The willow oaks in front of Tudor Hall are in full-leaf. The grass is green, a garden created and flowers planted to grace the recently-installed Tudor Hall sign on the lawn.
That flowerbed and the sign itself are the handiwork of our Director, Gene Wood, and his sidekick and volunteer, Sam Mederos. There hasn't been a job too large or too small which Gene, Sam, along with Teeny Guy and Tommy Gasch, have refused. Each of them is a gift to the Historical Society.
The Spring Dinner & Annual General Meeting
Where in Spring a young-man's fancy turns to love, as I am no longer anything even approximating young, my fancy turns to the Spring Dinner. This, and the Fall Dinner, are always enjoyable but are, dear friends, sometimes challenging to pull together. Timing, logistics, invitations, programs, menus, reservations. . .the list goes on. Were it not for our patient and capable Administrative Assistant, Mary Wolfe, chaos would reign. We try to plan and to get as much right (if not perfect) as we can. However, as we know all-too-well, SNAFUs occur when least expected. So, we ask for your patience and good-humor if, as they say, there may be a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.
That said, there are places still available for the dinner on Thursday, the 29th. Some thought the date may conflict with the Memorial Day weekend. But this year, Memorial Day is the weekend before.
Please scan the QR code or click on this link to make your reservation. A form is also attached to mail back to us, if you prefer.
But please make your reservations as soon as possible as time is running short.
By the way: Many of you have said that the Olde Breton Inn has become a wee crowded at these dinners. We are acutely aware of the crowding and the difficulties that causes many guests. The Board is considering alternative locations for at least one of the two yearly dinners, and/or perhaps changing the character of one of the events. That said, we also respect and are grateful for the support and generosity that the Bailey's have shown to the Historical Society for many years. We regard friendships like theirs seriously.
Awards & A Fabulous Tale Told By a Fabulous Speaker
The Spring Dinner will mark the presentation of the second annual Pete Himmelheber Award. This recognition is to honor the legacy of our late Director and Chronicles of St. Mary's editor. It was first presented last year to long-time member and contributor, Al Gough.
The award recognizes individuals who have contributed to the discovery, preservation, and interpretation of St. Mary's County History. Recipients are identified and voted on by the Board of Directors. Nominees include academic and non-academic people whose passion for history and St. Mary's County is expressed through research, writing, teaching, and media. You will be delighted when you learn who this year's recipient is!
And, as you know, lawyer and journalist, Carol McCabe Booker will regale us with a true story of a deed most foul: the cold-blooded murder of a farmer's wife in the tiny hamlet of Friendship in Anne Arundel County. Like her previous book about a murder on Solomon's Island, The Waterman's Widow, Carol crafts a first-class whodunit from historical documents and the astute mind of a top-flight journalist. It isn't just a murder mystery but a tour-de-force about the people, places, and what life was like in late 19th century Southern Maryland.
Past issues of the Tudor Hall Times can be found on our website under Publications