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. Our Cemetery Walks continue to be popular. The Fourth Annual Cemetery Walk will be held on Saturday, October 1, 2011, beginning with a turkey dinner at the Allen Community Hall, Collins Wharf Road, at 5:00pm. Following dinner, our guests will proceed to Asbury United Methodist Church, where they will here from several "spirits," who have returned for the occasion to tell their stories of life in Allen in the past.
In observance of this year's 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, two of the visitors are from that period. Mrs. Carrie Hayman Huffington (1853-1936) (portrayed by Melissa Bright) will tell not only her story but that of her husband, John Huffington (1833-1909), who served in the Confederate Army during the war. Mr. Thornton Phoebus (1808-1870) (portrayed by George Shivers) will tell about living in Allen during a time when Union soldiers were billeted in his house. Althea Chandler will portray her grandmother, Mrs. Hattie Boone. Mr. Peter Malone (1853-1926) , a local carpenter who helped to build the steeple of Asbury Church, will be portrayed by his great-grandson Rick Pollitt. John Culp will portray Captain Lindley Allen Lentz, who died in 2010. Captain Lentz had a long and distinguished career in the United States Merchant Marine.
Tickets for this event should be purchased in advance as there are a limited number.
Ticket cost: $20.00 per person. For information or to purchase tickets phone Joe Ballou at 410-548-9839 or George Shivers at 410-749-9064. You may also order by mail to Allen Historical Society, Inc., P.O. Box 31, Allen, MD. Please include check made out to the Allen Historical Society and your return address.
Tickets will be mailed to you, if there is time. Otherwise, they will be held for you at the door of the Allen Community Hall on the day of the event.
c. On Sunday, August 14 the Society welcomed two new members into the 1702 Society. The 1702 Society was created in 2008 to honor members of the Historical Society or the community for distinguished service. Our new members are Rosalie Fields and Melissa Bright.
Rosalie has contributed richly to the life of both the former Siloam United Methodist Church and Asbury (Allen) United Methodist Church. As the unofficial historian of Siloam, she has gathered a wealth of information about that community, its Methodist Church, and many of its families.
Melissa serves as corresponding secretary of the Allen Historical Society and as a board member. She is a regular actor in our annual cemetery walks and is active in the Somerset County Historical Society as well. She founded the Allen July 4th parade and celebration, and she has made contributions too numerous to list here to the life of Asbury United Methodist Church and the community of Allen.
Members of the 1702 Society previously installed are the late Florence Byrd Allen Cooper, the late Carolyn Ballou and husband, Joseph Ballou, Dr. Gladys Allen, Mary Lee Kolb, James Trader, Velmar Morris, and George Shivers.
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