Town crier appointed to help ring Annapolis to life
By NICOLE YOUNG, Staff Writer

No longer is he just a crier for hire.

Fred Taylor, better known to tour groups and city residents as "Squire Frederick Dukesbury Taylor," was quietly appointed to become the loudest man in town by Mayor Ellen O. Moyer.

Strolling the streets in 18th century garb, complete with a black tri-corner hat, bright red overcoat and large brass bell, Mr. Taylor is a walking anomaly.

Mr. Taylor, who also serves as a Historic Annapolis tour guide for Watermark Cruises, was appointed earlier this month, making him one of only about 30 official town criers left in the United States.

"Generally, people just have told me all my life I have a big mouth," he said. "Now it's great to be able to draw attention to the town. It's pretty hard to ignore the town crier."

A National Security Agency retiree, historian and Catonsville resident, Mr. Taylor has spent more than six years as a tour guide for the city.

He first approached the mayor about becoming the town crier roughly two years ago when he heard about a town crier in Minnesota.

After that, he created a quiet campaign for his appointment to the unpaid position, contacting city and state officials, as well as local tourism boards. Recruiting the public, he touted his crying experience at boat launches and other ceremonies around town.

His appointment began June 1 and allows him access to the city's official ringing bell - a gift from Annapolis' sister city, Annapolis Royale in Nova Scotia. He's also become a member of the American Guild of Town Criers, making him eligible for crying competitions.

"Fred's presence is going to add a lot of flair," said Karen Engelke, special events coordinator for the mayor's office. "We are just really tickled he's official now."

Before newspapers, criers were sometimes the only sources of information for communities. Today the position is ceremonial, with Mr. Taylor acting as an ambassador for the town.

"Criers were really the few people in a town that could read and write," he said.

In fact, Mr. Taylor is even getting a little taste of fame with his position. He's being recognized more - even in his regular clothes.

"It's really quite humbling," he said. "It's gotten to the point where people will say, 'Hey, you're the town crier.' "

And although he hasn't received any formal work from the city yet, Mr.

Taylor says his proclamation duties could come in handy in leading parades, maybe even ringing his bell to formally announce legislative sessions.

"I don't know as of yet what they are going to want me to do for the 300th," he said. "But whatever they need or want, I'll do it."

Ms. Engelke said Mr. Taylor can expect to have a full plate for the city's tricentennial anniversary in 2008.

"We don't know fully yet as to what Mr. Taylor will be doing, but I can well project that at all of the official Annapolis Charter 300 events he would be the opening person, ringing it into existence," she said. "Whether it is the Maritime Festival or the Fourth of July parade, there are just so many events going on and we're going to keep him very busy."

But sticking with his 18th century role, Mr. Taylor shies away from using modern technology on the job.

Ringing cell phones and laptop computers?

"Witchcraft," he says.