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The Civil War in Our Backyard – Programs at the Library in February

Commemorate the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War through unique programs and learning opportunities at your library this year! Through May 2012, all Cecil County Public Library branches will feature events and activities centered around the greatest conflict in our nation’s history. From reenactments to special programs on the role of women and local African Americans in the war, not to mention children’s activities and book discussions with local authors, there’s something for everyone–and everywhere!

Here is the February schedule.

  • Cecil County African-Americans in the Civil War; Eric Mease speaker; Wednesday, February 8 @ 7pm; Elkton Central Library
  • Freedom Quilts for Kids (Grades 3-6); Wednesday, February 22 @ 3:30pm; Elkton Central Library
  • Follow the North Star Workshop for Kids (Grades 3 -8); From the Banneker-Douglass Museum; Wednesday, February 22 @ 3:30pm; Perryville Branch Library
  • A Copperhead Looks at the Civil War; Monday, February 27 @7pm; Rising Sun Branch Library;

Registration is required for all programs.

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Video Documentarian Examines the Work of Cecil County Waterman

The life of a Waterman, a video documentary examining the work of Cecil Countians commercially fishing the Chesapeake, recently came to our attention.  It was completed by Megan Moore, a Cecil College student, for a class project.  Thanks Megan for sharing this excellent work.  Hopefully we’ll see more of these creative products, as other videographers document how life is changing so quickly in the 21st century in Cecil County, and hopefully we’ll see more from Megan.  Check it out.  It’s a fine piece of work, profiling one aspect of the area’s culture and heritage through new media.

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Sylmar Takes Its Name From Two States

Sylmar directorySylmar draws its name from its location on the state border, taking the second syllable of Pennsylvania and first syllable of Maryland.   Its growth came about after the Philadelphia and

1902 Polk’s Maryland Directory listing for Sylmar.

Baltimore Central Railroad built a line through the area in the mid-1860s.  In 1877, the company erected a depot and freight house at the spot, calling the station State Line.  That was soon changed to Sylmar.   By 1902, the population had reached 50 people, according to Polk’s Maryland Directory.  It had an undertaker (W. N. Brown), a blacksmith (Amos Whiteman), an auctioneer (S. H. Dowland), a general store (Kimble S. Howard), and several other business interests that year.

With the railroad depot, freight house, and siding creating growth, the U.S. Post Office opened a station here on March 26, 1886.  Amid the Great Depression, the facility closed on Dec. 30, 1933.

Several postcards exist of this northwestern Cecil County town, located just a few miles northeast of Rising Sun.  The two below show the railroad depot and the post office and store.  Other community images include shots of the church, school and additional views of the railroad.  These cards are from about 1912.

Additional Sylmar photos

Sylmar store and post office
Sylmar store and post office
sylmar train station
Sylmar train station
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The Four Corners in Cecilton in the Late 1930s

Amid the Great Depression, photographers working on several federal projects traveled the country capturing images of historic buildings, public works projects, and landscape vistas.  While canvassing Cecil County, one of those cameramen snapped this tranquil scene at the four corners in Cecilton in the late 1930s.

This was the hub of the farming community of 458 residents in 1930, and several businesses in the vicinity of the intersection made up the commercial section.  Spreading out from there were streets lined with beautiful homes, according to the Hearn Oil Company guide of 1926.

Other travel directories noted that one could turn here for the cooling waters of the upper Chesapeake or nearby Warwick and Middletown.  The other route took the traveler to the Sassafras or Bohemia rivers.  The second photo from the Hearn Oil Co guide shows the monument to Capt. John Smith on the Sassafras River at Fredericktown.

cecilton four corners
The four corners, the main intersection, in Cecilton. Source: Library of Congress
sassafras river fredericktown
The Hearn Oil Company travel guide for the Delmarva Peninsula in the 1920s. with a photo of the Sassafras River Bridge in Frdericktown
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Waiting for the Snow to Fly

Low, gray clouds filled the sky over this old farm on Blue Ball Road outside of Childs on this early winter day.  The appearance of this nippy scene, at a place that has seen the passage of many frosty seasons, served as a reminder that a cyclical spell of freezing temperatures, cold rain, falling snow and howling winds await Cecil County during the winter of 2012.

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The Civil War In Our Backyard

Private Cyrus T. Wesley, a USCT from Cecil County, is buried at Griffith A.U.M.P Church near Pleasant Hill

Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War through unique programs and learning opportunities this year the Cecil County Public Library!  From September 2011 through May 2012, all CCPL branches will feature events and activities centered around the greatest conflict in our nation’s history.  From reenactments to special programs on the role of women and local African Americans in the war, not to mention children’s activities and book discussions with local authors, there’s something for everyone—and everywhere!

Upcoming events for January 2012:

Children’s Program:  “The Life of a Civil War Soldier.”  Learn what life was like for a soldier during the Civil War. Explore the time period through clothing, music, and every day activities that were common-place during the Civil War.   For students in grades 3-6; registration is required.

Wednesday, January 11th at 3pm at the Chesapeake City Branch Library

Saturday, January 14th at 1pm at the Perryville Branch Library

Thursday, January 19th at 6:30pm at the Elkton Central Library

Saturday, January 21st at 2pm at the Cecilton Branch Library

Book Discussion:  “Crossroads of Freedom” with David Healey, Wednesday, January 11th at 7pm at the Elkton Central Library

Robert E. Lee with Christy Reynolds, Monday, January 23rd at 6:30pm at the Chesapeake City Branch Library

Book Discussion:  “Sharpshooters” with author David Healey, Tuesday, January 24th at 6:30pm at the Cecilton Branch Library

For more information on this series, please check with your local library or visit our website at www.cecil.ebranch.info.

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2012 Paper Americana Show in Elkton Features Over 30 Collectibles Dealers

 Singerly Fire Company of Elkton, MD. will present their 25th annual “Paper Americana Show” on Saturday, January 28, 2012 from 10 AM to 4 PM. The show will feature over thirty dealers from several states who are offering for sale antique books, postcards, newspapers, art prints, advertising & regional collectibles, photographs, and general ephemera.The Singerly Fire Hall is located at 300 Newark Avenue, Elkton, MD. near the intersection of Routes 213 and 279. From I-95 take exit # 109 (Route 279) interchange toward Elkton, approximately 3 miles on the right.Admission is $3.00 per person ($2.00 with this ad) — children under 12 admitted free of charge. For additional information contact ayersj@zoominternet.net or call 410-398-7735 or 410-398-7300 during show hours.

Sometime between the two World Wars, a parade is marching up Main Street, past the Howard Hotel in Elkton. Images such type are typical of the inventory carried by dealers at the show.

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The Traveler’s B & O Christmas Tree, a Holiday Tradition

B&O Holly TreeDecember 8, 2011 — One tradition for kicking off the Christmas Season in Cecil County is the annual lighting of the “Holly Tree by-the-tracks.” This year the 62nd lighting was scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3rd, 2011. The Baltimore & Ohio held its first public ceremony in 1948 when thousands of people gathered to ring in the season as lights fromthousands of bulbs on the evergreen softly illuminated the Jackson, MD hillside. For many years the company dispatched a special train from Mount Royal Station for the occasion. After 1971, the tree was dark for a time until a group of volunteers started making sure the tree festively blazed for the holiday season.

The magic of the 1954 lighting ceremony was captured on a 33 1/3 long playing record. It included carols by the B & O Glee Club and the B & O Women’s Music Choir. That old vinyl, a long unheard broadcast, has sat silently on a shelf, but recently the audio was digitized so readers could enjoy the snap, crackle and pop of a vinyl recording from a long time ago. Musical selections directed by Dr. James Allan Dash, a narration by the master of ceremonies Walter Linthicum, gasps of delight and loud applause, and much were captured on the record. So you may enjoy a portion of that festive occasion that took place over a half-century ago, we are posting a part of that audio here on the blog. (note: it may take a few seconds for the MP3 file to start, so be patient.)

B&O passenger train at holly tree

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A Thanksgiving Greeting From 1907

Holiday postcards were popular in the early 20th century and many of these artistic products were exchanged with friends, family, and neighbors.  This old one, providing a “hearty Thanksgiving greeting,” was mailed to Shuwall (?) family in Earleville on November 26, 1907.