Our Lady Star of the Sea School

Solomons, Maryland

A Beacon of Hope since 1933

In those early years, they painted, stoked the furnace, moved furniture, mended broken desks, and did anything that had to be done when there was no money to buy services. Above all they taught, and gave the children and adults of this parish far more than can be measured. Though involved primarily with the children and their parents, their friendship and witness to Christian values and communal sharing continue to this day to enrich the lives of all who work with and know them as our teachers, mentors, spiritual companions, and friends. They are the Sisters of Divine Providence who have been among us for these past seventy-five years.

Catholic Beginnings

Catholicism in the United States of America has its roots here in Southern Maryland. The ships Ark and Dove brought Roman Catholics from England in 1634 to avoid religious oppression there. They landed on St. Clement’s Island off of what is now called Colton’s Point in St. Mary’s County. The Jesuits among them set up missions there and in Charles and Calvert Counties. One of those early Jesuit missionaries, Father Andrew White, took up residence in 1639 along the Patuxent River bank, on the shores of Calvert County, attempting to convert members of the Patuxent Indian tribe.

Throughout the period of colonial life in Calvert County, the people suffered from many privations and hardships of one sort or another. The lowlands of the Patuxent River harbored malaria-causing mosquitoes. In 1696 the records show that a malaria epidemic spread throughout Calvert County. The death toll was high and an occasion for the Jesuit priests to care for the sick and administer last rites. These acts of benevolence came to the attention of the Lower House of the Assembly who praised their efforts.

The number of Catholics in Maryland by 1708 was 2,974, of which 48 resided in Calvert County. Beginning in 1704, Catholics were persecuted relentlessly by the Church of England’s royal rulers. In 1718, Catholics were refused the right to vote in any election of delegates of the Proprietary Colony unless they renounced their faith by taking the text oath. While Catholics were forbidden to enter Maryland, the branded convict was, to a certain extent, welcomed to its shores. The number of convicts imported into Maryland before the revolution of 1775 must have amounted to at least 20,000. Many of their descendants settled in Calvert County and became valuable citizens.

In 1784, four years before Washington became our first president, John Carroll, cousin to Charles Carroll, who signed the Declaration of Independence, became Prefect Apostolic of the thirteen states. In 1789 he was appointed Bishop of the newly established See of Baltimore with a diocese covering the entire U.S. encompassing 25,000 Catholics.

When Commodore Joshua Barney drew his map of the mouth of the Patuxent River in 1814, he designated the island as Somerville Island, with one house on it. The island was part of the estate of an early settler, Alexander Somerville, who was shot by one of his slaves in the days of the fugitive slave act.

Later it was known as Johnson’s Island. In 1867 Captain Isaac Solomon became its first permanent settler. He married Somerville’s daughter and built a home at the top of the hook of the island.

Many of the island families originally came from the Eastern Shore to work for Captain Solomons in a newly established oyster-canning factory. The oysters of Solomons and Calvert County became famous throughout the country. Captain Solomons had sufficient faith in his venture that he built houses for the employees and their families. Aside from oystering in winter, shipbuilding was considered the next most important industry in Solomons.

Official recognition was given the Solomons community in 1870 when the U.S. Postal Service opened a branch office.

The first school house in Solomons was an old log structure moved to the head of Mill Creek. In 1882, a new larger, two room school was built between the main road and the Narrows, and used until a new three room school was built in 1899. In 1925 a newer two story brick building was constructed and served as elementary until 1972 and high school until 1939. The building eventually became home to the Calvert Marine Museum.

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