[RP TownTalk] Charles B. Calvert info

Wed May 6 02:10:51 UTC 2009

Dwight et al --

Our history at Riversdale includes the Samuel B. Morse information -- I  
have not concluded that the first message in fact was to the mansion, but to  
"Riversdale," the plantation.

At the time of the Morse telegraph experiment, C.B. owned 2200 acres  
surrounding the mansion and there was a family station at (approximately) the  
location of the eastside, open-sided brick building of today. (You can  see 
this feature drawn in on the Sides Map of 1853 that is displayed at  
Riversdale as well as other buildings and topographic features that the  surveyor, 
William Sides, included.)

I would conclude that the message transmission would have been to that  
family station or just to an open spot at a telegraph pole erected at the  rail 
line.  The gathering would have included C. B. and other  interested 
parties.  (Of course, a temporary line and pole could have been  installed the 
short distance to the mansion if that was wanted as part of the  experiment).

C. B. (and his father before him) were part owners of the National Hotel in 
 Washington and C. B. spent significant time in the District as he pursued 
family  business matters.  Being in the District and in the circle of the  
movers and shakers, C.B. would have been one of the first to support and  
encourage Morse so the references we have to his role in this experiment always 
 made sense to me.

Charles Benedict Calvert is recognized as the founder of the Maryland  
Agricultural College, the predecessor to the University of Maryland.  As a  show 
of his dedication to the college, he enrolled all of his sons as the first  
students of that institution even though two of them were not old enough  
yet to attend.  He also made a significant donation of land/cash for  the 
location of the school and was seen, each day, riding on horseback to the  site 
to watch over the "work in progress" that was so close to his heart.

C. B. was dedicated to the recognition of the American farmer and at  that 
time, there was no department of government recognizing and promoting  
agriculture.  While in Congress, C. B. drafted a resolution that was signed  by 
Abraham Lincoln that established the predecessor to the Department of  
Agriculture.  The Riversdale Society does have many other documents that  
highlight the contributions Charles B. Calvert made to the field of  agriculture.

More than you (probably) wanted to know, but hope you find this of  
interest, Dwight.  (As you can tell, I do).

                    Ann  Ferguson
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