As we travel around, from Pilottown to Fredericktown and every place in between, we often encounter old landmarks and historic buildings in Cecil County that grab our attention for numerous reasons. Sometimes it’s the end of the line for an aged, neglected building, its days dwindling quickly as a wrecking crew gets to work. Other times, there is a sign alongside the road announcing that a faded historic home is being restored to something akin to its former state. But frequently it’s simply the uniqueness of the structure – architectural features or social history – that make us curious about the place that has survived the passage of centuries.
As naturally curious types, whatever it is we often stop to look at the landmarks of yesteryear that dot our northeastern Maryland landscape during our little history chases as we contemplate the passage of time at places that provide direct links to the past. As we ramble about we will share a few notes about our adventures in a special series on old structures. Many will be humble old buildings from another era in the countryside, but some posts will focus on the architectural treasures around the county. All have stories to tell.
We will begin this series in an upcoming post as we focus on an old structure on Main Street in Elkton, the former Cecil County Public Library Building, which has watched over Main Streets since the first half of the 19th century.
Here’s a link to our first post about 135 E. Main Street, the old bank building in Elkton.
Also see – The Gilpin Building Anchors Downtown Elkton
Where might I find info and, hopefully photos of Leeds Elementary School? It was a two room school with first, second and third grades in one room and fourth, fifth and sixth grades in the second room. I attended third, fourth and fifth grades at the school. Can’t remember the third grade teacher’s name but I think it may have been Pierce. The fourth, fifth and sixth grade teacher’s name was Mrs. Kirkpatrick. They opened a new school in Elkton and I attended sixth grade there. Mrs. Kirkpatrick and her husband eventually purchased the school and made it their home.
Leslie, Earnest A. Howard wrote, the HIstory of Cecil County Schools back in the late 1950s. It included all of the county’s rural schools and you will be able to find information in there to help you. The library has copies.