Maryland Heritage Area Authority awards 4 projects in the Beach to Bay Heritage Area for $73,138

Town of Snow Hill- $29,715
Upgrades and refurbishment to the hull of the Paddlewheel boat- The Black-Eyed Susan
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The Black-Eyed Susan is a 111-foot paddle wheel boat was purchased by the Town of Snow Hill in the fall
of 2020 for $324,900, which will be used to enhance Snow Hill and the region through tours, education,
training, seminars and other cultural heritage-centered events and uses. This vessel will provide a
unique venue and magnate for enhancing cultural heritage appreciation and knowledge for the region.
In the fall of 2021 and spring of 2022. the Town will need to upgrade and refurbish below the water line
so that this vessel will be viable for years to come, which is the subject of this project application. The
project includes transportation of the vessel to Cambridge, MD, from Snow Hill, MD, and extraction
from the water for restoration, and return transportation to Snow Hill.

Through this project, the museum and the Town of Snow Hill have an opportunity to provide exposure
to and interpretation of the history and culture of Snow Hill, Worcester County, and the surrounding
region while reaching out to heritage tourists, local residents, and school-aged students. The welcome
exhibit and programs will add to the museum's ability to market itself to heritage tourists and engage
with the local community. It will be on display indefinitely and will contribute to the town of Snow Hill's
appeal as a heritage destination.

This vessel will be used for group events, community events, private charters and regional attraction of
visitors to Snow Hill for heritage tourism, cultural sustainability, inclusivity, and accessibility. The vessel
has a full kitchen and capacity for 150.

All Hallows Church, Snow Hill- $10,000
All Hallows Episcopal Church Historic Structure Report

Development of Phase II of a comprehensive and professionally prepared Historic Structure Report for
the purpose of evaluating the current conditions of All Hallows Episcopal Church in order to: prioritize
needs; guide the immediate and long-term phases of restoration for the structure; and plan for
historical interpretation and expanded use by the public. This Exterior Envelope “Historic Structure
Report” will define and chart a course of action to assess and guide the effects of actual “bricks and
mortar” interventions of a proposed treatment or construction related project on the existing fabric of
the building. It will provide a framework to guide the architects, structural engineers, conservation
experts, and contractors in the renovation, reconstruction, and restoration needs. Moreover, it will be
beneficial to All Hallows in funding its capital improvement program and to prioritize the most pressing
and urgent restoration needs as well as establishing a program for long-term renovations.
Pocomoke City- $10,000

Pocomoke City- $10,000
Sturgis One-Room African-American School Museum & 1850 Heritage House

The Sturgis One Room School is a historic U.S. school and is the only African American One Room School in Worcester County retaining its original integrity; it is urgent we preserve this monumental building.  The community used this one room school from 1900 to 1937. It was originally known as Sturgis School and was located on Brantley Road. It was moved to its current location in 1996. Restoration and outfitting the Sturgis One Room School is an ongoing task of Sturgis One Room School Museum, Inc. It has been made possible through funds from Pocomoke City, Worcester County, charitable organizations, and personal contributions.
This project would allow for roofing repairs, wood replacement, paint, deck accessibility ramp and landscaping; signage.
Sturgis One Room School Museum, Inc. is an organization that actively works to preserve, promote, and protect the rich cultural heritage of Sturgis One Room School and educate our youth to value the school's cultural and historical richness.

Salisbury, MD - $23,423
Ward Museum Nature Trail Interpretation
This project will replace decades-old interpretive signage along the nature trail at the Ward
Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University (operated by the Ward Foundation). The nature trail runs
along Schumaker Pond, and currently interprets the natural heritage of the region, with attention to
biological diversity. The signs are badly faded and cracked to the point of being illegible.
MHAA funds will support the creation of new signage featuring revised interpretation focused on
regional natural and cultural heritage. These signs will be a welcomed improvement to the nature trail,
which has become a respite for many local visitors. Additionally, the signs will be a means for out-of-
area visitors to get to know the cultural and natural heritage of our region, and a tool for museum
educators, who regularly use the Nature Trail during field trips and afterschool programming.
Proposed sign themes include: 1) history of the landscape, including a history of the pond and the WM
campus; 2) indigenous history and contemporary presence in the region, with attention to interaction
with the natural landscape; 3) understanding the pond as part of the Atlantic Flyway, and interaction
and importance of birds in the cultural landscape; 4) native plants and the benefits of maintaining these;
5) Schumaker Pond as part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed 6) human impacts on the natural
environment that affect the pond—e.g., increasing stream flow due to climate change, causes of algal
blooms, 7 & 8) the Lower Shore's cultural landscapes. Phases including interpretation of Native themes
will include collaboration with regional tribal leaders (Assateague, Accohannock, Nanticoke, Nause-
Waiwash, and Pocomoke), with focus on the Nanticoke Indian Tribe and Pocomoke Indian Nation due to
traditional proximity to the landscape.