The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-01-29
PORT DEPOSIT:

Forty Years Ago and Now.
LETTER NO. l.
To those who lived there then, and reside
there noao, cold Port " is the same place.
Having its fluctuations of business, its
activities and depressions. Its earnest sue
cessful men, and its drones and failures
One generation passing away to Hopewell
or Nottingham, and others succeeding to
their places in business circles, in the
church, and in politics. Another and
another generation rolls on. Each emulat-
ing its predecessor in height, towering for
it's moment curling its foaming honors to
the clouds, then roaring, breaking, and
perishing on the same Shore" And yet
such is the effect of familiarity with pass
ing events, that if you should ask of a
resident the status of the place, he would
most likely answer, "no CHANGE
l propose, Mr.. Editor, to revive some
"reminiscences of Port, and if do not sue
coed in proving that river-washed town,
the greatest place this side Duluth, l shall,
I am sure, make manifest the fact, that
great improvements and progress in build
ing, in architecture in business, in educa-
ton, in morals, in churches and in religion
have been effected in the Granite City of
Cecil. N. B. If the name of the town is
ever changed to Granite City, give me the
credit. First, let us review it
PHYSICALLY.
Forty years ago, there stood where Heck
arts saw mill now stands, an unsightly
building, known as the "Still House." the
land mark of the lower boundary Of the
town. No other buildings were near,
above or below. Hogs we're swilled there.
But the fluid that made swine of men, had
ceased to flow therefrom before the time OF
which write From "Still House" run,
there were neither wharves nor houses
until you came to the Corr" property,
and John P Vanneman's wharf and ware
house, and stone dwelling, known as the
lower boarding house, kept by Mr.. Vanne-
man, who with his estimable wife were
great favorites with the lumbermen and
merchants who visited Port. Next above,
was the neat two story house of Edward
Emmons. Then, vacant lots interviewed,
to Allen Anderson's, Anthony Smiths, and
Captain David Gilmore's. Then, vacant
lots to the store and dwelling of Samuel
- rbar
gold" now keeps well-selected stock OF
groceries and sells low for ready cash, was
property belonging to the old Susque-
hanna Bridge & Banking Company, and
occupied by "Uncle Daniel Gordon
Who does not remember Uncle Daniel,
and his amiable daughter Eliza, who by
the way was afterwards called "fox %
Next in order on that side was the Nesbitt
wharf, and lumber yard Of Tome s. Rine-
hart. Mr.. Tome managed the business
His partner, Mr.. David Rinehart, man o.
large wealth, resided in Columbia or Mari
eta. Then, the wharf aud warehouse OF
Samuel Rowland and Cornelius Smith, oc
cupied by Allen Anderson. In this ware
house was stored all the merchandise re
ceived from, and products of the country
shipped to Baltimore. The leading trade
| of AndersonS wharf was the chrome re.
ceived in barrels and in bulk from the
quarries of Isaac Tyson. Immense guam
titles of this ore was shipped to Baltimore
thence to England, to be manufacted intt
| To pfrU
That trade has played out. Mr.. Anderson
also, held the then very honorable position
of Postmaster, aud distributed Uncle Sam
uels favors to old and young, grave ant
gray. No letter carriers at that day de
prived the blushing maiden the pleasure o
receiving direct from the hands of Mr.
Anderson or his bachelor deputy, Watson
through the eight by ten opening, the lette
from her lover, and of feeling Joyful
assurance, that no vulgar hands Or eye
had handled or peeped into it, ere it reached
her willing hand. This was the steamboat
wharf. The Norfolk, Captain VIM. Virden
and afterwards the Governor Walcott, Cap
tain VIM. Owens, of Baltimore, ran here
touching for freight and passengers a
several points in Cecil and Kent counties
This was the only public conveyance t
Baltimore, and the writer remembers
friend who was compelled to drive t
Frenchtown, below Elkton, to meet partie
who came from Philadelphia. The Phila
delphia, Wilmington & Baltimore railroa
was not then built. At the head of thi
wharf, stood a large stone store house, OF
cupied by Edward & William Parker. VIII
were succeeded by Theodore B. Knight
Woody Abrahams. This firm dissolved
Knight conducting the business until re
sold to William Parker, who remained ther
until ]. H. Rowland RACED the building
erect on it's site, handsome granite dwell
ing, which he occupied until his remov;
to his elegant country seat on the Pol
road. May he live long to enjoy it, an
may his shadow never grow less. Thel
had been firm of Bond & Douty, who d
business in this or another building clo'
by. Mr.. Bond was the father of the ente
, prising gentlemen Of that name, who al
largely engaged in the lumber bushes
: Opposite this wharf, stood what was, al
is yet, the principal hotel-the Farmers
t Commercial, kept by Cornelius Smith, wi
was succeeded by Isaac Albertson, wi
afterwards removed to the Mansion Hou
Hotel, located on the corner of st. Pa
!. and Fayettc streets, Baltimore. where b