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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.

On this snowy, Monday in early spring, large, gentle flakes have been falling to the ground for most of the day.  As this relic of winter accumulated a few inches on grassy surfaces but not on the roads, the day provided a perfect opportunity to snap some photos of historic Cecil County sites covered probably one last time with a white blanket that reminds us of the past frigid season.  Of course, we are still waiting for that tentative nudge from spring.

These images are places that have seen winters come and go for centuries, though this year passed by without having too many days when we suffered from some light frozen coatings.  There are the old covered bridges which have weathered blizzards, hurricanes, wind-storms, and floods, while providing a dry passage over creeks for the horse and buggy and stroller.  There is also the old Quaker Meeting House and a house in the woods.

In a county that has many extant cultural resources in the 21st century, we also have the beauty of the natural environment. On this chilly afternoon in late March, the Big Elk Creek flowed gently southward on its way to meet the waters of the Elk River.

John Randel, Jr., (1787-1865), a surveyor and engineer completed a full survey of Manhattan Island and took part in a number of important engineering projects during his lifetime.  Renowned for his inventiveness, the C & D Canal Company hired him to oversee the building of the C & D Canal in 1823 but dismissed him four years later.  As a result he won a $226,855 breach of contract suit, a large sum in the 1830s and he lived out the remainder of his life at Randelia, his large Cecil County estate.

This unique man is the subject of a biography by Professor Marguerite Holloway, the director of science and environmental journalism at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.  The Historical Society was pleased to help the author research the Cecil County angle in “The Measure of Manhattan:  The Tumultuous Career and Surprising Legacy of John Randel, Jr., Cartographer, Surveyor, and Inventor.”  We will add this title to our collection.

The Historical Society recently partnered with the University of Delaware’s Media Center to crowd-source the Civil War Diary of the a Cherry Hill Minister, the Rev. Joseph Brown.  We will have a press release on this matter soon, but in the meantime enjoy this informative U of DE video-cast by clicking the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nez2dWQ6TxA&feature=share&list=PL-EqRYmBdL8i67ND_Rvp869TMsSY3CKaZ

March 19, 2013, Chesapeake City, MD. – The Historical Society of Cecil County was recognized as the Tourism Partner of the year for its work in support of the local hospitality industry at the annual Tourism Recognition Breakfast.  This yearly presentation at the PNC Bank sponsored event gives the county the opportunity to recognize outstanding partnership collaboration that markets and enhances the region.

The Society takes an active role in supporting our destination marketing initiatives, Sandy Turner county director of tourism noted as she presented the award to the all-volunteer group.   It also plays a central part in the creation of products and events for visitors, such as the War of 1812 Walking Tour, museum exhibits, driving tours, and lectures Turner added.

“As the keepers of Cecil’s heritage we are pleased to be recognized as a significant partner by the county,” Paula Newton, the history group’s president said.   “The staff in our unpaid organization gives many free hours to promote our area and help the business community as we support the creation of the destination visitor experience here.”

A dynamic organization that is the source for understanding the area’s heritage, the 80-year-old organization shares its wealth of resources, collections, and knowledge of earlier times with the public through programs, exhibits, a library, publications, and community outreach.  The research library, the one place you need to visit if you are studying the past locally, is the largest repository of materials pertaining the county in existence anywhere.  It has over well over 10,000 photos, centuries of old newspapers published in nearly every town, thousands of manuscripts, and about every book ever published on Cecil’s past.  The volunteer subject matter experts, gladly apply their practical knowledge to actively support every segment that has an interest in heritage tourism or genealogy.  Visit the Society’s website at www.cecilhistory.org for more information.

“We are pleased to work closely with Tourism, Economic Development, and the hospitality industry to benefit the business community here and leverage our talents and resources for that purpose,” Newton noted.  “We thank the county, Economic Development, and the Tourism committee for recognizing the exceptional work of our volunteers and the value proposition our nonprofit brings to economic development in Cecil County.”

Thursday, March 21, at   6:30   pm                       Presenter: Syl Woolford

The Lecture “Black   Patriots, Black Loyalist and the War of 1812” recalls the history of the War to   1812 and focuses on the role of African-Americans and Native Americans during   that War. The War of 1812 further separated America from its colonial ruler   Britain and resolved some of   the lingering disputes between the two nations.

Program Costs:   $5                     FOMH Members Free              Space limited, RSVP early

In World War II, for the first time women were members of the armed forces.  They worked in motor pools, lived in barracks, ate in mess halls, and went to war zones.  Mary Rasa, Museum Curator of the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, will share with us the daily life of women in the military.  Date:  Wed., March 20th, 2013, at 7:00 p.m.  Call 410-658-4025 to register. 

“One Thousand Pictures:  RFK’s Last Journey,” an HBO Documentary, tells the story of Robert F. Kennedy’s Funeral Train on its long journey from New York City to Washington D.C. on June 8, 1968.  On that sad day, crowds paid their respects as the locomotive and coaches passed slowly down the rails.  This video tells the story of that journey and of America through the photography of Paul Fusco and some of the people who  were there.

The producers, Lichen Films, contacted us as they worked on the video, seeking additional images and people who stood along the Pennsylvania Line.  Images from the local newspapers helped supplement the work of Fusco, who recorded the entire trip on film for Look Magazine.

In addition to using some local pictures from the collection, the documentarian interviewed McKinley Scott and his son Michael.  Mr. Scott was instrumental in forming the NAACP in Cecil County. Two attempts had been made to firebomb the Civil Rights Leaders home a few months before Robert F. Kennedy’s Assassination.

Thousands of people lined the Pennsylvania Railroad Tracks in Cecil County, waiting for the 21-car funeral train carrying the senator’s body to pass through on its trip southward.  The train departed from New York City on time at 1 p.m. and was scheduled to arrive in the District of Columbia at 5 p.m.  But because millions of people huddled along the line waiting to pay their respects, the special ran about four hours late when it passed through here around 6 p.m.

Hundreds of people were near the Elkton Station when the passenger coach containing the senator’s flag-draped coffin passed by the hushed depot.  Members of the Kennedy family were on the rear platform sadly waiving to those huddled along the right-of-way.  An Elkton Police Officer, Marshall Purner, stood guard at the station, helping to ensure the shocked crowd stayed safe as the locomotive rolled slowly.

It was largely a scene of grief and shock here.  The people were stunned, many had tear-stained faces, and some individuals were holding hands as it became obvious that the train was nearing the station.  Some people in the quiet, respectful crowd carried flags or handmade signs.  All along the road at North East, Charlestown, and Perryville, as well as at the bridges and open spots, residents stood quietly, patiently waiting to pay their respects.

Photographers for the county’s two weekly newspapers, the Cecil Democrat and the Cecil Whig, snapped shots of the train.  Three members of the Kennedy family were on the rear platform, grief obvious on their faces, solemnly acknowledging the Elkton crowd, the Democrat noted.  The papers estimated 2,000 people waited at Elkton, 1,500 at Perryville, and 1,000 at North East and smaller groups at almost every railroad crossing in the county.

We have added the video to the Society’s collection.