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| Anne Cheston(1881-1951) |
Dr Morris Cheston was Owensville’s doctor from 1881 to 1898.
His daughter, Anne, got the idea at age 35 to start a business.
So, in 1916 she built a charming little cottage beside the new State Road. She planted shrubbery, a rose trellis, hung window boxes with flowers, and called it The Tea House.
“Friends made reservations to come for tea & sandwiches in the afternoon”, remembered Sally Whall, Anne's niece.
Parents took their children for homemade ice cream. Auto travelers stopped for cake and lemonade. “At that time the State Rd was the only road from Baltimore to Washington, and Anne had a right good little business.” [Kate Chew]
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| The Tea House c1920 (SWhall photo) |
In 1917 two companies of soldiers marching from Ft Foote stopped and camped overnight behind the Tea House. They were headed to the War in France.
“Miss Anne Cheston, who heard of their coming, notified all the whole countryside and everyone thronged in automobiles, carriages and horseback and afoot to give them a welcome.” [news clipping Jun.1917]
“Soon after the war, King Albert and Queen Elizabeth of Belgium came from Baltimore to Washington with a small cavalcade. One of their cars went off the road near The Tea House and an aide was hurt. Dr Cawood was sent for. He told us afterwards he met the monarchs, and I’m sure he did, for they would have surely thanked him.” [Kate Chew]
Anne closed her Tea House after 5 or 6 years of operation. For awhile it was rented by various newlywed couples. Then, in the 40's, Dr Emily Wilson bought it for her office.
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| House call 1950's by Dr Wilson (b1904-d2007) |
Dr Wilson was a living legend. Beginning in 1929, she was the first woman doctor in southern Anne Arundel County.
Emily Wilson: “People weren’t sure I knew what I was doing. So my first patient was a dog that had been hit by a car. The dog survived and my practice picked up!”
Dr Wilson served the West River area for 53 years. She lived to be 103. In the days of segregation she was scrupulous about treating her patients equally. Her waiting room was integrated, with a first-come-first-served policy. She carried on the service tradition of Anne’s father, Dr Cheston, who in 1898 got up from his death bed to attend one last patient, an indigent former slave.
In 2012 Anne Arundel County declared the Tea House “significant” for its association with early 20th century women’s history & commerce.
As I write this, the State Highway Administration is widening roads on two sides of the Tea House. Earth movers, gravel trucks, and flagmen are milling about, but the little cottage is secure. The County has an eye on it.
