DORCHESTER COUNTY HERITAGE TOURISM STUDY

DORCHESTER COUNTY HERITAGE TOURISM STUDY
DRAFT: RESULTS OF THE PUBLIC MEETINGS

Introduction & Background:

The Dorchester County Office of Tourism is coordinating the development of a county-wide heritage tourism plan. Heritage tourism will promote economic development activities while helping preserve the unique heritage of Dorchester County.

This short-term project will produce a plan to guide the county over the next several years as it develops its heritage program. In addition, the plan will be used to leverage state and federal monies for protection of the county’s’ heritage and economic revitalization. The plan will also enable the County to participate in, and take advantage of, a new state program established by House Bill 1. House Bill 1, the “Heritage Preservation and Tourism Areas” Act, intends to build upon Maryland’s potential for heritage tourism to promote economic development.

Over the past two months, the Dorchester County Office of Tourism held workshops to begin this effort. The workshops were designed to explore with county residents to identify opportunities for heritage tourism. The workshop attendees were asked the meaning of the heritage of Dorchester County through the following questions:

Ø What does the heritage of Dorchester County mean to you?
Ø What sections of Dorchester County best reflect heritage values and themes?
Ø What themes, events, activities and occupations best reflect the heritage of Dorchester County?
Ø What people are most associated with the heritage of Dorchester County?
Ø What buildings, structures, sites, and objects represent the heritage of Dorchester County?
Ø Are there current or recent projects that are intended to commemorate the heritage of Dorchester County?
Ø What would you include in a heritage project?
Ø Can you identify any economic development projects that could be generated by a heritage project?

The first workshop was kicked off by the Honorable Cass Taylor, the sponsor of House Bill 1, with about two hundred county residents participating. Other workshops were held at the Old Trinity Church and in Hurlock. The following is what Dorchester citizens said about the heritage of Dorchester County.
WHAT THE PUBLIC TOLD US ABOUT US ABOUT THE HERITAGE OF DORCHESTER COUNTY





I. Heritage Values: What does the heritage of Dorchester County mean to you?


A. Overall Heritage Themes and Values:

Something that can be documented
History/Tradition
Who are we? Where and how did we get here?
A shared positive or negative experience
Family
People, events - Why we are who we are
Retaining local color against all odds
Universal attributes, interests
Who we are, were, and will be
Religion, early /important roots
What makes us unique
Our Past
Associated with a place
Our Identity
Sequence of development (Indians; Colonial; States; etc)
Recreational heritage (Hunting, Trapping, Gunning)
What brings together
What divides
Livelihood of land and water
What do we want to believe in ourselves

B. Agricultural Heritage:

Agriculture was the earliest county enterprise (tobacco)
Area that has seen greatest amount of change. Modern agriculture is not at all similar to today's agriculture
Most peoples heritage is involved in a agricultural background
Shifts in the location of historic farms away from waterways to inland locations as transportation improved
Railroads influence on agriculture
C. Ethnic Heritage :

Most fasc ctry in wrld - we need to ake av of it
Many cultures to explore
All ethnic groups have a heritage - more aware; sensitive to diversity
Sd list groups - Indians, Celtic, British Isles, French, African , Hispanic, Asian, India East
Learning how we are dif, and learning how to enjoy it
Heritage and history (bring the two & us together)
Genealogy - foundation on Eshore

D. Maritime Heritage :

Local Racing Boats
Heritage from Cornwall, England
Annual Oxford/Cambridge Race
Tenn "Waterman" known during Elizabethan Era
Living area near water
Water was center of transportation
Industries -> crabbing, fishing
Sport and livelihood

E. Natural and Historic Landscape Heritage:

Sets stage and provides backdrop.
Natural environment description. Natural - undisturbed by man
Natural Resources: All of wildlife of Chesapeake Bay
Eagles!
Connects you with everybody
Where names come from (why there, why that name)
Historic - impact of man
What makes our area outstanding
Beginning - land grants
Enhancement & preservation
Saw it in real life
Sense of place



II. Places: What sections of Dorchester County best reflect heritage values and themes?


A. Overall Heritage:

The islands - Taylors, Hoopers, Elliots, James, Bishops, Neck District
Southern area - tobacco major crop, tomatoes, seafood
Marshes
North - grainfields
Creeks - steamboats - waterways
Rural communities, villages, cities, towns
Banks

Northern Area in county -- Agriculture
(Tied to transportation and cross-roads)
Pickles
Truck crops
Chicken
Corn
Soybeans
Cantaloupes
Two canneries

Southern Area in County -- Down Below
Water
Waterfowl
Seafood packing
Hunting
Boat building
Trapping
Marsh

Cambridge -- Center
Manufacturing -- Phillips Western
Transportation

Vienna -- historic



Ethnic
English
German
African
Migrants had impact on county

B. Agricultural Heritage

Earliest locations were along waterways
Changes in fanning practices have moved ag areas to different parts of county
Canneries, labor camps

C. Ethnic Heritage

South Dorchester - Robbins
Everywhere
Def whole co -
Most of old heritage is missing
It’s the people - records don't reflect there were Indians, Blacks, White
Society dictated how you act
Graveyards over top of each other
Indian heritage underground or in Canada
North Dorchester - fort at Secretary
Cambridge was an Indian reservation (Choptank)(2)
Vienna was major reservation (Nanticoke)
We are all related
MD was very ? on slaves - Indians adopted - against law to take them out
Church Creek (?) 1st Co Seat
Madison - 1st Court House (?)

D. Maritime Heritage

Every nook and every creek
Historically center of industry changed

E. Natural and Historic Landscape Heritage

Maritime - water - develop waterfront
Blackwater
Was isolated part of MD/Water
Neck District
Forestry
Taylors Island School House
Spocott Windmill
Hurlock
Old Trinity
Hoopers Island
School Houses
River - Bay how flows through co.
Churches
Landscapes seen from water - all different
Cemetaries
Vienna
Canning Houses
Downtown Cambridge
Barrel Factory
Waterfront
Need good walking trails/bike trails
Marshes
Scenic picnic areas / access
Horn Point
Routes/green spaces/motor trail
Elliott's Island
Marine tour/ steam boat tour
Need to attract tourists with money to spend
Birders Tour
Unemployed fishermen give tour of Waterman activities/marshes etc
Houseboat rental
Railroad greenway
Train tours
Lighthouse
Better marketing
Design to keep them here - destination point - not passing through



III. Events, activities, and occupations: What themes, events, activities and occupations best reflect the heritage of Dorchester County?


A. Overall Heritage:

Crab Feasts
Wildlife - Bird watching
Shipbuilding
Courting
Seafood
Church - Homecoming
Sawmills - lumber
Sports
Distilleries
Power Boats
Country Stores
Bicycle races
Food Packing
Skipjack races
Community centers
Underground RR
Grist mills
Outdoor Show
Education - schoolhouses
Grand National
Trapping - skinning - fur - fishing - hunting - waterfowl - deer
Cooking Muskrat
Bay Country Festival
Black Children's education - Stanley Institute
Farming
Market
Hunting
Military
Hunting (deer, fox, waterfowl, goose, duck)
Country stores
Blacksmiths -- implements
Sawmills
Church activities -- suppers
Methodist
Fire Departments (volunteer)
Religious camps
Shoe shop
Button Factory
Camp (?) Sisters
Woody Pinder (?)
Boat races
Watermen
Isolation
Lumber industry

B. Agricultural Heritage

Timber industries - cordwood hauling
Ag had its own social events centered around churches
County Fair
Wheat threshing by groups of neighboring farmers
Domestic arts - food preservations, canning
Bartering and trading at docks or mills
Windmills, milling
Distilleries
Butchering, tanneries
Blacksmithing
Fur traders, trapping

C. Ethnic Heritage

Fishing
Farming
Logging
Watermen
Farmers
Lumberjacks
Canning
Sawyers
Church - Camp Meetings, revivals
Parishes, Methodist Movement
Education
Slavery / Underground Railroad activity
Indentured Servants
Harriet Tubman Tour/ Community Day
Church Homecoming
Outdoor Show
Windmill Day
Family Reunions
Stanley Institute
Riverfest
Firehall/ Church dinners & bingo
Crabfeast
Muskrats/Other game
Fish Tournaments
Boating/Sail Regattas Powerboats

D. Maritime Heritage

Oystering
Boat building
Crabbing
Powerboat racing
Skipjacks
Draketail
Fishing
Waterfowl Hunting Steamboats
Fur trapping

E. Natural and Historic Landscape Heritage

Educate residents on what's here!
Farming
Sell county to ourselves
Outdoor Show
Working water
Country Fair
Grand National
Trapping
Hunting
Antique Show
Dorchester Showcase
Fishing
Craft Shows
Seafood Feast-I-Val
Sewing factories
Walking Tours
Christmas Parade
Boat building
Art Shows
Fireworks
Canning
Public Access to water
Warwick River fest
Scientist
Choral Arts
Cultural Day
Barrel Making
Mystery Events
Annie Oakley
Brewery
Golf
County Bay Festival
Horn Point
Fly-in
Boat Races
Local Bull Roast & dinner
Vienna Luminary
Ed. Art Show
Fire comp.
Museums
Athletic Events
Church Festivals
Campgrounds (ed. to keep clean & roadways)
Envirothon
Strawberry Festival
Triathlon



IV. People: What people are most associated with the heritage of Dorchester County?


A. Overall Heritage:

Farmers
Government Agencies
Watermen
Perfect example of rural America
Annie Oakley
Genealogy
Tom Flowers
Civic Organizations - fire co., maritime museums, church halls
5 governors produced
Military
Native Americans Lodges - Moose, Elk
Police, sheriff
Hunting Guides
“Mr. Gecko”-- chief
Sewell Fitzhugh
Harriet Tubman coalition
Phillips packing 1920 -- huge impact
Historical Society
Service Clubs --rotary
Farm Bureaus
Nausewaiwash (?) Tribe
Cambridge (Deep water port)
Vienna
East New Market
Negro Baseball league
Plantation economy
Maria Richardson -- St. care (?)
Civil rights (turning points)
Lumber industry
Taylors Island
Becky Phipps
Vienna -- Levin Dorsey ?
Rev. Samuel Green (assisted Harriet Tubman)

B. Agricultural Heritage
Historical Society
Neild Museum
Dorchester Heritage
Tobacco Stick (Madison) First Jail in County
Slaves, Freedmen, Migrant Workers
Collections of Ag-related items
Henry Handley, Lee Borton
Farm Bureau, 4-H
Tidewater Farm Club
Towns in county grew from crossroads in ag communities
Country Stores
Support from industries to preserve or promote ag-heritage ( Perdue, B&G, ag related companies)
John Adkins - motors
Mrs. Doris Rue - old farm machinery
Herbert Asplen

C. Ethnic Heritage

Harriet Tubman
Bucktown
Blackwater
Taylor Island
Cambridge
All townships
Askins
Tusgeegee Airman
African. Am./Native American Festival
Membership orgs - HTC, AFL, NAACP
Nausewaiwash
Gray Marsh -- Why called that yrs ago? (Safe Haven)
Names change with history
AME Church/Methodist Episcopal
Religious tolerance in American Colony
Quakers, Catholics

D. Maritime Heritage

Brannock Museum
Richardson Museum
Nathan
Yacht Maintenance
Brooks Shipyard
Barrel Making (Coopering)
Oyster Packing --Winterbottom; Phillips; Leonard
Church Creek
Madison
Secretary

E. Natural and Historic Landscape Heritage

Historical Society
Tom Flowers
Outdoor Foundation
People who do the real thing - reach out to them
“Chesapeake” by Michener
Annie Oakley
Old Churches - place in history
Harriet Tubman
Methodist, Quaker
First President of Liberia
Genealogical Society
MD Governors (Thomas Holiday Hicks)
Farm League Baseball
Anna Mae Carol
Civil War Regiments
Col. Crapo
Nathan of Dorchester
Patti Cannon
Jim Richardson & family
Indian Population
Friends of the Nanticoke
Key Wallace
Mason/Dixon Line Marker
CCC
Islands
Radcliffs
All towns
Phillips
East New Market
Rivers/Bay



V. What Buildings, structures, sites, and objects represent the heritage of Dorchester County?


A. Overall Heritage:

Dorchester Hospital
Old Trinity
National Bank
Grace Foundation School House/Chapel
Stanley Institute
Old Bethlehem Church
One room schoolhouse
First courthouse / Jail @ Madison
Spocott Community
Christ Church
Cambridge HS
Blackwater
Patty Cannon House
Historical Society
Historic High Street
Cambridge Creek
Homes of 5 governors
Horn Point - runway, labs, archeological dig
Preston home
Old Stores
Miss Nora's
Archeology
Old Button Factory
Train Station
Algonquin - Native American areas
Crab picking house
Cranberries
Workboats, skipjacks
Richardson Museum
Brannock Museum
Canals, ditches (Stewart canals)
Nanticoke reservation
Choptank reservation
Birthplace -- Harriet Tubman
High Street
Old Trinity
Railroads
Spocot community
Steamboats/wharves
Watermills
Courthouse
Bucktown
African American lodges
Gentlemen’s clubs
Native American artifacts
Brooks barrels
Cemeteries
Stanley Institute
Friendship Hall
House of hinges ?
Skipjacks -- Nathan ?
Yacht clubs
Horn Pt.
Bridge -- Emerson Harrington
Andrew canning

B. Agricultural Heritage

Spocott Mill
Neild Museum
Tile Silos
Old Barns - graineries
Dorchester Heritage Museum
Wharves used for ag transportation
Old canneries and packing houses
John Lewis' store - Hudson Road (rt. 343)
Nora Foxwell's Store
Brooks Barrel Company

C. Ethnic Heritage

Stanley Institute
Bazzel Church
All Church Sites - Old Trinity, Grace Church, Oldfield, Bethel, Waugh, Mt. Zion (ENMArket)
Life of African Am community resides wherever there is church
Cemeteries - reference sources
Schoolhouses - what happened to them
Railroad stations
Old Jail
Residential and commercial activities
Spring Valley
High Street - Pine Street
Long Wharf

D. Maritime Heritage

The Nathan
Yacht Maintenance (Prior to Civil War)
Long Wharf
Port of Cambridge
Cambridge Creek
Slaughter Creek
Hoopers Island
Series of Steamboat Landings
Vienna - Custom House

E. Natural and Historic Landscape Heritage

Fishing Pier
Meredith House
Cobblestone Street
Draw Bridge
Brannock Maritime Museum



VI. Current or recent Dorchester heritage projects: Are there current or recent projects that are intended to commemorate the heritage of Dorchester County?


A. Overall Heritage:

Sailwinds /Visitor Foundation Center
Museums
National Outdoor Show
Castle Haven
Eastern Shore Hospital
Indian Cove
Horn Point Environmental Center
Nathan of Dorchester
Annie Oakley Festival
Seafood Feast-I-VAl
Micro Brewery Beer Fest
Bay Country Festival
Shad
Fly In
CBF @ Bishop's Head
Vienna / ENM Festival
Antique Shops
Various Restorations/renovations
Pride of Balt. & CG Port of layovers
Power Boat racer Hall of Fame
Lighthouse Committee
Historical Society -- video of facilities
Nathan
Richardson Museum
Annie Oakley festival
Hurlock train station
Cemetery restoration
Visitor Center/Sailwinds
Towns of Vienna and East New Market
Outdoor show
Bay Country Festival
ARC
Blackwater
Mural
Seafood Feastival
? National
Tudor farms
Arville
CEES
Rooster Island -- powerboats
Ducks Unlimited
Chik (?) Fest
Town festivals
Christmas parade
Fireworks
Country line dancing
Arts Center
Unity players
Raft race

B. Agricultural Heritage

Recognition of Century Farms (MD)
Recognition of Bi-centennial farms (Federal)
Chicken Festival
Fall Festival
4-H Fair
Harvest Breakfast
Spocott Windmill Day May 4th!!
Outdoor Show

C. Ethnic Heritage

Community Day
Harriet Tubman Day
Harriet Tubman Tours
Outdoor Show
Reunions / homecomings
Native Am Festival
Historic Preservation
Bay Country Festival
Walking Tours - Cambridge, Vienna, E N Market
Pedicab
Oldfield Day/ on Memorial Day/ Beverly School
Various Museums
Oldest person in community

D. Maritime Heritage

The Nathan
Richardson museum
Brannock museum
Sail Regatta - Admiral Byrd Series
Model Boat Races
Old Trinity Dock
Log Canoe Races
Power Boat Races
Workboat Races



VII. Potential Dorchester County Heritage Economic Development Projects


A. Overall Heritage:

Fishing parties
crabbing parties
Renos and construction
Air/Flight/Boat service
Boat Rentals
Marinas (wider spread), fuel depots
Direct transportation to Wash/Balt
Bus Tours
Hotels, motels, B&Bs
Put county-city together to talk to hotel chains
Encourage tourism services thru ordinances
Improve existing hotel/motel standards
What are we going to do about services now?
Attract economically able people
Regular bus service
Need sufficient industry for people who work here
- Broader spectrum
- Tourism can help
- Golf course needed
- Public Beach
Kick start and long term strategy
Remove restrictive B&B ordinances
ID problems which need to be solved - after next meeting
Telecommunicating - corporate center
Ask candidates about heritage tourism and hold them to their commitments
Package the heritage tourism product
Polish up our act
Learn from organizations that have done things on their own. Get more people on the
Dorchester Co. band wagon
Learn from other communities (e.g. Cape Charles)
Try to get the church community on the same page
Expand tourism services -- hotels
Small business support/better infrastructure (encouraging -- training, workshops, speakers, coop with Chamber to preserve heritage)
Revise B&B ordinances
Govts develop cooperative program
Downtown revitalizations -- all towns; key is tourism
Strategy to coordinate museums
Political advocacy to opening businesses (anti-bureaucratic mentality)

B. Agricultural heritage


C. Ethnic Heritage

Museums
Tours ( HT in development)
Bike Tours
Walking Tours
Driving tours
Pine Street Revitalization
Historical Research
Oral Histories
Mural
Harriet Tubman
Railroad - redevelop
Homepage / Internet
Shore-to-shore R.R.
Cannery Museum
Crabs - Oysters - Fish - Vegetables
Garment Industry - Secretary, Cambridge, Hurlock


D. Maritime Heritage

Hotel Rooms
RV Parks
Port of Call Destinations
Expanded Marine/Dock Facilities

E. Natural and historic landscapes heritage

Renovations (Historical)
Continued development
Industrial park
Hurlock Train Station
Cambridge airport development
Downtown Cambridge
Good auctions/craft shows
Good Restaurants
Map of antique stores
More picnic areas
Education for boaters
Better/cleaner/more campgrounds
Public transportation
Rest stops
Brew pubs
Natural guide tours
Cleaning up projects
Historical guide tours
Highway improvements
Docking facilities throughout county
Fueling facilities
Bridge
Hotels/motels
Public fishing pier & parking
Public beach / playground
Blackwater/Little Blackwater



VIII. What would you include in a heritage project?


A. Overall Heritage:

Visitor Center - Sailwinds
Exhibit Area(s)
Common Signs
Historical Markers
Driving/Bicycle Tour
Big Map
Visitor Center at Long Wharf, Gootees Marina
Kiosks
Picnic Centers, rest areas, restrooms
Bike lanes, tours
Coordinate and consolidate maritime museums - near the water
Plan for museums
Visitor centers/museums in Southern part of county
Bed and breakfast tours
Encourage Blackwater NWR to become a general Southern Dorchester County Visitor
Center
Bicycle Rentals
Workshops for small businesses
Make Big house at Blackwater a B&B
Use Old Trinity facilities for volunteer training (Linthicum Property)
Develop Elder Hostels
Ask NPS to arrange for private contractors to provide services
Piers, parking on Little Blackwater
Boat ramps, parking
Hospitality and volunteer training
Train excursions (Route 50 is a barrier)
Longhouse -- house for native American collection
Better Harriet Tubman commemoration
-- African American Heritage freedom trail
-- Tubmen -- Rap Brown
-- Community/Plantation
Organize itineraries “small town” Life
-- quilting
-- church suppers
-- food culture
Tour guide service/training certification
(Tubman, Manufacturing, Brewery, Farm Tours, Boat, crab packing)
Stories folktale
Oral histories
Lots of research
Educational/Heritage programs:
Nathan --interaction with Bay
Tonging demos
Aquarium - interpreting/living exhibits
Lighthouse at Longwharf (complementary to landscape)
Tourism reception
Preserve Sharp’s Island
Move hospital -- develop property -- hotel
Expand tourism services
Boater access to visitor center

B. Agricultural heritage

Oral histories; video - from those that recall earlier agriculture William Brown, Earl
Asplen
Recorded history of Arthur Jones
Search out family histories, document historical events
Demonstrations of ag-related crafts
Donation of items for Country Store museum - Lloyd's Country Store
Current farmers markets
Lime kiln (oyster shells)

C. Ethnic heritage

Indian Trails
1580 house
Shortees Wharf site (steamboats)
Markers / Label sites, streams
Harriet Tubman interpretive site
Native Am interpretive site
Research to support oral history
Needs to be accurate
W?
Evolution of pub housing
Health care industry
Seafood industry
Wildfowl industry
Canning
Exceptional individuals in any ethnic group - work
Steven Vincent
John Driver
Steven W. Camper
Gloria Richardson
Re-enactments - living history presentations
F.D. St. Claire (School, Dr. Atty, Mortitions)
Hansel Green
Elsie (Photography)
Tories stayed after Rev. War
Prisoner of War Camp

D. Maritime heritage

Steamboat
Tour Boat on the Choptank
Self-Guided Tour of Maritime Heritage
Maritime Heritage Festival
Directory of Maritime History Sites
Workboat Races
Raft Races
Museum of Industries relying on marine heritage - ie: packing houses

E. Natural and Historic Landscape Heritage



IX. Additional Themes & Values:


A. Overall:

Religion

B. Agricultural heritage

C. Ethnic Heritage

Canning museum
Multicultural Heritage Theme
Should have event to include individual cultures - even if small - festival open to everybody
Make children a part - activities, events, opportunities to wk as volunteers
Foods - multicultural dinner
A real family reunion - everybody try to figure how related (ie: Somerset N.C.)

D. Maritime Heritage

Industrial/Transportation Link
Political Heritage
1st Concrete Highway in MD - 16
Role of County in War 1812
Becky Phipps - Re-enactment Program
Native American Influence

E. Natural and Historic Landscape Heritage



For further information contact Wini Roche at 410-228-1000.