Religious Society of Friends

Third Haven Monthly Meeting

405 So Washington St.

Easton, Maryland. 21601

410.822.0293

info@thirdhaven.org

Welcome!

You are cordially invited to attend a meeting for worship any Sunday morning at 10:00 A.M. or Wednesday evening at 5:30 P.M.

Our History

In the year 1682, three acres of land were purchased from John Edmondson, and the erection of this Meeting house was begun. Two years were consumed in its construction, as the timbers had to be hewn with a broadax and finished with such tools as were used in that day. Among the builders was William Southeby, said to be the first native American to write against slavery.

In 1797 the building was made wider by extending the rafters only on one side of the ridgepole. The gable or porch entrance of late date. The original approach was at the side shown in the photograph above. It is the oldest documented building in the state.

George Fox, the founder of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), visited this vicinity in 1673, and upon his return to England sent a number of books to this Meeting. This was the beginning of the Meeting's library, often said to be the earliest public library in Talbot County and probably in the province (being established long before the Bishop of London, through Commissary Bray, introduced parochial libraries in this province).

The first meeting held in this building was in the fall of 1684. In 1693 Betty's Cove Meeting (1660-1693) was transferred to this Meeting house. Over the years many notable Quakers have worshipped in this building: William Penn, John Woolman, John Fothergill, Samuel Bownas, Rufus Jones, and many more.

Continuous records of the business transaction of this Meeting have been kept since 1676 to the present time, and they are of such value that the Meeting has placed them on deposit at the Hall of Records, Annapolis, Md.

The brick building used in winter months was built in 1880.

Quoting in part a few of the closing lines in Dr. Kenneth Carroll's book, Quakerism on the Eastern Shore:

‘ A non-violent and peaceful approach to the solution of social problems has been the policy of the Society of Friends throughout its long history.

Third Haven Friends are well aware of the past…at the same time however they are increasingly aware of the fact that Christianity as interpreted by Quakerism is a living religion based upon personal experience.’

Finding Us

Location: The entrance to Third Haven Friends Meeting is three tenths of a mile south of the Memorial Hospital (red icon on above map) on South Washington Street ( Route 565 ) the main north - south street through Easton.

From the west and north follow the instructions listed below to Easton on US Route 50 East – continue six tenths of a mile on Route 50 past Mile Marker 65 then turn right (west) on Idlewild Avenue – Go nine tenths of a mile to the second traffic light keeping in the right – hand - lane, cross Harrison Street and turn half right on to South Washington Street (Route 565) – the entrance lane to Third Haven is 200 yards on your left marked by a White Sign.

From Washington DC ... Follow US Route 50 East across Bay Bridge to Easton .

From Baltimore ...Follow US Route 97 south to Annapolis , then Follow US Route 50 East across Bay Bridge to Easton .

From Philadelphia ...US Route 95 to Christiana, DE - then Delaware Route 1 South to Delaware Route 299 - west to Middletown, DE – then US Route 301 to Easton/Centerville Exit – then South on Maryland Route 213 to Wye Mills - turn left and follow US Route 50 East to Easton.

From New York ... New Jersey Turnpike south to the end, cross Delaware Memorial Bridge - US Route 95 to Christiana, DE - then Delaware Route 1 South to Delaware Route 299 - west to Middletown, DE – then US Route 301 to Easton/Centerville Exit – then South on Maryland Route 213 to Wye Mills - turn left and follow US Route 50 East to Easton.

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From the south – from Cambridge or Salisbury ... US Route 50 West to Easton , keeping in the left – hand – lane. Just past Mile Marker 68 turn left onto Maryland Route 322 (Easton Bypass) for 1.7 miles to the next traffic light – turn right (north) on Maryland Route 333 (Oxford Road ) for four tenths of a mile then turn hard left at the traffic light on to South Washington Street (Route 565) - the entrance lane to Third Haven is two hundred yards on your left marked by a White Sign.

From St.Michaels ...Maryland Route 33 to Easton – turn right on Washington Street (Route 565) turn right. The entrance to Third Haven Friends Meeting is three tenths of a mile south of the Memorial Hospital (red icon on above map) on South Washington Street ( Route 565 ) the main north - south street through Easton .