Snow Hill, Maryland
Julia A. Purnell Museum
Julia Anne Lecompte was born in Snow Hill,
Maryland in 1843. She married William H.
Purnell, a storekeeper, in 1869 and had two
sons. Mrs. Purnell led an active life, even after
a fall at the age of 85 left her confined to a
wheelchair. Wanting something to occupy
her time, she took up folk art needlework
pictures, most depicting historic homes or
buildings in the town of Snow Hill. She entered
her pictures into hobby and craft shows; she
won the New York and Philadelphia Hobby
Shows, and took the Grand Prize at the
Wicomico Farm and Home Show. Mrs. Purnell
and her art work became quite well-known;
she received letters from as far away as South
Africa, and letters of admiration and
encouragement from such dignitaries as
President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt. In
1941, Mrs. Purnell was inducted into the
National Hobby Hall of Fame.
Mrs. Purnell's son William was devoted to his
mother; he was also proud of her art work. In
1942, Mrs. Purnell joined William in founding
the Julia A. Purnell Museum, in Snow Hill. The
museum housed many of Mrs. Purnell's pieces
(many others were given away to admirers),
the tools she used, and bits of memorabilia
from her long life.
Mrs. Purnell died 2 months after her 100th
birthday, in December of 1943. William
continued to maintain the museum by
adding items that were in use during his
mother's lifetime. He asked for donations
from townspeople, who gladly gave their
old tools, toys, machines, cooking utensils,
clothing, books, curios, and the stories behind
them. William continued to accept donations
until 1957, when he turned the museum over
to the town of Snow Hill. The museum was no
longer simply a tribute to one woman, but
had become a repository for the history and
memories of the entire town.
Back to Snow Hill
Created Mar 4, 1995 by Richard Mitchell
mitchell@shore.intercom.net