USA > Maryland > Caroline County > History of Caroline County, Maryland, from its beginning > Part 22
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BIRDS EYE VIEW OF RIDGELY.
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LIFE OF MR. THOMAS BELL.
One of the leading men in this section of Caroline County at the time of the founding of Ridgely in 1867, was Mr. Thomas Bell. Mr. Bell was a large land owner with an attractive home near the proposed city; there- fore it was natural that he should play an important part in the city's inauguration. Since his land joined the extensive holdings of Mr. Ridgely, he agreed to unite with him in selling enough property to enable the Land Association to carry forward its city scheme. By this agreement it fell to Mr. Bell to give the right of way at this point for the Maryland and Delaware Railroad, in its extension from Greensboro to Oxford. It also fell to his lot to provide sites for the railroad station and hotel built by the Land Association. Thus, in a very real sense, Mr. Bell started the town on its way. But the item of greatest interest that has to do with his share in the founding of Ridgely, is that he suggested, in the sale of lots, that if any ardent spirits were ever made or sold upon the premises, the owner of the lot should forfeit it with all its improvements to the parties from whom it was purchased; thus the town of Ridgely has been blessed throughout its years in being number- ed among the ranks of the "dry."
EARLY CONDITIONS.
The early conditions of Ridgely, as far as schools and churches were concerned, were poor, the settlers having had to go to Boonsboro for both. The first school of Ridgely was built in 1872 and was called "Sedge Field Academy." This was a one roomed school of which Mr. Swan was the first teacher. It is said that this was the first school in the county to have desks built with reference to the size of the pupils. This one-roomed building is now a part of a dwelling on Second Street. Church services were held in the school house until 1877, when the Methodist Church at Boonsboro was taken down and rebuilt on the site of the present Methodist Church, the land being given by Mr. Ridgely.
ADDITION OF CHURCHES.
As time passed and Ridgely grew in population, more churches were added and better buildings planned. The second church in Ridgely was St. Paul's Reformed
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Church built in 1880, Mr. Hannebury having been its founder and first minister. Later this church was re- modeled. In 1895 the present Methodist Church was built, the former house of worship having been moved back on Maple Avenue to become a dwelling. Then came the Catholic Church in 1896, the Brethren in 1898, the Baptist in 1909, and the Dunkard the same year.
DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOLS.
Just as many churches were added, so school con- ditions improved with population. The little one-room- ed school was found inadequate; hence in 1888 the pres- ent Primary School was started. It, at first, had but two rooms, gradually three more were added. In 1910 this became a high school. After much careful consid- eration in keeping with the advancement along indus- trial and commercial lines, a delegation of representa- tive citizens of Ridgely met the County School Board at Denton during April 1910, for the purpose of discussing plans relative to the establishment of an agricultural high school in their community. Courses in agriculture, chemistry, animal husbandry, and manual training hav- ing been added to the school curriculum, and many pup- ils having come in from the surrounding country to avail themselves of the privilege of them and of a high school training, it was pointed out how necessary it was to have a well equipped modern building in which to teach these practical subjects. Due to the untiring efforts of such men as W. W. Seward, Hon. T. A. Smith and others, the money necessary for such a building was pledged and a tract of land was secured which would provide a convenient and suitable site for the school as well as fur- mish types of soil for a successful demonstration farm. It was hoped that the State would eventually become in- terested in starting an Eastern Shore Experimental Sta- tion here. The school building was completed July 1912 and formally opened with appropriate exercises Sep- tember 12, 1912.
THE STATE FARM.
At the request of the Caroline County School Board there was introduced into the Legislature in the session of 1914 a bill to transfer fifty acres of the land purchased for the Ridgely Agricultural High School to the Mary-
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land Agricultural College; this passed and the State re- imbursed the Caroline County Board for the amount which the farm had cost them. The farm has been used largely to supplement the investigations being conduct- ed at the Maryland State College so as to check up re- sults and make them applicable to Eastern Shore soil and climatic conditions.
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FRONT VIEW OF THE GREAT ARMOUR PLANT AT RIDGELY.
INDUSTRIES.
On account of Ridgely's many industries the popu- lation greatly increased. The Armour Plant, one of the largest strawberry preserving factories in the world, was located here because it seemed the most favorable region from which to secure large yields of this fruit. However many carloads are also purchased and shipped in from other states to be preserved here. This plant employs a thousand people during the strawberry sea- son, the majority of whom are foreigners. The company has settlements of its own where foreign help is housed. Everything about the settlement and building is kept in a thoroughly approved sanitary condition.
Swing & Company's Factory is one of the leading canning enterprises of the kind in the county. This fac- tory packs tomatoes exclusively, using the yield from three or four hundred acres of ground. In connection with this, Swing & Co. have a basket factory which has
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gained a reputation throughout Maryland and New Jer- sey. Millions of baskets, crates, and strawberry cups are manufactured, thus giving permanent employment to many.
The Saulsbury Brothers also own and operate a large canning factory here, putting up tomatoes, corn, and peas. A large acreage of these crops is put in each year to supply this factory. Foreign as well as local help is employed.
SUMMIT POULTRY FARM.
The Summit Poultry Farm of Holsinger & Son cov- ers sixteen acres, being one of the largest in the East. It has a hatching capacity of 17,000 eggs and as many as 7000 day-old chicks are shipped daily to different parts of the United States. Eggs and chicks of frying size are also shipped.
KRANZ
IMPROVEMENTS.
During Ridgely's later years many improvements have been made, chief among which are:
A water works system having a capacity of 65,000 gallons ;
A town sewerage system with a sewerage disposal plant.
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HIDGÉLY
Scene when strawberries are ripe on the home farm of the late William W. Seward, near Ridgely. Mr. Seward was "Strawberry King" on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, having when this plate was made in 1908 over 125 acres in bearing. It required 300 pick- ers to gather the fruit daily.
A fire department well equipped with a power house and pumping station.
A library with a splendid collection of books.
Compiled from the History of Miss Emma Grant Sauls- bury and others by the Teachers and Pupils of the Ridgely School.
FURMAN'S GROVE.
Furman's Grove, better known as Jumptown, was one of the earliest settled portions of the county. When the county was formed, the Tuckahoe had been dammed and a mill near the present Crouse mill, was then in op- eration. This was considerably before 1800.
The Bradleys were prominent residents in this sec- tion in those long ago times and in fact influential in the county. Their burying ground is on the Starkey farm across from the school. On some of the rough stones may be deciphered the names or initials of some of these early people.
Bradleysburg was quite a thriving hamlet at this time doubtless. This name evidently continued long af- ter the settlement ceased to be, for a county map made in 1875 by J. B. Isler locates this place.
Following the Bradley family in the neighborhood came the Jumps, one of the earliest and best known of whom was Abraham Jump, also a prominent citizen in the county in his time. He is buried near the Brickyard below Ridgely. Josiah Jump was at one time elerk of the Circuit Court for Caroline County.
Later on a family by the name of Starkey acquired nearly all the land in this section.
Several families of German people came from Bal- timore and Pennsylvania and settled not far from where Jumptown church now stands. The houses were built in the meadow near the east side of the branch on what is now Mr. M. C. Smith's farm. The settlement was named Germantown on account of the nationality of its settlers. The houses were all made of logs thatched with mud. One house was built partly in the bank of the stream.
The names of some of the settlers of Germantown were: J. R. Lynch, Otto Gephart, Old Christina, John
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Reinhart, known as Dutch John, and a family of Kierschs.
The industries of the German people were basket, cigar, syrup, and cider making. The tobacco for the cigars was not grown here. It was shipped here from the south. The tobacco factory was owned by Otto Gep- hart. It was a part of his home. The whole family helped make the cigars. They were then peddled around the country.
Willows for the basket making were grown on sev- eral acres of land in the meadows. When they were the right height these were cut and stripped of their bark. Then they were sent away to be sold. An old woman, usually called "Old Christina." made very beautiful baskets out of some lighter material. It was probably a sort of straw.
The original church in this section was built at a very early period, judging from some old records. Start- ed as a Methodist church and continued as such for sev- eral generations, at one time the Holiness society wor- shipped within its walls, then again the Methodist took charge and now for several years the Baptist denomina- tion has been in control, the minister living in Ridgely. The present name of Jumptown has clung to the church because of the aid and support once given by Abraham Jump and his family.
A school was early established in this section also, though the earliest official record of same was made in 1865 at which time trustees were appointed by the Coun- ty School Board.
About 1888 the name of this school was changed to Furman's Grove for a Mr. Furman who donated land for a site. A new building was later erected.
Contributed by the School.
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THE PLAINS.
The family connection of Mrs. Bourne, the former owner of the above named estate, was perhaps among the most noted of the Maryland aristocrats. Her father, Isaac Purnell, was a typical southern gentleman and married a daughter of Benjamin Sylvester, a large land holder in ante-bellum times. The Purnell family was very wealthy and maintained all the social customs of the old Dominion aristocracy. Slaves, about 75 in num- ber, were housed in a row of small shanties near the mansion. The master of the plantation was very liberal to the poor, but he had many eccentricities ; among which was a dignity and reserve maintained towards his com- monplace neighbors. When driving about the country his coachman and footman were dressed in livery, and four coal black horses in silver mounted harness were attached to the family coach. The late Mrs. Bourne. when Miss Mary Purnell, inherited "The Plains" at the death of her grandfather, Mr. Sylvester. The heiress was twice married ; her first husband was Allan Thorn- dyke. Mr. Bourne, her last husband, was very wealthy and at his death the widow inherited several millions to add to her already large possessions. Mrs. Bourne died at Newport in 1881 leaving property estimated at ten million dollars to her children and grandchildren. For many years prior to her demise Mrs. Bourne made an occasional visit to her estate in this county, though nev- er residing here for any length of time. Much of her time was probably spent in Europe. She expended prob- ably one-fourth of a million dollars on "The Plains" es- tate and her various possessions in all amounted to sev- eral thousand acres of the county's choicest land.
Social life surely had a golden era at this Eden of the Eastern Shore, of which many unique anecdotes are extant. One in particular is as amusing as it is unique. A certain member of this ancestral family was passion- ately fond of sleighing. A longing for this sport seized him at an inopportune season of the year-July. Then, as now, artificial means were resorted to, as this incident goes to prove. A supply of salt was procured to cover the mile-lane drive. Let us hope that our impulsive sportsman enjoyed the jingle of the sleigh bells, since he could not the snow breeze, which would be a boon in such a scorching month. To question the veracity of this an-
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ecdote would bring one back again to "Mother Goose" and "Fairy Tale" days. However, it goes to prove that money was not wanting at the Bourne Manor during those days when Maryland's proverbial hospitality had been amicably partaken of at The Plains.
In the course of events Providence ordained other scenes to be enacted on this same eventful stage in which society onee held so prominent a part. In the year 1887 a community of ascetic women, known as Benedictine Sisters, purchased this "Paradise of the Plains" from Allen Thorndyke Rice, ci-devant editor of the North American Review. The property consists of five hun- dred and fifty acres of arable and two hundred acres of timber land. It is situated in the heart of the farm- ing region of the Eastern Peninsula. The elaborate buildings were erected by Mrs. M. M. Bourne, grand- mother of Mr. Rice, and cost over one hundred and twen- ty-five thousand dollars. The building material was of the finest. Modern critics say that it could not be purch- ased in our day at any cost. The workmanship, too, has stood the wear and tear of time, for the buildings seem as substantial now as if they were of modern construc- tion.
The Convent and Academy, St. Gertrude's were in- corporated in the year 1896, under the laws of the State of Maryland. The Mother House of this community is lo- cated in Newark, New Jersey. where a large branch house is established, with two others in Wilmington. Del- aware.
Hims of St. Gertrude's Academy. Harmonious edu- cation, while providing sound mental and moral train- ing. must not endanger the growth of the body. Of all places a boarding school in the country is a place to as- sist the development of the body. The country air is stimulating. and has health giving properties that are lacking in most city schools, whose environments are usually limited.
Catholic pupils are given a course of instruction in their religion, but no undue influence is exercised over the minds of non-Catholics. For maintenance of order, all are obliged to conform to the external religious ex- ercises of the institution.
Studies. The Academy has four departments: Pri- mary, Grammar, Commercial, and Academic. The branches taught in these departments embrace all that is
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NEW BUILDING AT THE PLAINS.
necessary for a thorough and practical education. These courses afford all the advantages of a modern high school. The children's department comprises seven vears; namely, four primary grades, one year each, and the Junior, Grammar and Preparatory classes, one year each.
Art. Art is now recognized as one of the essentials of a refined education. Hence, special attention, under a competent teacher, is given to this study. Music and drawing are also made a specialty.
Domestic Science. "Cooking is an art; a noble seience." Lectures and experimental lessons in cook- ing and baking are given to the students who are inter- ested in home economy.
Domestic Art. Every style is taught-both plain and ornamental-from the cutting out and making of a simple wearing apparel, to the designing and embroid- ering an elaborate shirt waist, center piece, etc.
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SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.
While Caroline county furnished no complete com- panies to the late (1898) War with Spain, her younger men were active and eager to engage in behalf of their country and enlisted a score or two of them in outside divisions.
We have been able to secure thus far only the names of the following persons who participated, but it is safe to say that other names could have been added :
Robert S. Garey, of Denton, served with a Balti- more regiment: Charles G. Griffin with the New York National Guard, later the gallant Seventy-first; Clayton Blackison was on the Battleship Indiana; H. B. and R. W. Messenger of Federalsburg, were included in the 5th Maryland Regiment; G. H. Jefferson and Thomas S. Kemp, of Federalsburg, enlisted in a Pennsylvania reg- iment; Ira Cannon, Fulton Noble of Preston, Jas. F. Wallace, Wm. C. Dean, and Milton Tull of Bethlehem, Harvey Jump and S. J. Sneed of Hillsboro enlisted with a Talbot county company; Thomas Heather. Bernard Hutchins, and John Shewbrooks of Marydel, enlisted in Company M. Delaware regiment; R. Earle Fisher was with the 5th Maryland which went to Tampa. Charles and Frank McShane of Denton and Wm. Rumbold of Choptank also enlisted.
While some of our boys did not get into the lines of battle, perhaps, they suffered even worse in some of the hot, yellow fever regions, eating "embalmed meat" so much spoken of at the time.
The following local newspaper account will serve to show the nature of the charges of one regiment which lost nearly all of its men in the terrible campaign :
"Mr. Charles G. Griffin of the 71st New York Regiment is spending part of the sixty days' furlough in Caroline. At the ex- piration of this furlough the regiment will be mustered out of service. Mr. Griffin is still suffering from the effect of Yellow fever which seized him, with hundreds of others, while they were in camp
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after the battle of Santiago. At that great combat Mr. Griffin's regiment made a memorable rush upon the Spanish breast-works up a hill in front of the city and drove the dons from their trench- es. Many of the Americans were killed but Mr. Griffin escaped without injury. When the top of the hill had been gained many dead Spaniards were found. The charge was a desperate one but Mr. Griffin explained it had to be made because our men were un- der fire and did not propose to stay at the foot of the hill and take it; consequently without orders they made the dash. In doing so they were protected by gattling guns, which poured a steady stream of lead along the top of the hill. Had any Americans been without guns most of them would doubtless, have been killed be- fore the top was reached."
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COUNTY NEWSPAPERS.
Early Papers.
The earliest newspaper in the county was printed at Hillsboro in 1831 by Lacas Bros. Its name was the Caroline Intelligencer. It seems only natural that the first paper should have been started at Hillsboro, for two reasons: 1, It is one of the oldest towns of the county and probably the one best developed during that period ; 2, Hillsboro being the seat of the Old Academy it may be readily assumed that more letters and enlture pro- vailed there at the time.
Shortly afterwards, a paper was started at Denton. It was called the Caroline Advocate and was published from 1835 to 1837 by Henry Vanderford. who later re- moved to Westminster and became one of the best known editors of Maryland. Judge Carmichael, then a rising attorney at Centreville, upon visiting Denton, persuad- ed Vanderform to remove his printing establishment to Centreville. Thus Denton was left without a paper.
Another early Denton newspaper, The Pearl, which appeared in September of 1840, during the administra- tion of Martin Van Buren, was pubilshed by Mr. John H. Emerson. It was printed for sometime in Centreville. Later when the paper had shown that it would pay, Mr. Emerson purchased a horse tread press, and printed his paper in Denton. It was issued weekly at the price of two dollars a year; one dollar of which had to be paid upon the receipt of the first issue, the other dollar due at the end of the year.
Mr. William Stewart has an issue of The Pearl printed January 19, 1841. The paper is given largely to advertisements, among which are Joseph Evitts, Gen- eral merchandise; Charles W. Smith, Coach, Gig, and Harness. The Union Hotel advertises its bar where the choicest liqnors might be obtained. A Baltimore shoe shop advertises a "pair of the handsomest slippers ever made," for one dollar shinplaster. Reference was made to the financial distress of the day including the failing of the Franklin Bank of Baltimore.
The American Union of today is really the successor of the old Pearl.
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FEDERALSBURG COURIER.
On February 7, 1872, the first number of what is now called the Federalsburg Courier was issued. It was started under the name of the Maryland Courier and published by George D. Baker, who moved here from Stamford, Conn. Mr. Baker did the practical part of publishing it, assisted by Thomas H. Chambers, in the capacity of "devil." Mr. Baker published it for about three years when he disposed of it to James Powers, who in turn sold it to Dr. W. D. Noble a few years later. In 1879 Thomas H. Chambers purchased it of Dr. Noble, and continued it until 1885 when he sold it to Heffron Bros., who published it until 1890, when it passed to H. P. Chambers, who continued it up until the time of his death in October 1897. Under the ownership of H. P. Chambers it was printed by J. W. Stowell, who took over the publication at that time and has continued it without any changes since. The present publisher serv- ed his apprenticeship under Heffron Bros. from 1887 to 1890 and since then has been connected with The Cou- rier in some capacity, either as "devil," compositor, printer or publisher. The Courier started out as a 4- page, 6-column paper, and under Heffron Bros. it was increased to a 7-column paper. In 1910 it was again in- creased to an 8-column 4-page size and in 1913 to an 8- column 8-page size, in which form it is at present pub- lihsed.
The Courier was started as a non-partisan paper. Under Heffron Bros. it was published as a prohibition organ, and under H. P. Chambers in the interest of the Democratic party. At present it is an independent paper.
THE CAROLINE SUN.
The Caroline Sun, published at Ridgely, was estab- lished March 15th, 1902, by Dr. W. W. Goldsborough, now a leading practitioner at Greensboro. Dr. Golds- borough knew but little about the publishing business, and in September, 1902, sold his interests in the paper to Mr. L. R. Beauchamp and Mr. Henry Wilkinson. Six months thereafter Mr. Beauchamp decided there were other wider fields of labor for him, and as a consequence he sold his interest to Mr. Wilkinson, the paper's pres- ent publisher and editor. The Caroline Sun is an S-
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page, all home print newspaper. The office is equipped with all modern machinery, including a two-magazine linotype machine, with four faces of type at command within ten seconds. These machines are very costly and will do the work of five men. The Sun is recognized as one of the leading newspapers of the Eastern Shore. Established under difficulties, the paper has gradually won its way to the front, and now boasts of 1500 sub- scribers, something unusual for a county paper pub- lished in an inland town. Mr. Wilkinson, who came to town with the first issue of the paper, was born in Caro- line County, and began his newspaper career in the office of the American Union at Denton twenty-eight years ago. He has had wide experience in the publishing bus- iness, and ranks among the foremost printers in Mary- land.
THE ENTERPRISE.
The Greensboro Enterprise was established in March 1915 and is now a solid business paying good dividends.
From March, 1915 to June 20, 1918, the plant which now prints the Enterprise was simply a job office and was named "The Model Printery." Mr. W. Thomas Thornton, the owner, editor and publisher of the paper was and is sole owner of the plant. The job business was such a success, that the idea of establishing a paper soon became lodged in Mr. Thornton's mind, and while he knew he was taking chances he went to work and is- sued The Enterprise. The venture was a success from the outset, the people of this section of the county feel- ing the need of a good home paper at once supporting the new publication.
Thornton is a Greensboro boy, born and reared, and learned his trade and served his time on the Free Press, formerly the organ published here, and for a long time Mr. Thornton did the bulk of the work connected with the job office and the paper himself. After getting on his feet, so to speak, with the business, or getting it to the place where it payed Mr. Thornton was able to hire help, and since that time has had his brother, Mr. Wal- lace Thornton, helping in the work.
The paper is published on Thursdays and is a neat folio of six columns, full of interesting local and general
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news matter and is neatly gotten up and printed. The politics of the paper is Democratic.
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