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Singerly Fire Company volunteers have been busy over the past several week rearranging displays of artifacts in the museum.   On this Friday afternoon, these relics of many 19th century fights with the flames and smoke rested on the 1818 Hydraulion and the Rodgers Hand Pumper (came to Elkton in 1859).  The top photo, shows two leather helmets that date from the Company’s earliest days, and a much earlier 19th century lantern.  In the bottom photo, there is a fireman’s trumpet, used to shout commands at the scene of a fire.  It was given to Elkton firefighters by the Washington Fire Company of Wilmington.  And there’s a leather bucket.

 

By Eric Mease

“Choose Ye This Day, Cecil County and the Civil War” opened to a standing room only crowd on Saturday as the Historical Society of Cecil County unveiled its much anticipated Civil War exhibit.

Visitors saw artifacts from the society’s collection of Civil War memorabilia ranging from life sized portraits to weapons, from uniforms to enlistment papers, and from articles of clothing to pictures.  Also on display is information about home life, politics, experiences from the front, and a section dedicated to the 200 African Americans related to Cecil County who fought for the Union.  Visitors also experienced living history theatre when the Rev. Joseph T. Brown appeared from out of the mist of time to share his war experiences as a war chaplain, and the Heritage Troupe presented historic skits based on the Civil War era.

Society Board President, Paula Newton said she was happy with the turnout.  “There were about 80 people here, both young and old.  I was especially pleased that I saw so many new faces.  That’s good for our organization that requires constant renewal in order to remain vital.”

It was emphasized that the exhibit did not begin and end with what’s contained in the  glass exhibit cases or posted to walls.  The exhibit expands into cyberspace with the addition of a newly created Civil War web page on the Historical Society’s web site.  Site creator, Mike Dixon, says the web site is crucial to the society’s future.  “The future lies  not in bricks and mortor, but in internet technology.  Historic museums of all kinds are facing declining membership and limited resources.  We must reach out to scholars and history buffs alike through new technology or we’ll lose them.”

The constantly evolving page already contains excerpts from the society’s newsletters and historic journal, a catalogue of Civil War soldiers buried in Cecil County, a thesis about African Americans related to Cecil County who fought for the Union, and a finding aid to the “Gerry Collection,” a treasure trove of Civil War and 19th century era manuscripts donated to the society by Dr. Davy McCall.  We will soon post Civil War era pictures and a link to the University of Delaware’s project transcribing Rev. Brown’s Civil War diaries.

The society is also working to merge its large collection of Civil War related documents into one area of our library to facilitate easier access to the collection.  Finding aides will also be developed to locate specific documents.

Thanks to Lisa Dolor, the curator of this exhibit along with her helpers, Denise and Conor McNeice for composing the exhibit and the University of Delaware’s College of Arts and Sciences Interdisciplinary Humanities Research Center which scanned the Brown diaries.

You are welcome to research our entire collection when the society is open: Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  You may, of course reach us on line anytime.

Cecil Guardian reporter and photographer Bill Hughes wrote a front page piece about the opening of the Historical Society’s Civil War exhibit in this week’s paper.   The photojournalist interviewed the exhibit curator, Lisa Dolor, and one of our living history performers, the Rev. Hubert Jicha.  Be sure to pick up a copy and read the full story.   Thanks Bill and Cecil Guardian for covering the Society’s opening.

An old Civil War chaplain’s diary that has been gathering dust for 150-years and was periodically brought out for some research has been getting an enormous amount of attention lately.  This past Monday evening U of DE honors society history students, faculty and staff were pouring over fading pages from another age, scrutinizing those aging entries line by line.  Here are some photos from the crowdsourcing party.  Completion of this important task will make this valuable Civil War primary source available to a wide audience and the Historical Society is pleased to be working with the University on this new media project.   Click here to read the full story.

As the region celebrates the 200th anniversary of the British attack on the Upper Chesapeake during the War of 1812 some old-timers that have been around for centuries are going to roam around Charlestown, once again.  While they meander streets and gather in small clusters in the beautiful river town, these centuries’ old residents will share stories about what it was like to face the all too real threat of pillaging, burning and looting by the English right here in Cecil County.

This special bicentennial event, “Footsteps from the Past” walking tour, opened last year to a sold out crowd.   So be sure to get your tickets early for this popular activity that will find history enthusiasts ambling through the streets of Charlestown, along attractive pathways of the well-preserved historic district on the shore of the North East River.

The audience will pause at selected spots to hear first-hand, dramatic stories about the time the second war with Britain came to Elkton, Frenchtown, Fredericktown, Principio and Charlestown.  In between stops, the broader historical narrative about troubling times on the Chesapeake and in the county will be shared.  Once dusk descends on the charming community, lanterns are going to help chase away the lengthening shadows as the group heads back to its starting point, the Wellwood Club.

This year’s event in Colonial Charlestown steps off at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. on May 5, 2013.  But after last year’s event that attracted 125 people, event organizers have scaled things back a little in order to provide better viewing and listening during performances.  Each walk is limited to 50 strollers and the cost is $10 in advance through the Wellwood Club or $12 at the door.  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.

Historic Elk Landing Press Release

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On April 29^th, 1813, a British naval unit attached and burned the wharfs at Frenchtown and two nearby packet boats.  They then went to the plantation of Frisby Henderson seeking directions to Elkton, the county seat.  Their purpose, to burn it to the ground as American forces had done to several Canadian towns the year before.

Frisby refused to betray Elkton’s location.  The marines then turned to a 20 year old slave woman, Hetty Boulden and told her if she would take them to Elkton, they would give her more money than she could imagine.  This courageous young woman then took the British Marines, not to Elkton, but to the confluence of the Big and Little Elk Creeks where they stared straight into the guns of Forts Hollingsworth and Defiance. Although the British would try at least twice more to take the town, ultimately, they were unsuccessful.  Elkton was saved.

On Friday and Saturday, April 26^th and 27^th, the Historic Elk Landing Foundation presents, “The Battle of Elk Landing, a Bicentennial Celebration.” That weekend, through the magic of living history theatre, Ms. Boulden will return to us to tell her story on the 200^th anniversary of its occurrence.  She will interact with visitors in the very location of Fort Hollingsworth which defended Elkton so well.  She, along with two other living history characters: Mary Hollingsworth, the matriarch of the Hollingsworth family in 1813, and Judge Thomas Jefferson Sample, who gave us so many details of the events 2 centuries ago, will take visitors back in time and tell, in their own words, their stories which impacted Elkton, Cecil County, and the region.

Friday evening will feature 2 candle light tours including the living history theatre and an encampment of Cecil Militia.  The first will begin at 6, the second at 7:30.  Admission is $5 for persons 12 years old and older and $3 for persons under 12 years of age.

The “Battle of Elk Landing, a Bicentennial Celebration” will continue on Saturday at 10 a.m. when the Elk Landing grounds will open for tours of the houses that were on site during the 1813 battle, an explanation and tour of the newly discovered Fort Hollingsworth, a military encampment, examples of life in 1813 presented by the Heritage Troupe, and 2 more performances of the living history presentation: the first at 11 a.m. and the second at 2 p.m.  Admission for the day, including one tour, is $5 for persons 12 years old and older.  Persons under 12 are $3.  Refreshments will be available at cost.

Reservations for the individual living history tours are required as group tour sizes are limited.  Reservations can be made by calling and leaving a voice message at 410-620-6400.  Please include your name, the number of tickets requested by age, the day and time of the tour requested, and a call back phone number.

See our web site at http://www.elklanding.org for more information on the War of 1812 at Elk Landing and directions.  Like us on Facebook for updates in April.

An old structure that has seen the passage of over 200 springs was looking fine on this chilly morning in early April.  The Rev. William Duke built the log house in Elkton about 1799.  Here he conducted a school for boys and held the first Anglican services in town.  In the early 1970s plans for expansion of Union Hospital called for tearing the dwelling down, so it was moved to its present site in the rear of the 135 E. Main Street by the Historical Society of Cecil County.

Maryland State Highway Administration’s Archaeologists have joined in on the commemoration of the bicentennial of the war of 1812 by publishing a blog that shares information on the latest excavations and findings about that conflict.  In addition to sharing details of sites along Maryland highways, they have guest articles by archaeologists who are working on related investigations around the State.

There are some fascinating column and we have enjoyed reading about Caulk’s field, Joshua Barney and much more.  And readers of a Window on Cecil County’s Past will find Dr. Jim Gibb’s four serialized installments on Fort Hollingsworth to be of interest as he provides insight on last year’s dig and looks more broadly at the enemy incursion on the Elk River.  Here’s a link to the blog.  ` 

As the nation observes the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, the Historical Society of Cecil County has mounted an informative local exhibit that examines that terrible conflict through the lens of local history.  This attractive, temporary arrangement by curator Lisa Dolor opens on Saturday, April 6th at 2:00 p.m. at the Cecil County History and Genealogy Library, 135 E. Main Street, Elkton.

Taking a war in your backyard approach, it contemplates how rapidly unfolding national events tore the nation apart and deeply affected our home-front, as young men marched off to fight in distant places.  Locally it created broken families as loved ones fought and died, political decisions disrupted friendships, and everyone sacrificed in so many untold ways.   All of these subjects and more are examined in the exhibit and in a series of supporting programs offered in the months ahead.

Formally titled “Choose Ye this Day” the displays includes maps, photographs, diaries, letters, newspapers and local relics and artifacts that allow visitors to consider the local perspective while enhancing their personal understanding of this landmark period. Presenting multiple local perspectives, Dolor noted that the displays have been divided into four parts, telling the Cecil story about the military, political matters, home life, and religion.  “We want visitors to have a better understanding of the role Cecil County played during the war,” the designer noted as the interpretations and displayed artifacts bring the conflict home.

The war in your backyard approach will enable those interested in the sesquicentennial to connect local narratives to the broader perspective of the nation’s story.  At the event opening, there will be a living history performance as the old Civil War vet and Methodist Minister, the Rev. Joseph Brown of Cherry Hill travels back through time to greet visitors.  Played by the Rev. Hubert Jicha of the North East United Methodist Church, who has worked with the soldiers diaries, he will share stories about service in the Union Army and time in Libby Prison.  The Society is also using digital technology as it has partnered with the University of Delaware to create a virtual copy of those diaries that will also be exhibited.

The Society is pleased to share the experiences of Cecil Countians during to Civil War as it draws on original, rare materials from the period, which allows visitors to reflect on the local experiences.