The Kent Island Bay Times from Chester, Maryland • Page 1

By RICHARD McNEY Staff Writer QUEENSTOWN Much has changed since the late one thing that has not is the farming done by the Pippin and Callahan families.Since around the turn of the Pippin and Callahan families have worked the soil of Queenstown on their three and Clover Field.Today those farms are still owned by the two families under the Pippin Ashley L.L.C.The Pippin and Callahan families and their three farms were honored by Governor Robert L.Ehrlich Jr.in the reception room of the state house in Annapolis on Oct. he designated their farms Century Farms. The Century Farm designation is awarded to families who are committed to farming and leadership in preserving agricultural land.The designation is given to families who have owned and farmed the same land for more than 100 years.Since 1994, when the program farms have received the Century Farm designation.Less than one percent of the 12,200 farms have received the honor. farmers are the backbone of our Gov.Ehrlich.“The Century Farm families we honor today have played a significant role in making agriculture the leading industry in Maryland.I am committed to working with the entire farm community to maintain viable food and fiber industries for The Callahan and Pippin families have owned and operated their three farms in Queenstown for five generations.Thomas H. Callahan Sr.began it all back in 1893 with the 313-acre Tristram was later renamed Covington farm.In acquired the 280-acre Mill Farm, which was later renamed Patchett then in 1897 he purchased the 325-acre Clover Field farm.All three farms grew and at one time raised livestock.The farms still grow the three no longer raise livestock.

are delighted to have the farms in the Century Farm Mary Callahan granddaughter of Thomas H.Callahan Sr. Mary Callahan Pippin was born in the farm house on Clover Field Farm.The house dates back to is a significant By RICHARD McNEY Staff Writer STEVENSVILLE Employees of the Kent Manor Inn and Restaurant call him Alex.Sometimes he tugs hair, sometimes he knocks things over or turns lights on and sometimes employees smell his cigar smoke lingering in the air. The only problem is that Alex is a ghost. Alexander Thompson called the Kent Manor Inn home during the original wing of the Kent Manor Inn dates back to 1820 and consisted of a living and cupboard on the first rooms on the second two large rooms on the third.Just prior to the Civil added four rooms on both the first and second floors and five smaller ones on the third.The three-story inn is located on a 226-acre farm with a mile and a half of waterfront and features 24 sleeping conference garden house and a restaurant. It is rumored that master bedroom was on the second floor in room 209.He is said to have died on the second floor of the inn around the age of 50.

During his was known as a womanizer who married about four times.Some employees believe that he still roams the drafty and dimly lit hall- ways and that he has not changed his womanizing ways. was told stories that the ghost would knock over drinks and turn lights on and Jennifer desk clerk at the I was a house keeper I would feel my hair being pulled.I know what that began working at the inn in that she The Kent Island October cents Bay Times Inside This Week Calendarp.2 Classifiedp.48 Editorialp.4 Healthp.33 Obituariesp.10 Real Estatep.58 Schoolp.28 Sportsp.37 Tidesp.47 Fire code violations being say page 3 Bay Bridge restrictions relaxed page 7 photos by Richard McNey The second floor door to the balcony at the Kent Manor Inn Restaurant in Stevensville has been known to blow open repeatedly for no known reason.Many believe that the ghost of Alexander Thompson is the cause of the strange happening. Julie manager at the Kent Manor Inn at the portrait of Alexander Thompson on the parlor wall.Some employees and guests believe that it is not the only reminder of Thompson at the inn. photo by Richard McNey Clover Field 325-acre founded in 1897 in Queenstown.The home on the farm dates back to 1730. Kent Manor Inn haunted? honored as Century Farm families See See Settlement reached on Four Seasons By JACK SHAUM Staff Writer CENTREVILLE Queen County Commissioners and developer K.Hovnanian have reached a settlement over the proposed Four Seasons project on Kent Island.

Greg county Commissioner Ben Joseph Cupani voted in favor of the set- tlement.Commissioners Gene Ransom and Mike Koval voted against it. Chip attorney representing the county in the Four Seasons this agreement ends all litigation between the county and K. Hovnanian. concludes difficult we are pleased to have the litigation behind said Mark president of K.Hovnanian.“We can now move ahead and build a first class community of which all Queen County residents can be According to a statement from the office released late Tuesday settlement calls for the county to to K. Hovnanian $350,000 of the payments that it otherwise would have received under the Developer Rights and See.