The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Esri, a geographic information technology company, have partnered to make the enormous collection of the Survey’s map readily available to everyone. While these resources have been downloadable on the Internet since September 2011, this new, user-friendly website is a significant improvement over the original system, which was more complicated. The…
Port Herman: An Annual Gathering Place for Vacationers
In the early 20th century, Port Herman was the place to be during the hot, humid summer months. The small waterfront community on the Elk River shore attracted city folks seeking to lighten the oppressiveness of the season by catching fresh breezes and enjoying the cooling water. It all started in 1843 when Robert H. Thomas,…
Fire & Police Protective Services at Perry Point – The Early Decades
As the United States advanced plans to support combat in World War I, the federal government purchased some of Cecil County’s most scenic property, the Perry Point estate. This expansive 516-acre tract at the head of the Chesapeake Bay was leased to the Atlas Powder Company early in 1918, and by March the erection of the huge explosives…
Writing About the Slave Era, “The Unwritten History” Discusses Slavery, Emancipation, USCT & More
While attending an excellent event hosted by the Kent County Arts Council to mark the reopening of the Charles Sumner GAR Post # 25, we listened to an informative and engaging talk by Dr. Clara Small. The retired Salisbury University professor sketched out the history of the post, the United States Colored Troops in Maryland, and…
An Old Schoolhouse Served Warwick’s African-American Community
On a side street in Warwick stands a red brick building. This structure, the “Warwick Academy,” was built just before the Civil War swept over the nation, the exact year of erection being recorded in a date stone in the south gable, which reads: “Warwick Academy Institute built A.D. 1859.” it served as the community’s…
Chiefs Past and Present: 13th Commander Assumes Leadership Role in Elkton
ELKTON, June 6, 2014 — The Town of Elkton announced that the 13th officer to command the Elkton Police Department was appointed Chief of Police on June 6. The former second in command, Matthew J. Donnelly, assumed leadership of the force with 42-sworn personnel on that date, but he had been acting as the executive…
A Cecil History Short: Recalling Youthful Days Growing up in Elkton and the Family Business, the Howard Hotel.
The latest Cecil History Short has been released by The Historical Society of Cecil County, Evelyn VVaggi Scott, 80, talks about youthful days growing up in Elkton and Vaggi family business, the Howard Hotel. This is Part I. A conversation with Mrs. Scott will be released shortly in part II.
Marshall Purner Went From Big City Policing to Keeping the Peace in Cecil County
July 11, 2008 — North East, MD: Marshall Purner, 81, North East, went from being a city cop to being the thin blue line on a one-man force in Cecil County. “I got interested in law enforcement while I was in the army, so I joined the Louisville Kentucky Police Department when I was discharged…
Lee Wing, Elkton’s First Asian Resident, Opens Chinese Laundry
The other day, 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 talking about meeting the first Chinese resident of Elkton as a youngster, when a laundry opened here. The recollection of…
In the Middle of Spring, it’s Cecil County Tourism & History Month
Cecil has many destination spots and lots of history to share with visitors to our corner of Maryland, and each year the county tourism office showcases our natural and heritage resources by observing May as “tourism and history month.” To spread the word about all that we have to offer and show appreciation for our past, as the season for travel gets…