Salisbury’s Victorian Gothic Courthouse – A Fine Example of Public Architecture

While in Salisbury last week to lead an ALA/NEH book discussion on the Civil War for the Wicomico County Library, I ambled over to East Main Street and North Division Street to examine a fine example of public architecture.  It’s the Victorian Gothic courthouse, an imposing building that was constructed in 1878.  Although it been enlarged several times, starting in the 1930s with financing from the Federal Emergency Administration, the 1870s design has been largely protected.

In October 1886 flames swept through Salisbury, destroying 22 acres in the center of the county seat.  As the fire started raged out of control, the telegraph operator tapped out urgent appeals to Crisfield, Pocomoke City, and Wilmington requesting that those Shore towns rush steam fire engines to Wicomico County.  Special trains were hastily made up for fast runs to the stricken town.  The arrival of those fire departments saved the courthouse.

The fading rays of the late afternoon sun illuminated the beauty of the 19^th century gem, on a warm April day, so I grabbed my camera and took a few photos.

The Wicomico County Courthouse in Salisbury,

Author to Discuss New Book: Havre de Grace in the War of 1812: Fire on the Chesapeake

From Havre de Grace Maritime Museum

Date:  April 10, 2013.  7pm-8pm

Presented By:  Heidi Glatfelter author of Havre de Grace in the War of 1812:  Fire on the Chesapeake

In the early morning hours of May  3, 1813, British Rear Admiral George Cockburn launched a brutal attack on the  city of Havre de Grace, Maryland. Without mercy for age or infirmity, the British troops plundered  and torched much of the town. It was the  beginning of the Chesapeake Campaign of  the War of 1812, and it would only end with the burning  of the capital and the failed siege of Baltimore. Author Heidi Glatfelter traces the attack and the response of the residents of Havre de Grace—from the bravery  displayed by John O’Neill, who was taken  prisoner by the British, to quick-thinking citizens such as Howes Goldsborough, who found  ways to save their homes and those of their neighbors from total destruction.  Join Glatfelter as she reveals the stories of a town under siege and a  community determined to rebuild in the aftermath.

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 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.  Click 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

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 talk about the C & D Canal during 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 a diary of a C & D Canal official.  During those unsettled times, the officer in charge of the waterway across the peninsula kept a daily journal of happenings on the Peninsula.  The 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.

The Chesapeake and Delaware Canal in 1867.

Harford Hero of the Civil War: Alfred B. Hilton, Medal of Honor Recipient

Harford County Public Library, Aberdeen Branch Thursday, 03/21/2013 – 6:30 PM

Local historian and educator Jim Chrismer researched Harford County African-Americans in the Civil War and came across Medal of Honor recipient and Harford Countian Alfred B. Hilton. Find out what he learned and take pride in this homegrown hero! Registration suggested.

For: Adult For: Teens

Registration suggested and begins 2 weeks prior to all program/class dates. To register or for more information, call 410-273-5608.

NPS Workshop Examines How to Tell the Untold Stories of the War of 1812

“Humanizing the War of 1812:  Telling the Untold Stories along the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail” is the theme of a National Park Service workshop taking place at Harford Community College on April 8^th

Dr. Allen Taylor, a national author and university professor, will open the day long workshop with remarks about his recent research into the role of African-Americans during the War of 1812.  The morning session includes a living history performance, as participants engage in a discussion about using costumed interpretations to express the perspective of African-American women.

In the afternoon, discussions led by field experts and professionals will break into workshops that include using research to uncover the untold stories of the War, making your interpretive program engaging and developing relevant programs for youth.

The afternoon concludes with a session that concentrates on using the trail network to promote the untold stories at your site.  Click here for more details.  Joining the National Park Service in sponsoring this program are the Maryland Historical Trust and Harford Community College.

Nabb Research Center Digitizes Old Newspapers from Lower Delaware & the Eastern Shore of Maryland

Marylander and Herald, January 4, 1916, Princess Anne, from the Nabb Center digital collection

It was only some 15 to 20 years ago that researchers were getting excited about being able to access the decennial census schedules on the World Wide Web.  These digital products were going to make Investigations of the past so much easier as the work of those old census-takers would be text searchable and the entire universe of products would be available.

Now that we are in the second decade of the 21^st century, lots of added helpful data is often just a few keystrokes away, as the universe of online information expands rapidly.  The document array is exploding exponentially now as for-profit online publishers and open source providers rush to make valuable research content available to a broader user base.

I learned of another valuable online collection of newspapers at the Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture at the Salisbury University, while recently speaking in Delmar.  This excellent archives has created a strong group of online historical Delmarva papers. It consists of regional weeklies, spanning the years 1745 through 1922.

In the online records group you will find 17 different publications from Lower Delaware and the mid and Lower Shores of Maryland.   Titles include publications from Salisbury, Easton, Berlin, Snow Hill and elsewhere.  The products are text searchable, and the queries yield PDFs of the pages.

This was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore.  Howard, the president of the Delmar Historical and Art Society, tipped me off about this great virtual research warehouse of serials as we talked about such matters.  Thanks Howard and Thanks Nabb.

Click here to go to the search engine

Salisbury newspaper from the Nabb Center, Salisbury Advertiser, June 5, 1896