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Just days before Cecil County residents celebrated the arrival of a New Year, welcoming in 1886, an aging social reformer, orator, and writer, traveled to Cecil County to lecture on “The Self-Made Man.”  On his way to Rising Sun where the town’s literary society was sponsoring the program, the abolitionist leader, Frederick Douglass, who’d escaped from slavery, stopped for a few hours in Port Deposit.  There he attracted considerable attention.

The program on the evening of Dec. 28, 1885, attracted a large audience, the Oxford Press reported.  “Mr. Douglass is growing old and has lost much of his fire and vigor of mind as well as body, but he is still able to interest an audience.  He is a remarkable man and is a bright example of the capability of the colored race, even under the blighting influence of slavery, from which he emerged and became one of the distinguished citizens of the country.  His lecture was replete with advice for the younger portion of his audience,” the paper wrote.

“The Self-Made Man” was a famous lecture by Frederick Douglass.  In the speech, which was first delivered in 1859, he gives his own definition of the self-made man and explains what he thinks are the means to become such a man, according to Wikipedia.  “Self-made men […] are the men who owe little or nothing to birth, relationship, friendly surroundings; to wealth inherited or to early approved means of education; who are what they are, without the aid of any of the favoring conditions by which other men usually rise in the world and achieve great results.”

Born in 1818 in Talbot County, he died in 1895.

Also see the wife of Frederick Douglass visited Cecil County.

The Rising Sun inset of Martenet’s Map of Cecil County published in 1858 (Source Library of Congress)

A circa 1910 postcard showing the Turkey Point Lighthouse.

One of the leaders of America’s abolitionist movement, Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland in 1817. As a young house servant, he was taught to read and write. The brutality he experienced as a slave eventually led him to escape North and in 1845 he published his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. A noted speaker, Douglass influenced such important figures as Abraham Lincoln.

Bill Grimmette is a living history interpreter, storyteller, actor, and motivational speaker who has performed throughout the United States and abroad. He has researched and performed the characters of W. E. B. Du Bois, Frederick Douglass, Benjamin Banneker, Estevanico, and Augustus Washington. He has appeared at the Smithsonian Institution and on National Public Radio. He has an M.A. in psychology from the Catholic University of America, and has done post-graduate work in education at George Mason University.

DATE Wednesday, February 16, 2011

TIME 7:00 PM

Cecil County Public Library, Eltkon, 301 Newark Avenue, Elkton, MD. 21921

The event is underwritten by the Maryland Humanities Council

Members of Singerly Fire Company stand alongside their apparatus at the new fire station on North Street in downtown Elkton, a few years after operations moved up the street from the originally headquarters.   We’ll see if we can get some of the older members of the organizaton to identify these individuals.

Singerly Fire Companyu of Elkton, MD. will present its twenty-fourth annual Paper American Show on Saturday, January 29, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The show will feature over thirty dealers from several states who are offering for sale antique books, postcards, newspapers, art prints, advertising & regional collectibles, photographs, and general ephemera.

Singerly Fire Hall is located at the intersection of Rotue 213 and Route 279 in Elkton (300 Newark Ave.) approximatley three miles from the Route 279 Newark/Elkton interchange on I-95 (exit 109A)

Admission is $3,00 person ($2.00 with this ad) – children under 13 admitted free of charge.  Refreshments will be provided by the Ladies Auxiliary.  For additional informaton email ayersj@zoominternet.net or call 410-398-7735 or 410-398-7300 during show hours. 

It’s always exciting to obtain fresh perspectives and insights on the county’s past, something that is often provided when scholars take a serious look at our history.  These thorough investigations, requiring months of intensive digging into original documents and a critical evaluation of the sources, are valuable as they focus on specific research questions and use the highest principles of historical inquiry and analysis to piece together an understanding of things that came before us.

Eric Mease is one of those bringing a scholar’s fresh eye to an unstudied subject in Cecil County.  As a University of Delaware graduate student, he launched an investigation two years ago that sought to piece together the story of the United States Colored Troops from this area.  His Master of Arts thesis, Black Civil War Patriots of Cecil County, Maryland, was just approved by the University’s history department.

His investigation began at the Historical Society as he reviewed the literature on a few things that had been done earlier, such as a 1960s register of Civil War-era African-American Troops from the county.  Eric moved on from that baseline to visit cemeteries to verify his information and to add new patriots to his list.  He continued by talking to families, visiting archives, studying wills and legal records, and using newspapers.  In addition, he poured over old newspapers, studied slave tax records and manumissions, and extracted data from census registers.  Through all of this, he was able to piece together this far-reaching story for the first time.   The sources he investigated indicated that between 200 and 400 African-Americans from Cecil County volunteered during the Civil War.  His fieldwork specifically developed information on about 200 of these men.

Another person doing fieldwork for a professional monograph is Dr. Guy Alchon of the University of Delaware.  His focus is on the impact of World War-II on Elkton.  For a couple of years, the professor has been conducting fieldwork, taping oral histories, searching through old World War-II federal documents at the national archives, examining local government materials, and studying aging newspapers.  From that, he is planning a monograph that will be published and presented at one of the national groups, such as the American Organization of Historians.  This labor-intensive project is still ongoing.

We’ll look forward to having these valuable research titles become available to everyone as these academics add reliable sources for our understanding of the county’s story.  Meanwhile, congratulations to Eric for the successful completion of this academic milestone, as he adds a postnominal to his credentials.

Link to Library of Congress Photo

From ABC 2 News, Baltimore

NORTH EAST, Md. – Atop a hill just outside North East, Maryland lays civil war veteran James D. Alexander.  He fought in the famed battles of Gettysburg and Antietam; he was wounded and lost a leg in the skirmish at Spotsylvania Court House.

But while he was laid to rest almost 90 years ago, it may never have been in peace. “He was never recognized, given recognition. He was just buried and forgotten.” said John Goff. Until Goff started coming across artifacts that belonged of his great grandfather. It started when he found a soldier’s memorial given to his great grandfather when he was discharged.

Goff realized his relation was a fearless union hero who fought in this nation’s bloodiest battles to preserve the union. It was a proud historical trail. Goff’s research led him to a small graveyard with a tombstone with had his great grandfather on the wrong side of history.  “Confederate States of America,” Goff said pointing to the confederate tombstone, “They got it wrong.”

Video and the reaminder of the article continue on ABC 2 news.  Click on link.  Great grandson rewrites Civil War wrong; government to issue correct tombstone.

As a year filled with exciting events celebrating the 150^th anniversary of Rising Sun draws to a close, a new book about the event and the community’s past just came off the press.  This commemorative volume, Rising Sun, MD 150th Anniversary, is loaded with informative articles that chronicle the town’s past and features stories about its people, businesses and organizations.

“In putting together this commemorative book, we have tried to bridge the gap between the Centennial Book time frame and the Sesquicentennial time frame,” Mayor Sandi Didra recalled an earlier title that was published in 1960.  “We have also summarized much of the material from the first book.”

It was a large task to produce this attractive work.  But for nearly a year writers and photographers have been reaching out to residents to gather information for the volume.  Speaking of that challenge, Ed Belote, the publisher said:  “. . . . A massive amount of human effort was invested in putting this book together and we have all become a part of Rising Sun history.  Fifty years from now, when our children and grandchildren come together to create the 20t0h anniversary celebration book for Rising Sun, I hope they have as much fun doing it as we had.”    

This attractively illustrated limited edition volume loaded with original local content is something we’ll keep proudly at hand in our library.  The title retails for $20 and is available from the Historical Society and Sun Pharmacy, as well as at other locations.

As the holidays near, there are lots of great events in the county and beyond for the upcoming weekend.  Mt. Harmon and Elk Landing, two old house museums, have special festive events, there’s a holiday tour,  and the traveler’s Christmas tree lighting will take place.   Here are some details.

 Holiday Open House at Historic Elk Landing

The Historic Elk Landing Foundation will open its doors to celebrate the holiday season on Friday December 3rd and Saturday December 4th and you are invited to attend. This year’s festive event will feature late 18th century holiday decorations in the Hollingsworth House using greens, holly, nuts, apples and other natural items that would have been available in Cecil County two centuries ago, just as our ancient forefathers and mothers would have done. The only concession to modern times will be a Christmas tree which will be decorated with gingerbread cookies, popcorn, cranberries, and twisted tin strips, again, just as in holidays gone by.

Step back in time with us as we leave the madness of the 21st century to celebrate a calmer, gentler holiday season. Costumed guides will answer any questions you may have about the house, the decorations, or the holiday celebration. Children may also join in on the holiday spirit with homespun decorations they can make and take with them for their own 18th century celebration. Refreshments will be provided along with music of the times.

There is no charge to take part in this year’s Elk Landing Holiday celebration. We only ask that you bring non-perishable food items for donation to the Cecil County Help Center’s Food Bank. What better way to celebrate the holiday season?

Friday evening’s Holiday Open House begins at 7 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. Saturday the Hollingsworth House will be open between noon and 5 p.m. See our web site at www.elklanding.org for directions.

Yuletide Manor House Tours at Mt. Hamron.

Get into the holiday spirit with Mount Harmon’s Yuletide Manor House Tour. The elegant brick Georgian Manor House at Mount Harmon is decorated for the holidays with festive wreaths and decorative arrangements, in the style of Colonial Williamsburg. The Greenfingers Garden Club makes the holiday decorations using greens from Mount Harmon’s grounds, including boxwood, magnolia, pine, holly, and other seasonal favorites. A holiday decorations and greens sale is featured, with hand-made Williamsburg-style decorations and greens from the plantation available for sale.

Also featured are Children’s Holiday Craft Activities in the Education & Discovery Center and hearth-cooking demonstrations in the Plantation out-kitchen. Visitors will delight in sampling freshly made gingerbread cooked on the hearth and Mount Harmon’s special Wassail Punch. Proceeds benefit Mount Harmon Plantation.

Tickets: $10 per person, FOMH Members $5, Children 12 & under free, Purchase Upon Entry

Historic Christmas Tour

After a visit to the welcome center in the Principio Methodist Church Hall, the tour will take you from the Principio Furnace Ironmaster’s Mansion to the Perry Point Mansion with stops along the way to see six other beautifully decorated landmarks, churches, and a unique home.  Event takes place on December 5th from 1 to 6 p.m.  and tour starts at the church hall, 1511 Principio Furnace Road., Perryville.  Donation of $10 per person.

Holly Tree Lighting Ceremony

The Holly Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place Saturday December 4^th from 4 to 6 p.m.  Santa will be at the traveler’s tree Saturday December 2 from r to 8 -.m.  As always, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus will be free along with hot chocolate, cider and toys provide by Ray of Hope.