a. The Society purchased the Ruth Keeler property in Jan,, 2009 with a loan for $67,000 from Sun Trust Bank. The Spielmans, heirs of Mrs. Keeler, donated the dwelling, built for Eliza Pollitt Huffington in 1883, to us for restoration. The interior was damaged by fire in 2007. The Society has currently raised sufficient funds to cover the exterior with vinyl siding and to replace broken windows. Fund-raising continues. We are grateful to the estate of Captain Lindley Allen Lentz for a substantial legacy and to an anonymous donor of $20,000 in 2010.
b. The Society held its annual Christmas party on Saturday evening, December 10 at the home of George Shivers and Jeanette Sherbondy.
c. On March 25, 2012 at 3:00pm the Society will present "Spoons and Tunes," a vocal and instrumental concert followed by a supper consisting of various homemade soups and breads, and salad. The concert will be held at Allen-Asbury United Methodist Church, followed by supper at the Allen Community Hall. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for children 6-12, under 6 no charge.
Performers will include Caitlin Howard, a junior music major at Salisbury University and resident of Allen, the Asbury choir and the youth choir of Friendship United Methodist Church. Also performing will be John Cook. organist at Asbury, and Dr. Laurence Stookey on marimba. Dr. Stookey is pastor of Asbury.
d. Passerdyke Cottage Museum is now featuring an exhibit of Native American artifacts. These were gathered on the Mason Simms farm along the Wicomico River and were contributed to us some time ago by Mrs. Murrell Simms.
They were recently examined by Washington College arqueologist, Dr. William Schindler and the students who participated in his 2011 field school. They have provided us with proper identification of the items and some dating as well. The museum is open by appointment only.
Call or email George Shivers: cell phone 443-523-0983; home phone 410-749-9064; email: gshivers2@washcoll.edu