By Dan Baldwin (The Avenue News, 2/5/2016)
The Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River has a new vice president. Newly-elected President Terri Knachel nominated Rhonda Hardesty as her “right hand man” during the group’s monthly meeting on Thursday, Feb. 4th, 2016.
Knachel was named the museum’s president last month after June Donovan stepped down from the position.
The new president and vice president are no strangers when it comes to working together, Knachel said. The pair have worked together in the past through their artistic ventures.
Hardesty is the proud owner of Fantasy Artz Studio in Essex and Knachel is the owner of Defy the Ordinary Artworks in Middle River. Both artists specialize in painting murals and face and body art.
With her background in art, Hardesty said she looks to bring a lot of her artistic and creative ability to the museum. One way in doing so would be to having the museum host Paint Night fundraisers, she
said.
“I plan to be [Knachel’s] right hand man and do whatever needs to be done,” Hardesty told the Avenue. “I want to see the museum prosper, and flourish, and bring in new people. I want to see more adults and children, and to see more people of our generation.”
“There is a lot of heritage around here that we don’t want to be lost,” she added.
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Museum photos and clippings come from the Heritage Society Baumgartner Archives and other sources, scanned by Rita Gaunt, museum photos by Sue Carter and additional research by archivist Scott Huffines.
This print archive captures a historical snapshot of life in Essex and Middle River, Maryland. The archive contains nearly 300 categorical binders documenting our community activities with articles, pamphlets, and photographs from 1969 through the 1980s. The Heritage Society has been scanning the collection to our website to share with our extended community.
As we continue to build new collections, we are seeking new materials such as photographs and ephemera that pertain to the community and business history of Essex and Middle River. Please contact essexmuseum@gmail.com if you have historical memories or items to donate or would like to become a member.
Read more about the Heritage Society Baumgartner Archives.