Patrick Henry presents: History of the Phillips Cannery Factory
BERLIN, Md. – Patrick Henry, a Maryland native, artist, and historian takes it upon himself to dive deep into the state’s history, specifically Worcester County, to recreate it and shed light on the extensive African-American history.
Currently, his exhibit at the Germantown School Community Heritage Center is showcasing the Phillips Cannery factory, an iconic place of work for African-American people in the area years ago. “Little by little, more of the story unfolds through other Phillips family members and from people who worked in that factory,” says Henry.
Over 100 hundred years ago, Phillips Cannery, a tomato canning factory in Berlin Maryland was birthed, eventually becoming a huge economic driver for Worcester County. “At any particular day during the season, up to 100 women worked in the cannery peeling tomatoes all day long, then you had African American supervisors, office workers, the Phillips family, the farmers to bring the tomatoes,” says Henry.
Those stories of workers have been passed down for generations, but Henry has taken it upon himself to piece it together and turn it into an education art exhibit at the Germantown School Community Heritage Center. “The exhibit has raised more questions than answers and they keep evolving,” says Henry. “For me to go and put this exhibit together and to honor the memories of families of the founders and the families of the workers who worked there, it’s very emotional and very gratifying.”
The exhibit showcases the rise and fall of the industry, while also highlighting the prominence the factory had in the African-American community in Worcester County. “You think this factory was a huge center of the community then BOOM, it was gone,” says Henry.
Even though the factory eventually closed the community generations later are still being represented, all because of Henry. “For me to see the joy on the people’s faces is that I have honored their relatives that have gone on.” He adds, “I guess in some ways it was mandated for me to be the guardian of these images and the people trust me.”
Henry also tells 47 ABC, he hopes the exhibit continues representing families in the area and becomes a place in Worcester County history. “We can look to the past at how things were done, and maybe it can be an inspiration to young people of seeing where they are now and moving forward and being and impacting their future.”
The exhibit will be open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11-3 through September 30th at the Germantown School Community Heritage Center in Berlin.
Henry also tells us, he will continue piecing together the history of Worcester County and is always open to collecting more pictures, interviews, and information. You can reach out to him at henryfineart@gmail.com.
