Recall I discussed Father Johnson’s booklet Good News About Citizens, Towns and Villages of St. Mary’s. (If not, click here for that discussion.)
Today let’s look at what he had to say about the County’s southern most town of Scotland.
Couple observations about what the good Father had to say:
- I was a little surprised to find Scotland even mentioned as one of the 19 communities that Father discusses in his book. Other communities such as Leonardtown, St. Mary’s City and Charlotte Hall were not included. So it was nice that Father included Scotland.
- Father mentions Scotland postmistress Mrs. Queenie Willis whom I have discussed previously here on the Buzzyblog (click here.) He does not note that the original Scotland Post Office was located in Buzzy’s Country Store known back then as Shuman’s Store. Mrs. Shuman was the first Scotland postmistress, followed by my Grandmother Anna Raley when she and my Grandfather Harry owned Buzzy’s (1945 – 1954.) The Scotland Post Office was subsequently moved to the location Father Johnson discusses above in his comments.
- Whereas in his other discussions of other towns, Father Johnson mentions the local stores and businesses, he said nothing about the Scotland country stores once located at Scotland Beach, Cornfield Harbor nor the Shuman Store which later became Buzzy’s. This seemed to be part of an overall pattern in Father Johnson’s reviews as he did not reference any Jewish nor black-owned businesses in any of the communities that he discussed in his booklet. Note that it was the Shumans who started and owned Buzzy’s from 1897 to 1945 when they sold the business to my Grandparents Harry and Anna Raley. My parents Jean and Buzzy purchased it in 1954.
- But I don’t want to sound too critical here of Father’s Scotland entry in his booklet. As I stated above it was very nice that he included Scotland and that he recognized and complimented the folks that he singled out particularly my Grandfather Clarence Ridgell and my Uncles Harry Beall and Thomas Ridgell. I particularly like Father’s summary paragraph about Scotland when he said:
For some reason this opening song lyric came to mind just now: “Well, it’s the same kind of story that seems to come down from long ago, two friends having coffee together when something flies by the window.” Fleetwood Mac featuring Bob Welch pre-Stevie and Lindsay.