SUMMER 2011 A Publication for the Community of Historic Leonardtown ~ Est. 1660 At Home in Leonardtown featuring . REMEMBERING WHEN . The North End As recalled by Ernie Bell, Bob Combs, and Al Gough Calendar of Events the Forties and Fifties of the past century through Maguire Mattingly’s farm, provided the FIRST FRIDAY-EVERY MONTH Celebration of “First Fridays” for those living in or about Leonardtown, backdrop for a Tom Sawyer like boyhood. Baseball Downtown and Uptown Leonardtown In The North End was both a destination was central to growing up in The North End. There and a location. For those who lived and worked was no organized Little League. There was though, JULY 16 & AUGUST 20 there, it was common- The North End Giants, a Sunrise Yoga Leonardtown Wharf place to refer to one’s rag tag team of seven or so home or store as being pre-teenagers who, with JULY 23 & AUGUST 27 in The North End. Geo- one bat, one ball, a roll of Downtown Tunes graphically, The North tar tape, two dogs and no Leonardtown Square End is a half mile stretch adult supervision defeated AUGUST 2 lying between the inter- its “Wharf Hill” nemesis North End National Night Out section of Jefferson and GENERAL STORE in the 1951 end of summer Leonardtown Village & Washington Streets (bet- championship game by Leonard’s Freehold ter known as Saunders’s a score of 120 to 117 in AUGUST 5 Corner) and Buena Vista a seven hour marathon Special First Friday Celebration (the Burch home running that began at 0800 hours, The North End General Store at Leonardtown Square parallel with the main en- and which was briefly Saunders Corner, circa 1963. AUGUST 6 trance to the present day interrupted by a lunch Beach Party on the Square St. Mary’s Hospital). break and a parental imposed Leonardtown Square Commerce was alive mandatory afternoon nap. AUGUST 11-13 and well in The North End For the youngsters in the Li’l Margaret’s Bluegrass Festival during those times. There neighborhood one began their Goddard Farm was North End General Store apprenticeship on life skills AUGUST 26 located at Saunder’s Corner. at The North End Print Shop Blues Jazz Further down the block there which was operated by the late Leonardtown Square was North End Esso, North J. Frank “Donkey” Guy. Frank SEPTEMBER 10 End Motor Company, and and his wife Madeline, though Fall Follies North End Print Shop. The childless, treated The North Leonardtown Square former St. Mary’s Hospital In the early 1980’s, the North End Print Shop End youngsters as their own. SEPTEMBER 18 complex was situated in the building was purchased by Sally Carter Madeline died in 1951. Frank for her pottery and music studio business Taste of St. Mary’s midst of The North End. The was a one man employment hospital complex, along with called Leonardtown Pottery. In 1986, the agency for the youth of The Leonardtown Square building became home to the North End the adjoining Ball and Gough North End. The summer’s big SEPTEMBER 22-25 Gallery. The Gallery later relocated to SMC Fair – Fairgrounds home sites, are now occupied downtown Leonardtown on Fenwick Street, project for Frank was printing by the St. Mary’s Nursing but retained its North End Gallery name. and collating the St. Mary’s OCTOBER 9 This year, the North End Gallery celebrates Center. About eleven homes th County Fair Book. Print type Antique Tractor Parade were located along either side its 25 Anniversary. was set by hand, one letter at a Leonardtown Square of Jefferson Street (known today as Point Lookout time. Printing presses were hand fed one page at OCTOBER 15-16 Road or Maryland Route 5) in The North End of a time. A misspelled word was not tolerated. An SMC Oyster Festival Leonardtown. hour long debate over whether a certain phrase SMC Fairgrounds Party line telephone eavesdropping and should be followed by a comma or semicolon was OCTOBER 29 Leonardtown’s WKIK Radio Station provided frequent. Frank was a pioneer in mixing colors and Scarecrow Making & ample opportunity to keep up with daily happenings bringing forth unique quality and style of print. He Trick-or-Treat on the Square in the neighborhood. Nearby Breton Bay, accessible was a man of many talents. An accomplished sign Leonardtown Square Continued on page 7 Come On Out! “First Fridays” Celebrated “The Music Man” Mayor’s in Leonardtown Local youth will charm you as they Message Rediscover the trea- perform the Summerstock musical “The sures of Leonardtown! Music Man”. This entertaining show will On the first Friday eve- be presented the weekends of July 22nd- ning of each month, 5 24th and July 28th-31st at Great Mills High Late spring is always a busy time PM-8 PM, many Town School. Contact Recreation and Parks at around Town. Many spring cleanup businesses come together 301-475-4200, ext. 1800 for show times and to offer shopping and dining specials, gal- to purchase tickets. projects are taking place and we prepare lery receptions, live music, wine tastings, for a busy summer season. I would cooking classes, and more! Check www. Downtown Tunes like to extend appreciation for a job leonardtownfirstfridays.com regularly for Gary Rue and Dance Hall Ghost will well done by lifelong resident and monthly updates and a list of participat- perform old rock-n-roll and a country mix former councilmember, Bob Combs for ing businesses in Downtown Leonard- in the Town Square on Saturday, July 23rd. completion of the Port of Leonardtown town, Uptown Leonardtown, Breton Mar- GeeZer and The 25th Hour Band will team up Park project. Residents can now enjoy ketplace, the Maryland Antiques Center on August 27th to wind-down the 2011 series another beautiful passive park that takes Complex, the Port of Leonardtown Win- with classic rock favorites. Downtown advantage of our valuable water assets. ery, and the new Leonardtown Arts Cen- Tunes begins at 6 PM. For more information, As you drive through Town you ter. “First Fridays” are sponsored in co- contact Robin Guyther at 301-904-4452. will also notice striking banners on the operation with the Leonardtown Business decorative light poles displaying the new Association. Town logo. This logo was created by the Leonardtown Business Association in an Twilight ongoing effort to market the Town. The Performance efforts of the LBA Marketing Committee Series are really paying off for everyone. Enjoy the melodic sounds We also adopt a budget for the Town Sounds by Country Memories were at this time every year. These are tough of CSM’s Twilight enjoyed during the 2011 Downtown economic times for all and preparing Performance Series at the Leonardtown Tunes series opener on May 28th. Campus. Bring the family and a lawn the Town budget was no exception. The National Night Out Council held the current tax rate and chair or blanket. The concerts are free and begin at 6:45 PM on the following passed a very bare bones budget that will The Leonardtown Village and Tuesdays in July: help to weather the tough economic times. Leonard’s Freehold communities will July 12: Fitzmaurice Band celebrate National Night Out with a cookout Finally, in wrapping up the July 19: Adrian Duke’s Jazztet and block party on Tuesday, August 2nd Comprehensive Land Use Plan adopted by July 26: Another Level between 5 PM-9 PM. This nationwide the Town last year, we recently completed Log on to www.csmd.edu/Arts/Twi- event is designed to heighten crime and a review of the Town’s Zoning Ordinance lightSeries/index.html for performance drug awareness while strengthening police- and made revisions to better meet the goals highlights. community partnerships. For details visit of the Comprehensive Plan. The goal of www.firstsheriff.com/nationalnightout.asp the Council is stated best in the purpose Sunrise YOGA at the Wharf or call 301-475-9005. Connect with Saturday morning statement of the Comprehensive Plan, “to th protect and perpetuate the Town’s unique Yoga, waterside at Leonardtown Wharf on Special August 5 th th atmosphere and small town character July 16 and August 20 , 7:30 AM-8:30 “First Friday” Celebration while enhancing its AM, weather permitting. Bring a mat, The August 5th “First Friday” will role as the historic and water, hand towel, and a non-perishable kick-off Leonardtown’s Beach Party on food donation for local soup kitchens and governmental center the Square event. Music in the Square will food banks. For more information visit of St. Mary’s County feature the Yeh Jazz Trio and the Pax Rats. www.somd.somdyoga.com or contact Pat as a vibrant residential Visit any participating “First Friday” Whitmer at 301-373-8850. st th and business center”. business between July 1 and August 5 to get your ticket to win a Fuji Crosstown Comfort Bicycle or a Longaberger Summer Lovin’ Village Basket filled with gifts and gift certif- icates donated by the LBA and Leonardtown J. Harry Norris, III, businesses and restaurants. Two winning Mayor tickets will be drawn at 7:30 PM in the Town Square on Friday, Au- gust 5th. A purchase is not necessary, but you 2 Leonardtown Beacon must be present to win! Come On Out! Mayor Blues Jam J. Harry Norris, III Beach Party on the Square Bob Schaller will Town Council host the 2nd Quinquen- Walter Wise, Vice-President nial (happening every 5 Daniel W. Burris years) Blues Jam on the Thomas R. Collier Square in Leonardtown on Friday evening, Au- Roger L.