Launch Event
Parkers Creek Heritage Trail
June 6, 2026
On this page . . .
Introduction
On National Trails Day, June 6, 2026, the American Chestnut Land Trust staged the official launch of the Parkers Creek Heritage Trail at ACLT’s North Side Trailhead at the Double Oak property. This free community event featured guided hikes, educational exhibits, a living history performance, and other activities throughout the day.
Descendants and friends of the Wallace, Commodore, and Parker families, long time residents of the Parkers Creek watershed. This display tent was devoted to the history of these families and included posters based in HeritageTrail signs and webpages.
Opening program
The event began with formal program that featured a number of speakers and a special performer. The following illustrated list provides the start time for each person in the videorecording linked below.
John Yoe, ACLT President,
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Starts at twenty seconds in
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Greeting and welcome
Abby Ybarra, ACLT land acknowledgement
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Starts at 3:25
Autumn Phillips-Lewis, ACLT Executive Director
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Starts at 5:40
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Welcome, ACLT commitment to trail hiking and to local history and cultural resources
Carl Fleischhauer, ACLT Heritage Trail project coordinator
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Starts at 10:00
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About the Heritage Trail project
Darlene Harrod, ACLT board member and Heritage Trail project planner and researcher
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Starts at 16:47
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About the project's special focus on Black history
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Introduction of the Living History performer
Shemika Renee, Living History Performer
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Starts at 18:00
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Shemika Renee plays the role of Hattie Commodore Wallace, 1894-1974
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Hattie was married to John Cephas Wallace and lived just south side of Parkers Creek.
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Several of Hattie's descendants were present, including Delois Harrod Johnson.
Closing remarks by Autumn Phillips-Lewis and additional scenes of the event
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Starts at 31:00; end of recording at 33:33
Upon arrival, Shemika Renee is greeted by Delois Johnson.
Diplay tables and guided hikes
Several display tables were set up, featuring materials that pertained to the signs and webpages from the Heritage Trail project.
Robert Hurry, retired archivist at the Calvert Marine Museum with an explanatory poster about the pound net fishery at Parkers Creek, a sample of fish netting, and a net needle.
Darlene Harrod, ACLT board member, talks to Delois Johnson and Jessica Brooks. The illustrated panels in the background provide historical information about the Wallace and Parker families.
A variety of guided hikes were provided. These two photographs were made on a hike that visited the following sites, relevant to Black history: John W. and Sarah Scales house, Daniel Wallace site, Joseph and Arabella Wallace farm, and the sign commemorating Benefit Societies established by Blacks in the 19th century.
Co-Sponsors and Community Partners
ACLT thanks the organizations supporting this event and the broader Heritage Trail initiative, including:
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Calvert County NAACP
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Southern Maryland Equity in History Coalition
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Calvert County Minority Business Alliance
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Calvert Library
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Calvert Historical Society
More photos from event
