CHESTERTOWN — The Chestertown Garden Club will present a discussion forum on the history of Fountain Park from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Oct. 2 at Chester River Yacht & Country Club.
A panel of well informed and entertaining local storytellers — Cynthia Saunders, Bayley Janson-LaPalme, Mackey Dutton, Bill Ingersoll and Darlene Housley — will present the nuances in local history that enliven the written record.
The discussion will feature historic photographs and newspaper articles from the annotated archives created by retired Kent County News editor Kevin Hemstock.
There is no cost, and preregistration is not required.
Chester River Yacht & Country Club is located at 7738 Quaker Neck Road, Chestertown.
According to a news release, in 1730, the Maryland Assembly enacted a plan to formally lay out Chestertown. The plan divided 100 acres into 100 lots that live today in the boundaries of the downtown Historic District and at the intersection of the widest streets — High and Cross.
The layout included a public space or market square.
Over time many changes have been made to the historic square, some well documented and others possibly hearsay.
Wednesday’s panelists have delved into the history and will attempt to answer many questions, including:
• Was there originally a market house? If not, how was daily business conducted in and around the Colonial version of the town’s square?
• Were we to step back in time, what might we see there?
• What do we know about the social groups who served in the local militia?
• How was the town square possibly used by the militia and why?
• What is known about the businesses that existed in and around the town square?
It is believed that the old market house was torn down around 1895 to make way for the Ladies Improvement Society’s proposed design for a town square renovation. At the time the square was described as “a dust pit in summer and a mud puddle in winter.”
• What are the origin stories of the 6-ton iron Victorian fountain erected in 1899. And how did the ladies prevent it from being sold for needed scrap metal during World War II?
No matter how long you’ve lived in Chestertown, you likely will hear something new about the back story of Fountain Park and its surroundings.
Since 1931 the Chestertown Garden Club has worked in cooperation with the town to continually improve and maintain Fountain and Memorial parks as well as many other community projects.
Meetings are held most months throughout the year and many programs are open to the community. New members are always welcome. For more information, email TheChestertownGardenClub@gmail.com.
