Month: March 2013

Preparing Interpretive Plan Exploring the Havre de Grace Storylines During the War of 1812

havre de grace interpretive plan
The Havre de Grace Interpretive Plan.

I have been working as a consulting public historian since 2011 on a project to document the story of Havre de Grace around the time the British burned the town in May 1813.

This work was part of the development of the Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail.  As one of two project historians, my assignment was to design and direct research focused on the community narrative.  Another historian worked on the military aspect.

My final assignment involved preparation of an interpretative plan for the heritage museums of Havre de Grace.  The document focused on helping those stakeholders deliver their unique storyline to the public during the Bicentennial.

It was an exciting project, as I worked with a great group of volunteers, local historians, museums and community subject matter experts to piece together the forgotten parts of the town’s past and develop the Havre de Grace Interpretive Plan.

Talking About Delaware and the Civil War

Orders for the District of Delaware and Eastern Shore of Maryland from President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary Seward. Image Courtesy of the Delaware Public Archives
Orders for the District of Delaware and Eastern Shore of Maryland from President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary Seward. Image Courtesy of the Delaware Public Archives

New Castle County Reads 2013 has selected the book March by Geraldine Brooks at its feature title for discussions and programming in 2013.  The north is reeling under a series of unexpected defeats during the darkest days of the Civil War in this extraordinary novel, as Mr. March leaves his family to aid the Union cause.  The author tells the story of the absent father going off to war and the reopening of past relationships in the process.

To support New Castle County Reads 2013, the library system is hosting a number of Civil War themed programs this spring.  On April 7th, at the Bear Branch Library, I will be talking about the Mason and Dixon Line and the Civil War and the C & D Canal and the War.  These programs are supported by the Delaware Humanities Forum.

When I did the talk about the C & D Canal and the Civil War at the New Castle Public Library on March 27th, we had an informed, lively discussion.  Members of the Delaware Civil War Roundtable and Friends of Fort Delaware were there.  During the evening we talked about a number of seldom used sources that serve as evidentiary traces for exploring the old canal’s important role in the war. There is a lot to this story that hasn’t been investigated and it was an enjoyable evening discussing matters with this group.

canal 143a
Storm clouds over the C & D Canal and the replica of the Bethel Lighthouse in the summer of 2012.

 

 

Old Digitized Somerset County Newspapers a Great Help to Genealogists and Historians

The Crisfield Times from Dec, 12, 1941 is an example of a page from the digital collection at the Somerset County Library
The Crisfield Times from Dec, 12, 1941 is an example of a page from the digital collection at the Somerset County Library

The Somerset County Library system has digitized its collection of research materials in order to make the resources more broadly and easily available to researchers.  The just released e-products include newspapers from Princess Anne and Crisfield, and records from the county court system.  The old, original microfilm was professionally scanned and software was used to allow for easy text-based searching of the collections.  This valuable addition of records for researchers joins a growing body of material from the Lower Shore.  Here is a list of some of the records groups that are now available online at the Somerset County Library.  Chick here to go the library search page.

The Crisfield Post, 1935, 1936, and 1955 – 1959

The Crisfield Times, 1907 – 1984

Maryland and Herald, 1912 – 1984

Somerset Herald 1987 – 2004

Village Herald 1827 – 1840

Administrative Accounts of Somerset County , 1685 – 1772

Judicial Records 1701 – 1792

The C & D Canal During the Civil War – A Talk at New Castle Public Library

New Castle County Reads 2013 has chosen March by Geraldine Brooks as its feature book this year.  The fascinating novel takes places during the dark years of the Civil War, as the north reels under a series of unexpected defeats and a father, Mr. March, goes off to aid the Union cause.  The New Castle County Library System is hosting a series of related programs to support the book discussion groups so I have been asked to do C&D Canal talk, which focuses on those troubling years.

There are many primary sources to help support a discussion such as this.  One, which I have found to be particularly insightful, is the diary of a C & D Canal official.  During those unsettled times, the officer overseeing the waterway across the peninsula kept a daily journal of happenings on the Peninsula.  The C&D Canal talk takes place on Wednesday evening, March 26, at 7:00 p.m. at the New Castle Library.  This is a Delaware Humanities Forum program.

C&D Canal talk civil war
In the vicinity of the pump-house, men were examining the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal in 1867.