When a terrible fire struck the DuBois Planning and Sash Mill, the largest industry in Havre de Grace, one June day in 1883, men rushed the town’s small Holloway Chemical Engine to the factory. Once on the scene, they worked frantically trying to check the destructive advance. But the “ruthless flames” turned the factory and…
Elkton Eclipse Base Ball Team Opens 2012 Season at Terrapin Station Winery on April 22
Press Release – Eclipse Base Ball Club The Eclipse Base Ball Club of Elkton invites you to its home game on April 22nd at the Terrapin Station Winery. The club has great things planned this year and there is at least one home game a month. If you can’t make it Sunday when the Eclipse take on…
Talk Explores the Era When the Honeymoon Express Rolled Into Elkton, Bringing Cupid’s Wedding Business To Town
Just in time for June, a busy month for weddings in Elkton, the colorful story of that era is being presented in a captivating talk by Mike Dixon. Hear about how the quick marriage business got started in Cecil County in 1913 and, for several decades, made the place hum as the marrying parsons worked overtime, cranking out some…
Underground Railroad Conference to Feature Talk by Local Historian About Elkton Slave Catcher
One of the speakers at this year at this year’s Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Conference is a local historian, Milt Diggins. The conference, which takes place in Cambridge on June 1st and 2nd, will feature a talk by the author and retired educator. Milt will present original research into the story of Thomas McCreary, a kidnapper and slave-catcher operating…
Elk Landing Opens 62-Acres of Park Land to Public
For those who enjoy the natural beauty of publicly owned lands and the cultural resources found on some of the properties in Cecil County, there’s some great new out of the Historic Elk Landing Foundation (HELF) this morning. HELF announced that the 62 acres of land purchased by the Town of Elkton through grants from…
Opening a Window on History: A Letter Provides a Personal Glimpse on the War of 1812
While historians learn about the past in many ways, one of the most exciting can be reading letters that were penned long ago. You never know what these private communications from another age are going to reveal or where they’re going to come from. Sometimes these old sheets of paper have been stashed away in…
As Gas Price Hits All Time High in Cecil County, 1970s Energy Crisis Recalled
April 8, 2012 — As gas prices hit an all-time high in Cecil County today, slipping past the $4.00 mark for regular for the first time, those posted amounts called to mind the 1970s energy crisis. The spike occurred at the John F. Kennedy Highway Service Center, but most spots around Cecil offered a gallon for…
A Night on the Town: Upper Bay Museum Honors Its Founders on May 19
Here’s a note we received from the Upper Bay Museum about an upcoming event to honor museum founders. Since our readers will find the message of interest, we’re posting it as a regular piece. Thanks Upper Bay Museum for letting us know and keep up the good work. ———- Hello All, I am contacting you to…
Let the Research Begin — 1940 Census Available on the Web at a Number of Sites
The personal, detailed records from the 1940 census, having been sealed for 72-years in accordance with confidentiality restrictions, were made available online Monday for free at a number of websites. Although the National Archives was the first to post digital images of the entire census on the web at www.nara.gov , the interest in the…
An Aged Citizen From Centuries Ago Still Promoting Cecil County Tourism & Heritage
Charlestown, March 29, 2012 — At the Cecil County Tourism Partners Breakfast at the Wellwood Club, I was pleased to run into my old friend Zebulon Hollingsworth, Jr. (aka Gordy Johnson). Now Zeb is what you might call a real old-timer as he’s been around Cecil County for centuries. Born in the 1730s, the gentleman passed…