Explorations & Jam Tent

Explorations Tent

11 AM King of the Strings: The Joe Maphis Story

Book Talk and Signing by Greg Larry

For several years, local writer Greg Larry has worked to preserve and document the important musical legacy of Cumberland native Joe Maphis. A decade in the making, his book, King of the Strings, offers a poignant look into Maphis’ life. Larry’s book tells the story of an original pioneer of country music, the virtuoso guitarist Joe Maphis. Maphis is considered the first flashy lead guitarist of country who combined blazing quick picking with a relaxed, cool demeanor on stage. His book traces Maphis’ life from his early days growing up in Cumberland, Maryland to performing live on WRVA Richmond, Virginia's "Old Dominion Barn Dance" as a musician, comedian and announcer during the golden age of radio.

NOON Species of the Allegheny Front Story Jam

The Nature Conservancy

How well do you know your neighbors?  Join this session to meet some of the other-than-human neighbors who live alongside us here in the Appalachians.  A brief presentation will leave plenty of time for participants to swap stories of your own experiences with fish, wildlife, insects, plants, birds, and even fungi who share our mountain home. 

1 PM The Strike that Changed Maryland’s Wilderness County

Book Talk and Signing by Len Shindel

Join Garrett County based author, Len Shindel to earn about the historic Garrett Roads Strike. The Garrett County Roads Workers Strike of 1970 was the longest public worker strike in U.S. history. Shindel’s book, The Strike that Changed Maryland’s Wilderness County, draws from oral history interviews, photographs, news material and more to honor this important undertaking by united road workers.

Len Shindel is a retired steelworker who worked at Bethlehem Steel’s Sparrows Point, Md. Plant for 30 years. He was an active member and an elected representative of the United Steelworkers of America Locals 2609. He’s lived in Garrett County since 2015.

2 PM Sharing the Wisdom of the “Mother Tree”: Intergenerational Living in Allegany County

Nancy Giunta, Elesha Ruminski, and Jane Rohde

In 2022, Live Together, an organization offering intergenerational living, met with potential partners in Allegany County and offered an analogy about the need for the “Mother Tree” to share experience and wisdom with the forest: “The older trees nurture the young ones and provide them with food and water just as we do with our own children.” This is the philosophy of an intergenerational community that supports residents of all ages through affordable and attainable housing, access to services and amenities, and, most importantly, points of engagement with one another. The “seeds” that were planted in 2022 through meetings with the County, Frostburg State University (FSU), Allegany College, and the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation are now starting to bloom, and some are coming to fruition. Specifically with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Live Together and FSU for the redevelopment of existing student housing into the Cambridge Residences as an intergenerational, experiential place for living and workforce development. Two additional seedlings have been planted in Cumberland, starting to grow into the provision of residential homes for care that support Allegany College students in workforce development, older adults living in the community, attainable housing, and support of the local hospital and downstream care needs. Please join us for an update and invitation to join this grassroots approach to fulfilling needs through intergenerational living.

3 PM "When the Legend Becomes Fact: Tall Tales, Some True, from the Weird Western Maryland Project"

Andy Duncan

Buried British gold! Cannibal surveyors! CIA poisoners! A collapsing campus! Jesse James, retired in Appalachia! Leaping princesses! A mountain of ice! Sharks in Deep Creek Lake! Andy Duncan, Frostburg State professor and connoisseur of weirdness, leads a discussion of regional wild stories and the truths that underlie them.

4 PM The Fall and Rise of the American Chestnut

Jeff White, The American Chestnut Foundation

Jeffrey White has 30 years of experience as an environmental scientist focusing on biological and ecological sciences, data analysis, field surveys, and delineations of environmentally sensitive areas. Now, mostly retired, he can spend more time on one of his lifelong passions, the American Chestnut (Castanea dentata) and the mission of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) "to return the iconic American chestnut to its native range". As president of the Maryland Chapter of TACF he looks forward to presenting “The Fall and Rise of the American Chestnut” and the ongoing work of TACF and the Maryland Chapter. Bring lots of questions. He will bring some American Chestnut Seedlings.

Jam Tent

Bring your instruments! The Jam Tent will be open throughout the day! Grab a few musicians and sit and jam. All are welcome.