To Discover, Identify, Restore and Preserve the Heritage of Kent Island Newsletter of the Kent Island Heritage Society, Inc. SUMMER 2018 Officers President’s Message PRESIDENT Summer on Kent Island brings its own adventures and Jack E. Broderick Summer on Kent Island brings its own set of adventures and challenges – all in a wonderful setting. Of course there are challenges – all in a wonderful setting. Of course there are those nemeses: for me - mosquitoes, ticks, sea nettles, snakes, VICE PRESIDENT those nemeses. For me they’re mosquitoes, ticks, sea nettles, an occasional skunk, bay bridge traffic, and the sometimes Robert Lowe snakes, an occasional skunk, Bay Bridge traffic, and the some- cantankerous weather. But the magic of this place, its heritage times cantankerous weather. But the magic of this place, its and its people make it all worthwhile. Consider our steamed RECORDING SECRETARY heritage and its people make it all worth it. I mean … con- crabs, crab cakes, fried soft crabs, rock fish, ospreys, evening Nancy M. Cook sider our steamed crabs, crab cakes, fried soft crabs, rock fish, breezes, ”diamonds on the water” when the sun is just right, ospreys, evening breezes, “diamonds on the water” when the the boat ride down the creek, the visit out on the deck with CORRESPONDING sun is just right, that boat ride down the creek, the visit out on friends, neighbors, and sometimes visitors from far away. Each SECRETARY the deck with friends, neighbors, and sometimes visitors of us has our own favorites. I often think old Capt. John Smith was right when he first Carole P. Frederick from far away. Each of us has our own favorites. I often think old Capt. John Smith sailed up the bay over four centuries ago and wrote poetically about the Chesapeake was right when he first sailed up the Bay over 4 centuries ago and wrote poetically country in his journal, “Heaven and Earth never agreed better to frame a place for TREASURER about the Chesapeake country in his journal, “Heaven and Earth never agreed better man’s habitation…” He got it right, especially here on our island. Lynne Riley-Coleman to frame a place for man’s habitation …” He got it right, especially here on our Island. Sometimes I just can’t help being poetic about it. The Kent Island Heritage Society is committed to celebrating our heritage through DIRECTORS special events and preserving and sharing historic sites. This year we’ve experienced Linda Collier The Kent Island Heritage Society is committed to celebrating our heritage through the highs and lows of that commitment. In May we were challenged by the weather – John Conley special events and preserving and sharing historic sites. This year we’ve experienced torrential rains for nearly a week that washed out plans for our iconic annual event – Carl Gerg the highs and lows of that commitment. In May we were challenged by the weather – Kent Island Day. Being the big outdoor event that it is, we need good weather. Check Jay Gibson torrential rains for nearly a week that washed out our plans for our iconic annual out the copy of the announcement that we shared with our community when we Toni Gibson event – Kent Island Day. Being the big outdoor event that it is, we need good weather. decided we had to cancel. But it is such a great event when it all comes together that it Sally Lewis Check out the copy of the announcement that we shared with our community when is worth our time, effort, and energy. We have a strong planning team in place, a great Mark Lidinsky we decided we had to cancel. But it is such a great event when it all comes together, plan, and are optimistically looking forward to next year. You can visit our website Martha M. Lostrom that it is worth our time, effort, and energy. We have a strong planning team in place, at kentislandheritagesociety.org and view some wonderful pictures of previous Kent Jamie Sasse a great plan, and are optimistically looking forward to next year. You can visit our Island Day activities and memories. We hope to see you there taking pictures and Hal Wilson website at kentislandheritagesociety.org and view some wonderful pictures of previ- making new memories next May! ous Kent Island Day activities and memories. We hope to see you there taking pictures and making new memories next May! Our two other recent events went quite well. In March we hosted a well attended PAST PRESIDENTS meeting entitled “The Bay Bridge – Its Past, Present, and Future” at the Historic Christ Marian Steuart 75-77 Our two other recent events went quite well. In March we hosted a well attended Church in Stevensville. We outlined the island’s unique history, and took a trip down Gordon Seward 77-79 meeting on “the Bay Bridge – Its past, present, and future” at the Historic Christ memory lane – through the island’s centuries- old culture of farmers and watermen, Julius Grollman 79-81 Church in Stevensville. We outlined the Island’s unique history, and took a trip down through the changing transportation patterns brought on by steamboats, trains, and Mary White 81-82 memory lane - through the Island’s centuries - old culture centered around farmers car ferries. We reflected on what was called the heyday of Kent Island, (the 30s and Walter T. Denny 83-84 and watermen, through the changing transportation patterns brought on by steam- 40s) when the car ferries brought positive growth and prosperity but at a slow nostal- Eva C. White 85-86 boats, trains, and car ferries. We reflected on what was called the heyday of Kent Is- gic pace that most islanders happily embraced. Then there was the sudden and over- C. Gilbert Dunn 87-89 land, the 30’s and 40’s when the car ferries brought positive growth and prosperity whelming change that few anticipated or were prepared for - the opening of the bay Audrey Hawkins 90-92 but at a slow nostalgic pace that most Islanders happily embraced. Then there was the bridge in 1952. That change has had an impact on island culture continuing through Charles Koegel 93-94 sudden and overwhelming change that few anticipated or were prepared for - the today. We explored how the traffic challenges are being met in a discussion with the Hugo Gemignani 95-98 opening of the Bay Bridge in 1952. That change has had an impact on Island culture bay bridge administrator and heard how the state is exploring options for the future Nancy M. Cook 99-08 and continues to do so today. We explored how the traffic challenges are being met in in the ongoing study of the bay crossing. It was an informative and stimulating a discussion with the Bay Bridge administrator and heard how the state is exploring Continued on page 2 Continued from page 1 KIHS Committees Calendar evening which dovetailed our history and culture with Membership options for the future in the ongoing Bay Crossing Task the challenges of today and tomorrow. For an in-depth 2018 John Conley, Chair Force Study. It was an informative and stimulating review of the March meeting you can see the excellent Budget evening which dovetailed our history and culture with JANUARY 17 Bob Lowe, Chair article that appeared in the April 4th issue of the Bay the challenges of today and tomorrow. For an in-depth Jay Gibson Times. BOARD MEETING Linda Collier review of the March meeting you can see the excellent article that appeared in the Bay Times. Lynne Riley-Coleman Then in June we relaxed and enjoyed a celebration of FEBRUARY 21 Jamie Sasse our maritime heritage on a memorable evening dinner Then in June we relaxed and enjoyed a celebration of BOARD MEETING Newsletter cruise aboard the Chester River Packet. The Packet Martha Lostrom, Editor our maritime heritage on a memorable evening dinner came down from her home port of Chestertown to Carole Frederick, Managing Editor cruise aboard the Chester River Packet. The Packet came MARCH 28 share the evening with our members and guests. We Library/Genealogy down from her home port of Chestertown to share the boarded at the county’s Heritage and Visitors’ Center GENERAL MEETING Frank Frohn evening with our members and guests. We boarded at at Kent Narrows and set out on a leisurely three hour Information about the Bay Bridge Bob Lowe, Chair the County’s Heritage and Visitors’ Center at Kent cruise in the mouth of the Chester. We enjoyed a great Historic Christ Church @ 7:00 p.m. Lynne Riley-Coleman Narrows and set out on a leisurely three-hour cruise in Chesapeake buffet and periodic narration reflecting on Kirwan House the mouth of the Chester. We enjoyed a great Chesa- Linda Collier, Curator the island, the bay, and many interesting events that peake buffet and periodic narration reflecting on the Is- APRIL 18 Cameron Sewell have tied them together through the centuries. It was a land, the Bay, and many interesting events that have BOARD MEETING Taylor Harmon great evening and John Smith’s quote was the perfect tied them together through the centuries. It was a great Cray House thought as we pulled back into the narrows at sunset. evening and John Smith’s quote was the perfect Sally Lewis, Curator Check out some great pictures of our evening on the MAY 16 thought as we pulled back into the Narrows at sunset. Post Office water here in our newsletter. BOARD MEETING John Conley, co-Chair Check out some great pictures of our evening on the Fran Peters, co-chair water here in our newsletter.