Grand Re-Opening/Open House at Tawes Museum, April 29, 2011

Grand Re-Opening/Open House at Tawes Museum, April 29, 2011

If you follow this blog, you know that tonight - 5:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m., the Tawes Museum will be exhibiting the first-ever public showing of Gordon's Live/Dead boxes. Photos of many of the people who have called Gordon's home since 1924, will be on display. In addition, there will be an exhibit on Cristy's Seafood - a sixties blast-from-the-past photo-essay of life in a working water town.

But wait! There is more. The Tawes Museum will also be holding it's grand re-opening/open house with catering by Gordon's and live entertainment by the Mennolites, with Kenny Good, and chamber/board member Mary Beth Bradshaw-Pruitt, who recently entertained at Gordon's.

This is going to be a magically historical night, and I encourage all of my viewers, at least the ones who can make it here by 5:00 p.m. to come and join us. Tonight, you can not only experience history, you can be a part of history. A special thanks goes out to museum curator Tim Howard. His love for his work, and for Crisfield, shines in each and every project and program.

Below are a few photos of Mary Beth Bradshaw-Pruitt singing at Gordon's, as well as some random photos from the early a.m. event. I know of few establishments who have entertainment at 7:30 a.m. in the mornings. Crisfield is a truly unique place, full of some incredibly wonderful and talented people.

 

Rich Smoker, duck carver extraordinaire, teaches duck carving at the Tawes Museum in Crisfield

Rich Smoker, duck carver extraordinaire, teaches duck carving at the Tawes Museum in Crisfield

 For most of his life Rich Smoker has been pressing tools to wood, creating realistic wildlife carvings that have earned him over 500 ribbons and the title to "Best in Show" at 70 wildlife competitions. Smoker also placed third in the 2001 Ward World Championship Competition, was inducted into the Waterfowl Festival Hall of Fame in Easton, Maryland, serving as the Masterpiece Artist for the festival. In 2008, Smoker was the World Champion at the Ward World Championship.  Smoker, who lives in Marion, a few minutes drive from Crisfield, gives carving classes twice a year at the Tawes Museum in Crisfield.  Many of his students return like migrating birds to study with the master whose wildlife themes are varied, allowing people to build up their own cornucopia wildlife collection.  I recently caught up with Smoker at the museum.

I hope you enjoy the slide-show from his most recent class. FYI: If you are interested in Smoker's 2011 December class call the museum at 410.968.2501. Some seats are already filled and the class is limited to around 20 students. Like wildlife carvings but know nothing about the trade? Never fear. Master Smoker will make you proud of your creation.

The Tawes Museum has many programs available for members of Road Scholar. Give them a call for upcoming events including the popular Best of the Chesapeake Bay.When in the area, stop in and visit with Curator Tim Howard and get a history lesson of life on the bay.

Read full coverage in the March 2 edition of the Crisfield-Somerset County Times. 

~ ~ ~

The class poses with their completed puffins.

Special guests from the Ward Museum in Salisbury stopped in for a tour of the museum and the original Ward brother's workshop, located in Crisfield.

Happy Birthday to Tim Howard

"Why to you want to take my picture?" I think he suspected.

Yesterday I went to the J. Millard Tawes Historical Museum in Crisfield where Tim is curator. I was on a mission. Well, two missions. I wanted to get a sleeveless Crab Derby shirt in "my" color before they were all gone. I also heard it was Tim's birthday. Soooo...

Tim, you will have to click on the photo to enlarge it so you can blow the candle out. Yes, there is a candle on the crab - just for you.

With a little help from his wife, Valerie Howard of the Crisfield Chamber of Commerce, I found out a few things about Tim and put together the above greeting.

Tim is holding a drawing done by Myra Betts, a student at Crisfield High School. Each year, the museum sells hundreds of beautiful t-shirts during Crab Derby; sales help fund the museum. Students at the high school get to submit their drawings and one is chosen to adorn the backs of our famous Crab Derby t-shirts.

And this is the one I chose...



Want one? Pick your color. They come with and without sleeves for ladies. Men can also order black or white; and they have sweat shirts, too. Don't forget your matching hat!

So let's all help make Tim's birthday extra special and help out the museum by ordering those t-shirts. Everyone coming to Crisfield for Crab Derby weekend should head on over to the museum when you arrive and get your tee, before your color is gone. Last year, I waited too long and ended up with yellow - yellow is not my color.



Thanks for all you do, Tim. You are a great guy. Hope you have a super birthday.