To honor the memory of those on Flight 214, JoAnn & Alan Gardner, volunteers at the Historical Society of Cecil County, developed this memorial presentation. It was to be shown on the 50th anniversary of the crash at the Remembrance Program at Singerly Fire Station, but a sudden snow storm prevented many people from attending the program. Since many people were unable to attend as travel conditions were dangerous, we are sharing the program on the Net.
Centuries Old Houses Wait on Winter at the top of the Elk River
Although we are still waiting for autumn to officially end in Elkton it seems as if Old Man Winter has sailed in for an early visit, getting in some practice with a few good blasts of ice and snow. For the third time in a week, frozen precipitation fell this afternoon.
Most people were out getting ready for Christmas on this damp, frigid Saturday. But I decided to check out a quiet spots in the old colonial town to see if the early arrival of the season enhanced the view at a historic place. At Elk Landing, where the Big and Little Elk creeks meet the river, the ground was snow-covered and the scene was tranquil. These centuries old homes have survived blizzards, howling winds, ice storms, and the blasts of frigid temperatures for centuries. On the snow-covered ground, the relics of an earlier era presented an attractive scene as autumn draws to a close.
Flowers, Notes and Wreaths Placed at Crash Site
A surprise late autumn snow storm disrupted parts of Sunday’s Remembrance Program. But since over 100 family members made it to the fire station the occasion continued, although the commemorative tribute at Delancy Road was cancelled.
Earlier this week, committee volunteers took the flowers, wreaths, and notes out to the crash site for the families unable to visit the memorial monument. The fresh flowers, roses, and evergreens stood out nicely on the small snow-covered strip of frozen land.
Many community and family members were unable to make the trip to the program due to the road conditions. Families trying to get across the Delaware Memorial Bridge phoned to say it was closed and similar reports came in about conditions elsewhere.
One of our objectives was to create a Flight 214 Archives so we taped many of the activities. As we were anticipating an additional 50 family members and a large community turnout we will share portions of the recordings online, but it is going to take a few weeks to process the material.
The Holly Tree by the Tracks, A Maryland Christmas Tradition
One tradition for kicking off the Christmas Season in Cecil County was the annual lighting of the “Holly Tree by the tracks.” The Baltimore & Ohio held its first public ceremony in 1948 when thousands of people gathered to ring in the season as lights from thousands of bulbs on the evergreen softly illuminated the Jackson, MD hillside. For many years the company dispatched a special train from Mount Royal Station for the occasion. After 1971, the B & O Holly Tree was dark for a time until a group of volunteers started making sure the tree festively blazed for the holiday season.
The magic of the 1954 lighting ceremony was captured on a 33 1/3 long-playing record. It included carols by the B & O Glee Club and the B & O Women’s Music Choir. That old vinyl, a long unheard broadcast, has sat silently on a shelf, but recently the audio was digitized so readers could enjoy the snap, crackle and pop of a vinyl recording from a long time ago.
Musical selections directed by Dr. James Allan Dash, a narration by the master of ceremonies Walter Linthicum, gasps of delight and loud applause, and much were captured on the record. So you may enjoy a portion of that festive occasion that took place over a half-century ago, we are posting side one of the vinyl audio here on the blog. Click here to go to sound’s page and click the start button. (note: it may take a few seconds for the MP3 file to start, so be patient.)
Singerly Remembers the Family Members of Flight 214
Sunday, as a surprise late autumn snowstorm caused major traffic difficulties in the area, the Singerly Fire Company of Elkton remembered those who lost their lives on the evening of December 8, 1963.
Despite the dangerous conditions on area roadways, about 100 family members were able to make their way to the fire station on Newark Avenue. After the formal program, which went on as planned, the station was filled with conversation for a long time as departing families talked to each other, firefighters, and paramedics.
Thank you Singerly for hosting this part of the weekend series of events as Cecil County remembered Pan Am Flight 214.
Flight 214 Remembrance Program Goes on at Fire Station Despite Surprise Wintry Blast of Snow and Ice
An early, wintry blast of ice and snow hit Cecil County just before noon this Sunday, a couple of hours before the Flight 214 Remembrance Program started. The intensity of the storm caught weather forecasters off guard and by afternoon heavy snow was falling and at 7:45 p.m. Mt. Holly Weather reported that nearly 8-inches of snow had accumulated in Elkton.
The heavy snowfall caused numerous accidents on treacherous roadways and traffic was stuck on the two railroad overpasses in the center of Elkton by noon. But the event went on as over 120 family members had traveled from all across the nation. Thus the hosts, the Singerly Fire Company and Historical Society of Cecil County, went ahead with the schedule as many of the family members, having traveled long distances, were already in the Elkton area.
Late this afternoon the Singerly Fire Company issued the following statement: “We would like to thank everyone who participated in the Pan Am Flight 214 Remembrance ceremonies this weekend. Despite the inclement weather, everything went well and the remembrance ceremony was all that we hoped it would be. To those family members who are traveling tonight and tomorrow, we wish you a safe trip home and hope that you will keep in touch with us.”
But the dangerous traveling conditions caused many local people to miss the program. So we are sharing one of the video clips from this afternoon. This is 88-year-old Chief Thomas N. McIntire, Jr., talking about answering the alarm that stormy December night 50 years ago this evening. At the time Chief McIntire was the Elkton Police Chief and the Assistant Fire Chief with Singerly. In the segment, he recalled that unforgettable scene a half-century ago. In the next week or so the fire company will stream some other materials related to the event.
Historical Society & Singerly Fire Company Greet the Families of Flight 214
Activities continue this Sunday for the “Community Remembrance” as Cecil County pauses to reflect on a tragic event a half-century ago when Pan AM World Airways Flight 214 crashed at the edge of Elkton. It was Dec. 8, 1963, that the big jet broke apart in fight and crashed at the edge of town.
The community remembrance, hosted by the Singerly Fire Company and the Historical Society of Cecil County, takes place at 2:00 p.m. at the Fire Station at 300 Newark Avenue in Elkton. Everyone is invited to attend.
Yesterday the Society and Singerly greeted over 130 family members from all over the nation, as we met for the first time with relatives of passengers on the flight and heard many share stories at the “Listening Station.” It was a chance for the families to get to know the volunteers working on the remembrance, the leadership of emergency service agencies, and each other before today’s larger public event. Well into the evening hours the Society’s headquarters was buzzing with activity as a large appreciative crowd packed the building and mingled before heading out to restaurants around the area.
Earlier in the day, the Community Listening Station was open and oral historians recorded the stories of family members. Thanks to all the volunteers who have been working on this for months as the Cecil County got ready to pause and reflect on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013.
Morning Call: “Remembering the Souls of Flight 214”
By Dan Sheehan, the Morning Call
On a stormy Sunday night 50 years ago, an explosion over Elkton, Md., created a fireball so bright it caused street lamps in the rural town to shut off.
Residents who had been readying for bed ran into the streets, scared and confused. Times were tense: The president had been assassinated in Dallas two weeks earlier, and the nation was little more than a year removed from the Cuban Missile Crisis that had brought the Cold War world to the edge of nuclear war.
Had Washington — 90 miles away — been bombed?
NBC 10 News: Plane Crash Half A Century Ago
As the Historical Society of Cecil County and the Singerly Fire Company prepare to pause and mark 50 years since the crash of Pan American World Airways Flight 214 at the edge of Elkton, NBC 10 News was in town today to discuss preparations for the “Remembrance Program.” The program takes places at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday Dec 8th at the Singerly Fire Station on Newark Avenue.
Tim Furlong, the reporter, interviewed retired Supt. of Cecil County Public Schools Henry Shaffer about plans for the special time of reflection. As a rookie 16-year-old firefighter with the Singerly Fire Company he was also on the first responding fire department unit to reach the scene. In addition, the reporter interviewed family members.
The purpose of the program is to honor the memory of those who lost their lives that tragic day and to remember a generation of first responders who answered an unimaginable call that changed so many lives in a split-second.
Details Announced for Flight 214 Remembrance Program on Dec 8, 2013
On a terrible December night fifty years ago Pan-American World Airways Flight 214 exploded in the dark Cecil County sky. On that unsettling cold, rainy Sunday, as lightning periodically illuminated Elkton, eighty-one people perished when the big plane broke apart in flight and debris rained down on a cornfield at the edge of the county seat. Hours later, while Chief Edgar Slaughter steadily coordinated the tri-state response to Maryland’s largest loss of life accident and rescuers combed the wreckage, a first responder, Steward W. Godwin of the North East Volunteer Fire Company, suddenly collapsed and died.
Sunday, Dec 8th, 2013, the Historical Society of Cecil County and the Singerly Fire Company will host the “Flight 214 Remembrance Program,” honoring the memory of those on the flight and the emergency personnel who answered the call that stormy night. The program takes place at the firehouse at 300 Newark Avenue in Elkton at 2 p.m. and is open to the public.
Retired school superintendent Henry Shaffer will moderate the program. Henry, a 16-year-old rookie firefighter in 1963, was on the first fire engine to reach the disaster site. Following greetings from Don Hicks, the fire company president, and Paula Newton, the Historical Society president, there will be a number of speakers. The afternoon includes the sharing of memories, reflections of loved ones, the Singerly story, and remembering a fallen comrade. There will be outtakes from the Society’s oral history collection and displays of material from the history group’s library, such as newspapers, the emergency radio communication tape, photographs, and television and radio news broadcasts.
For well over a year, as part of the Society’s mission to chronicle the past, volunteers have been busy creating a remembrance archive. A major part of this involves interviewing witnesses, residents of the area, and family members and it also involves collecting research materials. The group has already done a lot of work and has found that with the greatest clarity, this searing incident is clearly imprinted on a generation of Cecil County residents and first responders.
In continuing with this initiative the event hosts will open up the Flight 214 listening station on Saturday, Dec. 7th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. During half-hour appointments, people will be invited to privately share their stories about the tragedy as oral historians working at recording booths, listen to people, ask a few questions, and record the conversation. If you are interested in an interview email the Society at remembrance@cecilhistory.org.
On this weekend for remembering the fire company will focus on interviewing its members who answered the call that December so long ago, according to President Hicks. “While we pause and reflect on the painful tragedy that altered so many lives and is forever seared into the county’s history, we also want to recall the dedication of the emergency workers who rushed out into the threatening, stormy darkness to try to help.”
Although half a century has passed, “the memories are crystal to clear to those who lived in Elkton in 1963 or had family members on Flight 214,” Paula Newtown, remarked. “Over the years we have heard many personal stories about what people were doing at the time or what they witnessed. We felt it was our obligation as the county’s heritage keepers to preserve these memories so that this day is never forgotten.”