Shady Side in Anne Arundel County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Edna Florence
For tonging oysters —
the best built boat there ever was
— Kenneth Nieman, age 72 (1984)
In 1933, a boathouse on Parrish Creek in Shady Side, Captain Perry Rogers built the deadrise on display for Herb Sadler, an Annapolis seafood dealer and waterman. Sadler christened her "Big HES" and used her for oystering until his retirement. (Visit Little HES — Sadler's crabbing boat — at the Annapolis Maritime Museum.)
In 1984 Ruth Ann Thompson purchased Big HES as an excursion boat and re-named her the "Edna Florence" in honor of her mother. The Edna Florence came home to Shady Side in 1993 and was carefully restored by volunteers of the Shady Side Rural Heritage Society. The Boat Shed you are in was built around her!
Press the button below to hear more of the Edna Florence story.
Erected by Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1933.
Location. 38° 50.951′ N, 76° 30.708′ W. Marker is in Shady Side, Maryland, in Anne Arundel County.
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Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, in the Chesapeake Bay Region, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Eels, Ducks, and Clams (here, next to this marker); Fishing (a few steps from this marker); Crabbing (a few steps from this marker); Seasons of the Waterman (a few steps from this marker); Oystering (a few steps from this marker); Transformation of the Avery House and over a Century of Expansion (a few steps from this marker); Welcome to the Captain Avery Museum (within shouting distance of this marker);
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 16, 2019
2. The marker is part of this outdoor exhibit.
Additional keywords. The Edna Florence
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 16, 2019
4. Additional plaque to the right
That's My Living — Following the Water
-Julius Dennis, waterman, age 88 (1984)
-Julius Dennis, waterman, age 88 (1984)
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 16, 2019
5. Dedication plaque nearby
1923 - 2003
In recognition of his
heartfelt devotion to the
Captain Salem Avery House Museum,
this Boat Shed is dedicated to his memory.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 7, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 16, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 376 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 16, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
