Society Congratulates Elkton Town Board

At the July meeting of Elkton’s Mayor and Commissioners the Town Board appointed an historic & architectural review committee. A few years ago, an older part of the town, a section with a character reflective of the past and distinctive architecture, was designated as a historic district. The Mayor and Commissioners apponited the commmittee in order to preserve this valuable community asset. The Society congratulates the Mayor and Commissioners for taking such a visionary step to preserve a valuable section of the community, one that contains a number of dwelling representative of the colonial era and other unique architectural periods and styles.

Young Scholar Initiates Original Research Project

This summer Abigail Bratcher, a Rising Sun High School Senior, is undertaking a valuable research project, which will be published by the Society toward the end of 2007. It’s always exciting to see young scholars enhance academic skills and prepare for college by exploring Cecil’s past. We first met the serious scholar when she worked on a research paper for Mrs. Dillaway’s AP 11th grade history class. Earlier in the year she participated in Maryland History Day, a juried state-competition that requires extensive, independent research of historical materials related to a national theme. As she worked through that process, she won the Cecil County History Day competition with a paper on Maryland’s role in the Civil War. Abigail plans to study history or anthropology as she prepares for an academic career in one of those disciplines. Look for her original research examining events in Cecil as the darkness of the Civil War rolled over the nation in a future edition of the Journal.

Mayor Fisona Wants Passenger Service in Elkton

It’s been a quarter-of-a-century since a conductor has called out at "all aboard" at the old depot in Elkton. But Mayor Joseph Fisona is working to see that the quiet of the station is shattered by more than the swish of fast trains rushing by for he wants a few of those runs to stop for passengers. Some time ago he started a petition drive, collecting signatures urging state and federal officials, as well as Amtrak to bring regular passenger service back to the county seat.

He's continuing with his campaign for on a very pleasant July Sunday he was working for the community again on this initiative and we had the opportunity to accompany him to the Kilby Farm for a Sustainable Energy Fair. At the fair he collected more signature to support this effort. He's shown in the top photo talking to former Cecil County Commissioner Phyllis Kilby about mass tranit. In the photo below, he's sitting next to some of the Society's historic photos of the railroad station, while he pauses to enjoy a delicious cup of Kilby's Ice Cream.

If you’re interested in a little more history of the train in Elkton and an old photo click here. The Society thanks Mayor Fisona for his effort on behalf of the community to return important commuter service to the eastern part of Cecil County.