Beachy

April 5, 2022April 5, 2022

Sturgis One Room School Museum

This small structure was built about 100 years ago on Brantley Road on land that was purchased by William Sturgis in 1888.

Sturgis One Room School Museum, formerly known as Sturgis School, is the only African American One Room School in Worcester County retaining its original integrity. It is a small structure built about 100 years ago on Brantley Road on land that was purchased by William Sturgis in 1888.

Sturgis One Room School operated as a school for 37 years. Grades 1 – 7 were taught by one teacher until it closed its doors in 1937. At that time students were transferred to Stephen Long School in the town of Pocomoke City, Maryland.

For several years afterwards the school served as home for the aging William Sturgis. After the school was vacated by William Sturgis, it remained unattended and fell into a state of disrepair.

In 1996, a group of interested citizens, under the leadership of the Worcester County Historical Society, purchased the school from the Sturgis family and moved it to its present location in downtown Pocomoke City, Maryland.

Restoration and outfitting the Sturgis One Room School is an ongoing task of Sturgis One Room School Museum, Inc. It has been made possible through funds from Pocomoke City, Worcester County, charitable organizations, and personal contributions.

Sturgis One Room School Museum, Inc. is an organization that actively works to preserve, promote, and protect the rich cultural heritage of Sturgis One Room School and educate our youth to value the school’s cultural and historical richness.

Sturgis One Room School Museum, Pocomoke City, Worcester County, Maryland.

209 Willow Street
Pocomoke City, Maryland
410-957-1913

Click to return to the Museums of Worcester County page.

April 5, 2022April 5, 2022

Girdletree Barnes Bank Museum

Six miles south of Snow Hill stands a quiet town named Girdletree.

In the past Girdletree had been a thriving community and George L. Barnes, a prosperous merchant of the community, saw the need for a bank.

The bank was built in 1901 and opened in January, 1902, operating under George L. Barnes & Company and closed in the 1930’s.

The Girdletree Barnes Bank is one of only two small banks remaining in Worcester County. It serves today as a museum, exhibiting items and memorabilia from this rural community’s past. While no longer actively involved in banking pursuits such as issuing business checks and protecting and investing one’s fortune(s), a large walk-in vault is being restored – so you can see how it might have been done in the (not so distant) past.

The structure is brick with stone sills. The roof is slate with metal cornice trim and cresting.

Girdletree Barnes Bank Museum, Girdletree, Worcester County, Maryland

Snow Hill Road (Route 12)
Girdletree, Maryland

Click to return to the Museums of Worcester County page.

April 5, 2022April 6, 2022

Queponco Railway Station Museum

Standing at the halfway point between Berlin and Snow Hill, Queponco Station was erected in 1910.

In the village of Newark, Maryland, Queponco Station stands today, silent and unused, a symbol of earlier times when the railroad was a vital part of the daily life of the people of the Eastern Shore. Standing at the halfway point between Berlin and Snow Hill, Queponco Station was erected in 1910. There has been rail service in Worcester County from 1872 until the present time. Due to the lack of demand for passenger service use of the depot dwindled in the 1960’s and the building was sold by the Pennsylvania Railroad to a private citizen who used it for storage purposes.

In 1991 a local group, Queponco Railway Station, Inc., formed for the purpose of repairing and preserving the old railway station. The mission of this group is to save the station and to preserve the heritage of the village of Newark and the railroad.

Queponco Railway Station Museum, Newark, Worcester County, MD

8378 Patey Woods Road
P.O. Box 146
Newark, Maryland 21841
410-632-0950