Support Bob Jones: Restore Worcester's History

Hi...My name is Paul Sherr, and I'm raising funds for Bob Jones, an amazing historian who was burned out of his home on 12/19/24. Details: Bob Jones of Worcester County, Maryland, is a long-time, tireless chronicler of all things Worcester County. He has lost his home and archives to a fire. Details follow.

A life-long historian, observer, world traveler, retired teacher and professor, Bob researches not only the history of Worcester County and its settlements, but the lives of the County’s people of every era: the historic and changing human traditions, societies, mores, and linguistics of the common man present and past. His knowledge of the County, its towns and villages, its geography, its history, its families and people is unsurpassed (for those unfamiliar, Worcester County sits on the Atlantic Seaboard between the Virginia state line and the Delaware line, just north of Ocean City, Maryland).

But more: Bob generously shares his knowledge with all who care to reminisce, laugh, and drink deep of the Pierian spring. For 15 years, Bob has done us all a great service, whether we have roots in Worcester County or are simply history buffs. He communicates largely through “Bob Jones’s Worcester Chronicles,” a Facebook page launched in 2011. A great storyteller, curator, and educator, his contributions to County, State, and Country are deeply appreciated. Bob is a great guy, and as you will learn (if you did not know already), the man is an absolute trooper.

In the early morning of 12/19/24, a fire destroyed Bob’s home, built by his grandparents in 1913, and, along with it, nearly all of Bob’s collected historic archives (a vast paper and computer data base) and personal property. He and his cat escaped unscathed, and they are taking refuge with a nephew across the field from Bob’s destroyed home. Within days, Bob was on Facebook posting about getting back into the proverbial saddle and continuing with his lifelong passion: chronicling all things Worcester County. That’s “true grit” right there.

Insurance will likely get Bob’s house rebuilt, but he needs help rebuilding his archives and library, retooling his information-gathering storage and dissemination system, and getting the main body of his work into lasting book form. I think a worthy “gofundme” goal to start would be $25,000.00.

Bob’s Facebook page alone has nearly 5,000 followers. In round figures, if each gave but $5.00, we’d meet the goal easily. If only half of his group members gave $10 each, we’d meet the goal easily. Let’s help get Bob back in the saddle in style as quickly as possible! He has many more stories to tell, and there are a host of followers waiting to listen and read. THANK YOU ALL in advance.