Saturday, May 9, 2020
Talbot County10:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M.
Talbot County is steeped in more than 350 years of American history. Named in honor of Lady Grace, wife of Sir Robert Talbot and sister of Cecilius Calvert second Lord Baltimore, Talbot County was settled by the English about 1661. The Chesapeake Bay and five navigable tributaries—the Choptank River, the Tred Avon River, the Miles, Tuckahoe and Wye Rivers—provide more than 600 miles of picturesque waterfront and fertile croplands to Talbot County. The early manor houses along the creeks and bays face the waters that brought guests and trade from across the Chesapeake and around the world. Easton, once known as “Talbot Town,” became the county seat by act of the Maryland Legislature in 1778. Much of the early legal and political history of the United States originated in Talbot County, which is justifiably proud of its history and of the loving restoration and presentation of so many of its prominent public buildings, historic homes and gardens such as those you will see today.
Co-Chairs: Julia Miller, 856-425-3352, and Sara Walker, 240-731-1644, saraseelywalker@gmail.com.
Committee Chairs: Advisors: Caroline Benson, Mary Lou McAllister and Nancy Thompson. Advertising: Maggie Jarboe and Ann Cooper. Flowers: Ingrid Blanton, Anne Jelich, and Karen Parker. Hospitality: Georgia Adler and Susie Granville. Hostess: Jody Shaner. Luncheon: Ann Ashby and Suellen Williams. Parking and Ambassadors: Janet Mackey and Jan Cullen. Patron Letters: Pat Lewers and Martha Horner. Photography: Marsie Hawkinson and Laura Carney. Publicity: Pam Keeton. Rack Cards: Rebecca Gaffney. Road Marking and Directions: Trish Reynolds and Carol Harrison. Script: Missy Warfield. Tour Bells: Caroline Benson. Treasurers: Virginia Sappington, Maxine Millar, and Joan Crowley. Talbot County Garden Club President: Chloe Pitard.
Special Project: Site #5, St. Michaels Museum. The St. Michaels Museum offers a unique glimpse into everyday life in old St. Michaels from the early 1800s onward. The Chaney House, located on St. Mary’s Square, is the most recent addition of the three buildings that comprise the museum. It was built in 1851 by the three free African-American brothers Charles, Samuel and George Chaney, Jr. who eventually purchased their father’s freedom. At one time as many as nine children lived in the small dwelling. This building now showcases the local African-American experience in the mid-to-late 19th century. Funds provided for the special project will enable the St. Michaels Museum to replace the old shingle roof and install a new roof and gutter system on the Chaney house to safeguard the integrity of this very special building as there are few African-American dwellings of this era existing today in St. Michaels. The museum also will use funding provided for this special project to produce an historical booklet documenting the Chaney family, their home and the community in which they lived. In addition, proceeds from the Talbot County Tour will also be used to support the care and maintenance of the Talbot County Garden Club’s many civic projects.
Lunch: A delicious $15.00 box lunch will be offered by reservation only. Dine in or pick up pre-ordered lunches at the Woman’s Club of St. Michaels, 401 St. Mary’s Square, St. Michaels, MD, from 10:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. Checks for box lunch orders must be received by May 1, 2020. Please make your check payable to TCGC (Talbot County Garden Club), and mail to: TCGC, P.O. 1524, Easton, MD 21601 indicating your sandwich selection on the check. Sandwich choices are: Tarragon Chicken Salad with grapes and almonds on multigrain bread; Roast Beef and Brie with horseradish mayo on baguette with lettuce and tomato; Veggie Power House with veggies, jack cheese, hummus and spicy mustard on multigrain bread. Also included is a bottle of water, coleslaw, chips and a chocolate chip cookie. If no sandwich choice is indicated you will receive a Tarragon Chicken Salad sandwich. Your cancelled check is your receipt.
Routes From:
BALTIMORE and WASHINGTON: East on US Rt. 50 across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. South on US Rt. 50 to MD Rt. 322 (Easton Parkway). Bear right onto MD Rt. 322, Easton Parkway and go 2 miles to the 4th traffic light. Turn right onto MD Rt. 33 (St. Michaels Road); follow signs to St. Michaels.
WILMINGTON/PHILADELPHIA:
I-95 South to DE Rt.1 South. Exit DE Rt. 1 to US 301 South (Christiana Mall exit). Follow US Rt. 301 South to MD Rt. 213, exit turning left onto MD Rt. 213 South. Follow MD Rt. 213 to US Rt. 50 East. Turn left onto US Rt. 50 at the traffic light. Continue on US Rt. 50 to MD Rt. 322, Easton Parkway. Bear right onto MD Rt. 322, Easton Parkway and go 2 miles to the 4th traffic light. Turn right onto MD Rt. 33 (St. Michaels Road), follow signs to St. Michaels.
NORFOLK/SALISBURY: US Rt. 13 North to Salisbury; then US Rt. 50 West to Easton. Exit left onto MD Rt. 322, Easton Parkway. At the 3rd traffic light, turn left onto MD Rt. 33, St. Michaels Road; follow signs to St. Michaels.
Restrooms: The Woman’s Club of St. Michaels in St. Mary’s Square; Public
facility at the Information Center at Talbot Street and Mill Street; Portable restrooms at the two school parking lots.
Information Headquarters: The Woman’s Club of St. Michaels, 401 St. Mary’s Square, St. Michaels. Hospitality and Information table will be staffed from 10:00 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. the day of the tour. Tickets and tour books will be available at this site and all homes on tour day. Contact Georgia Adler at 410-443-7542 the day of the tour with any questions. Begin your tour by starting with Option #1 or with Option #2.
FOLLOW PILGRIMAGE GREEN ARROWS AND SIGNS.
SPECIAL PARKING NOTICE:
Parking for Sites #1 through #4 is extremely limited. Private cars will not be admitted. To ensure an enjoyable tour and avoid long waits, free bus transportation will be offered for these stops and will run continuously throughout the day. The tour begins at St. Michaels High School Parking Lot and the St. Michaels Elementary School lot. (See map and directions below.) Please park your car and follow signs to the appropriate buses. For your enjoyment and convenience two separate touring options are offered: Option #1, Country Homes first: For visitors who wish to go directly to the Country Homes at Sites #1, 2, 3, and 4, buses will depart from the St. Michaels High School Parking Lot and the St. Michaels Elementary School lot (see map). Buses will return to St. Mary’s Square where signs will direct visitors to the Hospitality Headquarters (pre-paid lunch is available at the Woman’s Club at this site) and Site #5, St. Michaels Museum. Buses will return visitors to the High School and Elementary School parking lots (see map) so that visitors may continue on to Sites #6 and #7 by car. Option #2, St. Mary’s Square first: For visitors who wish to visit St. Mary’s Square first, buses will depart from the St. Michaels High School Parking Lot and the St. Michaels Elementary School lot (see map). Signs will direct visitors to the Hospitality Headquarters (pre-paid lunch is available at the Woman’s Club at this stop), and Site #5, St. Michaels Museum. Buses will return to the St. Michaels High School Parking lot where pilgrims may board buses to Sites #1, 2, 3, and 4. Buses will return visitors to the High School and Elementary School parking lots (see map) so that visitors may continue on to Sites #6 and #7 by car. St. Michaels High School Parking Lot, 100 Seymour Avenue, St. Michaels 21663. From Route 33 (Talbot Street) turn right after the community pool onto Seymour Avenue; at the end of the block turn right into school parking lot; look for signs to buses. (Please do not park in YMCA section of lot.) If this lot is full, please exit lot, turning left and park in the Elementary School Lot (see map).
About the country homes reached by bus only:
Return Directions:
Returning home from Site #7: Turn right onto MD Rt. 33 (St. Michaels Road) and proceed 3.7 miles to MD Rt. 322 (Easton Parkway) which is at the 3rd traffic light.
Salisbury, Norfolk, and points South: Turn right onto MD Rt. 322 and continue to merge with US Rt. 50 East.
Baltimore, Washington, Wilmington, Philadelphia, and points north or west. Turn left onto MD Rt. 322 and proceed through 4 traffic lights to US Rt. 50 West.