Category: Community Studies

North East Town Lockup: Researching a Unique Structure

Small town lockups are typically simple and unremarkable structures designed to hold lawbreakers temporarily. However, the Town of North East, MD, at the top of the Chesapeake Bay, boasts a unique municipal lockup that stands out from the rest. This two-story brick structure, designed by architect Levi O. Cameron in 1885, features distinctive three-pronged turrets and barred windows, giving it a fortress-like appearance.

town lockup north east md
The Town Lockup in North East, MD.

As a scholar interested in social history and criminal justice, I have always been fascinated by this remarkable edifice. It is uncommon for cost-conscious municipalities to invest in attractive structures for detaining offenders, making the North East lockup a noteworthy exception.

Recently, I embarked on a research project focused on recommending the lockup for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. To accomplish this, I began delving into the architectural and social history of the lockup. My investigation led me to the North East Town Hall, where I meticulously examined the old pages of corporate minute books. These records allowed me to trace the evolution of the small jail over time and understand the considerations that went into its construction.

While there are readily available online sources for researching structures, such as newspapers from Chronicling America at the Library of Congress, a deeper investigation into the history of a building usually requires consulting records beyond local papers. Also, this line of inquiry often leads me to explore state, municipal, county, and corporate archives.

In the case of the North East lockup, I spent time at the town hall studying corporate minute books dating from the late 19th to the middle of the 20th century. The town made its archives readily available, and the public records custodians helped me access them.

Researching the history of a small town lockup for placement on the National Register of Historic Places involves thoroughly examining various sources, including local records, archives, and historical documents. By delving into these extended resources, we can uncover valuable insights into these structures’ architectural and social significance, ultimately contributing to their preservation and recognition.

Talking About Ferries on the Delaware River

Ed Ryan on New Castle Pennsville Ferry
Ed Ryan, Jr. on duty on the New Castle Pennsville Ferry route in April 1950.

Last week, I delivered a talk titled “From Here to There: Ferries and Bridges Cross the Delaware” at the New Castle Court House Museum. Despite the stormy weather on a Thursday afternoon, an enthusiastic and sizeable crowd gathered in the historic courtroom to attend the program.

Crossing the Delaware River presented a formidable challenge in the early days, with ferryboats serving as the primary mode of conveyance for centuries. It wasn’t until August 16, 1951, with the opening of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, that the ferry era ended at New Castle.

As a speaker, I engage the audience by encouraging active conversations during a talk. Therefore, I invited the audience to share their stories, memorabilia, and recollections of the past while also asking questions.

Memories of the Ferries

At one point, two gentlemen seated together revealed that their grandfather and uncle had worked on the ferryboats. As the conversation unfolded, others chimed in, mentioning their relatives’ involvement with the ferry company.

Charlie Cobb shared that one of his family members, Captain Jack T. Wilson, commanded the DuPont Company ferry boat, Atlantic City, on its last run on Aug. 17, 1951. The Atlantic City made one round trip a day from Wilmington, taking Delaware residents to their jobs at the Chambers Works. The Morning News reported that Captain Wilson had worked the waters for thirty years.

DuPont Ferry, Atlantic City
The DuPont Company Ferry, The Atlantic City (Source: Morning News, Aug. 18, 1951)

Meanwhile, a group of ladies from Salem County offered their perspectives, reminiscing about riding the ferryboat to New Castle for Saturday matinees. This prompted a New Castle resident to remark that Delaware youngsters would also travel to Pennsville to enjoy the Riverview Beach Amusement Park. One of the courthouse guests had extensively researched the travels of one of the old New Castle ferryboats after its retirement on the Delaware.

The Conversation Continued

The conversation extended beyond the formal program as more people gathered to share stories and show photos and memorabilia they had brought along. These interactions added a lot to the program. Engaging in conversations about history creates a more fulfilling and informative experience for everyone involved.

I want to thank all the participants who generously shared their family stories and memorabilia during the program. The New Castle Court House Museum, a part of Delaware Historical and Cultural Affairs, sponsored the program.

Charles and James Cobb had relatives working ferries on the Delaware River
Charles and James Cobb had two relatives working on the Delaware River ferries. One of them was a radar operator on the ferry when that was a new innovation.
Ed Ryan, the son of the captain, holds the photo of his father working on the ferry at New Castle.

Historian Interviewed by TV Station After Loss of Historic Hotel

As a social historian specializing in community studies, I am often asked to do media interviews after catastrophes or significant accidents. These tragedies can profoundly impact the social, economic, and historical fabric, altering lives, historic buildings, landmarks, and artifacts.

Mike dixon TV interview
Mike Dixon TV interview on Station WJZ in Baltimore

This was the case this week. After a three-alarm fire destroyed a 170-year-old hotel in Elkton on Sunday, May 21, 2023. WJZ-TV Baltimore asked me to provide context around the landmark’s story, discuss how things have changed over the centuries, and comment on the impact of the destructive fire for the interview.

Once located on the main thoroughfare between Philadelphia and Baltimore, the Howard Hotel was an anchor in downtown Elkton for generations. It was a popular destination for travelers, families, and locals- a gathering place for generations.

The Northeastern Maryland landmark bustled with activity as waitresses served fine meals, bartenders dispensed drinks, and overnight guests booked comfortable rooms. This was long before Interstates and dual highways bypassed the town center, and hotel chains sprouted up along those new roads. In that earlier age, traveling salesmen, families making their way up or down the east coast, and others passing this way came right down Elkton’s Main Street, formerly Route 40.

The Howard Hotel was more than just a place to stay.  It was a gathering place for the town. People met here for celebrations and to catch up with friends and neighbors.

Now a place that has anchored downtown since before the Civil War and prospered under the guidance of generations of hotelkeepers and tavern owners is gone.

Philadelphia Road Elkton in 1920
In the 1920s, traffic flows through downtown Elkton on the Philadelphia Road. The Howard Hotel is in the background. (Source: Evening Bulletin, Philadelphia)

Discussing the Impact of Disasters on a Community With Fox News

Various things make up the shared historical memory of a community. These narratives take assorted forms, but the most jarring materialize when an unthinkable tragedy strikes. Whether a storm or accident, the catastrophes are seared deeply into the collective memory of residents. They shatter many lives and became part of history in the aftermath — the shared experience remembered and passed down through the generations.

Disasters impact communities. pan american disaster impact on Elkton
Remembering the impact of the Pan American plane crash in 1963 on Dec. 8, 2022.

These large-scale disasters, which often change a community forever, are part of understanding the story of a place, so people want the disruptive occurrence documented. Thus in my community studies and social history practice, I sometimes do fieldwork centered on researching, documenting, and memorializing them. Often, the process involves oral history interviews, as people reflect and discuss recollections; for others, it happened so long ago that firsthand recall has faded, so the process involves archival research as stakeholders establish a remembrance archive.    

One project I worked on in 2013 was the Flight 214 Remembrance Archive, which marked fifty years since the accident.  On December 8, 1963, at 8:59 p.m. A Pan American jet on final approach to Philadelphia exploded in flight. That night, all 81 people on the jet perished instantly while hundreds of first responders rushed to a cornfield at the edge of the Delaware State Line.  One firefighter answering the alarm was Stewart W. Godwin. While searching the debris field, he suddenly collapsed and died. He was the first North East Fire Company member to die in the line of duty. 

Those connected with this tragedy don’t forget it; this year, as we marked fifty-nine years since the accident, was no exception. Too, major broadcast networks often mark the disaster. And this year, on December 8, 2022, the Fox Network asked me to discuss the disaster’s impact and how a northeastern Maryland town recalls it.    

More on Researching Disasters

Historical Research into a Railroad Disaster: Greenwood, Delaware

Young Railroader Edwin Road Killed in Greenwood Explosion

Interview With WBAL About Hurricane Agnes

Delmarva Pandemic of 1918 Archive

Remembering Three Mile Island in Maryland