City of Crisfield receives interpretive sign

CRISFIELD, Md. – The City of Crisfield has received a sign that reflects a piece of civil rights history.

We’re told that with a grant from the Rural Maryland Council, the Beach to Bay Heritage Area developed multiple interpretive signs depicting African American heritage on the shore. This sign describes a protest that took place in the town while Govern Millard Tawes was the Governor of Maryland. A group of ten students led a sit-in at the City Restaurant on Christmas Eve 1961 before being arrested and jailed. While in jail, the students were offered moral support by UMES students.

“We’re very fortunate to have strong partnerships with our communities and community stakeholders,” said BBHA Director Lisa Challenger, who worked with Mayor Darlene Taylor and Reverend Johnson for the placement location. “We are hoping that this will allow people to explore the shore and learn more about our heritage”.

The sign is located at Shiloh United Methodist Church on 4th Street in Crisfield.

The BBHA has a new self-guided driving tour brochure designed as an effort to explore prominent themes within African American history and present the meanings and contributions that many properties and people have had in the overall history of the lower shore. More on that can be found here.