The papers of caterer William Johnson, in the collections at the Maryland Center for History and Culture, offer a rare look at the finer details of the business of catering in the early 1900s. The documents aren’t extensive, but they include the purchase price of supplies like dishes and bottled water, the cost per person…
I once referred to Virginia Roeder as “Baltimore’s own Martha Stewart.” The statement is a little out of character for me, but I wanted to convey my impression of Roeder’s business savvy, the way her “immaculate home” was described in the Sun, her reputation for culinary acumen, and the sense that Roeder was one of…
When Maryland started enforcing car registration laws on Smith Island in 1973, Beverly Guy took it in stride, despite the hassle. Her 1966 Falcon had never been issued the proper inspection certificate. Dealers just didn’t bother when the cars they sold were headed for Smith Island. Between July and August of that year, Guy got…
“She is one of the best cooks who ever walked.”
The 1936 “Lovely Lane Cook Book” produced by the historic Lovely Lane Methodist Church contains a lot of “dainty” recipes. There’s Date and Nut Bread; cakes and cookies; ice box rolls; Frozen Banana Salad. There’s luncheon dishes and cheese fondue and “Fruit Punch to Serve Ten.” Like many church cookbooks, “Lovely Lane Cook Book” was…