|
|
 |
|
|
|
Denton
Business district architecture now reflects the prosperity of the "Canning Boom" (1895-1919) plus a passion in the 1960s for the colonial revival style. Copyright © 2002 J.O.K. Walsh, All rights reserved. The Museum of Rural Life The Museum of Rural Life is located at 12 N. Second Street in Denton. Caroline County is one of only four or five counties in the United States that existed with no industry apart from "market" agriculture for over 300 years. Market agriculture is what our farmers continue to do today: grow one or two crops for sale to external commercial markets. Every other Maryland county has had an additional industry based on either seafood, minerals or tourism at some point in their history, but "land-locked" Caroline County has had none. Many counties in the Western States have also been exclusively engage in agriculture, but not for over three centuries like Caroline County. The Museum of Rural Life utilizes the very unique history of Caroline County to tell the stories of people living in a totally agriculture-based economy. Specifically, it used the lives and living spaces of specific individuals and groups to explain the difficult choices faced by rural people as their agriculture-based economy constantly shifts, due to many uncontrollable external factors, between 25 year "booms" and 75 year "busts." The first phase of the Museum project used the Taylor-Brown Dwelling as well as numerous other items to tell the story of "town" people; e.g., the lawyer, editor, merchant, free black sailor, slave girl, housewife, domestic worker, etc. The Historical Society has just begun their Millennium project which is an addition that concentrates on the lives, choices, living spaces, and folkways of "country folk"; e.g., the subsistence farmer scratching out a living on thirty acres, the wealthy planter, the field slave, the European immigrant farmer of the late 19th century, etc. Part of this expansion will include the entire "Painter's Range" log cabin as well as significant portions of "Chance's Desire" and "Skillington's Right." The "Taylor-Brown dwelling" became part of the Museum in 1992. Summerfest
Caroline Summerfest is held annually the third weekend of August. This is a free, family oriented event featuring live entertainment, fine arts and crafts, strolling entertainment, free KidzArt activities, river cruises on the Choptank River on the Cambridge Lady, food vendors, fireworks, hot-rods and antique car displays. Call 410-479-2050 or 1-888-sunfest (786-3378) or visit the web site at www.carolinesummerfest.com. The event is held on the Courthouse Green and surrounding streets and the beautiful Choptank River in Denton, Maryland, and is co-sponsored by the Town of Denton and Caroline County Recreation & Parks. To learn more about Denton, visit the town's web site at www.dentonmaryland.com.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
