Easton, MD – During their regular Tuesday morning workday in the Talbot Historical Society Garden on September 15, members of the Talbot County Garden Club paused to officially present $66,000 in proceeds from the 2026 Talbot County Tour of the Maryland House & Garden Pilgrimage to the local Historical Society. This amount marks the largest contribution realized from ticket sales and sponsorships since the Tour’s inception in 1937.

While the Pilgrimage is dedicated to the restoration and preservation of historic properties throughout the State of Maryland, the Talbot County Tour targets important local landmarks. This year, the Tour focused on exterior needs of the Historical Society’s Neall House, an eminent landmark at 29 South Washington Street in the heart of Easton.

The Neall House (1808-1810) recently underwent a complete repointing or “tuckpointing” of deteriorated mortar on its brick facade and garden wall to restore the integrity of the masonry and preserve the original brickwork. Hughlett Kirby, Talbot Historical Society treasurer, called the presentation of Tour proceeds to cover a significant portion of the tuckpointing “a very generous gift to the Historical Society that could not have come at a more fortuitous moment!”

In expressing gratitude for the Garden Club’s “extraordinary generosity and unwavering dedication” Donald Casson, Jr., Talbot Historical Society president, said, “We are honored that our property was included in this year’s [MHGP] event and deeply touched that its success will so directly benefit the work of the Talbot Historical Society.”

He went on to laud the Garden Club’s 70-year commitment to creating and tending the gardens within the Historical Society campus: “Quite simply, we could not maintain these gardens without [the Garden Club]… Your care for these historic gardens reflects a shared belief that preserving beauty and preserving history go hand in hand. Together, we help ensure that future generations experience the charm, character and stories that make Easton and Talbot County so special.”

The historic Neall House was constructed as a private residence by James Neall, a prominent Quaker abolitionist and skilled cabinetmaker. The structure now serves as museum space for the Talbot Historical Society with a gallery and a Frederick Douglass immersive experience.

The May 9 Talbot County Tour, which incorporated a celebration of AMERICA 250 and TALBOT 365, drew nearly 2,000 “pilgrims” to four outstanding private properties in Talbot County. The Tour also enabled “pilgrims” to appreciate historic sites in Easton and facilitated drive-by tours through historic towns in the county.

As a biennial event, the Tour will return with a different roster of specially-selected, distinctive properties to welcome visitors in May 2028.