The Star Press from Muncie, Indiana • Page 20

SECTION B-PAGE 8 THE MUNCIE STAR, SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 1980 Early Residents of Tiny Maryland Town Played Role in History By RITA WINTERS Oxford, In Talbott, situated on a point In the Tred Avon River nearjhe Elizabeth Skinner collected fares for the ferry service In tobacco when she opened the line in 1760, 56 years before Indiana became a state. From that year until 1886, the system used a small barge rowed by several men to carry a horse and Its vehicle from Oxford to Bellevue, early settlements, on the eastern shore of Early In June, a group of Muncie'area tourists were hosted by Historic Annapolis Inc. on an an escorted tour to the eastern shore of Maryland, allowing an entire day for exploration of the area. Th Slar'i Women'i Editor OXFORD, Md. The oldest ferry believed to have continuously operated as a ''free" ferry, that Is, one not attached to a cable, is modern, diesel-powered and used today on a simple, scenic route, transporting passengers from this town of 1,000 residents, across the Tred Avon River to Belle vue, Md.

But the U.S. history expounded at the foot of Morris Street in this early eastern town is much more significant. inopianx, is pan oi uie ncn ronment depicted in the lengthy novel "Chesapeake," written by best selling author James A. Mi-chener. proclaimed a port of entry In iqai, Oxford had close connect Hons with the third Urd of 8al timore.

The tady of Baltimore' brother, Col. Vincent Lowe, wgs winter king one of the persons named to lay out the town. Lowe's sister was 4t married tn Charles Calvert in 16G6 while he was governor of Maryland, SiFrf-. mfr OXFORD and later, Calvert became the third person designated Lord of Baltimore. Oxford, at that time, shared importance with Annapolis as a port to receive tobacco, ropes apd ship supplies, The ectivity made PW of its companies, and also the men who ran them, wealthy.

In view of that, and considering the geographical emphasis of Chesapeake Bay, it also became attractive as a haven for pirates. 6uch legendary men as gtede Bonnet, Blackboard Ed Teach and others, found for themselves and their ships. Acpording to stories handed down through generations, the pirates called themselves the "Prethren" and posed 8 Quakers as a front to conduct their raids, From that period until 1750, the Talbott County school fund would boast contributions from tlw "Quakers" of Spanish doubloons, pistoles (also, a Spanish gold coin), und pieces of eight, 0 Also enhanced by the Bay was the aptlve ship buying industry that developed in the area. An other important U.8. historical aspect about this tiny penisula, Is that a resident, Lt.

Col. Tench Tilghman, was the Revoliitionlary War soldier who carried the message of Cornwallis' surrender, from Yprk-town to the Continental Congress In Philadelphia, Tilghman, Qeorge Washington's close friend and aide, was born near Easton, and his widow lived et an estate called Plimhlmmon, which is owned today and maintained as a private residence. Early trading records show that Foster Cunltffe and Sons of Liverpool established a profiifio business house in Oxford, managed by Robert' Morris Sr. While Morris occupied himself with trading tobacco, wheat, pork and forest materials, he also acknowledged the busy ship construction yard workers in Oxford and the needs of their families. Morris began a supply store for the residents of Oxford- When the French and English war erupted in 1744, Morris contracted the clothing for the Maryland troops with yardage from stock In his Oxford supply store.

In 1748, his son, Robert, arrived in Philadelphia, and it is believed that later the son resided in Oxford. But the point of all of this information is that the son is the Morris that history credits as the financier pf the Amer-. lean Revolution, as this country's first superintendent of finance, one who served as a member of Congress and was later the skilled leader of the Willing, Morris and Co. of Philadelphia. The Morris Rome, part of it original, is today maintained ss an inn and restaurant, where this writer and others from the historic preservation tour shared luncheon.

Four important murals are hung on the walls of the inn's dining room, whiph were recopied at the direction Of former First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy, for use in the White House. After the Revolutionary War (about 1780), the prosperous period en-Joyed by Oxford began to move fo other sites. Baltimore was growing, due to the westward move of eastern residents and due to the clipper manufacturing shipyards. Oxford's activity was reduced to a small community of persons who could glean their Jiving from the abundant coves of the bay selling and eating the abundant seafood and who walked by the empty warehouses each day to dq it. By the middle 1850s a military preparatory school was opened, and Ox- ford felt its prosperity.

But fires destroyed the buildings and after six brief years, the school was never re-opened. Only later, the establishment of the Maryland Military and Naval Academy, equal in size and activity to West Point and Annapolis, caused Oxford to take a third breath. In J885, the school published a catalog a nouncing it could accept ffl padets but administrative trouble? caused the effort to also meet a quick deniise. Again Oxford returned to the seafood harvest, and never since the late 1800s has the population size changed, or the interest of ts citizens pr gressed. Today, it rests on Us laurels, for boat building, a craft still pursued, and is a tranquil haven for the watermen who harvest its oysters, crabs, clams and fish; Tourists Wmber over heaving brlc sidewalks that create the path from the town dock to the Oxford Museum, pass by the old Academy house, see the home bearing the Nellie R.

Stevens holly plant, named for an Oxford teacher, and peruse the boats tethered to the marina, now a modern day harbor for those sailors who cannot resist the attraction of the eastern shore. Artist's sketch of the Oxford Port, 1980 Artist's drawing of the Oxford Water Front Solution for Homeless Children Not As Simple As It Seems (Continued Frpm Page 5B) the living room. You must respect the Latin depend upon the fee stating the sworn number of children already in the home, certificate of ste ney fees for adoption are $600 or $1,200. Pon't get ''taken." Obtain the 1-600 forms and file a pre-adoption petition with ins ahead of time, This will save you time during your stay abroad. Allow at least 60 days for the preprocessing to clear, You will be filing on behalf of an "unnamed orphan" In order to have your fingerprints cleared to Adopt Internationally' pror vides step-by-step adoption procedure for foreign countries.

Follow the instructions line-by-line and check off completed requirements as you go, And make sure you do not forget those documents before making (he trip. There are several well-known, established foreign adoption agencies work-' ing within the S. One pf the best prr ganized is Holt International Children's Services, Jno begun by Harry and Bertha Holt more than years ago. They place children from Korea, India, Philippines, Nicarauga, and Thailand- The time range of adoption through Holt varies from six months to three years. Processing fee is about $2,000, and transportation costs are additional and range from $soo to $9oo for escort ing a child to the u.8.

Children from Thailand cannot be escorted, and travel is required of adoptive parents. Holt expects to place 650 to 700 children in the U.S. this year. Korean families are adopting infants and toddlers, so homes are more urgently needed for boys age 6 and over and girls age 8 and up, sibling groups of three or more and children with significant medical probr lems. You can write to Holt International Children's Services, P.O.

Box 2880, Eugene, Oregon, 97402, for more information. Families for Children, is working to place children from India and Bangladesh, They accept only families with no more than two children, and families must be able to accept a child of any race, including black, For more information, write to them at 10 Bowling Green, Pointe Claire, Quebec, Can- ada H9S 4W1. Their estimated adoption cost is $1,500. Friends of Children, Box 720535, Atlanta, 30328, also handles foreign adoptions, placement fees for adopting children from India or adoptions or guardianships or custody arrangements, and the children can be escorted to the U.S. Most foreign adoptions take place through the parent-iniated adoption process, and you will be doing the leg-work and paperwork yourself.

There are advantages to this method. You know exactly where your paperwork is and you have greater input into the adoption experience, Also, you have a very good chance of being able to select your own child, not merely waiting to have one assigned to you. While your home study is in process, write to foreign adoption sources. Tell them the type of child you desire and a little background information about yourself. Be friendly but brief in the initial query.

At the same time, write to the U.S. Consulate in that area. Ask for a listing of orphanages within their jurisdiction, information about adoption requirements there, and a list of reputable attorneys in their area. Once you do go abroad to bring home your child, the U.S. Consulate may also be able to help you find a doctor to give the child a medical exam and also help clear visa requirements to re-enter the U.S.

Develop your liason early. Keep in mind your contacts abroad may need time in replying to your Inquiries. In many areas, your letter must be translated. You will probably receive a reply back in their native language and you, also, will have to seek a translator, But write in English, you can ask questions and say what you mean more succinctly than trying to write in someone else's language. Notarization Of all documents is extremely important.

Be certain you have obtained all the needed documents and signatures before making the trip. Angelina Bablick of Torrance, California, an acquaintance of ours, recently adopted an infant girl in a small town In central Mexico. Before the adoption process was finalized, she and her husband had flown from Mexico to Los Angeles three times to pick up needed papers! Their expenses totalled nearly $3,500 and most of that was air fare. Beware, also, of the fallacy of foreigners that American streets are paved with gold and every U.S. citizen is a millionaire.

Get costs in writing and be informed whether foreign attor- child's culture and country. If the child has difficulty adjusting to U.S. ways, you must not be Initially alarmed. He is being brought Into a strange environment with different people, language and culture. He has been separated from the birthplace he has known all his life.

His adjustment problems can show up in anything from temper tantrums to withdrawal to diarrhea, infants may show fussi-ness and inability to sleep at night. Parenting may not be an easy matter, at least not for awhile. If a child has been deprived of the basic neccessities of life, he may fight over food, overeat, and be possessive of his clothing and belongings. Because he may take special understanding and care, other siblings could become jealous of their adopted sister or brother, Does this all sound discouraging? If you believe in foreign adoption, you will be aware of pitfalls but not influenced by them in making your final decision, You still want to adopt a foreign child. Foreign adoption is a beautiful way of expressing an open home and heart to the world.

How do you start? You must begin by remembering, right from the first, that a foreign adoption is a long, complex process. It takes time. You must be patient, but there are several things you can do to speed up the process. You can be organized. "Your function is that of the expeditercoordinator," write the Erichsens.

"Endless delays can be avoided If you take responsibility for the paperwork shuffle. Always know who has your papers, why and what happens next. Moust of the sources are not yet familiar with foreign adoptions, Nor, in fact, are many of the private adoption agencies in the U.S., the public adoption units, state departments of public welfare and local Immigration and Naturalization Service offices. Yet most of them will be involved in the handling of your paperwork. Your dossier to adopt will include the following: birth certificates of parents, marriage certificate, financial statements (bank, employer, 1040 form), three letters of recommendations (case worker, physician, preferably notarized), a family certificate capita income.

The Erichsens also compiled listings of writing addresses wth the proper countries, including governmental adoption bureaus, pr-phanges and other sources of children. The book may be ordered by mail at a cost of $9.95 per volume by writing to Lbs Ninos, 819 W. 28th Minneapolis, Minn. 55408. The Erichsens point out that foreign adoptions may be either agency-initiated or parent-initiated, adding that without parent-initiated searches for children, many youngsters would never have a chance.

They remind prospective parents that foreign adoptions are not necessarily quicker than domestic adoptions, despite the availability of children. Foreign adoptions are also expensive; primarily air fare to and from another country hikes up the expenses. Each country has its own adoption policy and sometimes, each state or area within a country makes up its own set of rules. Rules and regulations change constantly. Although foreign adoption can be a satisfying alternative for couples or single parents, there are several factors to consider, If you adopt a child of a different race, your family will be interracial for generations.

Can you accept It? People will also assume the baby is yours, that one of the parents was Spaniard, Oriental or black. You will get stares, curious questions and perhaps outright open hostility, Will you be able to handle lt? you encourage the child to assume your family's identity or maintain his own heritage? The people he loves best look different to him. Should he1 have a foreign name? Will he be able to assume status with friends? And in the teen-age years, what about dating? Will your friends and neighbors accept his socializing And the final question, who will he marry? You should be prepared if he chooses a Spaniard, Oriental or black. To find answers to these questions, the most Important task is to analyze why you want to adopt a foreign child. Remember that you are adopting a person, not a tropical house plant for pnargeq py me agency (nose counr tries, in India, Friends of Children charges a $600 service fee, because the paperwork Js complicated and the agency maintains contact with the ap: plicant for several years.

In Latin America, you maintain your own con-tact. Adventist Adoption Agency, p.O. BOX 2842, Pasco, Washington 99302, has recently started work with an adoption agency in Guatemala, They set an estimated fee of $3,500 for a Guatemalan Child with 4 SlX-month waiting period. As soon aa your new child arrives home, you want to Initiate paperwork, so he can become a citizen- Until naturalization Is completed, you will have to report Wro. as an alien ach, year- Foreign adoptions are frustrating, at best, and most adoptive couples agree it is a bewildering experience not soon forgotten.

"I can't begin to tell you how pressed I was when trying to adopt our daughter In Angelina Bab. lick says, Although I was bom In the y.S am Mexican, and I know adoption 'Proceedings were easier for me than it might be for someone else. But even with that advantage, it was dis: couraging." One Delaware County mother who adopted through Halt toils about heiC troubles with governmental red tape; ''We were notified when our adopted, daughter was born in Korea. It took six months before we obtained visa clear ance, and she could be escorted to the! U.S, At the time pf her birth, we felt re-I sponsible for her. We wanted to takef care of her.

When I called Immigration to Inquire about our paperwork, the woman employee was not sympathetic, saying; "You adoptive parents are all alike, you think it la a life or situation if the child is not brought to the U.S. right away. These children can survive without you." After an eight month wait, the same little g)r was finally naturalized, despite paperwork filed Immediately after her arrival. Although foreign adoption was frustrating, the same family is considering adopting again. It II Impossible for them not to care.

rility, if required; power of attorney, at least two photos pf the family members, affidavit of support form (get this from Immigration), an introductory letter to the agency you select to help find a child, and sometimes, translation of documents. ICeep mind all documents must be notarized. To deal with the Immigration and Naturalization Services, documents must also be legible and notarized. Write ahead of time and ask for the Form 1-600 adoption packet. You must also file two copies of the affidavit of support form, biological information forms for both parents, fingerprint charts for an FBI check of prospective parepts, proof of S.

citizenship (usually the birth certificate), birth certificate of the phild, marriage license (if applicable), proof of termination of prior marriages, evidence of support, statement of military service, statement that pre-adoption requirements are fulfilled (notification that home study is approved. This is sent to INS through the Indiana Department of Public Welfare who conducts foreign adoption home studies free of charge, Make sure the state has sent the home study report), a note signed by parents that they will pay for any long-distance phone calls or cablegrams regarding the adoption, and a $35 filing fee accompanying each adoption Referring again to the Erichsens study, we point out that before you commit yourself to an adoption agency, you should know exactly that services this agency will perform and what their fee will be. If you are adopting directly from a private source in another country, have the authorized mediator put down in writing all the costs invoi and the length of time you will be expected to stay in that country. You should also know if any agency has a child placing contract in a foreign country. There are about 20 U.S.

agencies that do have these contracts or agreements. Once the home study is completed and the required documents submitted, clients can wait for the child to be assigned. In some foreign, countries, governments permit proxy.