American Conversations On Maryland Politics - Dirck Bartlett And Talbot County

Dirck Bartlett lives in Talbot County on the eastern shore of Maryland. He is the descendant of Mr. and Mrs. Ezekiel Cowgill, and their son, James. The Cowgills were Quakers. Ezekiel and James owned Lombardy Plantation in Talbot County.

After the Civil War ended in 1865, eighteen black soldiers returned to the plantation, and the Cowgills offered the veterans a plot of land in exchange for helping them build a school and St. Stephen's Church, which still stands today. Prior to 1870, the land was called Cowgilltown. Later, it was renamed the "Village of Unionville" in honor of those living there, who fought in the Union Army.

Dirck Bartlett talks with American Conversations Co-Host Christine Dolan about his family history, his time serving on the Talbot County Council for 12 years, and one of the more pressing issues for Talbot County Council candidates in 2022 race - keeping Talbot County a rural area and environmentally healthy.