Westside Historical Society's Event Calendar (3 Events)

Latest Book Talk Focus is on Chesapeake Life

Westside Historical Society’s newest program in the “Authors on Delmarva” series will feature Don Parks, Dorchester County native, discussing his series of books on Chesapeake Bay life and culture.

A retired educator, Parks is a life-long resident of Maryland’s Eastern Shore, who was – as we say on Delmarva -- born and raised in Dorchester County. His father was a waterman who spent his childhood on isolated Holland Island, and much of Parks’ fascination and passion for the Chesapeake Bay and the culture it inspired can be traced to interactions with his father.

Don earned an undergraduate degree from Salisbury State College, and also holds master’s degrees from both Washington College and Virginia Commonwealth University, and was awarded a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University. Following a 40 year career in private and public education, he retired to St. Michaels and began seriously exploring his passion – the Chesapeake Bay and the rich heritage it inspired. For the past 10 years he has researched and written 5 books about his beloved Bay -- Chesapeake Winds and Tides, Journeys Among Eastern Shore Islands, Rivers and Communities, Chesapeake Splendor, Journeys Among Upper Eastern Shore Islands, Rivers and Communities, Chesapeake People, and Chesapeake Men and Chesapeake Women.

Parks has given numerous presentations about his travels and interactions with the Chesapeake Characters he has met along the way, and will eagerly share these stories.

This, like all programs in this Series, will be held at Laytons Chance Winery near Vienna, and is free to the public. The program will begin at 4pm Friday October 21st with a “meet and greet” the author, followed by the author’s remarks about 4:30. After Parks’ presentation the audience can ask questions or offer their own comments, and will have a chance to purchase his books if they desire. Light refreshments will be served. For further information about this program go to Westside Historical Society’s web site, www.barrencreekheritage.org , or email westsidehistorical@gmail.com, or phone 410-726-8047 ; 410-742-9464 ; or 443-880-8989.

Celebrate Autumn with a Stroll Through History, and More!

Mardela Springs is inviting everyone to a celebration of the beauty and joys of autumn! On October 22 you can come participate in En Plein Air “paint-in” – either as artist or observer, tour the towns’ 10+ museums and historic sites, take a self-guided tour of the reminders of the town’s days as the Victorian spa of Barren Creek Springs, listen to musicians, play horseshoes or corn hole, kids can do crafts or a different kind of scavenger hunt, or – just relax and enjoy the day!!

The day’s events are offered jointly by the Adkins Historical Museum and Complex, the Westside Historical Society, and the art/antiques shop The Eyeful Hummingbird. Other shops such as Main Street Treasures and Pacific East also will be open and welcoming visitors. Lunch will be sold by the historical societies, with a combination ticket ($20 adults, $10 children under 12) that also includes entrance to all the museums, walking tours, and musical entertainment, an afternoon Ghost Walk in the cemetery, and games and crafts for all. These tickets must be ordered in advance, by October 15. For those who do not want the lunch, tickets are $10 for adults or $5 for children. These events get under way at 9:30 and will close with the Ghost Walk about 4:30. Plein Air artists will be signing up at The Eyeful Hummingbird on Fire Prevention Street at 8:00, pick their outdoor spot to set up an easel and paint the beauty of the natural settings, and will pay a separate registration for that.

Buildings which will be open include the Barren Creek Springs Church, built in 1842 and now restored, the Spring House where the mineral water still runs, the 1838 Brattan-Taylor Store, English one-room school, and Barren Creek Heritage Museum with 10 rooms of exhibits of 300+ years of history of western Wicomico County. The Victorian-era Whitelock House, where lunches may be picked up, also be open for touring. The Ghost Walk of the town’s Cemetery will begin just before dusk, and will introduce visitors to some of the town’s more intriguing residents of times-past, as well as a few surprises. (Children are welcome – no scary surprises!)

For more information and to register in the EnPlein Air painting, call Patty Parks at the Eyeful Hummingbird, phone 410-726-8544. To order lunches and tickets to all the tours, call 410-726-8544 or email lynettekenney33@msn.com, or write to TICKETS, Lynnette Kenney, 24790 Porter Mill Rd., Hebron MD 21830.

Appraisals, Antiques, & Collectibles Show Coming 

to Mardela Springs

Do you have a special something that you think might be worth a fortune? Or that old painting passed down for generations? Well wonder no more. On Saturday, November 5, Westside Historical Society will once more present an all-day show featuring appraisals by experts Charlene Upham and Steve Blumenauer, as well as mini-lectures on a variety of collectibles and antiques, plus a number of vendors who will be selling (and some will be buying) a wide range of antiques and collectibles.

The show will be in Mardela Fire House and doors open at 9:30. There is no admission charge, but there is an appraisal fee of $5 for one item and $10 for three items. Upham and Blumenauer will give current fair-market appraisals of a wide variety of items, ranging from fine art, to coins, pottery, textiles, guns, Asian items, silver, military items, glass, toys, and even furniture. (Items too large to bring in can be appraised from good, current photographs.) They also will identify and comment on the items being appraised. All appraisal proceeds will be donated to Westside Historical Society and will be used to help fund their “Saving Our Traditions” and educational programs in the area.

Throughout the day experts on a variety of collectibles will give short talks on their specialties, including old bottles and jugs, Native-American artifacts, and quilts. Those attending are welcome to sit in on these “mini-lectures” as well as the appraisals. Westside Historical Society also invites owners of old handmade quilts and coverlets to bring these items in to be photographed and documented for the Society’s on-going collection of records of Antique Eastern Shore Quilts. Also, a small silent auction will be offered, and food will be sold by the Mardela Springs Fire Dept. Auxiliary. Parking is available in the Fire Dept. parking lot on Station Street.

For more information, including renting vendor space, contact Sylvia Bradley at westsidehistorical@gmail.com or phone 410-726-8047 or 443-783-3335, or write to P.O. Box 194, Mardela Springs MD 21837.