Please join us by becoming a member of the Nanticoke Historic Preservation Alliance, Inc.   Your financial support will help us purchase and restore the Handsell plantation house.  Following restoration Handsell will be open to the public for special displays and activities, in addition to special “Members Only” events.  Members will also receive a quarterly Newsletter,  printed invitation to all special events and fundraisers and email notices (if you wish to subscribe).

You can print out the 2023 Membership form and send with check (made out to the Nanticoke Historic Preservation Alliance) to:  NHPA, Inc, Miriam Zijp, Membership Chair,128 Regulator Drive North., Cambridge, MD 21613 (For corporate membership, scroll below).

OR JOIN US HERE by clicking the DONATE button below.  All donations over $35 will include NHPA membership.

Note for Current NHPA Members: Membership renewal letters went out to previous members in October of 2022.  Next Membership Mailing will be in October of 2023.  Please check to see if you are up to date.

You can send in a membership to the NHPA at any time during the year to help in the needed restoration at Handsell.  You may also dedicate any donations to the “Restoration Fund” for Handsell and 100% of your donation will go into the repairs needed at the house.  You may also direct your donations to either the African American Steering Committee OR the Native American Steering Committee.  Membership questions may be directed to:  Miriam Zijp  443-477-6396 or Midge Ingersoll 410-228-7458

The Old Brick House at Chicone

by Margaret Wright Ingersoll, 2012

 She slept so long under ivy shroud

That all who knew her passed.

So far gone in a village’s thoughts

There was no one left to ask.

Alone but strong, yet still she stands

Her walls at last are showing

The tilt and stress of weakened knees

And mortar cracks are growing.

Ancient hopes and dreams are hiding,

Sorrows, still, are lost to dust.

Plaster walls hide memories here

 As stairways sag and hinges rust.

Oh heal with mortar and patch with nails

And bless the ground below!

A thousand years she guards for us

And begs for us to know!

Find her a mason!  Call her a Carpenter!

She has not died, she waits and more

To see sunlight though new glassy eyes,

And feel breezes through her door.