AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi
and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care
The 11 am “Tea and Tour” event hosted by the Friends of the Rising Sun Inn couldn’t have been more charming. Docents wearing colonial attire served attendees in the historic setting of the circa 1753 house museum. The first of two Tea and Tour sittings Saturday was referred to as “Elevensies”. It recreated the teas held at Rising Sun Inn by the Ann Arundel Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution after assuming ownership of the property in 1916.
According to Friends’ volunteer and docent Susan Giddings, having tea at the Rising Sun Inn was an extremely popular pastime during the period between World Wars I and II. A cabinet in one of the first-floor rooms contains a collection of China used in the Tea Room from the early 1920’s through the early 1940’s, and also for special family dinners.
However, the Friends chose to use two sets of vintage pressed glass and ribbed glass dishes that had been donated to the Inn by a DAR member.
Tea began with the filling of teacups but then servers appeared carrying three-tiered trays filled with sweets prepared by Friends of the Rising Sun Inn treasurer Kris Jenkins. Included were scones, petit fours, lemon cheesecakes, cupcakes, chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon buns… and, of course, Jenkins’ delicious lemon curd was passed around as it would have been in the past.
Giddings said she was very pleased that all of the guests for the first sitting were first-time visitors to the Rising Sun Inn and were looking forward to the tour as much as the tea.
Guests Heather Foster, Kata Kereshi, Juliet Wilson and Charles Ames not only enjoyed taking in their surroundings while sampling sweets but had fun getting to know one another.
Further back and around a corner by the fireplace, guests at other tables openly admired the way the Ann Arundel DAR chapter had restored and preserved the 270-year-old home while maintaining its age-old reputation as a cordial gathering place. Several had an interest in colonial architecture and couldn’t wait to tour the colonial era Tavern Room, observe the brick fireplaces in the kitchens below, and visit the family rooms upstairs.
Their journey through history began when Susan Giddings appeared to reveal how the custom of serving tea at Rising Sun Inn came about.
She began by explaining that Richard “Bo” Williams, the final private owner of the Inn, gifted the Tavern to the Ann Arundel Chapter in 1916 on condition that it be preserved and maintained as a historical site or museum. The women of the chapter took out a loan of $5,000 to start the restoration (equivalent to about $150,000 today).
“The women had to figure out a way to pay for it,” Giddings said. “So through the 1920’s, ’30’s and ’40’s, they operated the Tea Room and occasionally served family dinners. Unfortunately, with the onset of World War II and the rationing of sugar and other products, it became financially unfeasible to continue serving tea even though the Inn served as a Recreation Center for Ft. Meade soldiers.”
waited to assis with the tours.
With the serving of the first sitting complete, docents Sharon Beard, Elizabeth Davies and Amy Espinoza left the Tea Room and waited in the hall and foyer for the tours to commence.
There was much to look forward to. The tour to be led by the docents would take groups of guests to the Tavern which is located on the same floor ….
…. then upstairs to one of the family areas that is set up for tea, as seen below, and finally below stairs for a peek at the original kitchen with its double brick hearths.
An upstairs family area set for tea. 
Susan Giddings shows off the original below stairs kitchen with its dual hearths.
The guests that attended the first sitting truly enjoyed the tea and the tour and we imagine those attending the second sitting were equally pleased.
The next events to be held at Rising Sun Inn will be this Saturday, April 29, for an Author Tea and Tour with award winning author, Luke Salisbury with his book, No Common War. For tickets visit Public Events – The Rising Sun Inn Crownsville, Maryland. A Make Your Own Mother’s Day Teacup Floral Arrangement will be held May 5 and the opening of the property’s recently restored Carriage House will take place at a date yet to be announced. For further information on the Inn and a calendar of events, visit The Rising Sun Inn Crownsville, Maryland – Home.
Severn Cross Roads Foundation Flea Market and Craft Fair at Baldwin Hall
By 1 pm, we were on our way to historic Baldwin Hall to do a bit of bargain hunting at Severn Cross Roads Foundation’s Third Annual Flea Market and Craft Fair.
The indoor/outdoor event not only took place in the charming interior of Baldwin Hall where sunshine streamed through the windows…
but also spread across the rolling lawns of the circa 1861 building. The event drew a mix of Flea Market tables and vendor tables.
Community groups are always drawn to events at the Hall – especially Scouts BSA Troop 192 which is based at Baldwin Memorial United Methodist Church. The troop is led by Scout Master Annie Medford who is also building manager for Baldwin Hall. The all-girl troop was seeking $10 contributions from the public to finance its annual scouting trip.
There seemed to be more flea market tables than usual. One that drew a lot of attention was the table full of American Girl and China Dolls put together by Amy Rink.
“My daughter outgrew her doll collection and said I could get rid of all but one of them – her favorite.”
Just beyond Rink, author Maria Grosskettler had a table filled with copies of her latest mystery, “Tracks”, which revolves around a train station and is set in the small town of Berlin, Maryland where her husband grew up. To the delight of her small son, she also was selling some toys.
Other vendor tables featured girl’s clothing from Kate and Robert Ople and table of Squashmallows from Andy, Gavin and Melony and Bobby Blair.
Inside once more, we discovered Severn Cross Roads Foundation treasurer Sally Burton and other members selling boxes of donuts plus furniture, artwork, crafts and other items. Burton, who is also the Music Director of Chesapeake Harmony Chorus also mentioned that the group will appear in a free friends and family concert at Baldwin Hall on May 10.
Zippy Designz’ table with Valerie Moten at the helm had a very appealing selection of cards as well as shadow boxes and other boutique-type items for sale. Regular vendor Tateen’s Trinkets was there with an extensive display of jewelry handmade by Collene Kane.
Heavily into downsizing, Ken and Effie Post had quite a few sports items for sale including a golf bag and clubs, tennis rackets, golf shoes and even boxing gloves as well as lots of books.
There were too many vendors and flea market sellers to mention though we did note that artist Diane Davis returned for the third year with her beautiful artwork including hand painted trays made from wine boxes. We also noticed Chelsea Pietlock, who was new to the event, offering a selection of handmade jewelry. In fact, it was her first time as a vendor at any event.
According to Severn Cross Roads Foundation member Janice Crowe, all proceeds from the flea market and craft fair go to the foundation for the maintenance and preservation of Historic Baldwin Hall. For more information and news of upcoming events, visit Home | baldwinhall.
GNG Earth Day Festival happens Saturday at Earleigh Heights VFD rain or shine
A reminder from Good Neighbors Group executive director Julie Shay that the group’s 21st Annual Earth Day Festival will be held Saturday at Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company, 161 Ritchie Highway from 9 am to 12 pm.
“We’re hoping for decent weather but, if expected rains linger, we’ll simply move inside the firehouse. We have a great festival planned.”
To check on the event, visit Good Neighbors Group | Facebook.
Field Party at St. Martin’s Episcopal School happens Saturday evening rain or shine
St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal School‘s annual Field Party fundraiser will be held as planned on Saturday evening at 7 pm rain or shine. As always, the field party is being held in a large lavishly decorated weatherproof tent for keeping everyone dry and enjoying the Caribbean-themed event.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. (Jing Ying currently offers a Homeschool Kung Fu Class and again brings Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
