Window on Cecil County's Past

Now that the 1960s are history and not just nostalgia the Historical Society of Cecil County is opening an exhibit this fall that celebrates and studies the many happenings of that era locally. While the curators dig through some 40,000 local photographs, work with artifacts and mount the exhibit we have selected a few images to share with you…

Since summer is coming to an end, it is time for the Historical Society of Cecil County to announce the schedule for its popular winter speakers’ series for the 2013-14 season.  We always start a little early — right in the middle of autumn — and stretch the programs through the cold winter months.  During…

In the middle third of the 20th century, many Cecil County towns had moviehouses.  One of those enjoyable places was the Cecil Theatre in Cecilton, where nightly shows (except Sunday) were offered in air-conditioned comfort on a beautiful, wide-screen.  “The Naked Dawn” starring Arthur Kennedy and Bella St. John, was playing in Technicolor, along with “A Twinkle…

When the researcher needed to work with an out-of-print book for some purpose a decade ago, there were a limited number of options.  The investigator could purchase the title through an out-of-print book dealer or arrange to visit a special collections library or historical society where the volume was safely stored away.  But these days…

When the cool autumn weather arrives it will once again be time for the Historical Society of Cecil County to kick-off its popular speakers’ series for the 2013-14 season.  Beginning in the middle of autumn and stretching all the way through the cold months of winter, the Society hosts a series of lively, engaging speakers…

The Library Company of Philadelphia (LCP), an independent research library focused on American Society and Culture, has an extensive collection of non-circulating rare books, manuscripts, broadsides, ephemera, prints, photographs, and works of art.  Building on those strong resources, this repository, America’s oldest cultural institution, has been busy creating digital products to share with a broader…

Every four years, voters turn out to elect a sheriff in Cecil County.  The race for that position has historically drawn some of the greatest interest and as elections near politicking often becomes intense.  Here is a picture from a campaign of some fifty years ago.  In the undated photo, Nathan “Juicy” Kaplan, a former…

Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, August 17, 2013 — Saturday evening we attending the “Howl Prowl” at the Fair Hill NRMA.  As part of the 250th anniversary of the Mason Dixon Line, the park sponsored the over 3-mile hike, examining the history of the boundary and the natural terrain on the border of Pennsylvania…

Historical Society Curator Lisa Dolor, and her staff, are working on an exhibit about the 1960s in Cecil County.  As a result, they have been digging through the old newspapers looking for appropriate material, photographs, and advertisements.   This one from 1960 for the Milk Bar caught our attention.  

In the post World War II era, the Cecil Farmers Telephone Company of Rising Sun was growing  To accommodate the addition of subscribers, the company added a new switchboard (manufactured by Stromberg-Carlson Company of Rochester, NY) in March 1952.  The Rising Sun company was serving 850 subscribers at that time, but a new board added positions…