The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1903-04-11
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
Its Daily Events and
Doings.
AS Reflected in The Columns of
The "Cecil Whig."

For some time past. the "Whg" has
been publishing in its local columns. OK
cerpts from its issues of corresponding
datc-Fifty Years Ago. and from what
we have learned of them. they have
proved quite entertaining to our readers
particularly those of the older genera
tionS. of our citizens.
An illustration of this local interest in
these half-a-crntury-n happenings in
Cecil was forcibly brought to our notice
last week. \ reader of the "Whig, who
lives Il short distance from Elkton, WAS
visiting here. and speaking to well
known citizen of the town of its indus
trial development. how the sites of an
cicnt gravc-yardS had given place to the
march of local Improvements and who's"
former silent rcpO%c. now echoed the hum
of busy industry. congratulated his Elk-
ton friend that an Iron Rolling Mill was
about to be erected mt WcStamwell Il
short distance above the town ON the Big
Elk Creek.
"Whcrc." said his Elkton friend-"did
you get that news | have not heard
of any such new iron industry c"ntcm-
plated or projected for Wcstamwcll =
Il read it," was the reply. in Il re-
cent number of the Cecil Wing.
oh" said his Elkton friend, you
read that in the Fifty Years Ago col
umns Of the ''Whig," which YOU did not
notice ut the time
They both enjoyed hearty laugh over
the mistake. 50 umwittingly made.
weep not. said the poet Bryant, that
the world changcs--did it keep II stable
changeleSS course. it We're just cause to
weep"
Change and transformation. are writ
ten all over the face of nature.
In all its phases, physical or moral, the
world is ever presenting new aspects.
As the faces of our friends change, 50
the face of nature around us undcrgorS
the same transformation. Generally to
those who daily witness them. in de-
gree these changes are imperceptible. be-
cause they are gradual.
Take Il former resident of Elkton. who
had not visited it for fifty years. and set
him down at either end of the town, and
like Rip Van Wrinkle returning to the
village of Failing Water. after his long
sleep. not one spot would be familiar to
him.
If he visited the extreme east end of
the town. he could with difficulty rccog
niZe the changed course of the Big Elk.
as the same stream he had known in his
boyhoOd. At this season of the year.
fifty years ago, he had chased the branch
herring clear to the foot of Red Hill,
while at the bend of the creek. further
down the stream, then known as the
"Half Moon," young Jesse Updigrov".
Gale Wilson, and their tribes of nomadS.
wadcd the creek up to their chins. and
landed with their little nets. herring by
the thousand. keeping off the chill of
winter, lingering in the lap of spring,
with hearty draughts of corn whSkey.
bought in town ut twenty cents tn" gal
lon.
When the herring began tu run. as
they generally did in the night. the skies
after sunset, We're lurid with the reflect
ed rays of their camp fires. around which
they sat and drank and Quarrccd, over
the division of their piScatory spoils.
Where one herring now darcs ascend the
stream. thousands of the Silvery sealed
rlupeoids. then afforded the youngsters
Of the town unlimited sport. as they
pcltcd them with stones, or walloped
them with wattlcs. as they broke the
TlDpItS OF lnt IDrl. Ill lnplf Stilfcl Tor
congcnial spawning grounds.
If the ancient resident, then turns his
face westward and wendS his way to
West Elkton. once known rs Little
Elk. how many and numerous the
changes that greet him on the road
The fine mansions that line the street to
the eastward actually confuse his mind
as to the identity of the place Reilly's
Mill has grown in size. it occupies the
same spot. but it isn't Rcilly's Mill any
more.
Old Jacob .Anderson'S house. on the
northwest corner. has given place to II
modcrnized home, and the echo of the
"ArkansaS Traveller" as old Jake drew
the bow. does not rcsound through the
windows of the nearby cdiicc, in which
the followers of John Wesley are wont
10 meet. The corn fields on either side
of the roadway. have disappeared. The
smoke from Thomas Howard's house
chimney, no longer marks the southern
horizon. Sam Dehaven's hotel on the
corner now houses an industrious carpet
weaver. In its rear, once stood the old
shed, in which the Democrat boys. hid
the old cannon, the only one in town,
stolen from the Wing boys. Palmer c.
Ricketts, commemorated its hiding place
in his well remembered refrain.
Big fat Sam he stole our gun,
Says he my boys I'll spoil your fun,
70 find the gun you'll not be able,
For Gilly has hid it in the stable.
But Gilly, the half wtted eccentric
character, types of which no longer seem
To exist in our towns has long since
passed away. and so has John Kennard's
chrystal palace store, that stood on the
corner of Main street and RelPs Lane.
The old Black Rock where John Wells,
Joseph l.. Wells grandfather, once ac-