Milford chronicle., 1961-11-03

To Dedicate Shelter
Over Boundary Stone
(continv ed from page one)


These two historic monuments
are located on land owned on the
Delaware side by MIR. Harvey C.
Ellis and on the Maryland side by
Mr. and Mrs. George E. Wright.
These owners donated sufficient
land for this shelter and for suit
able public park surrounding 1T.
These monuments are enduring
testimony of the peaceful settle
ment of the long dispute and bitter
controversy between the Lords
Baltimore and the family of Will
liam Penn over the boundary lines
between the colonies of Maryland
and Pennsylvania. Delaware, then
known as the three counties on
the Delaware, was a part of Penn S
colony.
In 1851 the Transpeninsular Line
from the Atlantic Ocean to the
Chesapeake Bay. This line was
confirmed in 1860 by the Commits
sioners appointed by the English
courts and the Middle Point mark
ed by a white oak post. When
satisfied with the accuracy of their
observations, the Commissioners
set up a cut stone monument two
feet and eight inches to the north
of the post which marked the
middle point. A similar stone was
placed at the 30-mile point on the
Transpeninsular Line since this
point had not been marked in 1751
These two stones resembled the
five placed in 1851, all being en-
graved with the arms of the Penns
facing Pennsylvania and with the
arms of the Calverts facing Mary
land
The third stone which appears
to be of the same kind of stone
as the mid-point marker placed in
1850 is unexplained. One solution
is that this could be the 30-mile
stone placed in 1860, which was
picked up and placed with the 9TH
er stones for safe-keeping.
On November Is, 1860 two math-
ematicians or surveyors arrived
in Philadelphia to assist in run
men, Charles Mason and Jere-
miah Dixon verified the line run
in 1851 and the true Middle Point.
Here they placed in 1853 a Double
CrOwnStOne or corner stone which
bears on the north and east sides
the coat of arms of the Penn fami-
ly and the coat of arms of the CAL
Iu
sides. This is the only Mason
Dixon Double Crownstone in ex-
istence since a similar one at the
northeast corner of Maryland has
been lost for more than a century.
This corner stone, under this new
is the monument which
marks the southwest corner of Del
aware, and also is the beginning
of the north-south boundary line
between Maryland and Delaware
In the years preceding the war
between the states the M o n
Dixon Boundary Line between
and Pennsylvania achiev-
ed fame as the dividing line be-
tween the free states and the slave
states. This centennial year mark
ing the opening of that conflict
which is undoubtedly the most ia
nous state boundary line in the
United States.
This work of historic preserva-
ton was brought about by the eff
forts of The Delaware State Socie-
ty Daughters of the American Rev
olution. For many years the pro-
lection of these historic monu-
ments has been the subject of
much discussion. Societies devoted
to the preservation of S tOric C
shrines and also individuals have
recognized the need to pro C t
these stones. Erosion by exposure
TO all sorts of weather and acci-
dent have been a constant hazard
Popular opinion has been that some
thing should be done. While there
had been no difference of opinion
regarding the need for such pro-
lection, nothing actually had been
done until the Daughters of the
American Revolution, who so many
times have been the means of saw
ing priceless parts of the Ameri-
can heritage, went vigorously to
work and translated words into
action.
Cooperating in this project of
preservation were the agencies re-
spOnsible for the maintenance of
the states boundary m ar k e r s;
the Public Archives Com
and the State Highway De-
partment of Delaware. This being
q bi-state project, the road work
and landscaping will be done by
agencies of the State of Maryland
The Delaware State society
of the American Revo-
tuition, which is arranging the dedi-
cation, invites all interested per-
sons to attend. Following the cere-
mony the society will entertain at
tea the distinguished guests and all
visitors in the Community Hall at
Snethen.