlights out of doors to producejust the right shadows. And occasionally he would pose Catherineand me in an historic parlor and the take a double exposure, mischievously creating imagesof us as transparent"ghosts" in an historic setting . At his October talk, Jack told us of the mischief he had made at Stratford Hall, the Lee home in Virgini a" by creating a similar "ghost." He told us also of specialtechniques like "painting with light" - for example, taking long time exposwes while sequentiallysetting up lights at different parts of a long pitch-dark tunnel. The importance of his work becamevery clear when he showed us his documentationof unique landscapessubsequently obliterated by development. The HABS photographshave been extremely important to me in my 25 yearsof research and study of Prince George's County history and historic architecture. One of the first things I do when beginning researchon a property is to seekout early images,and quite often the earliest imageI can find is from the first HABS campaignin the 1930s. During the years 1935to 1937, 97 Prince George's County buildings were photographed- only 65 of them still stand. For the 32 that have been destroyed,the HABS photographis often the best, and sometimesthe only, record of the building. The preservationof theseimages, sometimes accompanied by measured drawings, is a great help in understandingthe architectural context of our County's history. Regarding my work with HABS, this year has brought an unexpected and quite wonderful bonus! The name "John O. Brostrup, photographer"is atcachedto almost all of the 1936137 HABS photographsof Prince George's County properties. As I have used his photographs, indeed dependedupon them to determinethe early construction, alterations,and evolution of our historic buildings, his name has come to exemplify for me the early TIABS collection. His work of 65 years ago has contributed immensely to my work, but it never occurred to me that I would collection.His rvorkof 65 yearsago has contributed imrnensely to nry r,vork.but it never occurredto me thatI would get a chanceto talk to him aboutit. But thispast spring, quite serendipitously,we madecontact, through a colleague/fiiendof minewho happenedto meetMr. Brostrup,now in his lateeighties, at his retirementhome in upstateNew York. My friend. learningof Mr. Brostrup'swork andknowing about rny useof it, gaveme his address,and Mr. Brostrupcalled me theminute he receivedmy letter. It hasbeen a delightto talk to JohnBrostrup about his work with HABS in thoseearly years:his arrivalin Washingtonas a yollng photograpl-rerin the depthsof the Depression;his responseto an articleabout the beginning HABS program,and his travelsaround Prince George'sCounty in the'30s,often accompanied by FonestBowie who knewwhere to find all of theinteresting old buildings.Mr, Brostrupasked me aboutseveral of thebuildings that he had foundmost interesting and remembered well; he rvasdistressed to learnthat one third of the buildingsthat he photographedhere are no\\/ gone. but gratefulthat we haveleanred so mucli aboutthem from thephotographs tliat he left us. And it waswonderful to be ableto reassurehint thathis negativesare archivally preserved at the Libraryof Congress,r.vhere prints of all the nesativesare available for publicstudv. Thephotographs shown in thisarticle were taken by JohnO. Brostrr-rpin 1936and bv JackE. Boucherin 1989and 1990. In somecases, such as Pleasant Prospect, we cansee a vcry substantialchange in theremoval of theVictorian crossgable and porch, and the restoration of thishandsome brick plantation house to its original1790s appearance. In othercases, such as Melford, Mr. Brostrup'sphoto gives us infonnationabout the Victorian porch which was replacedin the 1950sby thepresent gabled entry porch. The HistoricalSociety at Mariettahas a selection of 1930'sHABS photographswhich we invite you to look at - you will find it interesting to compare them with .IackBoucher's photographsin Lanclntcrrksof prince George's Couttt.v' And you can view most of Prir-rceGeorge's County's HABS photographson the lveb, by going to http//lc_w_eb2,_ls-e-,gey1-amm-em_/hhh"tm_llhhG-gograp_hiss3-0_,h*t-m_l#tqp andworking younvay through the various Prince George's County listings. Happy"Site Seeing"! SusanG. Pearl November 2001 Congratulationsto Officersand Board Elected at Annual MeetingNovember 5, zool President JohnPetro Vice President Jim Wolfe Secretary Dusty Rhodes Treasurer JoyceUber Historian SusanPearl Editor SharonSweeting Membership DonnaSchneider Directors-term expiring12/2002 Bill Uber EugeneRoberts Mildred Gray Iris McConnell Directors-term expiring1212003 Anna Holmes Lynn Roberts Andy Wallace JohnMitchell SarahBourne Directors-term expiring 1212004 DianeStultz JoyceDowling Wallis Cain Bob Crawley PhyllisHerndon Pastpresidents JohnGiannetti Bud Dutton LesterSweeting PaulLanham JaneEagen Dodd JoyceMcDonald The positions of FacilityManager and Gift ShopManager are automaticmembers of the Board Prince George's County Historical Society Heritage Calendar December 2001 December l- Cletic Holiday Celebration HarmonyHall 8PM 301-203-6070$S l-9 GingerbreadHouse Show Darnall'sChance House Museum lz4Pll,.{ 301-952-8010 S$ 2- CandlelightConcert St. BarnabasChurch 4PM 301-249-5000 5-8 ChristmasCandlelight Tours MontpelierMansion 6-9 PM 301-953-1376S$ 7-9 Holiday CandlelightTours MariettaHouseMuseum 6-8PM 301164-5291 $S 8- Winter Solstice National ColonialFarm atAccokeek 5-8 PM 301-283-21l3 Free 8- SantaFly-in CollegeParkAviationMuseum l24PM 301-864-6029S$ 8-9 Belair Christmasby Candlelight BelairMansion&Stable6-9 4-7 301-809-3089SS 9- Old Town Bowie Holiday Show Huntington Center l2N 301464-3725 Free 9- ColonialHandbell Ringers His Lordship'sKindness 2PM 301-856-0358$S 8-10 Holiday CandlelightTours His Lordship'sKindness 5-8 PM 301-856-0358SS 10-21 Group CandlelightTours MariettaHouse Museum 301464-5291 $S l5- A ChristmasFeast BillingsleyHouse Museum 6PM 301-627-0730S$ l5-17 VictorianYuletide by Candlelight SurraffHouse Museum 6-9PM 301-868-ll2l SS 26&28 Holidaysat Riversdale RiversdaleHouse Museum 124 301-864-0420 $$ 27 -27 Winter Evenings Riversdale House Museum 7-9PM 301-864-0420 $$ PRINCE GEORGE'SCOUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS Prince George'sCounty: A Pictorial History by Alan Virta Revised1998 Updated Edition. Hardcover308 pages. Price $42.95 S&H $3.00* The historyand essence of PrinceGeorge's County come alive in wordsand pictures in this beautifulcollector's edition. Wrinenin a fascinatingnarrative with morethan 350 photographs,maps and illusffations,many in full color and previouslyunpublished. Culvertof Morylsnd Reprintof JamesOtis Kaler's l9l0 publication.Hardcover 166 pages, pen and ink illustrations.Price $6.95 This fact-basednovel shows the home life of thecolonists from a child'sviewpoint. This story is told in thefirsl personby youngGeorge Calvert, godson of the first Lord Baltimore,George Calvert. Atlos of Jifteen Miles around LI/ashingtonincluding the County of Prince Georgell[aryland Reprint1975. Softcover 47 pages,Price $10.00 Cornpiled,Drawn & Publishedfrom ActualSurveys by G.M, Hopkins1878 including "historical" stetches. Indexed. Atlos of Prince GeorgetsCounA, Marlland 1861 Reprint1996. Softcover 32 pages.Price $10.00 Atlasrvas adapted from Martenet'sMap of PrinceGeorge's County Maryland, with informationfrom 1860 f'ederalcensus for eachElection District. Indexed. Prince George'sCounty, Maryland Indexesof Church Registers1686-1885 VolttmeI ProtestantEpiscopal Church, King George'sParish & QueenAnne's Parish by HelenW. Brown Reprint2000 Softcover200 pages. Price$18.00 Prince George'sCounty, Maryland Indexesof Church Registers1686-1885 l'olttme2 ProtestantEpiscopal Church, St.Paul's Parish and Prince George'sParish by HelenW. Brown Reprint2000 Softcover196 pages. Price $18.00 Out of the Psst - Prince Georgeansand their Land by R LeeVan Horn Reprint1996 Hardcover 422pages. Price $20.00 Chronicleof everydaylife in PrinceGeorge's County, Maryland from thetime of itsfounding in 1696until the beginningof theCivil War from informationgleaned from publicrecords, newspapers andprivate papers. Tricentennial Cook Book Cornpiled& Editedby DorothyRainwater & TricentennialCelebration Committee Printed1996. Softcover, spiral bound 150 pages. Price $10.00 Containsrecipes collected from countyresidents as part of thetricentennial celebration. Journey Through Time - A Pictorisl History of the Prince George'sCounty Police Department by Lt. DennisCampbell Printed l99l. Hardcover304 pages. Price $40.00 S&H $3.00* A historyof thecounty police department coving over 200 years. Indexed. Shipping& Handling: *Journey * " P,G. Piclorial History, Through Time & Landmarks of Prince George'sCounty Shipping& Handlingis $3.00each for thesebooks. They areshipped separate. ALL OTHER BOOKS . S & H $2.50EACH AND 5OI FOR EACH ADDITIONAL BOOK. InternationalOrders Please add $10.00 to thecost ofshipping and handling. Sendorders to: PrinceGeorge's County Historical Society Makechecks payable to: PublicationSales PrinceGeorge's County Historical Society P.O.Box 14 Marylandresid€nts please add 57osales tax Riverdale.MD 20738-0014 Fl 9-1001 Crco'rf's Counry Historicel Socicqp' lta-ftofr (}f Prince U S tbdfc PostOffica Box rl 'jd liwr{rlc. MD Rit'crdrlq lvtrrylend ro6t-oor 4 hilf No. l9at Mr. & Mrs" fohn .l J. Petro Po Box L 669 Mitchellvilte, MD 2O7lZ_ HOURS OF OPERA'rION r.()( ATI()N or | il1.S()( t1 | \ Lrbrary Saturdaysl2 - .l PNI anddunng specral er.ents The Society is locatedat Marretta.5626 Call 301-464-0590 Bell SrationRoad. in Glenn Dale. MD. off Route l9J. nearRoute 450 Thrsrs a ManettaTours -Fnday, I I - 3. Sunday. faciliryof the MarylandNatronal Park and 12 - 4 - andby appointment- PlannrngCommrssron lnformation 301-464-SZgl Eoltimort GIFT SHOP ll othington TIIE SOCTETY l'arl x'o 1' NrRtl:'rt'.\ . Featuresa wide selectionof books' gtRs, toys and smallantiques OpenFnday. Saturdayand SundaY'12 -4 PM and \TIARIETfA, -464- during spccialevcnls Call l0l 0590 ll oshington, I).('