Reflections on Yesterday — Cecil County History
Today the nation honors fallen law enforcement officers during an annual Candlelight vigil in Washington, D.C. While people across the country remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice I paused briefly at our Cecil County Monument on this cool Monday in mid-spring. It was dedicated a few decades ago to honor county peace officers who made the ultimate sacrifice and there are six names on the monument. The memorial is located at the Cecil County Detention Center on Landing Lane in Elkton.
In 1962 President Kennedy proclaimed May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which it falls as National Police Week. While remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice, it is also a time to show appreciation for what law enforcement professional do to keep communities safe.
With the dedication of these men and women in mind we noticed a Cecil Democrat piece from over sixty years ago noting the splendid job the officers, with their limited resources, were doing in Elkton in 1950. Historically speaking the local political leadership was always slow to allocate funding to improve police service. It took years of lobbying to get the county commissioners to final fund patrol cars for the Sheriff’s Office, that step into the 20th century not taking place until 1968.
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EDITORIAL – Cecil Democrat, June 22, 1950
The Police Department of Elkton has done and is doing such a splendid job of law enforcement that we are apt to overlook their efficient service.
With a five man squad, four regular members and one extra man, these duties are performed; however there is some additional equipment needed so that these men can function properly. One of the things that would be of great help would be two additional signal lights such as the one placed at the intersection of North and Main streets, this is not a traffic light., it is a light that will flash when a patrolman is wanted at the police station. Chief of Police W. H. White has told this writer of the need for at least three more such lights, one in Elkton Heights, the others are in the farther’ ends of West and East Main Street.
Then the lack of fingerprinting facilities, if the police wish to finger print a suspect it is necessary for them to take that person to the State Police Barrack at Conowingo. Surely finger printing equipment isn’t so expensive that we cannot supply our law enforcement agencies with the things necessary to do their job.
The members of the police force in Elkton, in addition to Chief White are Bobby Holmes, John Huminski, Harry Minker and the extra, William Pinder. As we stated at the beginning of this little effort to express our appreciation of these men’s effort, they are quiet efficient in every way; let us do our part and give these men the tools need to carry out their jobs of protecting the life and property of the citizens of the town.
The old commercial district in Elkton has a number of architecturally interesting cultural resources, and one of those survivors of the passage of centuries is the Gilpin building. This substantial three-story brick vernacular building was the subject of a recent inquiry as we were asked to investigate the historical record for this parcel. Here is some of what we developed.
By the middle of the 19th century, commercial expansion was spreading up North Street toward the railroad tracks. Due to the demand for additional business space, John Gilpin decided to erect the structure that still stands today at the southwest corner of North and High streets. He had just received an appointment as postmaster and was preparing a permanent facility for the delivery, sorting and distribution of mail, as over the past 50 years the office had been in eleven locations.
Ground was broken in September 1887 and the work moved speedily along. When it was completed early in 1888, it contained the postal facility and two lawyer’s offices on the first floor. The Masonic Lodge, rented the entire third floor, and held its first meeting there in March of 1888. Newspapers, at that time, reported that the 2nd floor was still available.
Soon the building also had a barber shop and that service continued throughout most of the building’s history. In 1918 the county extension agent was located there. Today, the Masonic Lodge still maintains its headquarters at this corner and other areas are used by a bank.
The Rodgers Tavern presents an attractive appearance in early May. This old place, standing on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, has welcomed travelers for centuries.
When it was first built-in the mid-18th century, the two-story stone building welcomed passersby as a ferry house and tavern. For those crossing the river, it provided a place to lodge and partake of food and drink. It continued operating as a tavern on the Post Road into the 19th century, but as bridges and railroads replaced ferries and carriages, the once popular Lower Susquehanna Ferry lost its importance.
In the second half of the 20th century, the Society for the Preservation of Maryland Antiquities stepped forward to save and preserve the relic, a survivor from the colonial era. Today it is owned by the Town of Perryville, but the attractive structure still draws the attention of the passersby. However, it is still in the spotlight, but not it is as a valuable cultural heritage resource, reflecting earlier times.
This weekend marks the passage of 200 years since the enemy occupied the water and shoreline of the Upper Chesapeake. To recall those frightening days in Cecil County, a “footsteps in history” living history walking tour takes places in Charlestown this Sunday May 5th at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. On the dramatic one-hour strolls into the past, you will meet people who lived, labored, and defended Cecil County during the War of 1812.
Since we had five rivers, our communities were exposed to the marauding British Navy and Marines and spots where combat took place were generally plundered and put to the match. Seldom told tales will emerge out of these alarming times as the Heritage Troupe performs scenes, presenting old-timers who were around centuries ago. With the group ambling along attractive colonial era streets on a spring evening, you will hear thrilling firsthand accounts about struggles and triumphs, the brave defense of our homes, war heroes, and accounts of everyday people, days when we were on the frontline of the war.
This special bicentennial event, “Footsteps from the Past” walking tour, opened last year to a sold out crowd. So be sure to call for your advance tickets for this popular activity that will find history enthusiasts ambling through the streets of Charlestown, along attractive pathways of the well-preserved historic district.
The event in Colonial Charlestown steps off at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. on May 5, 2013. But after last year’s production attracted over 125 people, event organizers have scaled things back a little in order to provide better viewing and listening for the audience. Each walk is limited to 50 strollers and the cost is $10 in advance through the Wellwood Club or $12 at the door. To reserve your tickets call 410-287-6666. The proceeds benefit the Historical Society and Colonial Charlestown. Generous support of these local nonprofit heritage groups is provided by the Wellwood Club, the President and Commissioners of Charlestown, Cecil County Tourism, and the Heritage Troupe.
The William M. Singerly Fire Company of Elkton formally dedicated its recently renovated and expanded Newark Avenue station today. In celebration of the completion of this important public safety enhancement, a parade of over 80 units made its way through downtown around 1:00 p.m. An hour or so later, a packed house of emergency responders, well-wishers, and public officials assembled at Station 13 for remarks, the playing of the bagpipes, and the unveiling of the station plaque. The ceremony wrapped up, with an old, time-honored, fire service tradition. Members stood in front of the engines and ambulances parked on the outside ramp and gave them a shove, pushing the units into the apparatus bays. The new structure updates the central station, which opened in 1971. The headquarters station provides a new apparatus wing, along with significant renovations to existing areas.
At Singerly’s first station near the corner of North & Main streets everything was very quiet one night this week as a full moon began its ascent in the nighttime sky. In the late 1940s the company had outgrown its first home. So in 1950 the members rolled up the hose, cranked up the trucks, and moved up the street one block to a greatly expanded headquarters.
On Thursday, April 25th at 7 p.m. the Port Deposit Heritage Corporation presents an interesting War of 1812 living history program, “An Evening with Dr. William Beanes.
William Beanes, a well respected Maryland doctor, was captured by the British for his role in arresting and jailing British deserters and stragglers. Following his capture, Georgetown lawyer Francis Scott Key and U.S. Agent for Prisoner Exchange John S. Skinner were charged with securing Beanes release from the British. Before leaving on this mission, Skinner acquired letters from wounded British prisoners of war describing their good treatment at the hands of Americans. British Major General Robert Ross, who had ordered the seizure of Dr. Beans, was initially unwilling to release the doctor. He was later persuaded after reading the letters from the wounded British prisoners.
Although they had accomplished their mission, Beans, Key and Skinner’s return home was postponed when the British decided to attack Baltimore. They were placed on a flag-of-truce ship, anchored at Old Roads Bay on the Patapsco River, eight miles below Fort McHenry.
This should be an interesting program and here is the event poster with more details.
Since its founding as Maryland’s tenth county in 1674, many men have served as the jurisdiction’s chief law enforcement officer. Robert M. Walmsley, one of those public servants, was elected to a two year term as sheriff in 1853. At that time the officer could serve only one term, according to state law. He was born in Sassafras Neck in 1804 and at the time of his death in 1879 was in the 75th year of his life. Early in his life he moved to Bell Hill, just outside Elkton, where he took up the milling trade.
Robert was the Democratic sheriff in 1853, in opposition to Jacob Hyland. During his term of office it fell to his lot to perform a very unpleasant duty, an execution. Robert Swift was convicted of murder in 1855, in a case that had been moved here from Harford County. When the day for the hanging came, Elkton was astir at an early hour as Sheriff Walmsley and Deputy Janney took the prisoner out to Red Hill. At the appointed time the two lawmen accompanied the prisoner to the top of the platform on the gallows. There the sheriff placed the noose around the doomed man’s neck and the trap door fell open.
The sheriff always obeyed the stern behest of the law and hesitated not to perform his duties, even it when it was a disagreeable task, the newspapers reported. He was a powerful man and few men ever exceeded him in cool, courage determination, the Cecil Democrat added. That trait of coolness under fire, one that served the sheriff well, occurred a few years earlier when he aided Sheriff Daniel McCauley. Accompanied by the Elkton Guards, a military company, they went to Charlestown to execute an indictment. When an entrance into the home was made, Robert found one man standing at the head of the stairs with a loaded gun, threatening to shoot the first peson that attempted to ascend. Not daunted by the bluster or the bravado, Robert quietly walked up the stairs and catching the gun near the muzzle and wrenching it from his hand.
He died at his home in Elkton on July 22, 1879 and was buried in Elkton Cemetery.
The Rural Electrification Administration approved a loan of $545,000 for the Armstrong Phone Company to acquire the Cecil Farmers Telephone Company in 1962. In addition to purchasing the assets of the enterprise, a series of improvements, including a direct dial system and a new central office, were planned. On the day the announcement was made, the Cecil Democrat stopped by and took a picture of the operators juggling the cords and making the connections. On that day in June 1962 Miss Helen Orr, Mrs. Frieda Tome, Mrs. Glenn Meeks, Mrs. Helen Gibson worked the board, while Mrs. Jewelyne Doyle supervised the work. Finally in 1963 an era ended as the switchboard was unplugged and Rising Sun changed over to dial-up service.
For more on the telephone in Cecil County, see the Telephone Operator in Elkton