Born as the result of a bitter territorial dispute over royal land grants, the Mason-Dixon Line was surveyed between 1763 and 1767 to settle the boundaries for Pennsylvania and Maryland.  Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon were appointed by the Britain’s Royal Society to perform this survey.

They created a map showing the east coast from the James River at the south to the Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers at the north and including our own Chester River.  This map and a technical discussion about measuring longitude was published in London in the December 1769 issue of “The Gentleman’s Magazine.”

At this Friday’s First Friday lecture, hear historian Michael Dixon describe the history of the Mason-Dixon Line and see the actual December 1769 article and map.

Join us at the Bordley History Center, 301 High Street, on Friday, June 7, at 5:00 p.m. for this lecture and to see the authentic 1769 magazine.  Space is limited to 50 and seats cannot be reserved, so please arrive on time.  Wine and light refreshments will be served.

This First Friday lecture is brought to you by the Historical Society of Kent County, a non-profit association dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of Kent County.

For further information:  Contact Historical Society of Kent County at 410-778-3499; admin@kentcountyhistory.org; www.kentcountyhistory.org.

Chestertown’s walking tour of its iconic historic homes now has a paperless alternative.

The Historical Society of Kent County’s is offering the “Walking Tour of Historic Chestertown/Architectural Guide and Sites of Interest” on its website.  Just go to the website at www.kentcountyhistory.org and the tour link can be on the homepage.

“We have brought the walking tour into the 21^st century,” said Society president Stephen Frohock.  “We understand that people today may be more comfortable with an online tour than a paper tour.  Plus, you can view it anytime, anywhere, and see the houses in any order.  It’s very versatile and just plain fun.”

The original Architectural Tour was commissioned by the Town of Chestertown and was written by local historian Robert J.H. Janson-LaPalme.  The Tour has been a staple for Historic Downtown Chestertown visitors since it first appeared in 1985. The Society’s online version is produced with permission of the Town.

The paper version of the Tour will continue to be available through the Kent County Office of Tourism, the Visitors Center on Cross Street, and the Bordley History Center at 301 High Street.

The 48th Annual Historic House Tour by Kent County Historical Society is scheduled on Saturday, October 6, 2018, 1-5 P.M

Chestertown, MD, designated in 1706 as an official Port of Entry, has ever been defined by both the rich farm lands and the namesake river which engendered its wealth and survival.

This year’s House Tour reflects this by featuring some of the town’s earliest structures including: a 1730’s tavern which served merchants, soldiers and sailors alike, homes of modest merchants and three of its grandest houses.  Also on tour will be historic African American locations, Janes Church and Sumner Hall, one of only two remaining black Union Army Veterans’ G.A.R. halls in the U.S.

Along the way, we will provide a look at the life of a Revolutionary Era patriot who went bankrupt serving as Kent County’s Commissary Officer supplying Washington’s troops. We will examine the lives of 18th and 19th century African American business men and women, and provide the story of the evolution of a middle class African American neighborhood surrounding the elegant Geddes Piper House. 

And down by the Chester River, behind the 1746 Custom House, visitors will experience the restored Betterton fishing Ark and the Log Canoe “Mary Julia Hall” both examples of historic fishing vessels, while gazing at our revitalizing marina, the Chester River Packet, Schooner “Sultana”, skipjack “Ellsworth” and bugeye Boat “Annie.”

Our Tour ends at the venerable White Swan Tavern where ticket holding tour participants may enjoy a special tea while viewing the mini museum of artifacts found during restoration in 1975. (A surprise gift is included.)

Our goal is to provide our guests with a richer experience of an ancient town…come and enjoy!

For more information please call the Historical Society at 410-778-3499 or visit www.kentcountyhistory.org

Please join the Historical Society of Kent County on Friday, June 1 as we present, As Precious as Gold: A History of Tea Caddies from The Bramble Collection, a talk by Mark Bramble. The title refers to the fact that tea was literally more precious than gold in the 18th century. The tea caddy collection was built over two generations and includes more than 400 examples, spanning the period from 1700 to the present. Marnie Bramble, of Chestertown, started the collection more than half a century ago, and enjoined her youngest son, Mark, in her hobby. As an author and theatre director Mark travelled the world putting on productions of his shows, which has provided unique opportunities for collecting, which is the subject of his book, A Tea Caddy Collection, recently published by Schiffer Publishing. With slides and anecdotes, he will take us through the history of tea and tea caddies from 1700 to the present.

The tea caddies are currently on exhibit at the Historic Odessa Foundation’s 18th century houses in Odessa, Delaware.

The exhibition continues through the end of August and features over 200 examples from The Bramble Collection.

History Happy Hour
Bordley History Center
301 High Street
Friday, June 1, 4 PM

Please join us at the Bordley History Center, 301 High Street, at 4 PM on May 4th for the Historical Society of Kent County’s “History Happy Hour.” Steve Frohock and Lynn McLain will take on “Fireworks & Various Other Sparks,” a discussion of this area’s extensive connections to explosives and pyrotechnics. The history of fireworks and munitions in Chestertown is varied and vivid. While most have heard about the explosion at Kent Manufacturing in 1954, and all are aware of the interest Washington College has in celebrating with fireworks, the story actually goes back well over 100 years.

We hope to see you there! Come early as seats will fill up quickly.