Greenbelt cooperator. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1937-1954, 1940-05-16
Maryland, Our Maryland
BY A. Arundel


Greenbe1t represents a historical step forward in
the devel opment Of democratic Ame No more ap-
propriate setting could have been found for launch
Ing this experiment in housing, which living,
than in the State of Maryland. From early colonial
days Maryland has been the of many stortc cal
struggles, of which ben deci sive in deter
mining the direction in which country has de-
veloped. How many Of US who part Of this expert
ment in living in Greenbe1t realize, partially,
the great histori cal tradi tions of state.
We have no excuse for our ignorance, for the i'm
mediate countryside Is fl with vi sble reminders
of the people who lived here before Of their
deeds. little reading, a short drive on Sunday
afternoon, sill GIT exertion of the ina gination and
by-gone America becomes alive for Only when
colonial America, revolutionary America, America
racked by civil war in order to preserve the Union
and free the bla ok man, become reality to US,
understand place in the pattern Of American
living today and hand those lessons to chill
dren.
In 1884 two small ships, the ARK and the DOVE,
brought company of English settlers into the waters
of the Potomac. Under the personal leadership Of
Leonard Calvert, these the founders of the
third successful English col my, Terra Mar1ae or
Maryland. This enterprise far different from
that Of either Massachusetts, Virginia which had
preceded it. For although Lord Baltimore, who had
obtained the grant Of land from the King. wished ri-
mari1y to provide haven for prosecuted Catholics,
he based his plans of colonization the principle
Of tolerance. Consequently the settlers board
the ARK and DOVE comprised not only Catholic layman
and priests but larger proportion of Professionals.
Thus in 1854 began the meric can tradition of freedom
of ship.
Annapolis pleasant hour's drive from Greenbelt,
has of the richest histories of colonial days.
Along her placid winding streets today, stand many
beau tiful old buildings, landmarks rep1ete with
romance and historical interest we'll as archttec-
tura1 beauty. Annapolis tell story about
much exciting tea party tina the we11knom
Boston affair. She boast that three of the sign
of the Declaration Of Independence her cit
liens. The fourth arlnd signer had studied Law in
Annapolis.
During the Revolution the Contin entail Congress
often met in Annapolis. To this Congress in 1883,
in session in the Old State Senate Chamber, General
George Washington resigned his command Of the cnti-
mental Army. After banquet and ball in the old
Assembly Hall he set out for Mount Vernon to end his
days peaceful farmer, he planned. year
later in the Senate Chamber the Continental Congress
adopted the famous treaty-p1an which has been the
basis of all neutrality traditions in United States
relations since. Two years Later q Convention
held In Annapolis to discuss trade d faculties
between the thirteen states. This Convention
led directly to the CONSTITUTE ona1 Convention in
hiladel phia the next year, and the adoption of
Constitution.
These events, picked at random from the store
house of hi story, only indicate how the first resi-
dents of Maryland influenced history. If you
interested shall tell you stories about
these people, about the houses they Lived in which
you visit easily and about the legacy Of
Americanisn which they bequeathed to US.