The previous post on the little hamlet of Iron Hill caused me to think about another research project I worked on a few years ago, gathering data about a young lady born in Iron Hill. She became an acclaimed astronomer, with an international following, this taking place in an era when women weren’t expected to become professional…
Iron Hill was once a thriving village.
In several areas of Cecil County, there are places that were once thriving little hamlets but are now barely wide spots in the road. They might have a house or two, while in their heyday they hummed with activity. However, once their reason for prosperity vanished, the passage of time slowly eroded away the community’s traces. …
On the Railroad to Providence
On the railroad to Providence, you didn’t go far and you didn’t go fast. But the twisting, rambling route brought railcars to the doors of manufacturers along the Little Elk Creek. The companies–grinding flour, making paper, processing wool, and producing other goods–were clustered along the valley stream over time. Before the railroad arrived, teamsters hauled…
Christmas Eve Stories from the Cecil County Police Blotter
As families gathered to celebrate Christmas in the 1970s, Cecil County Police Officers continued their never-ending job, patrolling the roads and answering calls, while others shared gifts, good company, and delicious meals. Although the demands on law enforcement can be high on holidays, with officers juggling calls, a glance at the police blotter reveals that…
Meet Rosie the Riveter as History Comes Alive at Chesapeake City Library, Jan. 12
Event Type: History Program at the Chesapeake City Branch, Cecil County Public Library Date: 1/12/2015 Start Time: 6:00 PM End Time: 7:30 PM Description: Join award-winning actress and Smithsonian scholar, Mary Ann Jung as she brings to life the fascinating story of Rosie the Riveter through the eyes of Rose Leigh Monroe who worked at…
Chang Woo Opens Chinese Laundry in Rising Sun
Earlier this year, a post on the Delmar Dustpan about “the Chinese on Lower Delmarva in 1900” caught my attention. As I read the informative article, I remembered an old Elkton businessman from the 1960s, Rodney Frazier, talking about meeting the first Chinese resident of Elkton as a youngster, when the laundry opened here. The…
Charlestown Volunteer Fire Company Deployed Two Boats in 1958
In the post-World War II era, Cecil’s fire departments ramped up services, reacting to the rapid growth in the county and the changing nature of emergencies. The Charlestown Volunteer Fire Company was one of those units, working to strengthen public safety. As the river community saw increased use of beaches and the inevitable water emergencies,…
It was a “once in a life-time” scene in Port Deposit – four Navy aircraft coming down the street.
On a Thursday just before Christmas 1956, residents of Port Deposit witnessed a “once in a life-time” scene, the “Harford Democrat and Aberdeen Observer” reported. Easing slowly down the narrow main street in the town nestled between granite cliffs and the Susquehanna River were four World War II aircraft. The planes, three fighters and a…
Chief Thomas McIntire Guided Elkton Police into the Modern Era
One dark night in the mid-1970s, Chief Thomas N. McIntire, Jr., cruised downtown Elkton. As the midnight hour neared, the police radio was silent, but suddenly it crackled to life with the most urgent dispatch, an officer was in trouble. A man was struggling with the lawman over by the railroad station. The other cop…
A Snowy Day in Late Autumn – A Perfect Time for Photographs in Cecil County
On this Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Old Man Winter sailed into Cecil County for an early visit, getting in some early practice before winter officially arrives. On this damp, frigid day, as everyone rushed about getting ready for the holiday, we were hit by a blast of snow. With moderate to heavy white stuff falling for…