By Ed Simmons, Jr.
cpreporter@lcs.net
If business troubles are pestering you, be sure to talk to "Queen" Dolly Roy at Port Royal's July 3rd Independence Day Celebration on Saturday. She's sure to devise an ingenious solution for you. Though the Colonial entrepreneur and founder of Port Royal died 264 years ago, historic re-enactor Linda Ward of "The Lower Oaks" in Westmoreland returns her to life each year for the town's Independence Day festivities. You'll find her under a wide-brimmed straw hat with fan and basket in hand, cooly contemplating business projects and explaining to the crowd how, through creative enterprise, Port Royal came to be.
Linda's own Colonial credentials are impeccable, with the blood of early 17th century royal governors Thomas and Frances West flowing blue through her veins, and she's a past regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution at Chantilly. Also coming to Port Royal this Saturday, starting at 10 a.m., are the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, and the St. Andrews Legion Pipes and Drums, all guaranteed to raise a patriotic clamor.
Colonial patriot and brave rebel Michael Newman will scroll out the Declaration of Independence and declare it to the crowd, snarling at British tyranny all the while, and festivities include patriotic music, Colonial dance, games and free carriage rides. The highlight of the day is the 1 p.m. opening of the Port Royal Portrait Gallery featuring oil paintings of 16 historic personages important to Caroline County.
Though last week's Backwoods Dispatch reported that the gallery is haunted, hopefully Captain Sally Tompkins' portrait has now been moved next to her friend Rev. Cyrus and her spirit is at peace. The ghostly encounter, though she was a friendly spirit, turned my hair white. Speaking of ghosts, no known image exists of "Queen" Dolly Roy which could be included in the gallery, but Linda Ward promises to be at the opening, and no doubt she resembles Dolly strongly. And that's a little spooky too, when you think about it.