The Rising Sun Herald kept Cecil County readers informed for over 30-years. However, the Dec. 18, 2018 issue was the last one. The news of the closure of this fine, community weekly, which knew how to cover its beat, Cecil County and Rising Sun, saddened us. Every week those densely packed pages full of…
Cecil County Postcards
Almost everyone enjoys looking at old postcards from Cecil County. Several local and itinerant photographers were plying the trade to produce these tiny early 20th-century time capsules. Ed Herbener One of the most prolific was Edward Herbener, a Newark photographer. The Newark Post said in 1910: “Mr. Herbener is one of the pioneers in the postcard business. …
Cecil Whig Christmas Edition – 1905
The Cecil Whig Christmas Edition for 1905 was issued on Dec. 16. This attractively produced number of the Elkton paper is a valuable resource for family and local history researchers. This handsome issue for 1905 was packed with enjoyable local content. Also, the Whig rolled out its best type for this print run. It was…
Zion, a 19th Century Village, in Northern Cecil County
ZION — Cecil County once had many thriving villages, each with a cluster of homes, a few shopkeepers and tradesmen, a schoolhouse, a physician, and almost everything one needed for daily life. While most of these places continued into the 21st century as residential communities, they no longer hummed with enterprising activity like they did…
Cecil County History on Facebook
Cecil County HIstory on Facebook passed a new milestone on January 2, 2019 — 7,000 likes on Facebook. The mission of this page is to inspire curiosity, enjoyment, and understanding of the county’s past. Cecil County History on Facebook recently passed a new milestone, 7,000 likes. As the social media channels notes, this milestone, we…
Cecilton Chronicles by Mary Haggerty
Ceciiton: Chronicles of a Small Town in Rural America is a wonderful history written by Mary Haggerty in 1991. In this informative book, Mary produced a collection of memories from “people who have lived a lifetime in or near Cecilton. “It is a collection of stories about things which took place in a small town….
Rising Sun — A New Day is Dawning
New Day in Rising Sun — ” Three centuries ago, my maternal ancestors – farmers from England, Scotland, and Ireland – sailed up the Chesapeake Bay and settled in Cecil County, Maryland. I am the 10th generation born and raised in that neck of the bay. “ “My forefathers – the Crothers, Ewings, Rutters, and…
Cecil County Map – 1794
The late 18th century Cecil County Map is part of Dennis Griffith’s much larger product produced for the General Assembly in 1794. The detailed map was a remarkable achievement for its time and is often considered the first official state map of Maryland. As was common practice at the time, this portable map was divided…
Remembering Rebecca Phillips, a Preservationist and Civic Leader
CHARLESTOWN, Dec. 22, 2018 — Saturday morning, as gusty winter winds swept across the North East River and dark broken clouds filled the sky they laid Rebecca Phillips to rest at St. Johns United Methodist Church where family and friends gathered to bid farewell. Born in 1922 when Warren G. Harding was president, the popular…
Preserving the Past in Charlestown
Originally Published Dec. 8, 2016 Charlestown, a charming place nestled on the shore of the North East River, has a fascinating past. Its surviving centuries old structures make it distinctive at a time when big-box outlets and convenience stores dominate the landscape. But here, a stroll along colonial pathways reveals a distinctive community, which…