Dorchester County

Dorchester County
Saturday, May 2, 2020

10:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M.

Dorchester County was home to the native Choptank and Nanticoke tribes of the Eastern Woodland Algonquin Nation before the arrival of John Smith at Emperor’s Landing in Vienna in 1608. Its County seat, Cambridge, was established as a port of entry by the Maryland Assembly in 1684 and is one of the oldest towns authorized at that early date that has survived. Originally a seaport community on the shores of the Choptank River, the region has a rich maritime and agricultural heritage and is known for a history of boat building and food processing industries, numerous navigable waterways for boating and other recreational watersports, an abundance of fish and crustaceans, vast forests with a diversity of wildlife, opportunities for hunting and trapping and good agricultural soils, all of which are still present today. When James Michener was doing research for his novel Chesapeake, he reportedly called Cambridge’s High Street one of the most beautiful streets in America, modeling his fictional city, Patamoke, after Cambridge. Many of the gracious homes on the brick-paved, historic High Street date from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, former homes to sea captains and statesmen alike. In 2013, Cambridge was named one of the top best small towns in America by Livability, the only town given that distinction on the East Coast. More recently, in 2019, Smithsonian Magazine named Cambridge one of the sixteen best small towns to visit in the United States and it is now known by its continuing connection to the water, its historic buildings, a vibrant arts scene and unique shops and restaurants.

Dorchester County is the birthplace of Harriet Tubman and is a primary stop along the Underground Railroad Byway. Many famous individuals are from Dorchester including Annie Oakley, John Barth, Bea Arthur, Anna Ella Carroll and Gloria Richardson Dandridge. Major attractions include the Harriet Tubman Museum and Education Center and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center and Scenic Byway, the Choptank River Lighthouse, the Heritage Museums & Gardens of Dorchester and Handsell, an 18th century manor house being preserved in Vienna that was built on a former Indian Reservation and was home to nearly ninety slaves in the mid-1800s. Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, a waterfowl sanctuary for birds located 12 miles south of Cambridge, consists of more than 25,000 acres of tidal wetlands, open fields and deciduous forests. Nature lovers, birders, photographers, cyclists, and paddlers are all attracted to Blackwater. Dorchester is host to thousands of athletes twice annually for the Eagleman and Ironman Competitions. While navigating your way through Dorchester, you can view Michael Rosato’s fabulous mural art on the Chesapeake Mural Trail which depicts our history and culture along the Michener Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway. Dorchester, known as “the Heart of Chesapeake Country,” has a storied history bringing together Native, Colonial and African-American heritage as interpreted by many fascinating

attractions and the diverse people whose lives have told these stories.

Co-Chairs: Jeanne Bernard, 443-205-0660, ; Karen Cartwright, 610-306-3725, ; Sandy Lucas, 410-463-0460, sandylucas1744@gmail.com.

Committee Chairs: Property Selection: Karen Cartwright. Script, Maps and Directions: Jeanne Bernard and Sandy Lucas. Hostesses: Faye Phillips. Photography: Lynne Davis. Luncheon: Cookie Brohawn and Patti Hopkins. Advertising: Linda Allen, Billie Sue Norton, and Bobbie Rideout. Publicity: Ellen Higgins and Linda Rossi. Patrons and Benefactors: Linda Chandlee. Road Marking: Susie Middleton. Treasurer: Wanda Ciekot. Ticket Presales: Evelyn Renkwitz. Floral: Kay Karminski and Linda Easter. Tour tickets: May be purchased online or at any tour site by cash or check.

Special Project: Dorchester Garden Club has selected as our special project the Wallace Office Building, a single-story, two-roomed, Greek Revival structure that is very likely one of the oldest remaining commercial buildings in Cambridge, if not in the State of Maryland. The stuccoed brick, hip-roofed office building was built in 1849-50 for Colonel James W. Wallace (1818-1887). Colonel Wallace served in the Maryland State Legislature during the 1850s and when the Civil War broke out, he helped organize the 1st Regiment Eastern Shore Maryland Volunteer Infantry of the United States Army. Wallace Office Building was used as a recruitment center during the war. Afterwards, James Wallace entered into agricultural and industrial pursuits and with his son, James, started a packing company. In 1887, James Wallace willed the property, known as The Hill, to his wife, Annie, who subsequently sold it to her son for $7000 and the name was changed to Tusculum. In 1939, the Wallace family sold the property at public auction to the City of Cambridge for the price of $7500. At that time, the original mansion was torn down and the office was leased for insurance and law offices, a gift shop and space for Dorchester Educators and the Girl Scouts. In 1972, the property was acquired by the Dorchester County Public Library. The old office building, vacant for a number of years, still stands adjacent to the library on Gay Street, but is in a serious state of disrepair. George Vojtech is Chair of the Cambridge’s Historic Preservation Commission and is experienced in restoration of historic properties. He has had the building surveyed and has received grant funding from the Maryland Historic Trust to restore and preserve the building with historic and architectural accuracy. The restoration will include the addition of HVAC and water, and the installation of an ADA ramp, making the building accessible. The monies raised by the Pilgrimage will help fund the restoration of an historically-significant structure.

Lunch: A delicious boxed lunch for $13.00 includes chicken salad on a croissant or a vegetarian salad sandwich on wheat bread, pickle, chips, cookie, fruit and a bottle of water. Lunch will be available from 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. in Whatley Hall adjacent to Site #7 just behind historic Christ Episcopal Church, 607 Church Street, Cambridge, MD. The Hall can be reached by walking through the graveyard or walking/driving along Church Street. Some parking and limited seating is available. Advanced reservations are a must. Please include your choice of sandwich on your check made payable to Christ Episcopal Church, Attention: M.H.G.P. Lunch Reservation, 601 Church Street, Cambridge, MD 21613-1729. Checks must be received by Thursday, April 16, 2020. For information, please contact Cookie Brohawn at 410-463-1778 or cookiebrohawn@comcast.net.

Restrooms: Available at Site #1, Dorchester County Visitors’ Center or Site #7 Christ Episcopal Church and Whatley Hall.

ROUTES FROM:

Points west—Baltimore and Washington: East on Rt. 50 across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Continue south on Rt. 50 past Easton to the Choptank River Bridge, turn RIGHT at light onto Maryland Avenue. Go two blocks and turn right on Dorchester Avenue. Two blocks further, the Visitors’ Center Parking Lot is found on your left.

Points east—Salisbury and Norfolk, VA: Rt. 13 north to Salisbury, then Rt. 50 west to Cambridge. Turn left at light onto Maryland Avenue (before bridge over the Choptank River). Go two blocks and turn right on Dorchester Avenue. Drive two block and the Visitors’ Center is on the left.

FOLLOW PILGRIMAGE GREEN ARROWS AND SIGNS.

1. Dorchester Visitor Center

2 Rose Hill Place, Cambridge 21613, 410-228-1000. The Dorchester Visitor Center, with its huge sail soaring more than 100 feet in the air, is an Eastern Shore landmark on the shores of the Choptank River in Cambridge. This facility serves as your information headquarters, providing free and friendly visitor information and two levels of exhibits about Dorchester County and the surrounds. There is ample parking, beautiful riverfront views, a mile-long boardwalk, playground and restrooms. The Center is open on Tour Day from 9:30 A.M. to 5 P.M., with ticket pick-up times between 9:30 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. Tickets, tour books, maps and other Dorchester County information are available at this location. In addition, tickets may be purchased at any one of the tour sites. You can begin your tour at any site or as planned in the following order.

To proceed to Site #2, exit the Dorchester Visitor Center parking lot and stay on Rose Hill Place. This turns into Dorchester Avenue. Proceed straight to the stop sign and turn right on to Maryland Avenue. As you cross the drawbridge over Cambridge Creek, the road becomes Market Street. Go through the stoplight onto Muse Street. Turn left at the next stoplight (in front of the Fire House) onto Gay Street. At the stoplight, turn right onto Poplar Street and continue through the commercial district. At the next light, the road continues straight as Locust Street. Travel 0.6 miles and turn left on Glenburn Avenue. In 249 feet, turn right onto Glasgow Street and continue 0.7 miles. The road becomes Sandy Hill Road (watch your speed through this part of town). Follow Sandy Hill onto Hatsawap Road, turn right onto Manito Drive. Site #2 is on the right. There is no parking on the grass or in the homeowners’ driveway.

2. Algonquin Manor

7 Manito Drive, Cambridge 21613, a 160-acre farm originally called Sandy Hill, was built in 1896 for the Joseph Mundy family of Newark, NJ. The site is important not only for the stately, late 19th century structure, but also as it was once a significant Native American settlement. The original brick construction was 3 stories, with a widow’s walk and majestic views of the Choptank River. The property was later purchased by U.S. Senator Isidor Rayner who changed the name to Algonquin. Farmland was sold over the years and the property is currently about 3 acres with 270 feet of shoreline. In 2013, the current owners acquired Algonquin Manor and undertook a total renovation, adding geothermal heat, a sweeping wrap around veranda and modern kitchen, closets and baths. The 7500 square foot home includes 17 rooms, 8 fireplaces, original tubs, pantry sink and an 1800s stove. Furnishings feature many antiques and an extensive collection of antique Chinese Rose Medallion porcelain. The homeowners also expanded the capacity of the original garage and added a two-bedroom guest quarters. A playhouse on the grounds keeps grandchildren entertained. Owners: Laura and Russ Baker.

To proceed to Site #3, head northeast on Manito Drive toward Hatsawap Road. Turn left onto Hatsawap and continue straight onto Sandy Hill Road. Travel 0.2 miles and turn left onto Sandy Acres Road. Site # 3 is on the left.

3. Summer Inn

One Sandy Acres Road, Cambridge 21613, located in a region of Cambridge called Algonquin, sits on Jenkins Creek with lovely views of the Choptank River. This stunning shingle, Nantucket-style house was originally a small brick cottage built in the early 1940s. Several additions have been added over the years, the latest completed in 2011, resulting in an expansive, three-story residence crowned with a widow’s walk. The home is beautifully furnished in English and American antiques, hosts a large collection of early New England impressionist paintings, quilts, weathervanes and many exquisite bronze sculptures which continue into the landscape. The gardens, recently complemented by a New England-style barn, are filled with native plants and ornamental favorites of the homeowners who are enthusiastic gardeners and devoted to attracting many birds and wildlife to their property. A prominent feature in one of the perennial gardens is a five-foot bronze sculpture of a Great Blue Heron entitled Queen of the Waterway by artist Ott Jones. Owners: Helen and Jack Saum.

To proceed to Site #4, head south on Harris Drive. Turn left onto Sandy Hill Road and stay on this road for 0.5 miles. Turn left onto Hambrooks Boulevard and remain on Hambrooks until you come to a stop sign. Turn right to continue on Hambrooks. Go 0.2 miles and turn right onto Glasgow Court. Site #4 is straight ahead. This may be confusing as the actual address for Site #4 is Hambrooks Boulevard.

4. Glasgow

1500 Hambrooks Boulevard, Cambridge 21613 is an historically-significant, Federal style structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property was originally a 430 acre tract known as Ayeshire. In 1760, William Murray, whose grandfather fled Scotland during the Jacobite Rebellion in 1745, built the 21/2 story home. It is the birthplace of William Vans Murray (1760-1803) who became a lawyer, statesman and politician who served in the Maryland House of Delegates and the U.S. House of Representatives. Murray, a prominent Federalist, was appointed Minister to The Hague by President George Washington on March 2, 1787. The home’s original kitchen and dining room were removed in the early 1900s and moved to another location. The interior architecture is magnificent. The original trim and plaster walls are decorated with significant works of art and the home is furnished with modern and period furniture to create a warm, inviting space for guests and family. There are several outbuildings on the site including a writer’s cottage and a recently installed gazebo. The homeowners have ambitious plans for the landscape which features a beautiful assortment of flowering trees, lush foundation plantings and gorgeous bulb gardens. They are currently in the process of redesigning and installing new gardens including parterres, an English garden, rose garden, fern garden surround for a beautiful stone sculpture, an orchard, kitchen garden and croquet court. A pool is planned on the west side of house. Owners: James Hoff and Stephen Brown.

To proceed to Site #5, head northeast on Glasgow Court

towards Hambrooks Boulevard. Turn right on Hambrooks and continue for 0.5 miles. Turn right onto Oakley Street. Site #5 is on your right.

5. Seasmoke

107 Oakley Street, Cambridge 21613 (grounds and first floor only) is an elegantly designed home reminiscent of the Prairie-style of architecture popularized by Frank Lloyd Wright. The grandeur and scale of the overall design was masterfully created and returns the visitor to a bygone era. The home, documented on the State Historic Sites Survey, was built between 1910 and 1915. The structure is a 21/2 story frame house with a hip roof, a four bay front facade and wrap-around porch. It features a newly constructed family room and gorgeous landscaped yard, decks and a pool.

To proceed to Site #6, head south on Oakley Street for two blocks, then turn left onto Travers Street. Proceed two blocks to West End Avenue and turn right. Site #6 will be on your right.

6. The Oakley Farmhouse

325 West End Avenue, Cambridge 21613, in the historic West End, has a fascinating history. The property was claimed by land grant in 1682 by European settler, Dr. Thomas Foulkes. It was returned to Native Americans in 1721, and subsequently sold to Henry Ennalls in 1726. The property was purchased by William Hopkins, a prosperous farmer and relative of the renowned Johns Hopkins in 1878. In 1891, he sold Oakley Farm to his son William D. Hopkins, a sailor and grocer, who built the farmhouse style home that still stands today. Most people believe the reference to ‘Oakley’ in Cambridge infers a connection to legendary sharpshooter, Annie Oakley, who lived in a waterfront home on Hambrooks Bay in the early 20th century, but rather it refers to the Oakley Farm, a very prominent Cambridge property. The home underwent thorough and meticulous renovation in 2004 and the current owners acquired it in 2018. Featured are a welcoming front porch, manicured gardens and gorgeous antique furnishings. The mantles and wood flooring are original to the house, as are the mahogany porches. The owners intend to build a Victorian style pergola in the back yard and brick pathways through the gardens. Owners: Barbara Knepp and KC Stangl.

To proceed to Site #7, head southwest on West End Avenue toward Locust Street. Turn right on Locust which is one-way. Turn right on Willis Street and then right again onto Travers Street, which is also one-way. Turn right on Mill Street (one way) and then make a right onto Church Street. Site #7 will be on the left. Pre-ordered lunches are available at this stop in the Whatley Building behind the Church.

7. Christ Episcopal Church of the Great Choptank Parish

601 Church Street, Cambridge 21613. Great Choptank Parish is one of two parishes in Dorchester County created by an Act of Assembly signed into law on June 9, 1692 by Governor Lionel Copley, Esq. The first church building on this site was erected sometime after 1693, the second in 1794. After a disastrous fire in 1882, the present structure, a neo-Gothic church noted for its magnificent stained glass windows by various artists (including Tiffany of New York City), was built between 1883 and 1884. The church is constructed of green serpentine stone on a cruciform plan designed by Baltimore architect Charles E. Cassell. It houses a collection of lovely old silver pieces, one of which was a gift from Henry Trippe in 1743, and needlepoint kneelers and cushions crafted by church members. Altar rail kneelers are all beautiful scenes that represent the Eastern Shore, including wildlife, sailboats, wildflowers and crab pots. The churchyard has been a burial ground since the latter half of the 17th century. The earliest dated monuments are for Magdalen and William Stevens who died in 1678 and 1684, respectively. Flags, emblems and informative signs mark the graves of Revolutionary War patriots and statesmen as well as four Maryland Governors: Charles Goldsborough, Henry Lloyd, Phillips Lee Goldsborough, and Emerson Harrington.

To proceed to Site #8, head southeast on Church Street toward High Street. Turn right onto High Street and continue straight for 0.7 miles. Turn right onto MD-343 West/Washington Street. This road becomes Hudson Road when you leave Cambridge. Bear left at the fork in the road (Horn Point is to your right). Continue on this road for approximately 2.5 miles. Look for a blue house sign on the left that says “Don Lee.” Turn left onto the gravel driveway. Continue, bearing right at the fork, and Site #8 is on the left.

8. Lee Creek Retreat

1737/1739 Hudson Road, Cambridge 21613, in the Neck District of Cambridge, originated in the 18th century as a stable for a very large manor house nearby. Over the last 150 years, the home has been expanded in many ways, unique to each owner. The property was once owned by a prominent Cambridge citizen, Judge William Yates. The current owner is an educator who has lived and taught all over the world. His collections have been gathered in his travels and include his great grandparents’ bedroom furniture dating to the 1800s and brought here from Germany, a picnic-style dining table fashioned of wood from local barns and paintings by Russian and Tunisian artists. There are large and impressive library collections and the walls are covered with the homeowner’s photography reflecting educational work in 65 countries. Be sure to view the two ‘palaces’ as described by the owner—special rooms he designed for his grandchildren. Adjacent to the main residence is Chesapeake Sunset Cottage built in 1935 as a simple, 1300-square foot country home. The cottage was essentially destroyed by flooding in 2012 and when restored, it was redesigned as a modern, romantic, waterside retreat. It is furnished with magnificent art, furniture designed by Frits Maas and features a Japanese bath and copper soaking tub, triangle porch and cocktail deck. Gardens and paths link both structures on this lovely waterfront property. Visitors will marvel at the many unique landscape elements, especially a very special stone sculpture of a Chinese Water Buffalo, ‘Tsian,’ that has traveled far and wide with this homeowner. Owner: Steve Heyneman.

To proceed to Site #9, turn left at the end of the gravel drive onto 343W and continue approximately 5.4 miles. You will pass the Spocott Windmill and Village, a reconstructed 19th century community which features a c1800 cottage, schoolhouse, doctor’s office, museum and store. The road will fork again. Take a slight left continuing on Hudson Road (Hudson School Road is the right fork) for 0.8 miles. At the next fork, bear right onto Hills Point Road. Spedden Methodist Church will be on your left. Continue for approximately 1.8 miles and turn left onto Ragged Point Road. In this stretch of road, you will pass two marinas and two crabbing establishments. Drive for 1.7 miles more, the Bay will appear on your right and, just before the road ends at Ragged Island, you will see the sign for Peaceful Watch on your left. Take the long gravel lane bearing right at the guest cottage towards the larger of the two homes.

9. Peaceful Watch

5235 Ragged Point Road, Cambridge 21613, further west in the Neck District, was purchased by the owners in 1997 when it was mostly thick stands of loblolly pines, hollies and cedars. A delightful, elevated shingle cottage, originally a rustic hunting cabin, stood surrounded by wildlife-rich wetlands, creeks and coves. In 2003, the 27-acre property was inundated by an 8-foot tidal surge and hundreds of trees were felled during Tropical Storm Isabel. Brackish water covered existing gardens which have taken years to recover. In 2007, a new shingle-style home reminiscent of New England waterfront architecture was built on an elevated plot of land fronting the Little Choptank River and Brooks Creek. The Chesapeake Bay is within sight of the property to the west. Three stories high, the home is surrounded by decks and magnificent water vistas. The Baywise-certified landscape features numerous cultivated perennial beds planted with native trees, flowers and grasses, a rain garden, vegetable plot and bocce court. Beneath the decking of the house, shade gardens offer a welcome respite from summer heat. A barn was added to the property in 2014 followed by a free-form pool surrounded by a beautiful bluestone patio. The interior of the home is furnished with an eclectic mix of antiques and traditional furniture with a color scheme inspired by the sea and outdoors. The homeowners’ collections of American crafts, Depression glass, transferware china and oyster plates delight the eye. Owners: Jeanne and Bruce Bernard.

Return directions:

To Rt. 50: Turn right out of the drive onto Ragged Point Road. Make a right onto Hills Point Road and continue on Hudson Road (343 EAST) until you hit Washington Street. Follow this road to Crusader Drive (Wawa) and turn onto Rt. 50.

To downtown Cambridge: Turn right out of the drive onto Ragged Point Road. Make a right onto Hills Point Road and continue on Hudson Road (343 EAST) until it turns into Washington Street. Turn LEFT onto High Street and follow to downtown.