Swann Oyster House, CCASM Annual Meeting, and New Officers

Looks like we wanted
to start with desserts

CCASM held its annual meeting with a Potluck meal on Saturday May 18 at Burch House in Historic Port Tobacco Village.   Normally when we are Burch House we are volunteering.  But today we could just be together, talk, and eat.  As at most potlucks, there was more than enough good food. 
You may note that the food was on the kitchen counter.  This is the first time in years(?) the counter was not covered with artifact bags needing to be processed.  Also Monday's lab did a great job cleaning the whole house.

Most of those at the Meeting

After we finished eating, the annual CCASM business meeting was held.  Business meetings include reports - President's Report (Carol), Vice-President's Report (Pat), Secretary's Report (Linda, acting), and Treasurer's Report (Elsie).  Elections for CCASM Officers and Members at Large are every two years, and this was an election year.  Denise, who was on the Elections Committee, gave the results at the meeting.
The officers for the next two years starting on June 1 2024 are

• President - Carol Cowherd
• Vice-President - Patricia Vazquez
• Secretary - Linda Talley
• Treasurer - Elsie Picyk
• Members at Large - Peggy Knoernschild, Michael Creveling
  

Esther Read announced that CCASM had been selected to receive the Charles County Historic Preservation Commission's annual award for outstanding achievements in historic preservation by a service organization.  The presentation will be June 23 at Pleasant Hill.
Twelve members were present.  There were also two guests.  

Esther Read

The meeting was followed by Esther Doyle Read reviewing the history of the Swann Oyster House and sharing with us what was being found at the site and what that could tell us.  Since we have been volunteering on the site for over a year now, it was interesting to hear and see what has been discovered so far.

Esther is the Charles County Archaeologist for Charles County Planning and Growth Management.

2024 Port Tobacco Market Day

The Society for the Restoration of Port Tobacco (SRPT) Fourteenth Annual Market Day at the Port Tobacco Courthouse was supposed to be May 4, but it rained on that day.  The rain date was May 18.  Unfortunately rain was predicted for the 18th, but SRPT decided to hold the event anyway.   Many vendors decided not to have a tent at the event, but the Garden Club still had its annual plant sale.  Plants don't mind the rain.   Local musical groups performed in the Courthouse, and there were speakers so we could also hear the music outside.

All the tents were placed close together, and CCASM had a tent next to the Society's tents.  CCASM always tries to have a display and at least one activity.  CCASM's display highlighted archaeology done at Port Tobacco.  The activity this year involved identifying various types of ceramics.  Everything got a little damp.  There were not as many people at the event, but we still had a number of interesting conversations.  Those representing CCASM at various times during the day were Claudia, Carol A, Evie, Linda, Pat, Carol C, and Malinda. 

Having fun staying out of the rain

The "Market Day" Public Archaeology that was planned for the Swann Site had to be cancelled for Saturday.  Digging and screening in mud isn't recommended (or fun).  However, the weather is predicted to be sunny on Sunday.  So there should be Public Archaeology on Sunday.

Thanks to Claudia, Carol A, Evie, Linda, Pat, Carol C for representing CCASM and to Malinda for assisting at the CCASM table.

Thanks to Bob Weiss for Publications

CCASM would like to thank Bob Weiss for donating two publications by Calvert Posey to the CCASM Library.    The publications "The Creek of the Nanjemoy" published in 1982 (includes a map of the various sites on Nanjemoy Creek) and "How the Indians of Maryland Affected Its Early Settlement" published in 1969. 

The early dates indicate that the terminology and some perceptions may not be current and that there are no photographs except on the cover of the one publication.  Even so these booklets were written from the perspective of someone living in the area and are interesting.  Of note, in the dedication of the Najemoy Creek publication Calvert wrote "in memory of my good friend Chief Turkey Tayac and to all the members of the Piscataway Nation, both those who are here and those who have gone before".

Posey Publications and Point Mini-Booklet

Bob also gave us several mini-booklets with drawings of eight points from different time periods.  He does give the caveat "not bound by facts", but there is a lot of information for a little booklet. 

Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition New Website Launch

On May 1 the Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition launched its new website at an event held in the Nancy R.  & Norton T. Dodge Performing Arts Center at St Mary's College of Maryland. 

website -  equityinhistory.org

The event was titled "Accessing the Diverse History of Southern Maryland".   Twenty-one of the thirty organizations supporting the Coalition had display tables at the event where pamphlets, brochures, maps, and other items were handed out.  CCASM was there.  Other Charles County organizations at the event were the African American Heritage Society of Charles County and the Historic McConchie School.  People could visit the various tables prior to and after the main event in the auditorium.

CCASM Display and Activity

The speakers prior to the keynote address included Dr. Tuajuanda C. Jordan, St. Mary’s College of Maryland President,  Frances Gray, Tribal Chairman of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe, and Lucille Walker, Executive Director of the Southern Maryland Heritage Area.  The keynote speaker Melisande Short-Columb gave an outstanding talk.  A native of Louisiana, Melisande is a descendant of slaves sold by the Jesuits of Georgetown University in 1838.  Melisande has been a guest undergraduate student at Georgetown University.  She gave a unifying message in her beautiful speech. The messages from all of the speakers were that knowledge of Southern Maryland History can help to reduce racism and to understand and address the causes of racism. 

Next most of us got to see the new website for the first time.  While the new website’s primary audience is expected to be students and teachers, anyone can make use of this engaging website and learn from it.  It has been designed for ease of searchability.  The subject matter is oriented toward Black, Indigenous, and other people of Color from Southern Maryland. This is only the beginning.  Input and interaction from all of us is desired by the website creators. Those who can contribute stories, photos, and other information are encouraged to help enlarge the information available on the website.  Currently there are stories for 76 people and 37 places to experience.

On the website equityinhistory.org Resources, Places to Experience, People, and Organizations are searchable by Keyword, County, Time Period, Theme, Audience, and Type with pulldown menus.  If you go to Notable People, you can find photos and stories of Charles Countians William A. Digges, Mary Louise Booth Webb, Josiah Henson, and Serenity Plantation burials of Abraham and Moses. The highlighted list of notable people will change from time-to-time on a rotating basis. 

The mission of the Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition is to connect and empower community-based organizations, and educational and public institutions throughout Southern Maryland to elevate access to the collective and multi-perspective history of the region. For more about the Coalition - https://calvertlibrary.info/research-learn/southern-maryland-equity-in-history-coalition/

Currently the Charles County supporters of the Coalition include the African American Heritage Society of Charles County, the Charles County Archaeological Society of Maryland, the Historic McConchie School, The Historical Society of Charles County, the College of Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools, Charles County Libraries, the Charles County Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism.

Thanks to Ned for his summary, much of which is in this post.
Thanks to Peggy and Carol for traveling to St Mary's City so CCASM could have a table at the event.