Forged by Fire: Elkton’s Main Street

In August, a Window on Cecil County’s Past did a piece on the 1948 Main Street fire.  Today we’re posting a piece that examines the other Main Street fires in the 20th century.

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The history of Elkton’s Main Street has been one of disastrous fires. In fact, one such conflagration in September 1891, has­tened the formation of the Singerly Fire Com­pany. During that blaze, Wilmington firefight­ers loaded steam engines onto a P.W. &B train and rushed to help Elkton.Advances in fire safety codes, fire depart­ment equipment, and fire suppression meth­ods have reduced the threat of fires in heavily built-up areas. Nonetheless, in this century some big ones have occurred on the old thoroughfare’s business district.

The Payne Store Fire, December 14, 1901 – One stormy, rain soaked Saturday night, a fire raged on the south side of W. Main St., across from the present-day courthouse. The wind was blowing a “perfect gale” as the fire bell at Council Hall pealed out its call for help. Having started in Payne’s millinery store, the fire destroyed or badly damaged Heatzig’s General Store, the Levis business block, the drug store of J. Frank Frazer, and the office and exchange of the Eastern Shore Telephone Com­pany. Before fleeing the exchange, the night operator made one last-minute call, a connection with the home office in Dover, Del. inform­ing them the exchange was doomed. The late train from Dover that night carried a new switchboard; it arrived in Elkton early Sunday morning. At the fire’s height, Mayor George McQuilken tele­graphed for aid from Wilm­ington, Del. but the request was cancelled before help left that city. The loss was estimat­ed at $25,000.

The East Main Street Blaze, June 21, 1923 – One hot day, nine fire companies, including Engine 5 of Wilmington, Del., fought a blaze that destroyed or badly damaged five build­ings on the south side of W. Main St., between North and Bow streets. The fire, centered in the area occupied by the Anthony William’s barber shop and Jewelry Store and the American Stores, spread to other businesses including the A&P Store and, Elkton Candy Land. Companies took stations on Johnson’s Wharf along the Big Elk Creek to re­lay water to Main Street.  A Steam Fire Engine, Chesa­peake City’s, having been towed to Elkton by motor­ truck, had the longest line of hose. The loss was about $50,000.

The Howard House Blaze, April 12, 1926 – Elkton’s “old­est and largest hotel,” the Ho­ward House and the adjoining clothing store of Jacob Sigman were badly damaged by a fire that originated in the hotel in the overnight hours. “At the time there were between 40 and 50 persons in the building; some of them experienced con­siderable difficulty in escap­ing,” said the Cecil Democrat. Eight volunteer fire companies assisted Elkton. An emerging fire department technology, the automo­bile, made a difference in con­trolling the blaze, the Cecil Democrat asserted. “Prompt response from distant towns . . . would have been impossible without the modern, automo­bile fire engine. Monday’s fire . . . very forcefully demon­strated the necessity of “modern fire-fighting equipment for rural communities.” Damage was estimated at $60,000.

The World War II Blaze, No­vember 15, 1942 – On a Mon­day evening during World War II, a fire, burning out of control for more than six hours, destroyed or badly damaged five buildings on the creek side of E. Main St., be­tween North Street and the courthouse. Damage was esti­mated at $100,000. Besides area volunteers, Singerly was assisted by a squad from Bainbridge Naval Training Center and the munitions plant.

Reubenstone Building Blaze, December 6, 1953 – Fifty-two years earlier a fire occurred in the same area of E. Main St., opposite the present day courthouse, an area then known as the Payne Block. This early morning blaze swept through midtown, gut­ting a restaurant, four stores and several apartments, in­cluding Frazer’s Drug Store and William B. Merrey and Sons Wholesalers.

The Christmas Eve Fire – De­cember 24, 1964 – A Christmas Eve fire on E. Main St., across from the courthouse, required five companies to control a blaze that heavily damaged two buildings. Starting in the “Auctioneer’s Outlet Store/’ it did heavy damage to the law office of the Kenneth A. Wilcox and smoke damage to other offices. Companies checked the fire on Christmas morning.

Remembering a Friend of Preservation in Cecil County

 This morning I attended the funeral of Helen Keene Warburton, 97, at Immaculate Conception Church. While the old parish bell tolled out as mourners streamed out of the church my mind reflected on some of my personal experiences with this community-oriented individual, a true friend of historic preservation in Cecil County.  In a reflective mood after the service, I drove to a nearby quiet spot, Elk Landing, a place that was important to Mrs. Warburton.

On those 62-undisturbed acres right in the center of the county’s most developed area, I ambled along the creek on this beautiful Wednesday in October.  The sun was lifting the frosty overnight mid-autumn chill so I couldn’t help but enjoy the serenity of this place.   The Little Elk flowed silently along, while the wind caused colorful leaves to fall gently to the ground, and the sun illuminated the Hollingsworth House, a relic from the end of the 18th century.  Not a sound disturbed the tranquility on this brilliant day. 

I vividly remembered another time at the Landing over eight years ago.  It was a warm spring day about 12 months after we started working to save this historic site.  One afternoon my phone rang and it was Mrs. Warburton calling to see if she could tour the place.  I’d known her for decades and was aware of her work with many charities, as well as her interest in historic preservation, so I naturally was pleased to show her around since we had the daunting task of raising funds for restoration.  She had been instrumental in saving another part of Elkton’s built environment back in the 1950s or ‘60s, Holly Hall.

The Hollingsworth House didn’t look like much when she walked through the door, the place suffering from generations of neglect.  It didn’t have heating or air conditioning, and when darkness descended on the Elk River there was no electricity to light rooms in the once grand mansion. Exterior brick walls were deteriorating, interior walls were pealing, and some parts of the structure need strengthening.  The front porch had partially collpased and on rainy days water poured through roof openings onto priceless anti1ques and cultural relics that had somehow survived the passage of centuries.  But we ambled safely throughout the property, talking about the history of the site as we dreamed out Elk Landing’s future.  At one point I hesitatingly asked if the sprightly 90 year old wanted to climb the steps to the second floor.  Without pause, she shot right up to the third floor.

Not too long after that Mrs. Warburton called to say a Foundation she headed, Associated Cecil Endeavors (ACE), would donate $100,000.  The Elk Landing Group had started business with only the cash contributions of our original board members so fund-raising was our urgent priority, if were going to realize our dreams.  You can imagine how happy we were to hear of this generosity since we had about $600 in the bank.  Over the next several years, we received several other substantial donations from ACE, the total approaching $400,000.  She also made a contribution to stabilize another structure, the stone house since it was in danger of collapsing and we didn’t have money to provide temporary structural support.

Working with that critical capitalization, we were able to apply for large state grants and match those dollar-for-dollar.  Several rolled in, including a bond bill for $200,000 and a Maryland Historical Trust grant for $50,000 as well as a few smaller ones.  We thus essentially doubled the private contribution.  As winter 2003 got underway, a place that had survived many bone-chilling seasons was going to soon shine much brighter in the warmth of the next summer on the Chesapeake Bay. 

Mrs. Warburton and ACE made a neglected plantation shine again.  While we had other successes in preserving the property, the support of this benefactor was particularly important.    These gifts allowed us to continue moving ahead with an ambitious plan to build a living history center and meet the required dollar matches for grants from other sources. 

This friend of preservation was born on January 7, 1911, at Golden Hill, Dorchester County, MD. ( Her parents were John Francis Chaplian Keene and Zoe Augusta LeCompte Keene.)  After moving to Cecil County as a teenager in 1928, she became a community leader as she matured,  working to better Union Hospital, the Cecil County Public Library, United Way and much more.  The 91-year-old was honored by the Elkton Chamber of Commerce as the 2002 citizen of the year.  As an enthusiastic group of well wishers looked on at the reception in her honor, I remember remarking “If history in this county has a friend it is Helen Warburton” as I presented her with the well-deserved award.

The place she was helping restore was built by Zebulon Hollingsworth and Gordy Johnson used to play this colonial character for us.  Performing the role as only Gordy could with his engaging style, he joked with the lady easing through the ninth decade of life.  I remember worrying a  little about tiring her as he kidded around, but she enjoyed keeping the bantering going.  At one point he commented that he was born in 1735.  Without hesitation she quipped, “You know, you age well” to this centuries old gentleman. The room erupted in laughter and applause.  As we wrapped up that evening she remarked to the crowd:  “This will be a day that I will always remember.  This will be among my most cherished memories.  May Glod bless you and may God bless the United States of America.”  (Her obituary in the Cecil Whig contains many more details about her long and remarkably productive life.)  

Mrs. Warburton was a tireless advocate of historic preservation.  She promoted Elkton’s rich history with a passion and she deeply carried for this community.  This community is a much better place becasue of her many varied contributions to the public library system, the United Way, Union Hospital, and much more.  She will be missed. 

Elkton Eclipse Fall to Rivals From Brooklyn in Final in 19th Century Base Ball

Elkton, MD— The Brooklyn Atlantics downed the Eclipse Base Ball Club of Elkton in the 19^th Century Base Ball Eastern Championship on Saturday, October 18 at Elk Landing, Maryland as the 1864 townspeople of Elkton looked on.  After Elkton took a 3-0 lead in the first inning, things started to unravel for the Maryland State Champs.  After going up 4-2 in the 4^th inning, the Eclipse let the Atlantics back in to the match by giving up 2 unearned runs.  The Eclipse ran out of gas by the 6^th inning, and the final score was Brooklyn 17 and Elkton 6.  It was the 13^th straight loss to the Atlantics in a span of three years.

 

In the semi-final, the Maryland champs defeated the legendary New York Mutuals 14-13 after coming back with 8 runs in the 7^th frame to take the lead from the New Yorkers to go up 13-11.  After adding one talley in the 8^th inning, the Eclipse held on for dear life giving up 2 in the ninth before holding on to reach the finals.

 

In the other semi final, the Atlantics who were the champions from New York downed the New Jersey State Champion, Flemington Neshanock 28-10 to advance to the championship.  In the 3^rd place match, the Neshanock stunned the Mutuals 11-10.

 

Just about the entire 1864 population of Elkton was in attendance as the ladies in town were there catching up on the gossip of the day in their best attire.  There were even women their protesting that they should have the right to vote.  Of course the few gentlemen who were still left in town and not in the War, told them to go back to the kitchen.  In addition to the townsfolk, about 80 on lookers were in attendance to see the fortunes of all four clubs.

 

The Eclipse finished with their best record ever at 17 wins and 12 loses.  This included the regular season Maryland Championship as well as the Maryland State Championship Tournament.  The Eclipse will start their 2009 season in early April next year.  New clubs in the region include the Diamond State BBC of Delaware, the Havre de Grace Dauntless, the Williamsburg (VA) Pastimes, and the Gettysburg Sentinels.  They will be in the mix next year along with the Potomac BBC of Washington, the Talbot Fair Plays and the Chesapeake Nine of Baltimore.  Anyone who is interested in playing 19^th century base ball with the Eclipse or any of the other clubs in the region, please contact the Eclipse at elktonbase_ball@yahoo.com or eclipse@elktonbbc.com.  The Eclipse is also looking for volunteers to help with the program as well as sponsors.  See our website at www.elktonbbc.com for more details.

Walking the Line on a Sunday in October

While Cecil County has many beautiful areas, one that our family particularly enjoys is the rugged Basin Run Watershed area. This place, where natural and historical resources abound, contains some of the most fascinating elements of our built environment, as well as spectacular vistas. Its ecology and geology are just as absorbing. Running right through the heart of these stony hills and valleys is the abandoned right-of-way of the Old Baltimore Central Railroad, known in later years as the Octoraro Branch.

Since this is such a relaxing place to admire the environment, we were excited when Valerie Owens, a reference Librarian at Perryville, asked if we’d like to join her and a few friends for a walk up the line. Of course I said yes and so on a beautiful Sunday in October, Kyle and I picked up Milt Diggins, an author of a great new local history title to drive down to Liberty Grove. There, in this old village, we met a couple of additional friends of Valerie’s, Angelia and Rod.

So on this sunny autumn day, as colorful leaves gently fell in the woods and the temperature neared 60 degrees, we stepped off for a two mile hike. Beginning at Liberty Grove, we stopped not too far outside of Colora, near when a siding branched off for the Bainbridge Naval Training Center.  As the six of us chatted our way through the forest on this ideal day for strolling, past old farm houses, fields, and trickling streams we wondered and commented about lots of things.  Could that ancient stone work in the creek be part of a dam for an old mill site? It looks as if the geese are settling in on their winter home on Basin Run. Look at the cut through that rocky hill.  What sort of stone is that?  You say the valley had its first frost of the season Saturday night?

Not too far outside Colora we puzzled over an old trestle that once carried those puffing, rumbling steam engines across Basin Run. Long past its prime and seldom visited for any reason these days, its ties, timbers and rails are slowly aging away. At this tranquil place near Balderston’s Orchard we started crunching our way through the fallen leaves back to Liberty Grove.  A gentleman living in the village has mounted the old railroad depot sign on a shed about where the station stood. When he bought the property about 1990, it was up in the rafters of the old shed, he says.

It’s been a long time since a rumbling locomotive disturbed the tranquility of Liberty Grove and rails and ties have largely disappeared along the right-of-way.  (The railroad got permission to take up the road south of Colora in 1961.)  But this corner of Cecil is the place to reflect on our past, while enjoying the natural and historical resources that are remarkable undisturbed in the first decade of the 21st-century.

Thanks Valeria for inviting us along along for a stroll up the line.  It was an enjoyable Sunday afternoon in October with a pleasant and interesting group.  We’ll look forward to a walk down the line someday.

All’s Quiet on the Octoraro Branch Line

  On an uneventful afternoon for most people in northern Cecil County, 7-year-old Catherine Kirk waited excitedly at the Rising Sun Train Station.  As the appointed time approached and anticipation grew, a shrill steam whistle coming from somewhere down the line toward Colora pierced the quiet of the town.  The whistle of the local passenger train bound for Oxford and points north was a welcomed sound for young Catherine whose mother had just dropped her off at the depot.  She was taking her first ride on the rails, the 94-year-old Rising Sun resident recently recalled.

 

The Rowlandsville Depot

  The steam engine came into sight as billowing puffs of smoke drifted up into the sky.  As it hissed and rattled to a stop, the conductor swung down onto the platform and hollered “all aboard, all aboard.”  Catherine climbed on and settled into a seat as the locomotive eased out of the station.  Gently it rolled and swayed toward Sylmar while conductor came around and took her ticket.  About sixteen minutes later she met her aunt Miss Mary Ashby at Oxford Station.  It was 1919.

 

  That same year, the Rising Sun town newspaper, the Midland Journal, carried worrisome news for the railroad company.  A new concrete roadway between Philadelphia and Baltimore passed through town making the “Rising Sun trail an ideal route for autoists.”  Strings of cars came and went, so much so that one resident reported he “counted one hundred and three autos and one buggy” passing his house in an hour one evening.

 

  But for decades to come, the blast of the whistle, bouncing off granite cliffs and reverberating through fields and woods, alerted countians that a freight or passenger train was making its runs through towns and villages along the Octoraro Branch in western Cecil.  Despite the competition, a 1927 timetable listed eight weekday trains serving commuters in Rising Sun, Colora, Liberty Grove and Rowlandsville.

 

  Mobility provided by the automobile clearly signaled the demise of the line by April 1930 when the Public Service Commission authorized the company to take two runs off the line.  Lamenting the loss, the Midland Journal said “this already one hoss road won’t even be a pony thereafter,” since the line would only have two runs a day, southbound at 6:02 a.m. and northbound at 5:05 p.m.  What’s more steam engines had been pulled off the road, those powerful workhorses being replaced by the “toonerville”  gasoline car.  “In railroad service we are surely progressing, but in a backward direction.”  The sad day finally arrived on April 13, 1935.  On that Saturday in early spring, right in the middle of the Great Depression, “Gilligan’s train,” (named for the conductor) rolled into history as the last regularly scheduled passenger run on the line.   

 

            So what’s the history behind this once important line?  On Christmas Day 1865, a passenger train disturbed the tranquility of the holiday when a special excursion ran from Rising Sun to Oxford.  Cars were not routinely traveling the route though because the terminus did not have a turntable, depot, or water station, the Cecil Whig reported.  But by March 1866, a writer informed the paper that an “important era” had arrived.  “From being a quiet, old-fashioned finished Maryland Village, we have been changed into an important railroad terminus, having daily connections with Philadelphia.”  Consequently, the writer observed, property was in demand and prices climbed.  Improvements occurred in town for a new sidewalk was put down to accommodate the additional pedestrians, and John A. Thompson added a livery service for his hotel’s patrons. 

 

  Work on down the line toward the Susquehanna progressed slowly.  “At the present rate of construction, the engine which reaches Columbia from Port by this route will sound its whistle there precisely when Gabriel sounds his trumpet,” a disgruntled Port Deposit correspondent informed newspapers.  Finally by 1868, Elkton papers reported that a locomotive ran from Port Deposit to Rowlandsville.

 

  By April 1869 correspondents reported that the Philadelphia and Baltimore Central had finally fulfilled its name since there was now service to Baltimore.  Noting the economic advantage the Whig said that the cost of transporting Lumber to Oxford from Port Deposit used to between $3.00 and to $3.50 per 1000 feet, but with rail it dropped to a $1.12.  The freight business must have been good, for a “long freight train” passed through Rising Sun at 10:28 a.m. each morning.    

 

  Freight traffic continued after passenger service stopped.  Rising Sun’s Sally McKee recalled recently that her uncle, Thomas McKee, spent winters in Florida.  While basking in the seasonal warmth of the sunshine, he annually shipped an order of oranges to her father for Christmas, and her father, a rural mail carrier, would go to the depot to pick up the gift.  According to the High Line, a railroad history publication, the Pennsylvania Railroad abandoned the Octoraro Branch south of Colora in 1961.   

 

  Railroading days slipped quietly away along the Octoraro Branch and it’s been a long time since a familiar sound, the lonely whistle of a locomotive, pierced the quiet of this farming region at depots and crossings.  For most of that era, steam locomotives carrying freight and passengers came through on a regular schedule and conductors stepped off trains to holler all aboard and call out next stop Rowlandsville, Liberty Grove, Colora, or Rising Sun as the cars swayed slowly along. Now, the road-bed through these places is silent visited only by weeds, amateur railroad buffs, and strollers and there are only a few artifacts, rusting old bridges or a structure here or there, to remind us of this important era that once rolled by on rails.

Liberty Grove Area from 1877 Atlas of Cecil County

Reading an Old Diary from the C & D Canal in 1864

Recently I was given access to a diary of a C & D Canal official based in Chesapeake City.  Throughout 1864 this manager carefully made day-to-day entries into his diary, though he didn’t sign his name in the little book.  These are fascinating reads, which provide insight into that troubling time.  Here’s what he wrote early in July 1864:

July 10, 1864 —–

Went to Church, returned, Received a telegram from Mr. Gray asking if a tug could be procured here for the purpose of using a canon onboard, great excitement growing out of the invasion of Maryland by the rebels.  Returned an answer that 5 or 6 tugs were here, ot of which one could be selected, but would visit him at NewCastle if he desired me to do.  If so, at what hour this evening.  Got a tug from Capt. Crooper & in company with [?] left here at 10 1/2 night, arriving at New Castle at 3 1/2 o’clock.

July 12, 1864 —

Morning — Wind easterly and quite pleasant.  Somewhat cloudy; Night – 11 o’clock — Word received that the rebels were coming; 2nd report at 2 o’clock confirming the first.  The rebels did not come.

July 14, 1864 —

Morning warm with scattered clouds; Breathed free on learning that the reports of last night in relation to the visitation on the part of rebels were fabrications.  Thank God the canal is uninsured.

The lifting wheel was stopped at 10 o’clock this morning in order that everything at the water works might be quiet and escape the observation of the rebels; 6 1/2 o’clock.  The rebels did not come, the wheel started at this hour; Later in the day, statements received to the effect that invading had retired and crossed the Potomac.  No Rain.

July 1864 diary page from C & D Canal