[RP TownTalk] Mural Idealist

[Christopher Martin]

I'm hoping to stick with the native Indian theme.  My class will be trying
to follow all the leads that have been posted, as I hope others will also.
Thanks all...
My students and I would like to stay clear of patting the riverdale /
calverts on the back for that great magnificent stupendous and tremendous
act of opening the Maryland Ag College ~ since it wouldn't be open to all
citizens until  many years later, and was you know essentially stolen land
to begin with that was then built up (made rich) on the back of slavery and
southern plantation culture.  Its a history - like all american history -
full of honor and shame.

I'm thinking that with the native mural, continued respect for the mansion,
and our diverse living community mingling at the town center and in the
hoods- Riverdale could give props to three major epochs of history -
precolony, colonial and the march toward full civil rights.





On Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 6:24 AM, Sarah Wayland <sarah.wayland at gmail.com>wrote:

> Some more thoughts:
>
> In addition to the Piscataway Indians & the Woodland tribe, there were
> also the Nanchotank Indians. Indeed the name “Anacostia” is derived
> from the Indian word “anaquash” meaning a village trading center.
>
> http://www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/anacostia/history.html
>
> ---
>
> Regarding the notion of depicting slavery in town, I'm thinking that
> the Riversdale Historical Society might be a good place to get
> material about this. I know they have documented the life of one of
> the slaves who worked at Riversdale - and his house is on the historic
> registers of homes in town. They also have had a display at the
> mansion on the utensils and implements used to maintain the house and
> grounds.
>
> It sounds like you may not be aware that Charles Benedict Calvert was
> the head of the house of the second generation of residents at
> Riversdale. Charles Calvert helped found the U.S. Agricultural
> Society, and sold the adjoining Rossborough Farm to the Maryland
> Agricultural College, which became the University of Maryland.
>
> You can learn more about the history of our town at:
> http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us/History/default.html
>
> Our town has a rich history - I would love to see that reflected in the
> mural.
>
> (Sorry Cranky Old Coot - I know I'm late on the discussion, but since
> Chris asked for input, I'm giving it!)
>
> -Sarah
>
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