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

son is now the successful and popular head
and proprietor of the house, and Familiarity
known as Isaac If he should chance
to read this letter, let him know that more
than one Gladly fair has grieved at his
persistent bachelor proclivities. About the
Farmers & Commercial was much mystery.
Supersttious people had many misgivings,
and curious persons imagined wild vagaries.
On certain evenings, once month perhaps,
men were seen to enter, and noiselessly
pass through the building to the upper
story. None knew why or wherefore, and
when they reappeared their lips were closed
as tight as clans. They were "Masons,"
and had visited their Lodge. Had trans
acted society business. Had, perchance,
relieved some distressed or afflicted brother,
and sent a ray Of sunshine into his home.
Only this and nothing more. Yet, they
were under the ban of suspicion. But as
| am not Mason, why write of what
know so little about? Subsequently, Jos.
j. Heckart became proprietor of, and sue
cessfully conducted the business of the
House, until his removal to Cedar Hill,
where he resided until his death. Next
above this hotel stood the dwelling of
Daniel Megredy, afterwards occupied by
Cornelius Smith, now the residence of l..
A. c. Gerry. Next, was the drug store,
occupied by DR.. Tate. This young man
was great favorite. In 1889, he with
Cornelius Smith, Jr., and Robert Archer,
of Hartford, were sailing on the Susque-
hanna, when near Watson's Island, the
boat capsized, and Tate and Smith were
drowned. Their bodies were recovered,
and their funerals took place from Cottage
Hill, then the residence of the father of
young Smith. Port never witnessed more
solemn funeral occasion. Adjoining this,
the Washington Hotel kept by Richard
Reynolds which afterwards changed hands
several times until destroyed by fire. In
its ruins it is almost as great an eye-sore,
as the old one story store house that stands
in the middle of the street in front of it,
which for many years the town Fathers
have talked of removing. But unsightly
and Insignificant as it now appears, Cres-
we'll, Couden, Sites, Reynolds, and Abra-
hams, all prosecuted successful business
therein. On the opposite side of the street,
was the wharf of Captain Robert Taylor
and John S. Gettings, of Baltimore. From
this wharf, Captain Taylor afterwards ran
the steamer Portsmouth to Baltimore. At
the head of this wharf, where row of
brick and granite buildings stand, there
stood dilapidated old frame building,
used as store house, restaurant, rum mill,
ten pin alley, &c, and which was the
favorite resort of raftmen, and watermen
of the baser sort, who often exhibited their
pugilstic prowess in the street and made
day and night hideous with their yells and
curses, and sckened humanity by the sight
of their battered and bloody physiognomie
In the rear of the Washington Hotel,
short distance up the " Hollow" stood the
"Old Factory Building" l never knew
what was manufactured there. In later
years, the colored people held religious
meetings in both the " Factory" and "Still
House" Beyond this, where the works
of the enterprising Armstrong; now stand,
was a small one story frame district school
house. In front of the Washington Hotel,
was the wharf of Mrs. Creswell to which
after the Philadelphia, Wilmington 4 Bal
timore railroad was built, ran the little
passenger steamboat Canton, Captain E.
G. Sturgeon. Our Captain was portly
man of large frame. His little craft was
easily tossed about by wind and wave, and
it sometimes kept her commander busy, on
his trips, walking from starboard to lar
board, to keep her in trim. 1t is related,
that on a certain occasion, this "Sturgeon "
was floundering in the surf at Cape May,
when the tide of the Susquehanna rose so
high, as to flood the wharves. AS no
storms or winds prevailed, this unusual
occurrence was mystery, until the fact
transpired that the Captain had been sea
bathing.
And now, Mr.. Editor, lest 1 should be
tedious, and having travelled hastily from
"Still House run, up to the Hollow l
will rest here, and if any material omission
has been made, or inaccuracy in statement
committed, your wide-awake Port cores
pondents will please correct them. Should
you deem such a letter as this of sufficient
local interest to entertain your readers, l
propose in my next to I" travel Oh, from
the " Hollow" to d" Rock Rum" known as
the Creswell division of the town, and may
"circumbumferate,' as the Rev. James
S. -. | once said he would like to do,
round about there. Or as John T r,
the bold skillful blaster in the quarries, in
describing visit to Baltimore, said, "he
took time to look about the scrubburbs. "
SO may l. before l am done, travel outside
| the river line, between "Still House" and
.. Rock Run In third letter, l may
note the improvements that have been
made, and subsequently, give some char
coal sketches of the men of the past and
the present. Would it be in good taste to
include the women, too?
Yours truly, GUYAs CUTAs.