Window on Cecil County's Past

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…

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…

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…

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…

J. J. Newberry Store in Elkton — This report, which has been prepared for Main Street Renaissance, LLC examines the past of a commercial property in downtown Elkton, 106 E. Main Street. It consists of a brief overview of Elkton’s formative years, an examination of extant records, a timeline, and an analysis of the findings….

Maryland-Delaware Line, Between Glasgow and Elkton — By June 1941, the final segment of the “Philadelphia Road,” the new dual highway designated as Route 40, was completed. All along the 47-mile road, from Baltimore to the Mason Dixon Line, portions of the highway had opened as work was completed. But with the completion of this…

As preparations got underway early in 1824 to start building the C & D Canal, John Randel, Jr., the engineer who received the contract to construct the eastern half of the waterway advertised in Wilmington newspapers for 300 carts with horses and 500 men not addicted to profanity or intemperance. He promised to pay liberal…

ST. AUGUSTINE SCHOOL — A quiet country intersection south of Chesapeake City once hummed with activity during the school year. But today, only an occasional passing vehicle interrupts the sounds of nature in an area surrounded by horse farms and fields. A school was built here by John Conrey, who received a contract of $488…

Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon arrived in Philadelphia to begin surveying the Mason Dixon Line on Nov. 15, 1763. Two hundred years later on Nov. 14, 1963, President John F. Kennedy, Governor Elbert N. Carvel, and Governor Millard F. Tawes stood on a platform situated on the historic line. The president and many other officials…

During the first fifteen years of the 20th century, most Cecil Countians lived tranquil lives, far removed from growing tensions in distant Europe and the terrible impact of deadly epidemics.  However, one group of young ladies preparing to become healthcare professionals at the end of the horse and buggy era would soon learn about these…