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…
The Age of the Automobile Arrives in Cecil: 1st License Issued to Port Deposit Resident
In a time when horses, carriages, and bicycles provided transportation, the sight of an auto could cause a commotion, but little did anyone know how unsettling that first view could be for “Poor Excuse.” It was Friday, April 13, 1900, a day for bad luck, when the Adams Express delivery horse trotted up to the…
Sharing Cecil County’s Past
If you enjoy Cecil County’s history check out our Facebook page, a virtual home where we share photos, stories, and conversations about the area’s heritage. As you browse the timeline you will find rich media, pictures, new and old, short articles, news about local heritage events, and links to curated content produced by others. In…
Memorial Obituaries Moore, Tech. Sgt. Hugh F.
Memorial Obituaries Moore, Tech. Sgt. Hugh F.. Tech. Sgt. Hugh F. Moore The remains of Technical Sergeant Hugh Francis Moore, who was missing in action for more than 70 years after his plane was shot down in World War II, will be coming home for burial with full military honors. Born in Elkton, MD, in…
Cecil County Airman Hugh Moore To Be Returned to Family and Buried With Full Military Honors
Press Release: Department of Defense: Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office, October 31, 2014 The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced today that the remains of U.S. servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been accounted for and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors. Army Air Forces…
On Borrowed Time: Solving a Cecil County Genealogical Mystery
ELKTON—On a cold, grey February day a few years ago, Lance McPherson, a special agent for the federal government, called to ask for help solving a family history mystery associated with an old, inoperable pocket watch in his custody. On this trip, he sought to uncover information about the curious timepiece, its hands frozen in…