McGill to Spend the Night in Sotterley's Original 1830's Slave Cabin

Speaker Series: Joseph McGill
“Slave Cabin Project”

Sunday, July 10, 2011 1:00 p.m. in the Barn

Sotterley Plantation is proud to partner with The Boeing Company in presenting Joseph McGill’s “Slave Cabin Project” on Sunday, July 10, 2011 at 1:00 p.m., as part of the 2011 Speaker Series at Sotterley.

The night prior to Joseph McGill’s Sunday presentation, he will spend the evening in our original 1830’s Slave Cabin. For the last year, he has been making his way throughout the Southeast sleeping in these historic structures in order to honor the memory of all the people who lived in these cabins and to bring much-needed attention and resources to slave cabin restoration. In a recent interview with NPR, McGill said, “You get inside these walls and you think about that time of slavery and wonder what went through these people's minds, because within these walls was probably the easiest time of their lives. We know that beyond those walls there was a lot of hard work and toil.”

Because of the generous grant and continued support from The Boeing Company, Sotterley Plantation is able to offer this important community outreach, fulfilling its mission of serving as an educational resource and cultural venue while it seeks to preserve, interpret and research the plantation’s diverse cultures and environments through its history.

FREE to the public. Please call for reservations, as seating is limited: 301-373-2280.

Avis Robinson's June Speaker Series Event

Speaker Series: Avis Robinson
“Please Remember Me - Slavery to Emancipation”
Sunday, June 26, 2011 3:00 p.m. in the Barn

Sotterley Plantation is proud to partner with The Boeing Company in presenting Avis Robinson as part of the 2011 Speaker Series at Sotterley. Her presentation entitled, “Please Remember Me – Slavery to Emancipation” will be held on Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. in the historic Barn.

This unique lecture acknowledges the sagas of two extraordinary African American families through the use of artifacts, art, and textiles. Viewed by some as the “greatest generation” of African Americans, the civil rights generation made one of the greatest leaps forward in human history through hard work, dignity, spirituality, education, and an unshakable commitment to get up every morning and simply do the right thing. Eugene and Avis Robinson’s family collection is a tribute to them and the rich legacy they leave behind.

Because of the generous grant and continued support from The Boeing Company, Sotterley Plantation is able to offer this important community outreach, fulfilling its mission of serving as an educational resource and cultural venue while it seeks to preserve, interpret and research the plantation’s diverse cultures and environments through its history.

FREE to the public. Please call for reservations, as seating is limited: 301-373-2280.

A Special Father's Day Gift for a Special Man

Half Price Day for Dad
at Sotterley Plantation!

Sotterley Plantation is pleased to announce a special gift for all fathers on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 19, 2011. From Noon ~ 4 p.m., fathers will receive the NEW Guided Tour of the 1703 Plantation House for HALF PRICE.

We welcome you and your father to stroll the exquisite blooming gardens, walk the plantation grounds and nature trails, see the historic outbuildings including our original 1830’s Slave Cabin, or picnic out on the lawn while enjoying the breathtaking views of the Patuxent River. Top off the day with buying a memorable gift at the Museum Shop, located in our Visitor Center. It will be a day he will never forget!

For more information on upcoming Sotterley Plantation events, visit our website at http://www.sotterley.org/.

An Independence Day Celebration Concert!

Maestro Jeffrey Silberschlag of St. Mary’s College of Maryland and the Chesapeake Orchestra Brass Quintet perform annually at Sotterley’s Independence Day Celebration Concert

Happy Birthday to Our Nation!
An Independence Day Celebration Concert
at Sotterley Plantation

Sunday, July 3rd, 2011

Join us at Sotterley Plantation for our annual Independence Day Celebration Concert on Sunday, July 3rd from 1:00 p.m. - 4 p.m. Come and enjoy a wonderful afternoon of music on the Portico, while taking in the breathtaking view of the Patuxent River! Pack your picnic baskets, bring along your lawn chairs and blankets, and listen to the patriotic music renditions of the Chesapeake Orchestra Brass Quintet led by Maestro Jeffrey Silberschlag of St. Mary’s College of Maryland. This event is also an “On Location” event of the SMCM’s River Concert Series.

To cool things down, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream (best ice cream in the land) will offer a selection of their standard favorite flavors. “On A Roll” will sell hot dogs, the great American food, with a variety of favorite fixings. And since no event is complete without kettle corn, Sir Pops A Lots will be on the hill popping away. Beer, wine, and cold drinks will also be available for purchase. Take a chance at winning prizes at the Brown Bag Raffle and Silent Auction, including toys large and small, wine for the discerning taste, original artwork and prints, and the gastronomic delights from local restaurants. Fun activities for children, too!

As a special and sincere thanks, all those with a Military ID and their families are invited to celebrate this event free of charge. General Admission: $10 per vehicle.

For more information on Sotterley Plantation events, visit our website at www.sotterley.org.

There IS a Cure for the Summertime Blues!

Picture this ... before you know it, school will have been out for a while, going to the pool will have lost its appeal, and the horrors of "I'm bored" from you child will begin.

We have the perfect solution - a Time Traveling Summer Mini-Camp at Sotterley! This is a tremendous opportunity for your child to do something new, experience what was cool back on the farm in 1914, and to have some old fashioned fun. What a blast they will have tending to the animals, picking the crops, fishing and crabbing from the Sotterley dock, and playing popular games of the day - including baseball!

Sign your child up today!

July 11 - 13: Grades 3 - 5
July 18 - 20: Grades 6 - 8
July 25 - 27: Grades 3 - 5

To download registration forms, please visit our website: http://www.sotterley.org/.
For more information, contact education@sotterley.org.
Cost: $85 per participant; $75 for Historic Sotterley members.

For a Worthy Cause - Une Soiree Fabuleuse!

Gala in the Garden - “Picnic in Paris”
Sotterley Plantation
June 18th, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.

The Gala in the Garden ~ “Picnic in Paris” will take place at Sotterley Plantation on Saturday, June 18th at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds from this important fundraising event will help benefit all of the educational programming at Sotterley.

The Hot Club of D.C., known for the hottest jazz in town, will draw you to the Colonial Revival Garden, a backdrop magnifique for a most exquisite event! The tent will be brimming with live and silent auction items galore, delectable morsels and palate pleasers, cool libations, and the promise of une soiree fabuleuse!

ADVANCED RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Tickets available online at http://www.sotterley.org/ or call 301-373-2280. Admission: $100 per person.

Coming Soon: A list of our amazing auction items will be available on our website prior to the event, so check it out! http://www.sotterley.org/.

(All photos from the Gala in the Garden 2010)

To Our Garden Fair 2011 Supporters

Much thanks to all who participated in this year's Garden Fair at Sotterley Plantation last weekend!

As a 501c(3) public charity, Historic Sotterley is in truth funded by a supportive community. It is our members, sponsors, advertisers, special events, grants, and donations that ensure Sotterley’s stories and rich history will remain an integral part of our Southern Maryland community for years to come. Events such as our Garden Fair not only provide a wonderful cultural venue for our region, but ultimately all of our events provide critical operational dollars to our site.

In the current economic climate, keeping the doors to our beloved National Historic Landmark open can be a daily challenge. As part of our Sotterley family of supporters, however, we thank you for making this challenge a bit easier, and for sharing with us the belief that this site truly does matter.

Garden Fair Sponsors:

Master Gardener Level $2,000+
Heritage Printing & Graphics

Green Thumb Level $1,000+
Wyle

Evergreen Level $500+
J&J Builders General Contractors, LLC
Kohl’s
The McNelis Group, LLC Real Estate Services
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
Personalized Therapy, LLC

Perennial Level $250+
Sotterley Garden Guild

Seedling Level $100+
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Aldridge
Calvert Garden Club
St. Mary’s County Garden Club
Mr. Michael Whitson and Ms. Lynn Erwin
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Zahniser, III


Garden Fair Advertisers:

Baldwin & Briscoe, P.C.
Burchoil Company, Inc.
Dargan & Miller, DDS (410) 535-4050
The Dry Dock Restaurant
Evolve Yoga & Wellness
Fair Trade Winds
Heritage Printing & Graphics
The McNelis Group, LLC Real Estate Services
Personalized Therapy, LLC
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
River Concert Series
Sotterley Garden Guild
SMC Tourism
Wyle

Presenters:

Bob Aldridge
George Baroniak
Duffy Boyd
Linda Crandall
Liz Delorme
Pete Himmelheber
Jennifer Horton
Mary Roderick
Alicia Smith
Jill Spencer
Ingrid Swann
Robert Tinari
Stephanie Walden
Richard Wentworth
Gail Whitney

Exhibitors:

John Deere Toys & Trains ~ Frank Trossbach
Local Live Critters – Snakes, Lizards and Frogs! ~ Mary Piotrowski
Petting Zoo ~ Frank Trossbach

Artisans & Vendors:

Alexander Chiropractic Center
Butterfly Creations Jewelry
Fair Trade Winds
Jenn’s Eye View Alphabet Photography
MP Baskets
Melwood
Old Spool Embroidery
Phoenix Trading
Silpada Designs

Food Vendors:

Jillian’s Fare
Mamelah’s
On A Roll
Sir Pops A lot

A Special Thanks to the 2011 Garden Fair Committee:
Barbara Architzel, Regina Brown, Nancy Easterling, Cherie Heely,
Jennifer Horton, Beverly Johnston, Linda Tucker Jones,
Eileen Miller, Sotterley Staff, Sotterley Volunteers

And thank you to all of the guests who supported this year's beautiful event!

(The next post will be the Thank You to our amazing Volunteers!)

A Fond Farewell to Juliana

Juliana Franck is making final preparations for her upcoming graduation from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. The “Sullivan Scholar” gave her closing presentation to visitors and the Sotterley staff last week, following her six month internship at Sotterley Plantation. Her varied experiences were significantly helpful to our site.

“The best part of working at a museum for the first time was discovering that there’s a kind of “secret Sotterley” that not everybody gets to see - from the behind the scenes work of the museum’s operation to the site stories,” stated Franck. “It was an awesome opportunity to witness the changes that Sotterley Plantation is making. I love that previously stored collections have been unveiled to the world and that the Interpretation Committee coupled the objects with personal stories from a wide range of characters from the past. Even better was feeling like I was at all a part of it, and getting to delve into the collections with Jeanne Pirtle.”

As part of the IMLS Re-Interpretation Project, she assisted Dr. Kenneth Cohen, Professor of History and Museum Studies at SMCM and Sotterley Education Director, Jeanne Pirtle. In this realm, she transcribed oral histories and prepared excerpts from the next phase of this project – the production of streaming video for the website and the film which will be shown at the Sotterley Visitor Center.

During the research aspect of the internship, Franck focused on the Herbert Satterlee and the Colonial Revival Era at Sotterley. Her assistance with evaluating research obtained from the Maryland State Archives on farming and tax records revealed the buildings and their locations during Satterlee’s ownership. Franck’s research was used in the creation of the new Plantation House tour experience, looking at the over 300 years of history through the lens of the Colonial Revival time period.

The Larder Project also benefited from Franck’s time and attention, adding a new room to the guided tour. Combining past and recently obtained research, she was part of the team to choose specific pieces for inclusion from the Sotterley collection and from other sources.

Additionally, Franck worked in the Sotterley Archives, which were in desperate need of being reorganized. Not only did she recommend the purging of some items which did not belong, but she successfully put into effect a usable cataloging system for retrieving information concisely and efficiently.

“Juliana was absolute joy to have here at Sotterley,” stated Sotterley Education Director, Jeanne Pirtle, “This internship was a rich experience for both the site and for Juliana.”

“After graduation this May, I'm hoping to pursue a master’s degree in Anthropology, said Franck. “Until then, I'm headed back home to Frederick, MD, to land myself a job and enter the real world.”