Window on Cecil County's Past

A circa 1910 postcard showing the Turkey Point Lighthouse.

One of the leaders of America’s abolitionist movement, Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in Talbot County, Maryland in 1817. As a young house servant, he was taught to read and write. The brutality he experienced as a slave eventually led him to escape North and in 1845 he published his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. A noted speaker, Douglass influenced such important figures as Abraham Lincoln.

Bill Grimmette is a living history interpreter, storyteller, actor, and motivational speaker who has performed throughout the United States and abroad. He has researched and performed the characters of W. E. B. Du Bois, Frederick Douglass, Benjamin Banneker, Estevanico, and Augustus Washington. He has appeared at the Smithsonian Institution and on National Public Radio. He has an M.A. in psychology from the Catholic University of America, and has done post-graduate work in education at George Mason University.

DATE Wednesday, February 16, 2011

TIME 7:00 PM

Cecil County Public Library, Eltkon, 301 Newark Avenue, Elkton, MD. 21921

The event is underwritten by the Maryland Humanities Council

Members of Singerly Fire Company stand alongside their apparatus at the new fire station on North Street in downtown Elkton, a few years after operations moved up the street from the originally headquarters.   We’ll see if we can get some of the older members of the organizaton to identify these individuals.

Singerly Fire Companyu of Elkton, MD. will present its twenty-fourth annual Paper American Show on Saturday, January 29, 2011, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  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.

Singerly Fire Hall is located at the intersection of Rotue 213 and Route 279 in Elkton (300 Newark Ave.) approximatley three miles from the Route 279 Newark/Elkton interchange on I-95 (exit 109A)

Admission is $3,00 person ($2.00 with this ad) – children under 13 admitted free of charge.  Refreshments will be provided by the Ladies Auxiliary.  For additional informaton email ayersj@zoominternet.net or call 410-398-7735 or 410-398-7300 during show hours. 

It’s always exciting to obtain fresh perspectives and insights on the county’s past, something that is often provided when scholars take a serious look at our history.  These thorough investigations, requiring months of intensive digging into original documents and a critical evaluation of the sources, are valuable as they focus on specific research questions and use the highest principles of historical inquiry and analysis to piece together an understanding of things that came before us.

Eric Mease is one of those bringing a scholar’s fresh eye to an unstudied subject in Cecil County.  As a University of Delaware graduate student, he launched an investigation two years ago that sought to piece together the story of the United States Colored Troops from this area.  His Master of Arts thesis, Black Civil War Patriots of Cecil County, Maryland, was just approved by the University’s history department.

His investigation began at the Historical Society as he reviewed the literature on a few things that had been done earlier, such as a 1960s register of Civil War-era African-American Troops from the county.  Eric moved on from that baseline to visit cemeteries to verify his information and to add new patriots to his list.  He continued by talking to families, visiting archives, studying wills and legal records, and using newspapers.  In addition, he poured over old newspapers, studied slave tax records and manumissions, and extracted data from census registers.  Through all of this, he was able to piece together this far-reaching story for the first time.   The sources he investigated indicated that between 200 and 400 African-Americans from Cecil County volunteered during the Civil War.  His fieldwork specifically developed information on about 200 of these men.

Another person doing fieldwork for a professional monograph is Dr. Guy Alchon of the University of Delaware.  His focus is on the impact of World War-II on Elkton.  For a couple of years, the professor has been conducting fieldwork, taping oral histories, searching through old World War-II federal documents at the national archives, examining local government materials, and studying aging newspapers.  From that, he is planning a monograph that will be published and presented at one of the national groups, such as the American Organization of Historians.  This labor-intensive project is still ongoing.

We’ll look forward to having these valuable research titles become available to everyone as these academics add reliable sources for our understanding of the county’s story.  Meanwhile, congratulations to Eric for the successful completion of this academic milestone, as he adds a postnominal to his credentials.

Link to Library of Congress Photo

From ABC 2 News, Baltimore

NORTH EAST, Md. – Atop a hill just outside North East, Maryland lays civil war veteran James D. Alexander.  He fought in the famed battles of Gettysburg and Antietam; he was wounded and lost a leg in the skirmish at Spotsylvania Court House.

But while he was laid to rest almost 90 years ago, it may never have been in peace. “He was never recognized, given recognition. He was just buried and forgotten.” said John Goff. Until Goff started coming across artifacts that belonged of his great grandfather. It started when he found a soldier’s memorial given to his great grandfather when he was discharged.

Goff realized his relation was a fearless union hero who fought in this nation’s bloodiest battles to preserve the union. It was a proud historical trail. Goff’s research led him to a small graveyard with a tombstone with had his great grandfather on the wrong side of history.  “Confederate States of America,” Goff said pointing to the confederate tombstone, “They got it wrong.”

Video and the reaminder of the article continue on ABC 2 news.  Click on link.  Great grandson rewrites Civil War wrong; government to issue correct tombstone.

As a year filled with exciting events celebrating the 150^th anniversary of Rising Sun draws to a close, a new book about the event and the community’s past just came off the press.  This commemorative volume, Rising Sun, MD 150th Anniversary, is loaded with informative articles that chronicle the town’s past and features stories about its people, businesses and organizations.

“In putting together this commemorative book, we have tried to bridge the gap between the Centennial Book time frame and the Sesquicentennial time frame,” Mayor Sandi Didra recalled an earlier title that was published in 1960.  “We have also summarized much of the material from the first book.”

It was a large task to produce this attractive work.  But for nearly a year writers and photographers have been reaching out to residents to gather information for the volume.  Speaking of that challenge, Ed Belote, the publisher said:  “. . . . A massive amount of human effort was invested in putting this book together and we have all become a part of Rising Sun history.  Fifty years from now, when our children and grandchildren come together to create the 20t0h anniversary celebration book for Rising Sun, I hope they have as much fun doing it as we had.”    

This attractively illustrated limited edition volume loaded with original local content is something we’ll keep proudly at hand in our library.  The title retails for $20 and is available from the Historical Society and Sun Pharmacy, as well as at other locations.

As the holidays near, there are lots of great events in the county and beyond for the upcoming weekend.  Mt. Harmon and Elk Landing, two old house museums, have special festive events, there’s a holiday tour,  and the traveler’s Christmas tree lighting will take place.   Here are some details.

 Holiday Open House at Historic Elk Landing

The Historic Elk Landing Foundation will open its doors to celebrate the holiday season on Friday December 3rd and Saturday December 4th and you are invited to attend. This year’s festive event will feature late 18th century holiday decorations in the Hollingsworth House using greens, holly, nuts, apples and other natural items that would have been available in Cecil County two centuries ago, just as our ancient forefathers and mothers would have done. The only concession to modern times will be a Christmas tree which will be decorated with gingerbread cookies, popcorn, cranberries, and twisted tin strips, again, just as in holidays gone by.

Step back in time with us as we leave the madness of the 21st century to celebrate a calmer, gentler holiday season. Costumed guides will answer any questions you may have about the house, the decorations, or the holiday celebration. Children may also join in on the holiday spirit with homespun decorations they can make and take with them for their own 18th century celebration. Refreshments will be provided along with music of the times.

There is no charge to take part in this year’s Elk Landing Holiday celebration. We only ask that you bring non-perishable food items for donation to the Cecil County Help Center’s Food Bank. What better way to celebrate the holiday season?

Friday evening’s Holiday Open House begins at 7 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. Saturday the Hollingsworth House will be open between noon and 5 p.m. See our web site at www.elklanding.org for directions.

Yuletide Manor House Tours at Mt. Hamron.

Get into the holiday spirit with Mount Harmon’s Yuletide Manor House Tour. The elegant brick Georgian Manor House at Mount Harmon is decorated for the holidays with festive wreaths and decorative arrangements, in the style of Colonial Williamsburg. The Greenfingers Garden Club makes the holiday decorations using greens from Mount Harmon’s grounds, including boxwood, magnolia, pine, holly, and other seasonal favorites. A holiday decorations and greens sale is featured, with hand-made Williamsburg-style decorations and greens from the plantation available for sale.

Also featured are Children’s Holiday Craft Activities in the Education & Discovery Center and hearth-cooking demonstrations in the Plantation out-kitchen. Visitors will delight in sampling freshly made gingerbread cooked on the hearth and Mount Harmon’s special Wassail Punch. Proceeds benefit Mount Harmon Plantation.

Tickets: $10 per person, FOMH Members $5, Children 12 & under free, Purchase Upon Entry

Historic Christmas Tour

After a visit to the welcome center in the Principio Methodist Church Hall, the tour will take you from the Principio Furnace Ironmaster’s Mansion to the Perry Point Mansion with stops along the way to see six other beautifully decorated landmarks, churches, and a unique home.  Event takes place on December 5th from 1 to 6 p.m.  and tour starts at the church hall, 1511 Principio Furnace Road., Perryville.  Donation of $10 per person.

Holly Tree Lighting Ceremony

The Holly Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place Saturday December 4^th from 4 to 6 p.m.  Santa will be at the traveler’s tree Saturday December 2 from r to 8 -.m.  As always, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus will be free along with hot chocolate, cider and toys provide by Ray of Hope.

Dr. Ralph Eshelman, one of the authors of a newly published Johns Hopkins University title, the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake, was the guest speaker for the annual Historical Society of Cecil County meeting on October 18th.  The War of 1812 scholar spent years investigating sites connected with the conflict in Maryland, including Cecil County sites.  

In a lively and engaging talk, the distinguished historian shared his findings about the history of the War of 1812 in Cecil County with the 80 members attending the annual event At the Chesapeake Inn.  No theater of war suffered more than the Chesapeake Bay region, where 11 battles, 63 skirmishes, and 86 raids took place, he remarked.  Several of those incidents took place right here in Cecil County.  “Elkton and St. Michaels share the distinction of turning the British back twice.”  He highlighted some of the history we don’t recognize here in the county as he continued, while also swiftly dispatching a few our cherished myths.

Dr. Eshelman was the director of the Calvert Marine Museum in Maryland from 1974 to 1990. In 1974 he received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. The widely published maritime and military history lecturer was also a research associate at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution.  In addition he served as a consulting historian on the War of 1812 on the Chesapeake for the Maryland Historical Trust and the National Park Service.

Authored by the regions foremost scholars on the war, Dr. Eshelman, Scott S. Sheads, National Park Service Historian, and Professor Donald D. Hickey, this title will serve as the definitive work on the war in the Chesapeake region, including Cecil County. The research in this encyclopedia title surpasses any body of material brought together on this matter and it is supported by primary documents including diaries, journals, and newspaper articles.  The Society has added this well researched title to our library for it’ll get lots of use as planning continues for the celebration and it gives us a comprehensive volume of verified facts.    Page after page is loaded with facts about incidents in Cecil and Harford counties, as well as throughout the state.

While this title is going to earn its keep in the library, there are a number of other works that are helpful too.  But one additional manuscript is in the works.  Authored by Ron Turner, it specifically deals with the War of 1812 on the Upper Chesapeake.  Ron, a professional writer and journalist, wrote the draft a few years ago for the Roundtable and we’ve had an opportunity glance at this fine piece which focuses on Harford and Cecil.  It is our understanding that this local title will be published and available to the public as a detailed local source of information, as the celebration nears.