aug 2013
As of July 2, 2013, over 700 items from the Kuethe Library have been entered into the County Library’s Catalog by Carol Carmen. This partnership with the Library is quite an interesting project. The goal is to have all our holdings visible in the Library’s catalog and our collections completely on line. This means researchers will be able to access our collection much easier than with the old index cards. Also researchers around the world will be able to see our holdings and see what resources we have. Theoretically, we should see more queries as people see some of our unique items. Below is an example of a catalog record from the Kuethe Library.
Book Sale SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2013 and OCTOBER 2, 2013 GLEN BURNIE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION , 17 CRAIN HWY. S . AND KUETHE LIBRARY 5 CRAIN HWY. S ., GLEN BURNIE. 9:00 A.M. UNTIL 3:00 P.M. CONTACT: JACK WISTHOFF, 410-255-7777. If you have any donations please give a call to Jack Wisthoff at (410) 255-7777.
Volunteers Needed Benson-Hammond House – Docents Call Andy at (410) 987-0268. The BensonHammond House is just bricks and mortar. The team of docents is what makes the place come alive. Be a part of this team and contribute to this vital mission of the Historical Society. Browse and Buy Shop at the House – Call Vicky Zephir -410-761-3935 South Browse and Buy Shop – 410-647-0936 Kuethe Library – Call Skip Booth at 410-684-2931 If you have any other interests or skills to offer give me a call at 410-684-2931
“History Shared is History Preserved” VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT http:\\www.aachs.org
Summer 2013 Editor: Oscar “Skip” Booth
This newsletter is a periodic publication of the Ann Arrundell County Historical Society
From the President’s Inkwell . . .
Greetings Members, I hope that everyone is enjoying their summer vacations and the opportunity to read history and visit historic sites this time provides. Our beloved Benson-Hammond House has been enhanced by the construction of a new gate. Designed by Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) architect Peter Charles, the brick and iron
entry gate incorporates a bench and small area of plantings offering a welcoming site for travelers along the BWI Trail to relax and an attractive entry for our visitors. Planning for the gate was conducted with the Maryland Historical Trust which holds an easement on the House and construction paid for with airport community service funds. We are gratified for the leadership and support of MAA Executive Director Paul Weidenfeld in this endeavor. The project was put on the “front burner” by MAA to have the gate installed in time for our 23rd Annual Strawberry Festival Saturday, June 8. Again, attendance records were set with an estimated 3,000 visitors who had an opportunity to consume strawberry shortcake, strawberry lemonade, strawberry wine, and chocolate-covered strawberries. (Continued on page 2)
Page 2
More than 50 crafters set up on the lawn with a variety of items for sale including wood carvers, jewelry makers, and antique dealers. (photos) Special entertainment was provided by a local group; the Three 4 All and Ed McDade from nearby Pennsylvania, who sang American folk songs. Many thanks are due to those whose volunteer hours contributed to the success of this--our premier-- event!
Summer 2013
Speaking of wonderful volunteers, Lillian Malkus, chair of the Annual Dinner held April 7 at Snyder’s Willow Grove, managed to arrange a delightful event complete with her own home-made centerpieces— little bird houses. These made wonderful gifts for one lucky person at each table. Our speaker was Rod Cofield of the Londontown museum, who offered an amusing review of colonial taverns.
Page 3
Summer 2013
On August 4 from noon until 3:00 p.m. the Free State Day Lily Society offers its Day Lily Extravaganza at the Benson-Hammond House. Look for fair prices for these exotic flowers. Right after Labor Day on Saturday, September 7 we are holding our Annual Flea Market. Come out and support the Society and the Benson-Hammond House. Two new exhibits are on display at the House; historic lady’s fans are featured on the 3rd floor, and historical cooking molds and a doll exhibit with the same theme are in the 2nd floor museum room. The Summer Kitchen has been refurbished and the shop recast as a museum store focusing on the Society’s publications, books on topics of interest to museum goers as well as lovely goods in the browse and buy mode. Come see us, meet us and volunteer—we are looking good! Pamela Duncan, June 25, 2013
Last year’s winner of the Annual Benson-Hammond House Dinner Raffle, Bob Arnold claimed his feast in June and was quite impressed. Meg Krantz did a great job once again of coordinating the raffle and the dinner. Here is Mr. Arnold’s email. “Dear Meg, Thank you for making our Farm House Dinner at the Benson Hammond House last evening a very special one for me and my guests. The tour was most interesting and informative and the dinner delightful and delicious!!! The entire evening was memorable. As a life long resident of Linthicum, born on August 9, 1930, I discovered for the first time the historical treasure I had missed right in my own backyard. My deepest "THANK YOU" to you and the Ann Arrundell County Historical Society. Keep up your great work! Sincerely, Robert M. Arnold”
♦ Thanks to Becky Morris for planning another sell-out bus trip. The May trip to Ford’s Theater and the Congressional Burial Ground was most informative and very entertaining. Lunch was exceptional.
♦ New this year! Meg Krantz came up with the idea of issuing Junior Historian Cards to children who completed several 19th century household tasks at the Strawberry Festival.
Becky has also been leading an initiative to rearrange the basement of the Kuethe Library. The goal is to create better access to some of our resources and more efficiently utilize the space. It is a Herculean task and thanks to Becky and the volunteers she recruited, it really looks good. A lot of the work took place around another fabulous book sale. Jack Wisthoff did it again. Over $2,500.00 was made during the May sale. Jack had a really nice assortment of items for the sale. This October’s sale looks to be another winner. Lots of books have been donated to date. The same day as the bus trip in May, we filled the Glen Burnie Improvement Association for the Fall Seminar sponsored by the Ann Arrundell County Historical Society and the Anne Arundel Genealogical Society. The topic was DNA and this was the first time the seminar was conducted in partnership with the Maryland Genealogical Society. The partnership was quite profitable for the Library and we have had a lot of good feedback on the seminar.
Book Sale SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2013 and OCTOBER 2, 2013 GLEN BURNIE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION , 17 CRAIN HWY. S . AND KUETHE LIBRARY 5 CRAIN HWY. S ., GLEN BURNIE. 9:00 A.M. UNTIL 3:00 P.M. CONTACT: JACK WISTHOFF, 410-255-7777. If you have any donations please give a call to Jack Wisthoff at (410) 255-7777.
Volunteers Needed Benson-Hammond House – Docents Call Andy at (410) 987-0268. The BensonHammond House is just bricks and mortar. The team of docents is what makes the place come alive. Be a part of this team and contribute to this vital mission of the Historical Society. Browse and Buy Shop at the House – Call Vicky Zephir -410-761-3935 South Browse and Buy Shop – 410-647-0936 Kuethe Library – Call Skip Booth at 410-684-2931 If you have any other interests or skills to offer give me a call at 410-684-2931
“History Shared is History Preserved” VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT http:\\www.aachs.org
Summer 2013 Editor: Oscar “Skip” Booth
This newsletter is a periodic publication of the Ann Arrundell County Historical Society
From the President’s Inkwell . . .
Greetings Members, I hope that everyone is enjoying their summer vacations and the opportunity to read history and visit historic sites this time provides. Our beloved Benson-Hammond House has been enhanced by the construction of a new gate. Designed by Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) architect Peter Charles, the brick and iron
entry gate incorporates a bench and small area of plantings offering a welcoming site for travelers along the BWI Trail to relax and an attractive entry for our visitors. Planning for the gate was conducted with the Maryland Historical Trust which holds an easement on the House and construction paid for with airport community service funds. We are gratified for the leadership and support of MAA Executive Director Paul Weidenfeld in this endeavor. The project was put on the “front burner” by MAA to have the gate installed in time for our 23rd Annual Strawberry Festival Saturday, June 8. Again, attendance records were set with an estimated 3,000 visitors who had an opportunity to consume strawberry shortcake, strawberry lemonade, strawberry wine, and chocolate-covered strawberries. (Continued on page 2)
Page 2
More than 50 crafters set up on the lawn with a variety of items for sale including wood carvers, jewelry makers, and antique dealers. (photos) Special entertainment was provided by a local group; the Three 4 All and Ed McDade from nearby Pennsylvania, who sang American folk songs. Many thanks are due to those whose volunteer hours contributed to the success of this--our premier-- event!
Summer 2013
Speaking of wonderful volunteers, Lillian Malkus, chair of the Annual Dinner held April 7 at Snyder’s Willow Grove, managed to arrange a delightful event complete with her own home-made centerpieces— little bird houses. These made wonderful gifts for one lucky person at each table. Our speaker was Rod Cofield of the Londontown museum, who offered an amusing review of colonial taverns.
Page 3
Summer 2013
On August 4 from noon until 3:00 p.m. the Free State Day Lily Society offers its Day Lily Extravaganza at the Benson-Hammond House. Look for fair prices for these exotic flowers. Right after Labor Day on Saturday, September 7 we are holding our Annual Flea Market. Come out and support the Society and the Benson-Hammond House. Two new exhibits are on display at the House; historic lady’s fans are featured on the 3rd floor, and historical cooking molds and a doll exhibit with the same theme are in the 2nd floor museum room. The Summer Kitchen has been refurbished and the shop recast as a museum store focusing on the Society’s publications, books on topics of interest to museum goers as well as lovely goods in the browse and buy mode. Come see us, meet us and volunteer—we are looking good! Pamela Duncan, June 25, 2013
Last year’s winner of the Annual Benson-Hammond House Dinner Raffle, Bob Arnold claimed his feast in June and was quite impressed. Meg Krantz did a great job once again of coordinating the raffle and the dinner. Here is Mr. Arnold’s email. “Dear Meg, Thank you for making our Farm House Dinner at the Benson Hammond House last evening a very special one for me and my guests. The tour was most interesting and informative and the dinner delightful and delicious!!! The entire evening was memorable. As a life long resident of Linthicum, born on August 9, 1930, I discovered for the first time the historical treasure I had missed right in my own backyard. My deepest "THANK YOU" to you and the Ann Arrundell County Historical Society. Keep up your great work! Sincerely, Robert M. Arnold”
♦ Thanks to Becky Morris for planning another sell-out bus trip. The May trip to Ford’s Theater and the Congressional Burial Ground was most informative and very entertaining. Lunch was exceptional.
♦ New this year! Meg Krantz came up with the idea of issuing Junior Historian Cards to children who completed several 19th century household tasks at the Strawberry Festival.
Becky has also been leading an initiative to rearrange the basement of the Kuethe Library. The goal is to create better access to some of our resources and more efficiently utilize the space. It is a Herculean task and thanks to Becky and the volunteers she recruited, it really looks good. A lot of the work took place around another fabulous book sale. Jack Wisthoff did it again. Over $2,500.00 was made during the May sale. Jack had a really nice assortment of items for the sale. This October’s sale looks to be another winner. Lots of books have been donated to date. The same day as the bus trip in May, we filled the Glen Burnie Improvement Association for the Fall Seminar sponsored by the Ann Arrundell County Historical Society and the Anne Arundel Genealogical Society. The topic was DNA and this was the first time the seminar was conducted in partnership with the Maryland Genealogical Society. The partnership was quite profitable for the Library and we have had a lot of good feedback on the seminar.
