Carr’s Beach…

Greetings, Friends of Westtown Monthly Meeting,

The annual theme of Black History Month is established by the ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History).  The theme for 2024 is: African Americans and the Arts. 

The entertainment venue called Carr’s Beach was founded in 1926 by the family of a formerly enslaved Black farmer named Frederick Carr. Carr had originally purchased 180 acres of farmland on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River in 1902.

To find a venue where talented Black performers could present their music was challenging in the segregated era of the 1940s-1960s. The musicians looked for very special locations facilitated by very special hosts. In 1947, Charles W. “Hoppy” Adams was hired as a disc jockey (d.j., deejay) at Annapolis based WANN radio station. Carr’s Beach, on the banks of the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, was one venue where Hoppy Adams could broadcast WANN live, showcasing the skills of Black musicians. The available venues for music may have been mostly segregated in the 1940s-1960s, but radio could reach all people. Black deejays played an indispensable role in the success of Black radio as it promoted Black culture and music.

Please see this Black History Month poster for more information!

We thank you for your interest and willingness to learn!

Sincerely,

The WMM D.E.I. Committee

Ann Marlowe and Charlotte Feierman, Co-Clerks