Cliffs School Museum, a gem of an historic attraction in Kent County, will be open May 21 and every third Saturday each month through October, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Located in Cliffs City, just 8.5 miles from Chestertown on Quaker Neck Road, Rt. 289 S, this little one-room schoolhouse opened in 1878 to children of a farming and watermen’s community.
Seven grades were taught in one room. Lessons written on the chalkboards by the last teacher, Mrs. Thelma VanSant, have been preserved. There are many authentic and appropriate late 19th and early 20th century furnishings and artifacts which were typical of a rural one-room school, such as a potbellied stove similar to the one which kept the children warm in winter and heated their soup for lunch. George Washington’s portrait can be seen above the blackboard in the front of the room. An old schoolmaster’s slant-top desk was donated by the family of George Vickers, a local resident and a U. S. Senator during the Civil War. School desks are sized according to the age of the children who attended, so big kids and little children can have a seat and look over the wonderful old schoolbooks from that era. The school was closed in 1939 and is one of two one-room schools in Kent County to remain in its original configuration.
Owned by Preservation, Inc., the museum has been the project of the Port of Chester Questers since 1993. Members of Sophie Kerr Questers and the Retired School Teachers of Kent County partner with Port of Chester acting as docents and fundraising. The purpose of Questers International is to encourage the study and appreciation of antiques and objects of art and to be involved in preservation and restoration of historic landmarks. There are five active chapters in Kent County.
It is a lovely drive from Chestertown to Cliffs City with views of the Chester River, farms, fields, old churches, and graveyards. The school will also be open to visitors on Saturday, May 28 from 10 am to 1 pm and on Saturday, June 11 from 10 am to 4 pm, participating in the Museums of Kent Open House Tours. There is no admission charge, but donations are welcome.
For more information go to www.kentcounty.com/cliffs-school-1. For guided tours call Maggie Smith 410-778-2529 [email protected] or Jean Foreman 410-778-3098 [email protected].
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