This is one of ten caches placed for Cache Across Maryland 2021. You must find all ten caches prior to the picnic held on Saturday, May 15, 2021 in order to receive a free Maryland Geocaching Society CAM geocoin.
Make note of the attribute symbol found inside each cache container. You must enter all the symbols into an online decoder in order to print a claim form and receive your geocoin at the picnic. More info on CAM is available here.
HISTORIC TAYLORS ISLAND
Taylors Island was one of the first settlements in Dorchester County. During its early history, the island was an important center for farming, ship building, and seafood. Over the years, ship building on the island ceased, farming became less important, and only a few still make their living on the water today. However, the beauty of the island has attracted many campers and retirees, as well as those who chose to live there and commute to other areas to work.
Taylors Island still has several well-preserved historical points of interest. Missing are all but one of the four original schools that were replaced by the “new” school in the early 1900's. Also missing are the Harrington fish packing plant that was located on the original bridge to the island, and the Harrington tomato packing plant that was on the south side of the road across from the Taylors Island store.
1877 map showing Taylors Island
You will need to visit three sites on the island to gather the information necessary to fill in the missing numbers of the final location.
Stop 1 » The Battle of the Ice Mound (at posted coordinates)
When you come to Taylors Island, one of the first things you will see after crossing the two-lane bridge is the Becky Phipps Cannon. This gun was captured by a company of Dorchester County militia from a British tender near James Island during the War of 1812. The cannon's name was created by combining the names of Lieutenant Matthew Phibbs, the Commander of the British tender and Becca, a black woman who had been captured by the British during a raid on St. Mary's county who was serving as a cook on their vessel.
For nearly a century the canon was fired off every Fourth of July, Christmas, and New Years until 1912 when it exploded during a firing to celebrate the landslide victory of President Woodrow Wilson.
Collect Puzzle Info
A
- The first digit in the number of people captured
Stop 2 » Lane Church Cemetery
Lane Methodist Episcopal Church is one of the few tangible landmarks of African-American history on Taylor's Island. Located a few hundred yards south of the Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Church, the single-story rectangular frame structure is a modest gable-roofed chapel featuring a two-tiered entrance tower covered by a low-pitched pyramidal roofed tower. Inset in the wall to the left of the double door entrance is the original marble date stone inscribed, “Lane M. E. Church, 1897.”
While this church building dates to the last years of the nineteenth century, an African-American church was associated with the Bethlehem Methodist Episcopal Church for at least forty years prior with a church located directly adjacent to the brick church.
The congregation's church, a frame structure sited directly adjacent to the brick building on its south side, was valued with the entire church property in 1860. On the Lake, Griffing, and Stevenson atlas a Color'd Church is indicated almost next to the Bethlehem Church on the Parson's Creek district map. A cemetery for the congregation is located directly behind the Bethlehem Church in a small clearing.
Collect Puzzle Info
B
- Number of letters in last name of the resident recommended to preach the gospel
C
- Number of letters in first name of the resident recommended to preach the gospel
Stop 3 » Chapel of Ease & Old Schoolhouse
A small building on the south side of the property, was the first schoolhouse in the area. It was constructed in 1785, prior to the establishment of the public school system. It originally stood near a road that led to James Island. By 1855, the building had been abandoned as a school and was purchased by Travers Spicer of Mulberry Grove for $90.00. He moved it to his farm and used it for various purposes including a smoke house. Finally, in 1959, the building was given to the Grace Foundation by the Spicer family, moved to its present site, and restored.
To the left of the “Old Schoolhouse”, stands the “Chapel of Ease.” This was the first church established on Taylors Island, built by Episcopalians before 1781 at a location where the fire company is now located. After being abandoned as a place of worship by the Episcopalians, it was adapted to multiple uses for the community until being purchased by a resident who moved it to his farm for the storing of hay and grain. In 1951, the Grace Foundation purchased the building, moved it to its present site, and restored it as it would have been originally.
Grace Church, on this property, was constructed about 1873 by the Episcopal congregation and has served as their place of worship until this day. All three buildings are registered in the National Register of Historic Places.
Collect Puzzle Info
D
- Number of uses listed after the chapel was no longer used for worship
EF
- Number of pupils who could be seated plus four
Puzzle Final
Use the answers found at the stops above to determine the location of the geocache at:
N 38° 28. A B C' W 76° 18. D E F'
Location Access/Hours
- All sites are open year-round.
- Only search for this cache during daylight hours.
A special thanks for the Grace Foundation of Taylors Island for permission and guidance in placing this geocache.