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…
Singerly’s Listening Station to Tap into Stories About the Past Today
Today an important public safety enhancement takes place in Elkton as the Singerly Fire Company dedicates a greatly expanded and improved Station 13. The new headquarters station provides a recently completed apparatus wing, along with significant renovations to existing areas. Following a parade through the downtown area later this Saturday, first responders and officials will…
Port Deposit Heritage Hosts An Evening With Dr. Beanes – A War of 1812 Living History Presentaton
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…
Robert M. Walmsley Elected Sheriff
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…
Era Ends in 1963 as Rising Sun Unplugs Telephone Switchboard
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…
Relics From Another Age of Firefighting Getting Ready for Station Dedication
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…
Perry Point Contains Architectural Gems From 18th Century
The fading rays of the late afternoon sun illuminated the beauty of two 18th architectural gems from Cecil’s past on this fine Saturday in mid-April. The Perry Point Mansion and Mill were built about 1750 by the Thomas family. They sold the 1,800 acre property to the Stump family in 1800. When it was occupied by…
Tradition and Technology Converge in Civil War Exhibit
By Eric Mease “Choose Ye This Day, Cecil County and the Civil War” opened to a standing room only crowd on Saturday as the Historical Society of Cecil County unveiled its much anticipated Civil War exhibit. Visitors saw artifacts from the society’s collection of Civil War memorabilia ranging from life sized portraits to weapons, from uniforms to…
Cecil Guardian: Civil War Comes to Life at Society
Cecil Guardian reporter and photographer Bill Hughes wrote a front page piece about the opening of the Historical Society’s Civil War exhibit in this week’s paper. The photojournalist interviewed the exhibit curator, Lisa Dolor, and one of our living history performers, the Rev. Hubert Jicha. Be sure to pick up a copy and read the full story. Thanks…
U of DE History Majors Crowdsource a Civil War Chaplain’s Diary
An old Civil War chaplain’s diary that has been gathering dust for 150-years and was periodically brought out for some research has been getting an enormous amount of attention lately. This past Monday evening U of DE honors society history students, faculty and staff were pouring over fading pages from another age, scrutinizing those aging entries line by line. Here are some…