PRESS RELEASE
June 24, 2024
Oxford Museum Celebrates 60 Years and Presents the Douglas J. Hanks Award

On Saturday afternoon, June 22, The Oxford Museum celebrated 60 years with a community birthday party, complete with cake and ice cream, surrounded by the current exhibit on life in the 1960’s, ‘Oxford 1964: The Times They Were A-Changin’ The ice cream was generously donated by the Museum’s neighbor, The Scottish Highland Creamery. The cake was donated by another neighbor, Karen Livingston.

The Oxford Museum began in 1964 with the finding of 18th and 19th century bottles and pottery shards. From these first artifacts evolved a rare mosaic depicting Oxford’s past. As such, the museum has become a valuable part of the understanding of the more than 325 years of Oxford history. Its exhibits are exclusively devoted to its people, their way of life, and their contribution to our country since the 1600s. We are proud of our many treasures donated by many residents including old photographs, clothing, antique engines, boat building tools, models, paintings, furniture, documents, war items, Native American items, pottery, china, and waterman and sailmaking tools.

During the party, the Museum also presented the 2024 Douglas J. Hanks Preservation Award. This award recognizes extraordinary efforts by individuals, organizations, and others in preserving the unique history and heritage of Oxford, Maryland, and the surrounding area. This year the committee selected two winners.

One of Doug Hanks’ best friends – Pete Bailey had the following observation. “He had a passionate love for his community and all it stood for. He knew change was inevitable and tried to preserve those special things. He could be very outspoken, and if he took up a cause, you had a fight on your hands.” One undertaking that Doug was involved in was saving the building that the Oxford Community Center now calls home. Until 1971, the building was used as an elementary school. The school was then closed, and stood vacant for the next 10 years, at which time the county decided the building should be demolished. A group of Oxford citizens, including Doug Hanks, formed a group and successfully saved the structure for community use. A lot of improvements have been made over the last 40 years, but it all started with that committee.

Since the facility was saved, many individuals have had a part in contributing to the success of the community center. It has become the heartbeat of the town. Our first award winner has been a major contributor to that success.

She took over an already successful endeavor and now has taken it to another level involving even more of the community. Her tireless efforts have brought speakers and programs that educate us, programs that make us aware of the community we live in, programs that center on art and music and programs in collaboration with the John Wesley Preservation Society, the Oxford Museum, and other local groups that tell the histories and stories of this unique town. Finally, as current president of the Oxford Business Association, which is made up of local business owners, churches, and non-profit organizations, she is uniquely positioned to link together initiatives that help support and strengthen the community, both fiscally and culturally. Doug would be very pleased with what the community center has become in promoting and preserving Oxford’s history. The first winner is Liza Ledford.

The second Hanks Award winner, John Tochko, has been a loyal steward to the Town of Oxford since he came here in the mid-1990s. He and his wife originally owned and restored a house on High Street. John has quietly supported many organizations without fuss or fanfare. For the last few years, he has been chair of the Museum building committee. He is constantly checking and correcting the basement for flooding which keeps the Museum from suffering water damage or high humidity that would affect the historic items on exhibit. He is also very involved in the community center from setting up the Fine Arts Fair to cooking dinners for community events. He has also been involved, along with Campbell’s Boatyard, in the restoration of the Yankee Pedler, and as an artist in the Oxford Picket Fence project.

The Museum congratulates both of this year’s deserving award winners and thanks them for their contributions to the preservation of Oxford’s history and heritage.

The current exhibit, ‘Oxford 1964: The Times They Were A-Changin’ will run through July 29th at the Oxford Museum, 101 S. Morris Street, Oxford, so if you haven’t yet seen it, come take a closer look at all that unfolded during the changing times of the 60’s, both nationally and locally. The Museum is open Friday thru Monday from 10 to 4. Admission is free.