The Kent Island Heritage Society
The Kent Island Heritage Society was founded in 1975 for the purpose of discovering, identifying, restoring and preserving the heritage of Kent Island in Maryland. It works diligently to facilitate the processes by which both its youth and mature history enthusiasts can acquire an appreciation of Kent Island's place in the history of Maryland and of our nation.
Latest News!
Attention! Historic Sites Opening Delayed (again)!
The Kent Island Heritage Society has decided not to open our historic sites for public tours on Saturday September 4 (”First Saturday”) as planned. This decision is made out of concern for the reemerging threat of Covid-19 throughout our broader community. Our sites are small and not all are well ventilated. We value the health and welfare of our docents, our members, and our visitors and their families above all else. A decision will be made on future openings based on available public health data as the pandemic progresses. We thank you for your understanding and urge you to stay safe.
“Preserving the heritage is what makes a place more of a community,”
Kent Island High School’s graduated senior Juliana Biggam is the recipient of the 2021 Kent Island Heritage Society’s $1,000 scholarship. She will attend Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, where she will major in biological sciences.
Juliana Biggam
Julia wrote in her essay. “The heritage of a place is what gives the community its uniqueness and character.” Read more HERE.
Kent Island Heritage Society stands up for Historic Preservation
The first graduating class of Stevensville High School on Kent Island
President Jack Broderick makes an impassioned plea to the Queen Anne's County Commissioners to support county-wide historic preservation during a hearing on the abandonment of the Historic Centreville High School for a proposed new building. Listen to his short (3 minute) speech HERE and while you are at it subscribe to the QAC YouTube Channel to keep up with the latest news in QAC!
Hidden Gems In Historic Stevensville
WMAR video highlights the Train Depot. Click here to watch! Learn more about our train station and the railroad on Kent Island HERE.
Why the building of a third span across the Chesapeake Bay is "A Clear Threat to the Heritage of Kent island!"
Bay Bridge
Listen in as Kent Island Heritage Society President Jack Broderick joins Harold Wilson on the Delmarva Today podcast to discuss plans to build a new additional span connecting Kent Island to the heavily travelled 50/301 corridor. The Kent Island Heritage Society considers such a project a direct threat to the heritage of Kent Island, the first European settlement in what is now Maryland. During the podcast President Broderick explains how the past is connected to the future of Kent Island and how a third span threatens the island's heritage.
Click here to listen.
The Smithsonian/Maryland Humanities Voices and Votes exhibit has arrived in Queen Anne's County!
Queen Anne’s County Historical Society hosts Voices and Votes at Kennard African American Cultural Heritage Center June 12–July 24, 2021. The center is located at 410 Little Kidwell Avenue in Centreville. The exhibition will be on view Wednesdays and Fridays, 3:00–7:00 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Special arrangements for other viewing opportunities can be requested by calling (410) 708-0151. Queen Anne’s Historical Society and Kennard African American Cultural Heritage Center will follow specific COVID safety protocols. Learn more at www.QACHistoricalSociety.org or call 410.708.0151
Historic Sites to Reopen the First Saturday in August!
We are pleased to announce that our historic sties in Stevensville (Cray House, Train Depot, Bank, Christ Church, and Post Office) and Chester (Kirwan House, General Store, and Museum) will reopen to the public the first Saturday of August from 12 noon to 4 pm. Docents will be available to tell our story and answer your questions. We appreciate everyone's patience while we, along with everyone else, weathered the Covid-19 storm. Please check back for important announcements.
Kent Island Heritage Society docents.
In the meantime please visit us virtually and explore what we have to offer online. Future updates will be available on our website; and our Twitter and Facebook accounts which you can access at the top of this page.
Stay healthy and we hope to see you soon!
The History of the Isle of Kent (Kent Island)
The Grand Old Man of Kent Island
Senator Kirwan explains the history of Kent Island.
Learn about the early settlement of Kent Island in 1631 by William Claiborne and why it is not considered the first English settlement in Maryland even though it is the fourth oldest permanent English settlement in the United States, after Jamestown, Virginia (1607), Hampton, Virginia (1609–10), and Plymouth, Massachusetts (1620). Discover the conflicts that have shaped the history and culture of the island: beaver pelts, oysters, mosquitos, wars, bombing ranges, and more by clicking the link below!
Kent Island Heritage Society Presentation
Did You Ever Wonder What Kent Island Used to Look Like?
View what Kent Island used to look like from the present all the way back to 1937. You'll be amazed! You can even compare two years side by side! Link here.
Zoom to History!
The Kent island Heritage Society has suspended all in person presentations until further notice, however, we are able to Zoom some of the presentations. Please stay tuned for updates! The Heritage Society has various historical Kent Island presentations available for your school, local organizations, or groups.
Click the link below to read summaries of the historical presentations or download the brochure:
Please allow a month's notice and, if possible, we will provide a speaker from the Heritage Society for that interactive session.
Each presentation runs forty-five minutes to an hour.
The Society works diligently to assist our youth and mature history enthusiasts to acquire an appreciation of Kent Island's place in the history of our state and nation.
Blast from the Past!
Enjoy this video from 2012 starring our Nancy Cook (Queen Anne's County Historic Sites Chair) and Linda Collier (curator of the Kirwan House General Store and Museum). Two Minutes of History
Kirwan House Beautification
The Kirwan House general store roof was recently renovated. Look at how beautiful the house looks: ready for some visitors in August! 
Historic Bank for Sale
The historic Stevensville Bank is up for sale! There was no bank on Kent Island before 1900. With limited resources and a concerted effort a corporation was formed in 1903. The name of the corporation was “The Stevensville Saving Bank of Queen Anne’s Country.” Later in 1912 the name was changed to “The Stevensville Bank of Maryland.” The president of the new corporation was Charles B. Downs. Original bank-directors included: Charles Percy Kemp, Milton Hysore Price, Issac Grollman, B. Harrison Bright, William E. Denny, Sr. Hugh A. Legg, and John Fletcher Ruth.
The Kent Island Heritage Society has submitted a grant to the Maryland Historical Trust to help pay, in part, for the acquisition of the bank. We are planning to create a new heritage tourism center which will provide much needed information for the community and visitors. Stay tuned for more information about this exciting development.
Find out more here.
Bees on Kent Island
Video that accompanies Summer 2020 newsletter article on Bees.
THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES FOR SUPPORTING THE KENT ISLAND HERITAGE SOCIETY'S ACTIVITIES!
A Little Wildflower NurseryChesapeake Light TackleHarris Marine FinancingKentmorr Marina Properties, LLCLundberg BuildersQueenstown Bank of MarylandRosendale Realty
MEET THE NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND OFFICERS FOR 2020
New Board Members and Officers are sworn in at the annual brunch and business meeting.
From left to right: Seated in foreground Lynne Riley-Coleman, Treasurer; Nancy Cook, Recording Secretary; Robert Lowe, Vice President; Lynnda Kratovil, officiant; Jack Broderick, President; Carol Frederick, Corresponding Secretary; Louis Crouch, new Board Member; Linda Moore, new Board Member; Leslie Moore, new Board Member; and Kristin Green, new Board Member. Welcome new Board Members! We look forward to your contributions as we work to promote the heritage of Kent Island.
TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS
The Kent Island Heritage Society, Inc. is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; donations to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law - if the Kent Island Heritage Society has provided no goods or services to the donor in exchange for these donations
Use this link to join or make a donation.
amazon smile!
Do you shop on Amazon.com? Did you know you can link your AmazonSmile purchases to to your favorite registered charity or non-profit organization? The Kent Island Heritage Society Inc. is registered. Simply type in The Kent Island Heritage Society Inc into the search box for ALL Charities and select it!
AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice.
How do I shop at AmazonSmile?
To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.
Can I use my existing Amazon.com account on AmazonSmile?
Yes, you use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are also the same.
How do I select a charitable organization to support when shopping on AmazonSmile?
On your first visit to AmazonSmile smile.amazon.com, you need to select a charitable organization to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. We will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation. AmazonSmile will occasionally contact you about donation amounts disbursed to your chosen charity or about the program.
Can I change my charity?
Yes, you can change your charity any time. Your AmazonSmile purchases after the change count towards your newly selected charity. To change your charity, sign in to smile.amazon.com on your desktop or mobile phone browser and simply select “Change your Charity” in “Your Account.”
What charities can I choose from?
You can choose from over one million eligible 501(c)(3) public charitable organizations. We hope you will select The Kent Island Heritage Society Inc.
Historic Stevensville Train Station and Caboose adjacent to the Cray House and Stevensville Bank.
Our Historic Sites are open to the public on the 1st Saturday of every month from April through November, from 12 o'clock noon until 4:00 p.m. with Society docents staffing the sites and providing unique live guided tours appropriate for residents, children, families, students and tourists. Additional tours of the sites may be scheduled by calling 410-758-2502 (Society Board Member Nancy Cook). The Kirwan Store Museum may also be privately scheduled by calling 410-643-2731 (Society Board Member Linda Collier).
We Need Volunteers!!
The Kirwan House, headquarters for the Kent Island Heritage Society
Kirwan House and Museum
There are always little jobs that need doing at our historic sites. If you are so inclined and have a little free time, please contact us. Repair a window pane, water some flowers, paint a chair, rake, wash a window, feed the fish, help out with the fish pond, etc, etc., etc., One time or sometimes, your help is needed. Contact Robert Lowe at kent.island.heritage.society@gmail.com or speak to any Kent Island Heritage Society Board Member. We are grateful for any help you can offer! Thanks!
JOIN THE KENT ISLAND HERITAGE SOCIETY!
Nancy Cook, holding a clay pipe, discusses items used by early inhabitants of Kent Island.
Nancy Cook at Cray House Stevensville MD
We are always interested in having individuals, both young and mature, join the Kent Island Heritage Society. There are many benefits to being a member including the opportunity to learn more about our Kent Island Heritage and support our ongoing activities to preserve the rich history of Maryland's earliest European settlement! Join, you'll be glad you did! For more information go to the Membership/Donate page or contact John L. Conley at 703 216 0449 or concomm@atlanticbb.net.