OurTown Revisited: Chipman Culture Center
Salisbury, Md.- It’s time for a bit of nostalgia. In November of 1999. Former WMDT anchor and reporter Kelley Rouse took us to the Chipman Center in Salisbury. In the last 25 years, the Chipman Culture Center has come very far. This time on our visit, we were not only able to recap the past, but to see where it’s heading as part of our new segment, Our Town Revisited.
The ‘Who’
It’s a mission started by Charles H. Chipman, the center’s namesake. Stepping back inside the building 25 years later, it’s clear it continues to be a staple of the community. 74-year-old Warren White was a friend of the Chipman’s and is currently a board member for the center. “A lot has been suppressed, but there is so much that needs to be told. That’s why we call this a cultural center… Well Mr. Chipman was designated as the leader, but this was done by a community of people.”
The ‘How’
Over the years, that community of people has continued to make improvements to the building. The beautiful stained-glass windows, which can be seen from the neighborhood, being restored, and re-glazing those on the east side. The building itself- has been lifted to maintain structure. Plus, new floors, a security system, and more importantly, an automatic lift that made them ADA compliant.
That being said, they continue to apply for grants to pay for it all and that isn’t always easy. Warren says their story is not only tragedy but triumph as well. “We have people who have risen in spite of all things that’s been done, even here on the Eastern Shore. But our story has to be told, and it’s got to be told by us, it’s got to be shared with everybody.”
The ‘Why’
White says sharing the history is what’s kept this center alive. Whether it’s a wedding, school history tours, baby showers, dinner affairs, Black History Programs, or meetings held by the Beach to Bay Heritage Area, the Chipman Center is booked every weekend, and he says they continue to shed light on the many accomplishments made by the Men and Women along the Eastern Shore.
In 1838 the Center was built, and in 2018, the center became a part of the Maryland Historical Trust, the state agency dedicated to preserving and interpreting the legacy of Maryland’s past. Now, their goal is to digitize their history so they can become a pictorial museum so they can take charge of their own history and tell the world how they lived.
The Future
White says Chipman would have wanted this, and he hopes they can maintain the building, and this center’s rich history alive for years to come. “They can tell you everything about Wicomico County, from its inception, but you don’t find very much about the black community, how we lived… It becomes necessary to unify, to organize, to then learn and do things to preserve your history, and your now, and your future.”
The center says they hope to get a fresh coat of paint and perhaps a sprinkler system to continue to beautify the area. They say they are currently working hard to get the center put on the National registry as a Historic Museum/Site, and you can learn more on their website.
