Music is served … - Irish American News

January 2006 IRISH AMERICAN NEWS 37conjures up an image of a group of precision marching, sharply multiple functions. They were meeting places where news wasuniformed midshipmen moving from class to class at the United exchanged, points of contact between shippers of merchandiseStates Naval Academy. To others, the name of Annapolis refers and shipmasters who would carry goods to distant ports. One ofto important chapters in the history of the American Revolution the local institutions, Reynold’s Tavern on Church Circle, wasagainst the British crown. It was in this small Maryland port founded in 1747. On Market Square, at the harbor entrance is thetown that our first national capital was situated.inn that has catered to seafarers since 1754. It’s called MiddletonAnd it was in a tiny assembly room of the State Capitol that Tavern and it is still serving lunches and dinners.George Washington resigned his commission as the nation’s The City Dock has been the heart of Annapolis since 1695.first Commander In Chief of the Continental Army. Here, too, in Now the center of recreational boating, it was once the point atJanuary of 1784, just a few weeks after Washington’s resignation, which slaves, imported from Africa, were auctioned. Tobaccothe Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War was ratified by exports made up the bulk of merchandise being shipped from thethe Continental Congress. Annapolis was home to four signers Colony to England while manufactured goods were delivered toof the Declaration of Independence including Charles Carroll, Colonists after being off-loaded from arriving ships.the only Roman Catholic signer, who encouraged religious Mansions owned by a couple of signers of the Declaration ofdiversity in the new nation.Independence can be toured. The 1763 William Paca House orThe naval background of the city of 35,000, along with the the 1774 Hammond-Harwood House are fully furnished withimportant contribution it made to the development of our nationalinstitutions, make Annapolis a place well worth visiting. view of its formal English landscape. The beautifully preservedauthentic period pieces. The Paca garden is worth a visit for aAnnapolis’ city plan features two traffic circles. In the center of furniture makes the house seem like someone will be returningone, only a half block from the Tourist Information Center, lies from the Capitol after the legislative session concludes, and willSt. Anne’s Church. Still holding a regular schedule of services, expect dinner on the table.St. Anne’s was attended by Francis Scott Key between 1789 and1800 in the years he was a young lawyer and before he composedthe lyrics to the national anthem. Three of the four signers ofthe Declaration also worshipped in this church.At the other traffic circle you’ll find the Maryland StateHouse, the nation’s oldest continuously functioning buildingholding a legislative body. Tours of the Naval Academy are amust. Academy tours emphasize the extent to which sports playa part in the curriculum of the school. Certainly the Academy isabout learning engineering, math, science and other technicalaspects of becoming a naval officer, but its primary purpose isto instill a feeling of teamwork and tradition in the 1,250 plebeswho are admitted to the Academy each year.Chesapeake Bay is the reason for Annapolis’ earliest history.The County’s more than 500 miles of shoreline offered sailingvessels a safe harbor and commerce developed as a result. InAnnapolis’ harbor, you can experience a sailing trip through ChesapeakeBay aboard the schooner Woodwind or a sightseeing excursion through themouth of the Severn River on the Harbor Queen. When you’re out on a sail,you might even encounter Captain Billy Baye whose costume and beard addanother dimension to a visit. When asked, Billy will regale you with storiesabout visits to Annapolis from pirate Calico Jack Rackhorn or one he calls“a pirate of exquisite mind,” William Vampier.Annapolis’ main industry is fishing. Maryland crab cakes and other specialtiesare available in most restaurants. In the 18th Century, taverns servedOur stay in Annapolis was a delight in good part due to thehospitality of Robert Dunn whose Inn at 30 Maryland is in theheart of the historic district. Dunn began his career as a chef.He was lucky to find a location within two blocks of an Academyentrance, St. John’sCollege and the StateHouse. He’s done muchto upgrade the propertyand still uses his culinaryskills to prepareoutstanding breakfastsfor his guests. There aresome 30 bed and breakfastestablishments inAnnapolis as well asconventional hotels.There’s no doubt thatthe business of Annapolis,the military necessityof the U.S. Naval Academyand the operationof the State governmentof Maryland are priorityinterests. But the hospitalityshown duringour visit there madeus very much at home.Annapolis, especiallywith its Irish background,offers a chanceto visit a communitywhere there’s a feelingof history, a sense ofpatriotic responsibilityand a connection to ourcolonial past.CAR PROBLEMS?•LEMON LAW•ODOMETER TAMPERING•AUTO ACCIDENT CLAIMSToll Free: 1-888-4-LEMONS (453-6667)CONSUMER LEGAL SERVICES, P.C.WWW.LEMONAUTO.COMAttorney and CounselorBrian Burke