Booksigning for Newest Cecil County Title - July 12

We are pleased to announce that the Society will host a booksigning for a new Cecil County history title on July 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. Milt Diggins, the editor of the Society’s Journal is the author of this title, which is part of the Images of America series by Arcadia Publishing. Milt spent much of 2007 examining thousands of Cecil County photos and he selected over 200 of these for his volume. Many of these images have been unseen for decades, some are from glass-plate negatives from the 19th century, and, since he also worked with private collections, some of picture have never been published. We eagerly look forward to hosting the first booksigning for Milt's Images of America – Cecil County. Watch our blog and keep an eye on our calendar for an updates. We’re sure you will enjoy this title.

Society Closed for Presidents Day

The Society is closed Monday in observance of President's Day.

Pam Goffinet to Speak at Feb. Luncheon Meeting

The February Luncheon Meeting of the Historical Society of Cecil County will be held on Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 12:00 Noon at the Chesapeake Inn Restaurant, 605 2nd Street, Chesapeake City.Our guest speaker will be Pamela Goffinet, a resident of Fair Hill, MD, who recently published “Mapping & Documenting Cemeteries,” which describes a method that provides an accurate map, along with organizing inscriptions and deed information. She will have examples of completed cemetery maps and inscription collections along with copies of her book.The cost of the luncheon is $20.00 per person and you may select between Jumbo Lump Crab Cake or Chicken Marsala. Your meal will include a salad, bread, coffee or tea and dessert.Please reserve a spot at the luncheon send a check in the appropriate amount to Paula Newton, HSCC, 135 E. Main St., Elkton, MD 21921. Please make your check payable to the Historical Society of Cecil County. The deadline for reservations is February 11, 2008. This is a catered dinner making it impossible for us to take late reservations or walk-ins. If you have any questions, please call the Historical Society at 410-398-1790.

Feb. 16 -- Tillie Pierce, a 16-year old, tells about Battle of Gettysburg

The living history performance season concludes on February 16 when Matilda “Tillie” Pierce, a witness to the Battle of Gettysburg appears at the Society at 7:00 p.m. She was only 15 when she observed the battle first hand. Yet her writings of those dramatic three days made her famous, as she became known as the voice for the civilian side of this important Civil War Battle. Tillie is played by University of Delaware history major Abby Harting of Middletown, Delaware. Admission to this program is free.

Jan. 11 -- Thurgood Marshall to Appear at Society

On Friday, January 11 at 7:00 p.m., Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall walks on the stage at the Historical Society as our winter living history performance season continues. Dr. Lenneal Henderson, a distinguished Professor of Government at the University of Baltimore portrays Maryland’s famous civil rights advocate during this engaging program. The Justice became involved in cases to desegregate public schools in South Carolina which would become one of the five cases settled by the 1954 Supreme Court case of Brown v Board of Education. Marshall was eventually appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States. This free program is sponsored by the Maryland Humanities Council.

Season of Living History Contains President Truman, Justice Thurgood Marshall and Civil War Observer Tillie Pierce

The past will come back to life during a series of fascinating shows, as another season of living history performances returns to the Historical Society of Cecil County. Three times this season, costumed interpreters will reverse the clock as they take audiences back in time to hear an important figure from the nation’s past. During these lively and entertaining programs this season you will encounter President Harry Truman, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and Matilda "Tillie" Pierce, a 15-year-old at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg.

• On Saturday, November 3 at 7:00 p.m. the thirty-third President of the United States, Harry Truman, will walk on the stage at the Elkton Town Hall to dispense his Missouri straight talk in a one-man show called “Give ‘em, Hell Harry!” Of course, the real Truman died in 1972, but the nation’s leader will come alive on this special evening during a performance by Gerald Riley of Wheatfield Theatre Company. Ticket prices for the 1.5 performance are $8 for adults; $4 for children in school; and free for members of the Society. While walk-ups will be welcome based on available space, email the society at history@ccchistory.org or phone the organization at 410-398-1790 to reserve your space. The program has been moved to the town hall, which is located at 100 Railroad Avenue, Elkton, in order to accommodate a larger audience.
• On Friday, January 11 at 7:00 p.m., Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall walks on the stage at the Historical Society. Dr. Lenneal Henderson, a distinguished Professor of Government at the University of Baltimore portrays Maryland’s famous civil rights advocate during this engaging program. The Justice became involved in cases to desegregate public schools in South Carolina which would become one of the five cases settled by the 1954 Supreme Court case of Brown v Board of Education. Marshall was eventually appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States. This free program is sponsored by the Maryland Humanities Council.
• The season concludes on February 16 when Matilda “Tillie” Pierce, a witness to the Battle of Gettysburg appears at the Society at 7:00 p.m. She was only 15 when she observed the battle first hand. Yet her writings of those dramatic three days made her famous, as she became known as the voice for the civilian side of this important Civil War Battle. Tillie is played by University of Delaware history major Abby Harting of Middletown, Delaware. Admission to this program is free.
  
  For additional information email the society at history@cchistory.org and watch for additional press releases as dates approach on the Society’s web site at www.cchistory.org

Oct - 13 - Talk on the Railroad in northwestern Cecil County

The railroad once was an important transportation link for northwestern Cecil County. At depots in Rising Sun, Colora, Liberty Grove, Rowlandsville, and other places people came to hear the latest news, freight was handled, and passengers caught the train. The Historical Society of Cecil County, in cooperation with the Rising Sun library, will revisit this era in a discussion on Oct 13 at 1:00 p.m. at the library, which features photos, timetables, and other memorabilia. If you remember when the train rolled through these towns and villages, come and share your memories about this era.