Page 20 - October 2020 Issue_Neat

Shore Noir: A woman would feel more accepted in a
progressive, urban area. She made the
Notorious Local most of her time there, earning regular
Personality attention from the Baltimore Sun due
to her spirited efforts in campaigning

Rediscovered for the right to vote for women. Easily
one of the most well-known suffrag-
by Chad Dean ettes in Maryland around the turn of
the century, Dean earned admiration
Prominent teacher, suffragette, and busi- and awards from feminist organizations

nesswoman Nettie Caroline Dean Carter around the state but also [predictably]
was born this month in 1877. In an scorn and derision from male writers
unusual twist of fate, the Ridgely native in the Sun's letters to the editor column.
seemingly has over the years received
more attention from the Baltimore press She generated enough noise to be
than she has from the local media and noticed in Annapolis as well. A familiar
county historians. Hopefully that will face in the halls of the state capitol from
change starting with this fresh look at petitioning for the right to vote, Dean
her life and several careers. ended up impressing legislators to the
extent that she was hired to work for Nettie Dean
After being named valedictorian during

the Speaker of the House of Delegates
commencement exercises at the Ridgely
in 1910. male-dominated era in almost all facets
Academy, Nettie Dean enrolled at the of public and private life.
Maryland State Normal School (now Dean returned to the media spotlight in
Towson University). Upon returning 1912 when she was called to be a witness Reinventing herself yet again, Dean

to Caroline County, Dean was named in a high-profi le bribery case based on briefly relocated to Daytona Beach in
principal at the Choptank School below what she had observed in the halls of the January of 1914 to operate the Raymond

Preston. She would later be hired away legislative complex. The Baltimore Sun Hotel. By summer she had returned to
to Kent County to teach in Rock Hall, again gushed at her poise in delivering the Eastern Shore, this time to purchase
where she would first create waves. key testimony, also noting that she was (with her sister Virginia) the Colonial

the reigning "stormy petrel of Mary- Hotel in Ocean City -- which was one
Dean made statewide news in 1901 via land politics" which was undoubtedly a of the original three hotels built in the
some rather unwanted publicity. Numer- compliment from the progressive news- resort town, it should be mentioned.
ous resources around Maryland pointed paper in an age of burgeoning female This pattern would continue for several

out that groups of parents especially in efficacy in government. In this time decades as she wintered in Florida and
Kent County but elsewhere during this period she also successfully protested ran the Maryland resort hotel during our
era were challenging the practice of a lack of additional pay in working traditional beach season. Denton Jour-
corporal punishment in schools. Nettie the periodic evening sessions of the nal records indicate that both properties
got caught up in this movement as she Maryland General Assembly. Of further were a revolving door of sorts as family
was arrested in 1901 for whipping a male note is the fact that Nettie served as the members and friends from Caroline
student by the last name of Collier with executor of the estate of both her mother County were guests and employees of
a switch. Newspapers in every corner and father, which was rare at the time hers in Ocean City and Florida; many
of the state, at the height of yellow jour- but again showed just how astute and would often reciprocate that hospitality

nalism sensationalism, followed the respected she was in what was still a for her when she returned to Ridgely.
story with interest; she was found not
guilty and again exonerated on appeal in
1902 as the courts ruled that disciplin-
ing schoolchildren in the manner she “Simply, Peacefully, Together”
pursued was justified when warranted.

Moral of the story: do not mess with RIDGELY CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN
the Dean family, especially ones that are
educators! [Author's note: ahem.] 110 Park Ave., Ridgely, MD
Church 410-634-1103 | 410-714-1167
Subsequently, Dean took up residence in
Baltimore. While she adamantly pointed
out to anyone that questioned her that
she only rented in the city while continu- Worship Service at 10:30 AM
ing to own property in Caroline County, Following Covid-19 Guidelines
it is easy to see how a smart, independent
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