In the Elkton Cemetery on Howard Street, a small stretch of grass alongside Howard Street has served as the firemen’s plot since 1892. Here is the story behind this little plot of land in the old burial ground.
The Singerly Fire Company was incorporated on Jan. 22, 1892, and in early November of that year, the department’s first president, Richard Thomas, died. The Elkton firefighters promptly called a special meeting to arrange the funeral.
The men voted to purchase land in the cemetery for $14 to serve as the final resting place for President Thomas. The deed to Singerly notes that Mrs. Thomas had the privilege of being buried beside her husband in the fireman’s lot.
O.R. Chaytor was appointed to serve as the marshal at the fire service funeral. The company also draped the fire apparatus in mourning for 30 days.
Mr. Thomas, 73, a native of England, had settled in Cecil County in 1842. For many years, he was engaged in the lumber and canal boat business at Port Deposit, and in 1871 he was elected sheriff of the county, filling the office for two years. He died suddenly of heart disease on November 1. 1892, while sitting in a chair at his home on Main Street (Evening Journal, November 2, 1892).
Mrs. Thomas was buried there in 1928.
Several years ago, Ed McKeown of the Elkton Monument Company donated a monument to formally mark the firemen’s plot at the cemetery in Elkton.
For additional photographs of the Firemen’s Lot at the Elkton Cemetery, see this album on Facebook