Apparently, there was a song titled "Strawberry Time at Ridgely," sang to the tune of "Nobody Works But Father," (if anyone knows what that sounds like). I stumbled across it while reading through Rampmeyer's collection of newspaper articles and senior's memories. I thought it might be of interest.
The song goes like this:
Strawberries ripe at Ridgely and peas in the fields of Ann--
Take me back to the boyhood dream out of the cities of man!
Avalon blowing for Bellevue, and the Joppa afar down stream
Churning her way through the Chesapeake to the gardens of beautiful dream.
Strawberries ripe at Ridgely, and the magic of spring abroad,
And the chickadee's voice and the robin's lifted in lyrics of laud;
The midnight landing at Easton, and then away and away
To the wharves of the Choptank waters and the wind of the blue-winged bay!
Strawberries ready at Ridgely, and the Avalon on her way,
The Joppa bound from Denton with her sidewheels churning the bay;
Over the waters at Bellevue, and down where Benoni gleams,
The low, hoarse toot of a whistle, and an echo of childhood dreams!
--Bentztown Bard, in the Baltimore Sun 369
The song goes like this:
Strawberries ripe at Ridgely and peas in the fields of Ann--
Take me back to the boyhood dream out of the cities of man!
Avalon blowing for Bellevue, and the Joppa afar down stream
Churning her way through the Chesapeake to the gardens of beautiful dream.
Strawberries ripe at Ridgely, and the magic of spring abroad,
And the chickadee's voice and the robin's lifted in lyrics of laud;
The midnight landing at Easton, and then away and away
To the wharves of the Choptank waters and the wind of the blue-winged bay!
Strawberries ready at Ridgely, and the Avalon on her way,
The Joppa bound from Denton with her sidewheels churning the bay;
Over the waters at Bellevue, and down where Benoni gleams,
The low, hoarse toot of a whistle, and an echo of childhood dreams!
--Bentztown Bard, in the Baltimore Sun 369
Some of the names referenced in the song are the Joppa and Avalon. They were the two most notable steamboats that ran between Baltimore and Denton on the Choptank River from the 1880s until 1921.
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The fields of Ann is probably a reference to the town of Queen Anne, although there is also a county by the same name.
Bellevue is a town located on the Tred Avon River, in Talbot County, Maryland.
Easton is located on the Miles River, also in Talbot County.
Denton is a stop along the Choptank River, in Caroline County, Maryland.
As for the reference to "Benoni," I have no idea, but if anyone has any information, I would love to hear it!
Come out to Ridgely on May 27th for the Strawberry Festival, and come early so you can get your fill of strawberry shortcake! And don't forget to drop by my table and say hello!
Bellevue is a town located on the Tred Avon River, in Talbot County, Maryland.
Easton is located on the Miles River, also in Talbot County.
Denton is a stop along the Choptank River, in Caroline County, Maryland.
As for the reference to "Benoni," I have no idea, but if anyone has any information, I would love to hear it!
Come out to Ridgely on May 27th for the Strawberry Festival, and come early so you can get your fill of strawberry shortcake! And don't forget to drop by my table and say hello!
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