Nearly one hundred people attended the Open House and Dedication of the new Betterton Heritage Museum located in the new Betterton Town Hall and Community Center on Sunday, September 16th. Special tributes honored former Betterton resident Charlie “Speed” Joiner, who has donated more than twenty decoys he carved especially for the Museum. Many of the decoys are pairs, but a feature is a full size Canada goose and a pair of small canvasbacks carved from wood salvaged from the Hotel Rigbie.
Following a Welcome by Mayor Candi Sorge, C. John Sullivan, Director of the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, which also displays Joiner’s decoys, spoke about decoy carvers and their special talents. Larry Crew, a lifetime resident of Betterton, introduced carver Bill Schauber, who shared memories of Joiner’s first efforts at making decoys and presented the new museum with a replica of Joiner’s first efforts – made from an old oil can painted black. Linda Hall, chairman of the BCDC Museum Committee asked for future donations or loans to the Museum. She requested Bettertonians to “please search your attics and garages for any memorabilia of Betterton.” Mayor Sorge presented Joiner with a framed thank you plaque and a CD of Old Betterton.
After the brief ceremony, visitors browsed the new museum collection. Joiner’s decoys are displayed in several cases, designed and built by Betterton master craftsman Brice Sutton. The cases were funded by grants from the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area and the Kent County Heritage Trust. Cynthia Saunders noted that the grant was the Trust’s last act before dissolving. Outside, guests enjoyed refreshments while touring the Betterton Fishing Ark and watching carver Alan Schauber paint several decoys.
If you wish to donate or loan an item to the new Museum, Call Linda at 410-348-2343 or the Town Hall from 8:00-noon Monday through Friday at 410-348-5522. The Betterton Heritage Museum will be open Saturday and Sunday from 1:00-3:00 p.m. through Novemer 4th. The Betterton Community Development Corporation (a 501 (c) 3 non-profit) sponsored the event. The group is always looking for volunteers. Its next monthly meeting is Thursday, October 18th at 7:00 p.m. in the Betterton Town Hall.
Marty Stetson says
I am sorry I was unable to attend. I have known Speed Joiner for over forty years and have never met a nicer more talented person. I am not sure he knows just how talented a carver he is, he would never tell you if he did for being modest is amoung his many attributes. The world of the decoy carving and the world in general is so much better off because we have had Charlie “Speed” Joiner live in it.
Marty Stetson