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.
Elkton’s Old Fire Bell Tapped Out Many Alarms
The 118-year-old fire bell that stood watch over Elkton for decades, arousing firefighters from their slumbers in the dead of winter nights or calling them from their labors on hot summer days, remains an important part of Singerly Fire Company today. For years this instrument, mounted in the belfry high atop the fire station, alerted…
Singerly Fire Company’s Ahrens Fox & Hale Pumpers
While traveling in Western Mass one summer backs in the 1980s, we stopped at a large roadside flea market. There I found a few photographs of Singerly Fire Company apparatus in the inventory at one table so I immediately picked them up. Here are scans of two of those images, one showing the Ahrens Fox…
Historical Society Fills Vital Role as County Archives
With national archives month drawing to a close, we thought we’d remind those interested in researching Cecil’s history, that the Society is the county archives. The County Commissioners asked us to assume the responsibility of becoming the caretakers for centuries old local records years ago. Those visionary local government leaders wanted these materials for researching…
Mother Nature Plays a Little Trick on Cecil County as Winter Arrives Early
On this last Saturday in October, an early wintry mix started falling on Cecil County early this afternoon, causing a little snow and ice to accumulate on the ground of the old Principio United Methodist Church. The mix will change over to snow tonight and accumulate 1.5-inches, according to AccuWeather. Mother-nature apparently decided to play a little trick on the area…
Free Antique Appraisals Featured at CCPL Friends Annual Meeting
Free Antique appraisals will be the featured program at the annual meeting of the Friends of the Cecil County Public Library, Wednesday, November 9, 6 p.m., at the Perryville Branch Library in Perryville, MD. The Friends, who support key reading programs for children such as the CCPL Summer Reading Program and are advocates for reading…
Cecil County Public Library Celebrates National Friends of Libraries Week Oct. 16-22
Cecil County Public Library will be celebrating National Friends of Libraries week October 16 – October 22. This nationally recognized week was established to raise awareness of the importance of community support for libraries, to encourage community members to join library Friends groups, and to recognize the wonderful ways Friends support libraries. The Friends of…
Northeastern Maryland Archaeological Society Talk Puts Spotlight on 30 Years of Digs at Elk Landing
One of the things that we’ve said often is that you never know what kind of buried treasures are going to turn up when someone starts digging around older parts of Elkton. Many of the town’s parking areas, streets, and building lots have yielded relics that were tossed aside and buried a long time ago. But…
Archeological Society of Northern Chesapeake to Hear about Findings From Archeological Investigations at Elk Landing
Cecil County Map from the 1790s shows Elk Landing & county courthouse Date: Wednesday, 12 October 2011 Time: 6:30 pm for refreshments and business, speaker program at 7:15 Location: Perryville Library Program: Dr. Jim Gibb: “Elk Landing: Results of Remote Sensing, Summer of 2011.” Prevew: During the past summer, Dr. Gibb, his field assistant and…
North East Faces the “Fire Fiend” in 1911
North East –May 7, 1911 — An untroubled Saturday night lapses peacefully into Sunday morning. It’s just about three o’clock and townspeople are wrapped safely in slumber. Then, unexpectedly, the fearful cry is heard, first by a few — someone is shouting Fire! … Fire! … Fire! It is the Rev. J. P. Otis pastor…