Cecil County HIstory on Facebook passed a new milestone on January 2, 2019 — 7,000 likes on Facebook. The mission of this page is to inspire curiosity, enjoyment, and understanding of the county’s past. Cecil County History on Facebook recently passed a new milestone, 7,000 likes. As the social media channels notes, this milestone, we want to thank those who stop by to spend a little time there. The visits to that space and the participation in the conversations make the effort worthwhile.
On Cecil County History you will find original and selectively curated posts about earlier times. Also, you will find old photos and news about the area’s past, historic preservation, heritage group activities,, and cultural resources.
Finally, the platform also shares current photos of Cecil County’s Landscape, historic buildings, old waterways, and heritage organizations. Whatever the case, the county’s beautiful cultural landscape, and history are the focus.
Again, thank you for following the page, engaging in social conservations, and contributing materials that are able to be shared.
To those that generously share their content, the page also say thank you. It always credits original contributions as it acknowledges the fine work of other content creators — their history posts and photographs. Too, it encourages you to share its material as social media channels benefits when content about the past is broadly shared.
Ceciiton: Chronicles of a Small Town in Rural America is a wonderful history written by Mary Haggerty in 1991. In this informative book, Mary produced a collection of memories from “people who have lived a lifetime in or near Cecilton. “It is a collection of stories about things which took place in a small town. We have tried to put dates, or least approximate dates, where ever possible but almost everything written here is oral history from the people who know it best — our senior citizens.” A large group of seniors from the greater Cecilton area contributed to the work.
We often consult this handy title when working on projects about the First District and Cecilton. A few weeks ago Mary called, to ask if we could place it on the Internet so those curious about the past in the area between the Bohemia and Sassafras rivers could have easy access to the volume. Of course, we were very pleased to do that. The book is also available at the Cecil County Public Library, which has circulating copies at the Cecilton and Elkton branches.
Mary has produced a few more books and we will share those shortly. Thank you Mary for documenting the past in the southern part of the county. This is a valuable contribution to the area’s history.
New Day in Rising Sun — ” Three centuries ago, my maternal ancestors – farmers from England, Scotland, and Ireland – sailed up the Chesapeake Bay and settled in Cecil County, Maryland. I am the 10th generation born and raised in that neck of the bay. “
“My forefathers – the Crothers, Ewings, Rutters, and Wingates – are all well documented in the historical records of Cecil County. Among those records are a few black eyes. Farmers south of the Mason-Dixon line frequently had slaves. The 1820 U.S. Federal Census shows that my fourth great grandfather, Edward Wingate, owned four slaves on his farm: three males and one female, all under age 44, the youngest male under 14. By the 1860 Census, Edward’s son, Joseph, my third great grandfather, had one slave, a female age 39. Then came the Civil War. “
” Fieldwork on the strawberry farm where I grew up was done by me and my siblings. That farm, where my parents still live, has been selling pick-your-own fruit for 42 years. . . . ”
The late 18th century Cecil County Map is part of Dennis Griffith’s much larger product produced for the General Assembly in 1794. The detailed map was a remarkable achievement for its time and is often considered the first official state map of Maryland.
As was common practice at the time, this portable map was divided into rectangular quadrants, backed with linen, and fitted for the marble book boards still attached. The owner was no doubt left with the all too familiar complication of folding the map back down to pocket size. Griffith’s map was a remarkable achievement for its time
The first edition of the map was dated June 20th, 1794, and was published June 6th, 1795. The map content on the second edition was identical to the first. The publication date on the second edition was changed to read May 28, 1813.
This is a particularly rare, valuable map. To access it, a visit to an archive or major special collections library was usually required, but now Hopkins has made this resource available on the Internet to researchers. Most rare maps are now available digitially with public institutions providing free access online.
Part of Dennis Griffiths 1794 map show Cecil County.
CHARLESTOWN, Dec. 22, 2018 — Saturday morning, as gusty winter winds swept across the North East River and dark broken clouds filled the sky they laid Rebecca Phillips to rest at St. Johns United Methodist Church where family and friends gathered to bid farewell. Born in 1922 when Warren G. Harding was president, the popular 96-year-old civic leader passed away Dec. 18, 2018.
Becky touched many lives as she embraced a wide array of causes and interests. However, she is best known as a preservationist and heritage keeper. Through involvement with local government commissions, lineage societies, and heritage organizations she consistently made it her mission to preserve and protect the past in her beloved Charlestown and Cecil County.
Colonial Charlestown
Charlestown has capitalized on its history, safeguarding local heritage while being good stewards of things the current generation inherited. A stroll along pathways of the beautiful river town reveals this, taking visitors past landmarks that have survived the passage of centuries. This is the way Charlestown differentiates itself today, and it is the way Charlestown maintains a strong, viable community.
St. John’s United Methodist Church, Charlestown
This did not happen by chance. It took dedicated, visionary preservationists to keep old age, the wrecking ball and neglect from taking its toll. Civic leaders were the catalyst for this, and Becky worked tirelessly to identify, protect, preserve, and promote Colonial Charlestown, the town’s Historic District Commission. A charter member of the organization, Mrs. Phillips assumed the leadership in 1997, after the first chairman, Nelson H (Heise) McCall, passed away. After providing guidance for nearly twenty years, the 94-year-old stepped down from the presiding position in Sept. 2016.
Toward the end of the funeral service, The Rev. Mary Brown asked mourners if anyone wanted to offer a few reflections. Former Town Commission President Steven Vandervort noted that sometimes property owners and the town found themselves at odds over a decision. However, Mrs. Phillips was very solution-oriented, he commented. While she was always the strongest of advocates for historic properties and provided the steadiness to protect things, she sought solutions. Almost always we were able to protect the community’s history while working out positive agreements, he concluded.
As others stepped forward to say a final goodbye, we listened to the reflections, concluding that Charlestown has lost its greatest advocate and booster. Our thoughts turned to a time in the 1980s when we walked through the beautiful old historic district, as the Daughters of the American Revolution officer prepared a slide talk on the history of Charlestown’s architecture. We were tagging along to take the photos and we fondly recalled remembrances of long ago matters she shared, but suddenly that fine summer day in the town on the North East River seemed so distant. While pausing on old colonial pathways, Rebecca offered casual remarks about the history of the homes and the people who made Charlestown. Of course, she was born in the first quarter of the 20th century, years before the Great Depression struck, so she knew much of the history first hand, in addition to the stories that came down through the generations.
Historical Society of Cecil County Leadership
When Mrs. Phillips served as the President of the Historical Society of Cecil County in the late 1980s she established facilities that allowed the Society to grow substantially. This was a time when the organization was transitioning from occupying a small library room for researchers on the 2nd floor of the public library. As the library moved to its modern headquarters at the edge of town, she successfully negotiated arrangements with the County Commissioners to have the Society occupy about one-half of the former library building. This significant expansion gave the organization far greater space to fulfill its mission as Cecil County’s history and genealogy library while also providing added room for exhibits
Our thoughts also turned to a delightful afternoon in 2016 when we spent a few hours in Charlestown with Becky and Bob, her husband, as we talked about the past in the river town, touching on the old schoolhouse, the fire company, working the river, the railroad and much more.
While the community has lost a connection to days gone by, she leaves behind a legacy. It will be remembered for generations to come as they enjoy the past that is all around them in Charlestown, a distinctive community that has embraced and preserved its heritage. Thank you Mrs. Phillips for being a preserver of the county’s heritage.
The 107 House. This structure, now the Charlestown Museum, is located at 343 Market Street. Deed research notes that a dwelling was built on Lot 107 of the Town’s original 1742 plat. The building was restored by Colonial Charlestown, Inc.
Charlestown, a charming place nestled on the shore of the North East River, has a fascinating past. Its surviving centuries old structures make it distinctive at a time when big-box outlets and convenience stores dominate the landscape. But here, a stroll along colonial pathways reveals a distinctive community, which has embraced and preserved its heritage.
A fine summer afternoon in Colonial Charlestown
This didn’t happen by chance. In the early 1970s, civic leaders became the force behind the “past-way to the future,” shepherding in an expansive preservation movement. Colonial Charlestown, a nonprofit formed, and in quick succession things happened. At the urging of residents, the municipality decided in 1974 that the “town needed a facelift, choosing “restoration as its pathway to improvement,” the News Journal reported.
The next year, the town put zoning regulations in place to safeguard the cultural landscape. Also,
with assistance provided by the Maryland Historical Trust, the
community was placed on the National Register of Historic Places as 18th
century structures were restored and successful colonial fairs drew
crowds to town. These progressive steps guaranteed that historical and architectural resources would be protected.
A number of preservationists facilitated activities that
saw the county’s oldest municipality evolve, becoming the most active
center in Cecil for heritage activities. Nelson
H. (Heise) McCall guided the formative process, becoming the first
chairman of the town-appointed historic district commission in 1975. He passed away in 1997, and Rebecca Phillips, assumed leadership of the commission. In September, the 94-year-old stepped down from the presiding position, making Ron Edwards the third chairman.
We recently talked to Rebecca about the history of the community and heritage-related activities. The civic leader’s devotion to history comes through in the many things she has been involved in. Beyond the commission, she was the president of the Historical Society of Cecil County, and there were leadership roles in the Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Charlestown, and the Cecil Historical Trust.
After talking to Rebecca and her husband, Bob, 94. we drove around the quaint town, as they pointed out historic structures and their stories. Rebecca proudly notes that she has lived “in the garden spot of the world” all her life. Bob was born in Childs as his father worked for the B & O Railroad, but they soon moved to Mechanics Valley. Rebecca attended Charlestown’s two-room school and they met when both started attending the upper grades in North East.
Along the way, we discussed multiple facets to
preservation success in Charlestown, while hearing about the strong
connection between the past and present. The
municipality has capitalized on its history, safeguarding local
heritage while being a good steward of what was inherited by the current
generation. Colonial Charlestown, the nonprofit, fosters pride in the past and operates the 107 House.
“We accomplished a lot. People
got involved and from the time Heise got us organized, they started
fixing up old properties,” the retiring chairwoman reflected.
Charlestown has identified, protected, enhanced, and promoted those places that differentiate it, and it is one of the best examples of how historic preservation creates a strong viable place. And community civic leaders were the catalyst.
J. J. Newberry Store in Elkton — This report, which has been prepared for Main Street Renaissance, LLC examines the past of a commercial property in downtown Elkton, 106 E. Main Street. It consists of a brief overview of Elkton’s formative years, an examination of extant records, a timeline, and an analysis of the findings. Located in the heart of the central business district of this ancient colonial town, the parcel is on the south side of Main Street, right where North Street begins its journey toward the fringe of the municipality. Until recently, it was occupied by the J. J. Newberry Company, a retailer that opened the store at this location following a fire on Main Street in 1947. The company operated at this location for over half a century.
Maryland-Delaware Line, Between Glasgow and Elkton — By June 1941, the final segment of the “Philadelphia Road,” the new dual highway designated as Route 40, was completed. All along the 47-mile road, from Baltimore to the Mason Dixon Line, portions of the highway had opened as work was completed.
Route 40 in Elkton just west of the Delaware State Line
But with the completion of this final part, a modern dual system road
now extended from the limit of Wilmington to the entrance of Baltimore,
so it was time for a formal dedication ceremony. That important event
took place at the State Line between Elkton and Glasgow on June 26,
1941.
The governors of Maryland and Delaware, Herbert R. O’Conor
and Walter W. Bacon., cut the ribbon signaling that the Maryland part of
the highway was joining the Delaware link. As high ranking officials
of both states and a crowd of almost 100 people looked on Governor
O’Conor split the orange and black ribbon, representing the colors of
Maryland. A portion of it was given to Governor Bacon so it could be
placed in the Delaware Public Archives.
The project had cost $7,300,000. The Maryland governor emphasized the importance of the 47-mile highway link in national defense. Construction of this modern, fast-route converted the old single lane Philadelphia Road into an expansive double traffic artery, the Wilmington News Journal reported.
After the ceremony, officials attended races at Delaware Park. Governor’s Day was being observed.
In May 1944, the Philadelphia Road was rededicated as the Pulaski Highway. “The dual highway was given the name of the Polish patriot and friend of Revolutionary America at the 1943 session of the General Assembly,” the Baltimore Sun noted.
Governor Walter W. Bacon of Delaware and Governor Hebert O’Conor of Maryland meet at the ribbon stretched across Route 40.
Source: Journal Every Evening, Wilmington, DE., June 26, 1941
John Randel, Jr’s advertisement for 500 men not addicted to profanity or intemperance — to whom liberal wages will be given. Source: Wilmingtonian and Delaware Register, Jan. 27, 1825
As preparations got underway early in 1824 to start building the C & D Canal, John Randel, Jr., the engineer who received the contract to construct the eastern half of the waterway advertised in Wilmington newspapers for 300 carts with horses and 500 men not addicted to profanity or intemperance. He promised to pay liberal wages, and by June, work hands, many of whom were Irish, labored tirelessly with pickaxes, shovels, wheelbarrows, and carts removing the dirt and obstacles on the route.
Workers received tokens as payment for their arduous, muscle straining work related to moving earth between the waters of the Chesapeake and Delaware. Occasionally, these small copper tokens about the size of penny show up here and there.
A token used to pay workers on the C & D Canal by contractor Randel. These are occasionally found in places along or near the C & D Canal.
The National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form reports that there was a bank in mechanics row at Glasgow, and Francis A. Cooch in Little Know History of Delaware and Environs refers to Randel’s bank being located there.
By Sept of 1825, company reports show that in the field on the eastern end Randel employed a workforce of 700 men and 154 teams of horses. Randel’s work on the canal was terminated that autumn and other contractors picked up the work.
Sources of Information
* The National Waterway: A History of the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal 1769 – 1985 by Ralph D. Gray, (1989)
* The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, 150th Anniversary, 1829 – 1929 by Edward J. Ludwig, III (1979)
ST. AUGUSTINE SCHOOL — A quiet country intersection south of Chesapeake City once hummed with activity during the school year. But today, only an occasional passing vehicle interrupts the sounds of nature in an area surrounded by horse farms and fields.
A school was built here by John Conrey, who received a contract of $488 from the Cecil County School Board on Nov. 13, 1880. The structure was sold to Myrtle B. Wilson on Nov. 14, 1923, for $300. On April 26, 1966, the Teachers Association of Cecil County erected a marker on the old building, designating it as a typical rural one-room schoolhouse in the county. Some time afterward, the structure was lost, but a new historical marker was placed here to mark the location.
Teachers at St. Augustine School included: Addie C. Ford (1876); Clara McCoy (1881); Arrie A. Duhamell (1894); Evelyn Kibler; Helen Larzalere (1899); Ethel Vinyard (1901); Eva S. Dean (1902); Stella N. Bishop (1901); Katie Loveless (1917) and Ada Davis
A roadside marker for the St. Augustine School south of Chesapeake City.
The old St. Augustine School
Photo Source: Cecil County Maryland Public Schools, 1850 – 1958 by Ernest A. Howard (1970); published the Cecil County Classroom Teachers Association
Notes Information from Cecil County Maryland Public Schools, 1850 – 1958 by Ernest A. Howard (1970); published the Cecil County Classroom Teachers Association.
Additional Information.
For additional information, see our photo album of pictures from the school on the Cecil County History on the Facebook page.
