A 1948 article in the journal “Economic Botany” referred to the coconut palm as “Mankind’s Greatest Provider in the Tropics.” The article discussed the uses not only of coconut flesh but of the oil and fiber and sap. “The palm provides almost every want except clothing,” concluded author Oscar K Moore. This was far from…
Halfway through February of 1958, the daily temperature had rarely been above freezing. The 11th started the morning at 5 degrees. Icebreaking boats made their way through the harbor, smashing paths to free ice-locked boats. When the possibility of snow was reported on Valentine’s Day, “the Weather Bureau said it could give no estimated snow…
A few weeks later I found myself in her house, flipping through a recipe scrapbook that had belonged to her mother-in-law.
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…