Washington Volvo Club Firande 1999

Washington Volvo Club - Washington, DC Since 1975!

The Washington Volvo Club
Washington, DC

Firande '99

The Inn at Perry Cabin

Sunday, April 25, 1999

2:00PM - 4:00 PM

The Inn at Perry Cabin

St. Michaels, Maryland

4/25/99 8:15 p.m. EDT: The event was a great success. Here are some preliminary photos - look for more next month!
Paul M. Provencher

Tuesday, April 27, 1999 9:22 p.m. EDT: I took the attached pictures at the Firande event on Sunday April 25, 1999 with my digital camera. Feel free to use them in the newsletter if you wish.

Harold Wood

Updated 03/17/07 02:06:05 PM -0500

Update from the May 1999 Volvamus Newsletter:

Eighty plus members and guests on April 25 got an opportunity to sample the ambiance that the Eastern Shore of Maryland is noted for. The day began around 10AM with explorations of the many sights and exhibits at the Chesapeake Maritime Museum and concluded with the magnificence of the facilities at the Inn at Perry Cabin. The last of the Volvos in the Inn’s parking area were there until around 6PM and a certain white 122 coupe was seen parked along the main street in St. Michael’s after 6:30PM or so. All in all, a long day but filled with great adventures and the pleasure of good friends.

The Chesapeake Maritime Museum was founded in 1965 and is strongly committed to the preservation of the past history of and assurance of the continuing strength of the Chesapeake Bay as a whole. Well worth a visit, the Museum is spread over an 18-acre site with displays and structures that give you a very complete history of America’s "most productive estuary". A return visit is recommended and if you missed this trip, we urge you to come down and visit the Museum. Time well spent!

The staff at the Inn was kind enough to allow us to place some of our cars on the lawn area facing the Miles River, just outside our Dining Room. It was noted that several of the sailboats on the River came closer in to scope out the beauties. The exhibited cars ranged from a new S80 sedan to a C70 convertible, and a new Cross-Country, all three brought over from the good people at Martens Volvo. These three beauties were joined by some member’s cars, like the Odenthal 850 wagon, the Franklin 745, two gorgeous 1800’s, The 122s of Jerry and Darlene Sira, and, of course, my PV-544, the Toad. They all did a fine job of representing Volvo history and excellence.

The reputation that the Inn at Perry Cabin has gained over the years is well deserved. The entire meal was served as if each guest was the only person getting that meal. You did not feel that there was some assembly line out back turning out the food. And the food was so good! Exquisite!

Before and after the dinner, many members took the opportunity to wander around through the Inn and explore some of the individual areas. There is no hint from the exterior as to what glories lie inside. A very special place. Come and visit the Inn when a special celebration is called for.

Sadly, Ray Parsons was ill on Saturday and was not able to crawl down for the event. He was missed, glad to report he’s recovered and back on track!

Thanks are to be extended to Ray Parsons and to Alan Marsh for another superb choice of venues. Thanks also go out to Steuart Martens, Wayne Mayhew, and Pat McNeil from Martens Volvo for lugging the new Volvos over for us to admire and desire. Thanks to the Museum for the use of the hall in the Steamboat Building and to Mrs. Lally for the great eats while we were at the Museum. Thanks to Executive Chef Mark Salter and the staff at the Inn for the memorable meal and accommodations. And, last but not least, "Thank You" to Dan Johnston of VCNA, Rockleigh, NJ for the financial support and for the three boxes of door prizes he sent down on Friday.

And, lest I forget, the photos you see within this issue were all taken by our own Larry Franklin. Paul has also put some of his photos, as well as several by Harold Wood, on the Web Page. Larry’s photos will also get onto the Web Page shortly.

Once again: Thanks to all that came and to all that had a hand in making the event a success.

As has been noted elsewhere, it will be hard to top!

The original write-up:

The Washington Volvo Club has staged our wintertime Firande for twenty years. Over that period we've been to a number of interesting restaurants - some elegant, some historic, some gourmet, some set on beautiful grounds, and some with extremely comfortable and welcoming atmosphere. All of those characteristics are present at our selected location this year, as we motor to The Inn at Perry Cabin on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, on the first day of Daylight Savings Time. Driving time is about eighty minutes from downtown Washington, D.C.

The Inn at Perry Cabin is regarded as a world-class small luxury hotel, one of only three Ashley Houses, owned by Sir Bernard Ashley, co-founder of the Laura Ashley Company (the others are Llangoed Hall in Wales and Keswick Hall in Virginia). It sites on 25 waterfront acres and was built after the War of 1812 by Samuel Hambelton, who had served as aide-de-camp to Commander Oliver Hazard Perry during the Battle of Lake Erie. Hambelton designed a north wing to resemble the cabin on Perry's flagship Niagra, and he called his home Perry Cabin. It sits just across Foggs Cove from the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.

We'll begin the day at the Maritime Museum, dedicated to preserving the heritage of the entire Chesapeake Bay, our hemisphere's most productive estuary. The Museum is located on 18 acres, has more than 15 buildings, and features historic boats, including the famous skipjack. We've hired the hall for the full day, so you can gain admission anytime after 9:00 AM by showing your WVC Membership card at the Museum entrance. Between Noon and 1:00PM we'll have our catered social hour in the Steamboat Building, and during that time we'll conduct all Club business, to include announcements and the presentation of door prizes. At 1:00PM we'll finish our Club business, allowing us an hour at leisure to arrive at the Inn (about a ten-minute walk).

At 2:00PM we'll start our seated meal in the Inn's two inter-connected dining rooms, which offer unobstructed views of the small harbor, with the comings and goings of the many waterfowl native to the area. Our starter will be Crab Spring Roll with Pink Grapefruit and Avocado. Our three entree selections are Scallion Encrusted Rockfish with Baby Bok Choy and Tomato, Saffron and Basil Sauce; or Tenderloin of Beef (prepared medium-rare) with Dauphinoise Potatoes, Sauteed Wild Mushrooms, Fresh Asparagus and Burgundy Sauce; or Honey and Tarragon Glazed Shank of Lamb with Parmentier Potatoes and Glazed Vegetables. For desert we'll have Apple and Sour Cream Pie with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream and Caramel Sauce.

After the Firande we're free to return to the Maritime Museum until it closes at 5:00PM, investigate the Bellevue-Oxford ferry, drive the 12 miles to Tilghman Island with its few remaining unusual architecture houses, or wander the fascinating streets and shops of St. Michaels. We'll have time to drive home before dark; sunset in Washington won't be until 7:55PM.

THE INN AT PERRY CABIN
308 Watkins, St. Michaels,
Maryland, 21663 USA.
Tel: (800) 722-2949

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