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!
The 2022 Kent Island Heritage Society Scholarship
Noah Wigglesworth, Kent Island Heritage Society 2022 Scholarship Winner!
Each year The Kent Island Heritage Society offers a one-year scholarship to a graduating senior from Kent Island High School who plans to attend college. To be eligible, the applicant must have a 3.0 GPA or higher and have performed community service. This year the scholarship was awarded to Noah Wigglesworth. As part of his winning essay he wrote, “It is essential to work to preserve our beautiful community simply because those in the future should be able to experience what we have today.” Congratulations Noah! Noah is attending the University of Maryland to study Aerospace Engineering. You can read his essay in our latest newsletter HERE.
Kent Island Stoopley-Gibson Manor and the Henry Massey Escape Site
The Kent Island Heritage Society hosted a presentation on the history of the Stoopley-Gibson Manor property on today’s Gibson’s Grant and its designation as a site on the National Park Service (NPS) Network to Freedom Underground Railroad Trail on June 14, 2002 at the Historic Christ Church in Stevensville.
KIHS member Andrew Costello detailed the history of the Stoopley- Gibson property (also known as White’s Heritage) from its land grant of 150 acres to John Gibson and Henry Stoop in 1656 through today’s Gibson’s Grant.
He was joined by Matthew LaRoche from the University of Maryland whose research resulted in the National Park Service designation of the enslaved Henry Massey Escape Site at Stoopley-Gibson Manor.
The Stoopley-Gibson Manor in its original state
There are two presentations you can view:
PowerPoint with Audio and Picture-in-Picture.
Kent Island Day 2022 was a resounding success!
Thanks to our sponsors, the community, vendors and exhibitors, and most of all our hard working volunteers Kent Island Day 2022 will go down in history as one of the best! After two years of cancellations due to the Covid-19 pandemic everyone was eager to return to normalcy and it showed with large crowds, fantastic musical entertainment, great food, wonderful history and heritage exhibits, and a wide range of vendors and exhibitors to capture the attention of the whole family. In spite of the record heat everyone enjoyed a day focused on history and heritage of Kent Island which was established in 1631.
Visitors crowd Love Point Road
Thanks to our sponsors:
William Claiborne Level: Kent Island American legion #278
Isle of Kent Level: I Love Kent Island
Donor: Robert W Timms, Sr
Patrons: Please select the link below to see the huge list of Kent Island Day 2022 patrons - there are many! Thank you to everyone that supports our vision to discover, identify, restore, and preserve the heritage of Kent Island!
Vendors and Exhibitors: Thank you, thank you, thank you! Without your support Kent Island Day 2022 would not have been the helming success that it was!
The iconic celebration of heritage, life, and culture of Kent Island, sponsored and organized by the Kent Island Heritage Society, takes place annually on the third Saturday in May. The celebration itself is part of Kent Island’s history. It was established in 1977 by State Proclamation signed by Lt. Gov. Blair Lee. Kent Island Day takes place in Historic Stevensville featuring vendors and artisans, kids' activities, local food, entertainment, historic displays, artifacts, reenactors, and open historic sites. It also features a large parade through town. It is a family event that attracts over 2,000 visitors for the daylong activities.
For more information click HERE
Historic Sites Opened the First Saturday beginning in May
It was a rainy start to our First Saturdays but some braved the elements to visit our sites including a family from California! Thanks for visiting us!
“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.
Listen HERE
Follow-up interview on Delmarva Today with President Jack Broderick regarding the Tier 2 study of the Chesapeake Bay crossing which threatens Kent Island, its heritage and culture, and leaves many questions unanswered.
Listen HERE
Kent Island Heritage Society docents.
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 is planning in person presentations again and we are 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:
Historical Presentations
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
Bay Point WealthA Little Farm NurseryFour Seasons at Kent IslandChesapeake Light TackleHarris Marine FinancingKentmorr Marina Properties, LLCLundberg BuildersRosendale Realty
Interesting in supporting our efforts through membership or donations? GO HERE!
Due to Covid our annual induction of officers and new board members occured telephonically. See our latest NEWSLETTERS for updated information.
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.
AmazonSmile!
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.
Clio: Your Guide to History and Culture
Historic Stevensville Train Station and Caboose adjacent to the Cray House and Stevensville Bank.
*Please refer to our latest announcements at the top of the page.
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 jconcomm@gmail.com.