The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-11-11

the grove at Nottingham under Rev. James
Magraw. The class of Methodists were
invited and went in body from Liberty
Grove, and they partook of the communion
services together.
The first regular camp meeting was held
in Michael Trump's woods, near where Will
liam Watkins now lives, in 1882. The
dates given are from the best authority we
could find at the time, and the order of
these meetings may have been different, as
no two authorities are exactly alike, and
parties present at all of them often give
different years for the events.
The next year the camp was held on
what was known as the Wakefield prop
erty, where Enoch McGready at that time
lived. This McGready was local preacher
of some note, as was his brother Daniel,
who resided near where John Everest now
lives. Camps had been held on Daniels
place before this. but they were now con-
nected with Port Deposit history. James
Ewing at that time owning the Stony Bat
ter place, where Moses Nesbitt now lives,
was one of tho converts of this second
camp and member at "The Grove
In 1894 camp meeting was held in the
woods belonging to John Maris, to the left
of the road leading from Colora to Mount
Pleasant, and near the former place. 1t
was at this camp that Robert Morrison,
then a notorious and common drunkard,
embraced religion and was sober and
righteous man to the day of his death and
an active man in the church.
Camp meetings were next held in Swift's
woods. in Lancaster county, at the chapel
near Battle Swamp, and then in Glacken's
woods at Liberty Grove, near were festivals
have recently been held.
There is mention made of a great flood
in Basin Run in 1882, when the waters rose
to an unprecedented height, such as has
never been since. The whole meadow of
William Woodrows was flooded up to his
spring house, and the cooper shop of Hugh
Wright (recently burned, at that time
used by blacksmith, was only saved from
being carried down the stream by being
tied to tree, being lifted entirely from its
foundations. on which it was replaced by
large force of men. \ "blaZe" was cut
on white oak tree at the fording by the
bridge to mark the height of the flood. y
white oak is now standing with such marks
upon it, above the level of the bridge floor,
said to be the one, but some assert that it
Il, +ba -, 10 Of I'll a,I
has been cut down.
Among the first that taught a school in
this house was Miss Hannah Ewing. \
John Nesbitt also taught for time, and
preceptors. This was long before the time
Of free schools under the care of county
officers. All schools were then supported
by private enterprise entirely.
Rachel Ewing, a maiden lady, who was
a convert at this place and member of the
class of seyenty-tive persons who met here,
started the first Sabbath school held in the
house in 1891 Rev. William Shroff, the
recent superintendent, was then teacher
of a class. There does not appear to be
any record kept of the Sabbath school la
bors in this old house, except in the mem
oly of those who may have been pupils
here, many of whom with their superin-
tendents and teachers have gone from works
to rewards.
After the erection of meeting house at
Mount Pleasant in 1894, the one at the
Ea ,,1,c If
worship by the MethodiSts. Presbyterian
services have been held here at different
times with more or less regularity for about
twenty five years, Rev. John Squier being,
perhaps, the first to preach in the house
about 1858
Many incidents aud anecdotes connected
with occurrences that took place here are
related to us, as OF one g Nat Jenkins, a
shoemaker, who lived where Madison Row
land now does, or rather in log house
that stood in front of his, who taught sing
ing schools in the neighborhood; scenes and
incidents of the primitive class meetings;
property, that would make subjects for an
Irving, but which had better sink into OBJ
livion with the occasions that called them
forth.
Should some Rip Van Wrinkle, from a
nap Of fifty years in 'Sleepy Hollow"
visit the scenes of his boyhood here and
find the railroad with its station and its
accompaniment, the store, and the post
office, he might we'll wonder. He might
possibly extend his search to % Stony Bat
ter" to find the bench upon which he used
to reclne when he went thither to have his
Jug filled and find no trace by which to
recognize his former haunt. The roads
are changed, the timber cleared away,
stone house stands where logs once stood,
and naught but the impershable rocks and
bubbling spring remain the same.
With this brief allusion to the changes
that have and are taking place about this
old house, we will bring this paper to a
close and if we shall succeed in awaken
ing pleasant recollections in the minds of
the old and preserving few records for
the benefit of the present generation, our
object will have been gained.
English Inns and American Hotels.