Published: December 3, 2021
Stepping into the Past
After 14 years of prohibition the 18th Amendment was repealed on December 5, 1933. During those 14 years our historic town of Havre de Grace Maryland had already made a name for itself as Little Chicago, and the River Rat City. Primarily known as an unruly community festering with criminal behavior, liquor smuggling and the shooting of John A. Buongore. The town was famed for The Graw Racetrack, gamblers, bootleggers, mobsters and houses of ill repute according to a Baltimore Sun article. It has been noted that Havre de Grace was the favorite vacation spot for Al Capone! The town had been raided by the National dry agents a few times, with the most notable raid in 1924 with fifteen dry agents and a large list of searched business. While this was a notable attempt to enforce the law and stop liquor sales it had little success.
Steppingstone Farm Museum is operated by the Steppingstone Museum Association, Inc., a
private non-profit with a long term lease of the previous Paul farm property in Susquehanna State Park. This land is part of the Land of Promise tract from the first land survey in 1684. The museum was established in 1970 with the collections of Mr. J.E. Bull. After his passing in 1976, the museum moved to the Land of Promise in Susquehanna State Park. The museum demonstrates historic trades to the public from 11am-3pm on Saturdays and Sundays from
April-October. The office is open year-round from
9am-2pm Tuesday- Friday and the grounds are open to foot, paw, hoof, and bike traffic from 9am to sunset every day.
The museum offers many special events throughout the season, private and school tours, special programs, and site rentals. These programs, gift shop sales, grants, memberships, and private donations support the museum.
Calendar of Events
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Looking Forward to 2022...
Board of Directors
Robert Thresher
President
​
Ron Querns
First Vice President
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Teresa Stout
Second Vice President
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Robert Thresher
(Acting) Treasurer
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Wendy O'Steen
Secretary
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Josephine Bodt
John Stanley
Amanda Hickman
Mark Herman
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Honorary Directors
Don Osman
Carolyn Smith
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Museum Staff
Haley I. M. Strong
Executive Director
director@steppingstonemuseum.org
​
Stephanie Kennedy
Museum Manager
stephanie@steppingstonemuseum.org
​
Katelyn Long​
Curator
katelyn@steppingstonemuseum.org
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Heather Uzdilla
Site Coordinator
heather@steppingstonemuseum.org
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Michael Carney
Maintenance Personnel
I personally love this time of year, with the cold weather, warm drinks and time spent with loved ones. This is time that we focus on what we are thankful for and the blessings we have. I know that I am thankful for this wonderful museum, a remarkable team, treasured volunteers and a supportive community. I hope that you are able to enjoy this season as much as I do.
We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Beautiful Kwanzaa, Blessed Solstice, Joyful Las Posadas, Cheerful Diwali, and a Blissful Chinese New year. We hope to see everyone in 2022 and hope everyone is safe, warm and healthy.
From the Desk of the Director
Haley I. M. Strong
Steppingstone Wish List
The below items are needed at the museum. We will provide a donation letter for your tax deduction use.
Thank you for thinking of us!​
Our Amazon Wishlist can
be found by clicking
HERE
​
Season's Views
Keep in Step with the Steppingstone
The
Cornerstone
Steppingstone's Volunteer Corner
Thank you to all the Volunteers that have helped out at or with past events!
Sean Lee
Lou Kosydar
Dawn Thresher
Brennan McDonough
Ron Querns
John Hughes
Dawn Thresher
Robert Thresher
​
2021's Volunteer
of the Year:
Reminders:
- In lieu of a volunteer meeting we will be decorating the Farm House on Tuesday, 12/7/2021 at 6:00pm and would love to have you join us. Please let us know if you can make it! We will be providing light refreshments. If you would like to park closer to the Farm House we will be opening the access gate.​
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-Steppingstone will be participating in the 2021 Havre de Grace Holiday Parade on December 3rd.
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-Christmas Open House is December 11th, 4pm - 8pm.
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The latest @ the Museum Store
The gift shop will be open one more time this year!
Swing by during our Christmas Open House for you last minute shopping.
The Steppingstone Grind
With 23+ Buildings and 23 acres, the museum is more than what a team of 5 can handle. While we do our best to maintain the cleanliness of the property, we can always use help. The Grind is the place to find our chore list for the month. If you, or a group you belong to, would like to work on one of these projects please email Stephanie, the Museum Manager at stephanie@steppingstonemuseum.org
CHICKEN COOP
Trim trees around and over coop
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MACHINE BARN
Replace or fix siding door (bottom rows)
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LARGE PAVILION
Paint picnic tables
GAZEBO
Wire brush, prime and paint front sign
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FARM HOUSE
Patch and paint window sills
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CARRIAGE BARN
Re-nail corner board and battens
2022
New and Renewing Members
Samantha Morter & Danney France
Rachel Sacrey & Travis Dunaway
Kapri & Geoff Stafford
Sarah Hewitt & James Mast
Wade Harvard & Chelsey Schreiber
Brendon Heroux & Courtney Reil
Sharon Comer & Ron Wickline
Alexandra Protos & Brandon Saraceno
John Boyer & Amand Harvey
Congratulations to our new wedding members:
Welcome to the Family
Bernie Bodt
Bryon Bodt
Linda Bullis
Carole DeRan
Heather Hamilton
Lilma Huntley
Moira Kearney
Brenda Kinzinger
Christina Kramer
William Lee
Leocea McLanahan
Fred Ritzel
Gerry Scarfe
John Stanley
Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home, P.A.
Walter G Coale INC.
Kelly Mechanical Services, Inc.
Aimee O'Neill & Co., Inc.
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Delightful Discoveries
The star of the Estey Organ Company was the reed organ. Also referred to as the American Reed Organ, parlor organ, and pump organ, the reed organ was the most popular instrument of its day, gracing both chapels and fashionable American parlors. The company started with manufacturing melodeons but by the 1860s, Estey & Co. added their Cottage Organ line, a reed organ with a rectangular case that enclosed the mechanisms of the instrument and two pedals to operate the bellows. By the 1880s, the cases had become more decorative with elaborate tops for use in social and parlor settings like the one we now have at the museum!
A glimpse back into time...
Image from this past month
When shopping on Amazon remember to use Amazon Smile and select Steppingstone Museum Association. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the museum.
Thank You for your support!
Please share with your friends
and tell them about
"Your Country Retreat".
Steppingstone Farm Museum educational programs and historic preservation supported by grants from:
