At the urging of a Kent County man named William Frisby, the Town of Chester came into existence in April 1706 with the passage of a bill in the General Assembly calling "for the advancement of trade and erecting ports and towns in the colony."
In the years that followed, Chestertown grew into a busy port of entry—a hub of commerce, a political center, and the site of a liberal arts college whose patrons were among the leaders of the day. Since Washington College's founding in 1782, Chestertown and the college on Washington Avenue have been inextricably connected.
As Chestertown undertakes a yearlong celebration of its 300th anniversary, beginning in April 2006, Washington College will undoubtedly play an important role. Jennifer Bershon, the College Registrar, is serving on the C-300 Board, which is developing a calendar of events and projects including a colonial ball, a Native American festival, and a music festival.
To commemorate the town's birthday, the College's Literary House Press is publishing a collection of essays focused on Chestertown and written by authors associated with Washington College. The book will be released this fall.
To help kick off the festivities, writer and historian Adam Goodheart, the C.V. Starr Scholar, will give the keynote address at the Kent County Historical Society's dinner on April 27. That weekend, the Starr Center will sponsor a symposium devoted to Chestertown's history. The conference will bring together Washington College students, outside scholars, and the larger community to explore the unique past of this Eastern Shore town through lectures, exhibits and other events. Topics will range from Chestertown's colonial and Revolutionary heritage to the present day; from race relations to archaeology and historic preservation.
Washington College students are invited to submit papers for presentation at the symposium. For details and essay guidelines, students may visit the web at www.washcoll.edu.
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