Window on Cecil County's Past

The Rodgers Tavern presents an attractive appearance in early May.  This old place, standing on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, has welcomed travelers for centuries.

When it was first built-in the mid-18th century, the two-story stone building welcomed passersby as a ferry house and tavern.  For those crossing the river, it provided a place to lodge and partake of food and drink.  It continued operating as a tavern on the Post Road into the 19th century, but as bridges and railroads replaced ferries and carriages, the once popular Lower Susquehanna Ferry lost its importance.

In the second half of the 20th century, the Society for the Preservation of Maryland Antiquities stepped forward to save and preserve the relic, a survivor from the colonial era.  Today it is owned by the Town of Perryville, but the attractive structure still draws the attention of the passersby.  However, it is still in the spotlight, but not it is as a valuable cultural heritage resource, reflecting earlier times.

This weekend marks the passage of 200 years since the enemy occupied the water and shoreline of the Upper Chesapeake.  To recall those frightening days in Cecil County, a “footsteps in history” living history walking tour takes places in Charlestown this Sunday May 5^th at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.  On the dramatic one-hour strolls into the past, you will meet people who lived, labored, and defended Cecil County during the War of 1812.

Since we had five rivers, our communities were exposed to the marauding British Navy and Marines and spots where combat took place were generally plundered and put to the match.  Seldom told tales will emerge out of these alarming times as the Heritage Troupe performs scenes, presenting old-timers who were around centuries ago.  With the group ambling along attractive colonial era streets on a spring evening, you will hear thrilling firsthand accounts about struggles and triumphs, the brave defense of our homes, war heroes, and accounts of everyday people, days when we were on the frontline of the war.

This special bicentennial event, “Footsteps from the Past” walking tour, opened last year to a sold out crowd.   So be sure to call for your advance tickets for this popular activity that will find history enthusiasts ambling through the streets of Charlestown, along attractive pathways of the well-preserved historic district.

The event in Colonial Charlestown steps off at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. on May 5, 2013.  But after last year’s production attracted over 125 people, event organizers have scaled things back a little in order to provide better viewing and listening for the audience.  Each walk is limited to 50 strollers and the cost is $10 in advance through the Wellwood Club or $12 at the door.  To reserve your tickets call 410-287-6666.  The proceeds benefit the Historical Society and Colonial Charlestown.  Generous support of these local nonprofit heritage groups is provided by the Wellwood Club, the President and Commissioners of Charlestown, Cecil County Tourism, and the Heritage Troupe.

The William M. Singerly Fire Company of Elkton formally dedicated its recently renovated and expanded Newark Avenue station today.  In celebration of the completion of this important public safety enhancement, a parade of over 80 units made its way through downtown around 1:00 p.m.   An hour or so later, a packed house of emergency responders, well-wishers, and public officials assembled at Station 13 for remarks, the playing of the bagpipes, and the unveiling of the station plaque.  The ceremony wrapped up, with an old, time-honored, fire service tradition.  Members stood in front of the engines and ambulances parked on the outside ramp and gave them a shove, pushing the units into the apparatus bays.  The new structure updates the central station, which opened in 1971.  The headquarters station provides a new apparatus wing, along with significant renovations to existing areas.

At Singerly’s first station near the corner of North & Main streets everything was very quiet one night this week as a full moon began its ascent in the nighttime sky.  In the late 1940s the company had outgrown its first home.  So in 1950 the members rolled up the hose, cranked up the trucks, and moved up the street one block to a greatly expanded headquarters.

On Thursday, April 25th at 7 p.m. the Port Deposit Heritage Corporation presents an interesting War of 1812 living history program, “An Evening with Dr. William Beanes.

William Beanes, a well respected Maryland doctor, was captured by the British for his role in arresting and jailing British deserters and stragglers. Following his capture, Georgetown lawyer Francis Scott Key and U.S. Agent for Prisoner Exchange John S. Skinner were charged with securing Beanes release from the British. Before leaving on this mission, Skinner acquired letters from wounded British prisoners of war describing their good treatment at the hands of Americans. British Major General Robert Ross, who had ordered the seizure of Dr. Beans, was initially unwilling to release the doctor. He was later persuaded after reading the letters from the wounded British prisoners.

Although they had accomplished their mission, Beans, Key and Skinner’s return home was postponed when the British decided to attack Baltimore. They were placed on a flag-of-truce ship, anchored at Old Roads Bay on the Patapsco River, eight miles below Fort McHenry.

This should be an interesting program and here is the event poster with more details.

Since its founding as Maryland’s tenth county in 1674, many men have served as the jurisdiction’s chief law enforcement officer.  Robert M. Walmsley, one of those public servants, was elected to a two year term as sheriff in 1853.  At that time the officer could serve only one term, according to state law.  He was born in Sassafras Neck in 1804 and at the time of his death in 1879 was in the 75^th year of his life.  Early in his life he moved to Bell Hill, just outside Elkton, where he took up the milling trade.

Robert was the Democratic sheriff in 1853, in opposition to Jacob Hyland.  During his term of office it fell to his lot to perform a very unpleasant duty, an execution.  Robert Swift was convicted of murder in 1855, in a case that had been moved here from Harford County.  When the day for the hanging came, Elkton was astir at an early hour as Sheriff Walmsley and Deputy Janney took the prisoner out to Red Hill.  At the appointed time the two lawmen accompanied the prisoner to the top of the platform on the gallows.  There the sheriff placed the noose around the doomed man’s neck and the trap door fell open.

The sheriff always obeyed the stern behest of the law and hesitated not to perform his duties, even it when it was a disagreeable task, the newspapers reported.   He was a powerful man and few men ever exceeded him in cool, courage determination, the Cecil Democrat added.  That trait of coolness under fire, one that served the sheriff well, occurred a few years earlier when he aided Sheriff Daniel McCauley.  Accompanied by the Elkton Guards, a military company, they went to Charlestown to execute an indictment.  When an entrance into the home was made, Robert found one man standing at the head of the stairs with a loaded gun, threatening to shoot the first peson that attempted to ascend.  Not daunted by the bluster or the bravado, Robert quietly walked up the stairs and catching the gun near the muzzle and wrenching it from his hand.

He died at his home in Elkton on July 22, 1879 and was buried in Elkton Cemetery.

The Rural Electrification Administration approved a loan of $545,000 for the Armstrong Phone Company to acquire the Cecil Farmers Telephone Company in 1962.  In addition to purchasing the assets of the enterprise, a series of improvements, including a direct dial system and a new central office, were planned.  On the day the announcement was made, the Cecil Democrat stopped by and took a picture of the operators juggling the cords and making the connections.  On that day in June 1962 Miss Helen Orr, Mrs. Frieda Tome, Mrs. Glenn Meeks, Mrs. Helen Gibson worked the board, while Mrs. Jewelyne Doyle supervised the work.  Finally in 1963 an era ended as the switchboard was unplugged and Rising Sun changed over to dial-up service.

For more on the telephone in Cecil County, see the Telephone Operator in Elkton

Singerly Fire Company volunteers have been busy over the past several week rearranging displays of artifacts in the museum.   On this Friday afternoon, these relics of many 19th century fights with the flames and smoke rested on the 1818 Hydraulion and the Rodgers Hand Pumper (came to Elkton in 1859).  The top photo, shows two leather helmets that date from the Company’s earliest days, and a much earlier 19th century lantern.  In the bottom photo, there is a fireman’s trumpet, used to shout commands at the scene of a fire.  It was given to Elkton firefighters by the Washington Fire Company of Wilmington.  And there’s a leather bucket.