The appearance of the first “locomobile on Main Street in 1900 heralded the beginning of a new era, which would dramatically change Elkton, an old colonial town. On a Friday in April at the top of a new century, “the sight of the strange machine proved too much for ‘Poor Excuse’ Dr. B. M. Wells’ horse, and…
Stately Building Anchors Part of Downtown Elkton
Before the Civil War distracted everyone, it was widely noted that Elkton needed a large public hall, a place to hold public and social events. So in 1863 the Odd Fellows Lodge developed a plan to provide the town with such a convenience. The entire community had an interest in such a structure, which could…
“Operation of 1865 – 1912” by Stella Graves, R.N.
Thoroughly Modern Early 20th Century Nurses Meet the Old Civil War Surgeon
It wasn’t exactly the most daring escape, but on a Friday evening in November 1912, four young jailbirds charged with illegally hitching a ride on a freight train decided they weren’t waiting around for the trail. Opting instead for “leg bail,” they carried bedsteads from cells and tied the frame together with blankets. This wobbly, makeshift…
The Graduates of the Union Hospital of Cecil County School of Nursing 1914 – 1926
Graduating Classes of the Union Hospital Nursing School, 1914-1927 Fourteen classes graduated from the Union Hospital of Cecil County School of Nursing. Over a span of 17 years the hospital certified that 43 young women had demonstrated the required skills and competencies, and they thus received the professional diploma of a nurse. Here is a list of the graduates as published in a…
Nursing Careers for Young Ladies Offered by Union Hospital in 1911
The first two decades of the 20th century were a time of rapid innovation for health care delivery in northeastern Maryland. First, Union Hospital of Cecil County opened its doors to the community in 1908, filling a critical medical gap since inpatient care required travel to Baltimore, Wilmington, or Philadelphia. As local doctors moved from treating…
94-Year-Old Relative of Officer Francis Tierney Killed in Line of Duty in 1915 Attends Wilmington Police Ceremony
On May 8, 2015, the Wilmington Police Department unveiled a memorial wall honoring the ten members of the Wilmington Police Force who have been killed in the line of duty. A member of the current police academy, the 96th class, read the roll call of WPD’s fallen officers, as the individual plaques were uncovered. The…
Dr. Helen Tierney Published Highly Acclaimed Women’s Studies Encyclopedia
Since 2015 marks the 95th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, I have been examining the topic of extending the right to vote to women. While investigating the regional perspective, I recalled the work of Helen Tierney, professor emeritus in the Department of History at the University of Wisconsin (UW). …
For Resisting Pennsylvania Liquor Agents, Sheriff Mogle Receives Gold Badge
Despite the ups and downs of the “Pennsylvania Liquor Border War,” Sheriff Thomas Mogle stood his ground, corralling Keystone State Law Enforcement Officials who dared cross the Mason-Dixon Line while resisting calls from Annapolis to cease the skirmishes. With the bitterness increasing and the disruptions in Maryland trade growing, the Sheriff sternly warned trespassing officials…
Citizens Kept Informed About Lincoln Assassination, In the Age of Instant Communications
On April 15, 1865, residents of Cecil County awoke to alarming news about the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. On that Saturday, as the darkness of Friday night faded and people prepared to celebrate Easter, residents started to go about their early spring business. However, as they peacefully slept, the telegraph wires across the nation crackled…