The Tolchester Beach Revisted Museum in Rock Hall is about to reach a major milestone: 20,000 visitors since it opened in the Fall of 1999. On Sunday August 19, the Mainstay will sponsor a free celebration of this milestone event.
The Mainstay, which from the beginning sponsored the museum, plans an old-fashioned celebration for founder Bill Betts and his wife Mary Betts on Sunday, August 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. There will be music, hot dogs, ice cream, lemonade and one of the old games, “Spill the Milk” (with prizes!). The park was alcohol free until 1946… so there might be a few bottles of Natty Bo for sale too.
Bill Betts, a retired banker from Chester, PA, is the founder and curator of Tolchester Beach Revisited in Oyster Court, behind the Mainstay in Rock Hall. The tiny museum houses a wonderful and extensive collection of memorabilia from the park which was founded in 1877 and closed in 1962. Hundreds of thousands of people visited the park – some by car, but most by steamboat from Baltimore. It was not uncommon for more than 20,000 people to enjoy the rides, picnics, ice cream and hot dogs on any summer weekend.
When Betts opened his museum in 1999, he began recording the name of every visitor. If someone did not want to sign the guest book, he put a check mark on the page. The museum is about to receive its 20,000th visitor. Betts never had an assistant, it is a one-man operation.
Tom McHugh, founder and director of the Mainstay and a fan of the Tolchester Revisited Museum said, “We hope everyone drops by to give Bill the applause he deserves. And if anyone happens to have some Tolchester items in the attic, give us a call at 410-639-9133 and we will surprise Bill with a gift that day!”
The Mainstay (Home of Musical Magic) is the friendly informal storefront performing arts center on Rock Hall’s old time Main Street. It is a 501(c)(3), non profit dedicated to the arts, serving Rock Hall, MD and the surrounding region.
For more information about the Tolchester Revisited celebration, visit the Mainstay’s website https://www.mainstayrockhall.org.
Bill Kille says
I remember when the boat came over from Baltimore with all the Goucher girls everyone of us at the Nike Base who was not on duty headed for the beach.