CCASM at Port Tobacco During Governor's Tour

CCASM was at Port Tobacco during Governor Larry Hogan's tour of the Village on Sunday, February 28.  One major objective for the tour was to highlight the proposed plans Charles County has for promoting Port Tobacco as a tourist destination.  A part of that plan includes archaeology, and CCASM was asked to help with that aspect of the tour.

 

Jim assisted by Maggie, a UMBC student, cleaned up the open test units in front of Stagg Hall.  Elsie, Julie, Peggy, and Carol were washing artifacts and sorting artifacts at Burch House.  Unfortunately the governor was running late and did not make it to Burch House, but he did stop at the excavation unit and see Jim.  Also Esther, Charles County's archaeologist, got to talk with the governor briefly.

Photos were provided by Cathy Thompson and Sheila Geisert.  

In Search of Josiah Henson

Julie King

At the February 11 CCASM Meeting Dr. Julia King talked about Josiah Henson who was born in 1796, enslaved on the farm, La Grange, in Charles County, MD.  Although he left Charles County when he was 8 or 9, his formative years were spent here.  Julie shared the research gathered so far about where Josiah would have lived.   Josiah Henson’s 1849 autobiography, The Life of Josiah Henson, Formerly a Slave, influenced Harriet Beecher Stowe's 1851 novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin.

Julie along with others in Charles County think it is important to remember Josiah.  Starting in May Julie and archaeology students from St. Mary’s College will be digging shovel test pits in locations where Josiah Henson may have lived.  She will let us know when they will be in the field in case some of us would like to volunteer or to just come by and see what is going on.

Dr. Julia King is a Professor of Anthropology at Saint Mary's College of Maryland and has talked to CCASM multiple times about her work in Charles County.

Attendance: 24