News From the Historical Society of Cecil County In the late 1980s, the Judge McCauley diaries were donated to the Society. The 46 volumes, covering day-to-day activities in Cecil from 1851 to 1897, span an important period in the county’s history. On those pages, you will find Judge McCauley’s notes about the passage of life,…
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High School Students Perform Scenes From the War of 1812
By Lisa Broadtlbroadt@cecilwhig.com Bainbridge elementary fourth and fifth graders watched from the gym floor Monday as the White House burned, Andrew Jackson marched into battle and Francis Scott Key composed The Star-Spangled Banner – all in the span of a single class period. The historical scenes – each pertaining to a major event in the…
When the Honeymoon Express Rolled Into Elkton, Bringing Cupid’s Wedding Business To Town
For longer than anyone alive remembers, Valentine’s Day in Elkton has been particularly hectic down on Main Street as couples arrive here for quick marriages. Still, while cupid’s holiday is an unusually busy one, there was once a hum and bustle to the matrimonial business in the old town, day in and day out, when the…
Fire Station Addition Illuminates Damp Winter Night
With the construction of new engine bays at Singerly Fire Company’s main station on Newark Avenue nearing completion, the new addition illuminates the night as winter precipitation starts falling on Elkton. Click here to see our August 2011 post when construction on the public safety building was getting underway.
Frenchtown: April 29, 1813 – Cecil County
Scott Sheads, a National Park Service Ranger at Fort McHenry and an authority on the Chesapeake in the War of 1812, has created a blog to share stories of Maryland during the War. His posts are informative and we think our readers will find them of interest. We’ve clipped part of one on Frenctown here…
Watching the Night And Waiting for the Dawn in Elkton
This past Friday, the Cecil Whig ran one of its “recognize this” photos showing an Elkton patrolman examining the shattered window of an automobile. In those weekly installment of old images from decades ago, they ask people to share whatever they know about the image. This one was part of photojournalist Richard Frear’s coverage of the…
Grand Day for Elkton, When 2nd Pumper Doubles Size of Firefighting Force
Elkton doubled the size of its firefighting force when an additional hand-pumper was purchased in Baltimore in 1859. Although it was a used piece of apparatus, it was a major step forward as the Rodgers didn’t require a bucket brigade to supply the pump with water. This suction engine, which the townspeople had purchased for…
Relic From 1818 Proudly Displayed at Fire Company Museum in Elkton
The hydraulion, the county’s oldest piece of firefighting equipment came to Elkton about 1827, after townspeople purchased the unit in Philadelphia for $700. The “Water Witch,” which was built for one of the volunteer companies in the city, served there for about nine years, before it was sold. It was a new design, a combination unit with a hand-pumper and hose…
Old Photograph, Postcard, Manuscript and Collectibles Dealers Swarmed Toward Elkton This Afternoon
Elkton, January 27, 2012 — This afternoon over thirty dealers in old photographs, postcards, newspapers, advertising, books and other paper ephemera jammed the fire hall on Newark Avenue in Elkton. As they busily arranged their offerings for the opening of the 25th annual show, we got a glimpse of some of the magazines, posters, and much more. A number…
Preserving Your Family Heirlooms at the Perryville Library — Jan. 31st.
Press Release – Cecil County Public Library Don’t let your family history disintegrate! Join us for a hands-on demonstration on how to preserve your family’s artifacts, postcards, and photographs. information will be provide on supplies needed and methods for storing and displaying these pieces without damaging them. (Bring one of your items to the workshop for advice about how…