Cecil County’s First Aerial Unit Arrived in Elkton in 1892

Following a couple of serious fires on Main Street in 1891 that forced Elkton to telegraph the Wilmington Fire Department for aid townspeople decided to establish an efficient firefighting organization.  In the waning months of that year, plans were quickly put in place for the William M. Singerly Fire Company and in January 1892 the organization was formally incorporated.  To put things on a sound footing, the members started raising funds to purchase equipment to replace those aging veterans of fights with many blazes, the aging old hand pumpers.  Before January 1892 faded the company had a steam engine, two hose reels, and a hook-and-ladder.

The ladder was the first piece of that kind in Cecil County.  Upon deciding to purchase this piece, the company went to Middletown and Dover to inspect units used in those Delaware towns.  That examination resulted in the company ordering a truck from Gleason & Bailey of Seneca Falls., NY.  It arrived in Elkton on Monday, January 18, 1892.

At an early hour on a Saturday morning twelve days later, the truck answered its first alarm.  Residents were awakened by the ringing of the courthouse bell and the cry of fire as the destructive flames were consuming a frame buildings on the south side of Main Street.  The volunteers grabbed the ladder unit and the old hand pumpers and rushed to the scene a few doors east of the courthouse.  The steam engine wasn’t in service yet.

After that the hook-and-ladder was on the scene of most blazes in Elkton but by the end of 1914 it had answered its last alarm.  On New Year’s Eve 1914, it was resting securely in the closed up paint shop of M. S. Barrett & Son on Bridge Street, waiting for a fresh coat of paint.  As people looked forward to the start of another year, shouts of fire went up.  A blaze had erupted in the paint shop and by the time Singerly arrived the building was blazing fiercely.  The entire building and its content were lost on the last day of 1914.

Singerly’s ladder truck during a parade in 1902

The ladder truck at the Volunteer Hose Company of Middletown DE

Cecil County Monument Honors Law Enforcement Officers Killed in the Line of Duty

Today the nation honors fallen law enforcement officers during an annual Candlelight vigil in Washington, D.C.  While people across the country remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice I paused briefly at our Cecil County Monument on this cool Monday in mid-spring.  It was dedicated a few decades ago to honor county peace officers who made the ultimate sacrifice and there are six names on the monument.  The memorial is located at the Cecil County Detention Center on Landing Lane in Elkton.

The Cecil County law enforcement memorial at the Cecil County Detention Center.

Elkton Police Are Doing a Fine Job But Could Use Some Equipment

Chief Reynolds taking a call on the police phone. In the era before radio communications arrived for the Elkton Police, the officers were called to the phone by a flashing light mounted on a pole at the corner of North and Main streets.

In 1962 President Kennedy proclaimed May 15^th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the calendar week in which it falls as National Police Week.  While remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice, it is also a time to show appreciation for what law enforcement professional do to keep communities safe. 

With the dedication of these men and women in mind we noticed a Cecil Democrat piece from over sixty years ago noting the splendid job the officers, with their limited resources, were doing in Elkton in 1950.  Historically speaking the local political leadership was always slow to allocate funding to improve police service.  It took years of lobbying to get the county commissioners to final fund patrol cars for the Sheriff’s Office, that step into the 20^th century not taking place until 1968.

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EDITORIAL – Cecil Democrat, June 22, 1950

The Police Department of Elkton has done and is doing such a splendid job of law enforcement that we are apt to overlook their efficient service.

With a five man squad, four regular members and one extra man, these duties are performed; however there is some additional equipment needed so that these men can function properly.  One of the things that would be of great help would be two additional signal lights such as the one placed at the intersection of North and Main streets, this is not a traffic light., it is a light that will flash when a patrolman is wanted at the police station.  Chief of Police W. H. White has told this writer of the need for at least three more such lights, one in Elkton Heights, the others are in the farther’ ends of West and East Main Street.

Then the lack of fingerprinting facilities, if the police wish to finger print a suspect it is necessary for them to take that person to the State Police Barrack at Conowingo.  Surely finger printing equipment isn’t so expensive that we cannot supply our law enforcement agencies with the things necessary to do their job.

The members of the police force in Elkton, in addition to Chief White are Bobby Holmes, John Huminski, Harry Minker and the extra, William Pinder.  As we stated at the beginning of this little effort to express our appreciation of these men’s effort, they are quiet efficient in every way; let us do our part and give these men the tools need to carry out their jobs of protecting the life and property of the citizens of the town.

Officer Hines investigates a broken window at the Junior High School in 1963.

A Substantial 19th Century Brick Building Anchors a Corner in Downtown Elkton

One of the first occupants, the Masonic Lodge, is still there.

The old commercial district in Elkton has a number of architecturally interesting cultural resources, and one of those survivors of the passage of centuries is the Gilpin building.  This substantial three-story brick vernacular building was the subject of a recent inquiry as we were asked to investigate the historical record for this parcel. Here is some of what we developed.

By the middle of the 19^th century, commercial expansion was spreading up North Street toward the railroad tracks. Due to the demand for additional business space, John Gilpin decided to erect the structure that still stands today at the southwest corner of North and High streets.  He had just received an appointment as postmaster and was preparing a permanent facility for the delivery, sorting and distribution of mail, as over the past 50 years the office had been in eleven locations.

Ground was broken in September 1887 and the work moved speedily along.  When it was completed early in 1888, it contained the postal facility and two lawyer’s offices on the first floor.  The Masonic Lodge, rented the entire third floor, and held its first meeting there in March of 1888.  Newspapers, at that time, reported that the 2^nd floor was still available.

Soon the building also had a barber shop and that service continued throughout most of the building’s history.  In 1918 the county extension agent was located there.  Today, the Masonic Lodge still maintains its headquarters at this corner and other areas are used by a bank.

Spring Time at the Lower Susquehanna Ferry & Rodgers Tavern

The Rodgers Tavern presents an attractive appearance in early May.  This old place, standing on the east bank of the Susquehanna River, has welcomed travelers for centuries.

When it was first built-in the mid-18th century, the two-story stone building welcomed passersby as a ferry house and tavern.  For those crossing the river, it provided a place to lodge and partake of food and drink.  It continued operating as a tavern on the Post Road into the 19th century, but as bridges and railroads replaced ferries and carriages, the once popular Lower Susquehanna Ferry lost its importance.

In the second half of the 20th century, the Society for the Preservation of Maryland Antiquities stepped forward to save and preserve the relic, a survivor from the colonial era.  Today it is owned by the Town of Perryville, but the attractive structure still draws the attention of the passersby.  However, it is still in the spotlight, but not it is as a valuable cultural heritage resource, reflecting earlier times.

Lower Susquehanna Ferry on the Old Post Road in Perryville.

It’s spring again at Rodgers Tavern.

An early spring evening at the Lower Susquehanna Ferry.

Footsteps in History — War of 1812 Walking Tour This Sunday in Charlestown

This weekend marks the passage of 200 years since the enemy occupied the water and shoreline of the Upper Chesapeake.  To recall those frightening days in Cecil County, a “footsteps in history” living history walking tour takes places in Charlestown this Sunday May 5^th at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.  On the dramatic one-hour strolls into the past, you will meet people who lived, labored, and defended Cecil County during the War of 1812.

Since we had five rivers, our communities were exposed to the marauding British Navy and Marines and spots where combat took place were generally plundered and put to the match.  Seldom told tales will emerge out of these alarming times as the Heritage Troupe performs scenes, presenting old-timers who were around centuries ago.  With the group ambling along attractive colonial era streets on a spring evening, you will hear thrilling firsthand accounts about struggles and triumphs, the brave defense of our homes, war heroes, and accounts of everyday people, days when we were on the frontline of the war.

This special bicentennial event, “Footsteps from the Past” walking tour, opened last year to a sold out crowd.   So be sure to call for your advance tickets for this popular activity that will find history enthusiasts ambling through the streets of Charlestown, along attractive pathways of the well-preserved historic district.

The event in Colonial Charlestown steps off at 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. on May 5, 2013.  But after last year’s production attracted over 125 people, event organizers have scaled things back a little in order to provide better viewing and listening for the audience.  Each walk is limited to 50 strollers and the cost is $10 in advance through the Wellwood Club or $12 at the door.  To reserve your tickets call 410-287-6666.  The proceeds benefit the Historical Society and Colonial Charlestown.  Generous support of these local nonprofit heritage groups is provided by the Wellwood Club, the President and Commissioners of Charlestown, Cecil County Tourism, and the Heritage Troupe.

The town commissioners are in session in one of the performances. Here Wanda Owens (standing) confronts Ron Edwards, Dr. Robert Gell and Ken Consalone.

The Heritage Troupe was in Charlestown fine tuning their performance for the weekend audience. Here Chan Cosans practices one of the parts.

North East’s American La France

Soon after the North East Fire Company was organized in 1921, a model 38 American La France pumper was purchased at a cost of about $10,000.  The first out-of-town fire call, the engine answered was at the Red Mill Crossing in Elkton, according to a history of the fire company.  The La France was retired in 1954 after another unit was purchased. But the still operable engine gets around the area for special events.  Saturday she rolled through Elkton for the fire department parade.

The American La France from the North East Volunteer Fire Company.