4 INTRODUCTION in My Lifetime of Ninety-Some Years (And Holding)
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INTRODUCTION In my lifetime of ninety-some years (and holding), I have known and enjoyed conversations with several local history buffs who were much wiser than I and possessed remarkable memories of historical events. -- BUT they all neglected to write a single paragraph to pass on to future generations -- and their valued knowledge sadly passed on with them. Many times I have been distressed to hear misinformed persons verbally relay historical inaccuracies that have inevitably become distorted and even embellished, when if not substantiated by an authentic record, sadly become accepted as factual. For too long I have planned to record under one cover all the scattered accounts that have been written about Rising Sun history and add some of my own collections and recollections as recorded in my diaries of 30 years or more. My calendar is whispering "you cannot wait much longer." DO IT !! Most certainly not because of any feeling of any degree of competency as a writer, but only on the premise that "half a loaf of whatever is better than none," I have endeavored in a folk-art approach to put together under one cover the accumulated results of a lifetime hobby of collecting historical data pertaining to the town and surrounding community of Rising Sun. This report has just grown like "TOPSY" to a conglomerate storehouse of events that might be accepted by future history hunters. Such items were gleaned from recognized writers, copies of old newspapers I have bought at estate auctions, etc. I have been fortunate in having been given or loaned many personally kept scrap books covering the past eighty years. Also for many years I have kept a diary of current events. As a result thereof I feel an obligation to share with future generations that may be interested in the when and where of this and that. As my four score and nine registers on the calendar I dare not procrastinate any longer. The following pages are offered, not as an example of journalism but just a printed storehouse of historical information. Hope you enjoy it. WILLIAM W. MCNAMEE Rising Sun, Maryland 1996 4 DEDICATION If this single copy of historical information should ever be deemed worthy of publication in book form, the reader might expect to view a page of dedication to one or more individuals who have in various ways contributed to the preparation: First, of course, to the wonderful one who had shared my most happy married life of 61 years, the "gal" who tolerated my all-too many hobbies: My Loving Wife DOROTHY DAVISON MCNAMEE 1912-1996 There are, however, several other individuals who have contributed in many ways to this endeavor: To a most loyal and steadfast friend, BOB CAMERON, for his encouragement and confidence that somehow in spite of my chronic procrastination, I would finish it. To Sandi Didra, my self appointed public relations agent, who has helped so much with typing and more support that smoothed the rough days. To my recently re-acquainted friend, Anne Thompson Gyles, for her many hours of professional research - and the enjoyable discussions of historical findings we've had as we shared all our findings and writings. And certainly not forgetting my life long boyhood friend who would have enjoyed reading it more than anybody - MORT MCCARDELL 5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS GEORGE JOHNSTON - Born May 15, 1829, Died February 22, 1891, age 62. Published HISTORY OF CECIL COUNTY, MARYLAND in Elkton, Maryland in 1881. Collected and edited POETS AND POETRY OF CECIL COUNTY, MARYLAND - published in 1887. ISAAC R. TAYLOR - Born January 19, 1821, Died in 1905, age 84. Wrote RISING SUN HISTORY in 1879. E. HENRY HAINES - Born November 18, 1836, Died in 1916, age 60. Wrote RISING SUN HISTORY in late 1913. ALICE COALE SIMPERS - Born in 1843, Died January 20, 1905, age 62. Wrote HISTORY OF WEST NOTTINGHAM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH ,published in The Oxford Press. Wrote many newspaper articles. Some of her poetry was published in 1887 in POETS AND POETRY OF CECIL COUNTY, MARYLAND. BERTHA MAY TYSON - Born in 1869, Died in 1963. Wrote a newspaper column in Cecil County papers called "AS I WAS READING." Wrote "RECOLLECTIONS OF MY SCHOOL DAYS." Wrote "HISTORY OF FRIENDS NORMAL INSTITUTE." Wrote "HISTORY OF UPPER PRINCIPIO." 6 THE MIDLAND JOURNAL, RISING SUN, MD. A SALUTE TO RISING SUN ON ITS 180TH YEAR EARLY HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF RISING SUN Origin of Name and Brief History of Steadily Growing Town Shows Many Interesting Facts in Development of This Cecil County Community. Rising Sun has one of the most unique names of any community in the country. It might have been selected by some advertising "sloganeer" of the ancient days, who desired a "dominant" cognomen to demand instant attention to his abiding place. Just how the name was chosen is a mystery to many people. The little village of Summer Hill, in the year 1816, boasted two hotels and about eight or ten houses. The larger hostelry bore a sign adorned with a picture of the sun in the act of rising, and below was pictured the name, "The Rising Sun." No doubt it was a favorite place for the inhabitants, for the name of the town was dropped, and the place was ever after known as Rising Sun. Not even the efforts of some discontented citizens, who appealed to the Legislature, could get the name changed to Florence, as they wanted to. The Rising Sun, in 1816, was largely patronized by drovers, who stopped overnight to rest themselves and their beasts. They were driving to the Baltimore or Philadelphia markets. As Summer Hill was midway between these cities, it was a favorite stopping place. The drovers rode on horseback and, no doubt, enjoyed the good cheer they received at the Rising Sun. Mine host in the years of 1816 and 1817 was Peter Shroff, who bore the reputation of setting an excellent table and never allowing a man to get drunk at his bar. The folks who were not satisfied to be so temperate slaked their thirst at the other house, which was described as a low down place, with no accommo- dations for travelers. WHERE FIRST HOMES WERE BUILT The finest houses in the town were the brick buildings now occupied by M. Ely and the adjoining house now used as a show room by Scott Wilson. Where Mr. Shepherd's new home stands, there was a frame house, and another stood where Pogue and Roberson are located. All told there were not a dozen houses in the village, no street lights or sidewalks. The town pump slaked the thirst of man and beast. The hotel, The Rising Sun, stood where now stands the National Bank, and below it, where are now houses, shops and barns, and Mount Street, stretched fields, where the drovers pastured their cattle while they repaired to the friendly hostelry, where the sign of The Rising Sun swung in the breeze. WHEN NEW LIFE CAME Rising Sun seems to have dreamed along for quite a while after this. It was just a little collection of homes. Even its prominence as a stopping over place for drovers became less, for the drovers were decreasing in numbers. Cattle were being for- warded by that new but faster method of transportation - the railroad. Then John Kirk seems to have injected new life and blood into the community by starting his foundry here. It was quite a business. Not only were plowshares manufactured, but the foundry turned out wagons, wheels and other 47 material. A number of men were employed, but the little town waxed prosperous for a time. Then the business dwindled. The foundry was unable to compete with the larger institutions of the west. It finally closed its doors. Still another business was on its way. A while later, a Bucks county man named Rittenhouse built a large store and shops here. His plant was located about where the department store of Allee and Shepherd now stands. EVERYBODY PLANTED CORN Rittenhouse employed wheel wrights and carpenters in his shop and did a brisk business. But he had even wider schemes than this. When work was slack, the artisans were sent out in the fields to plant corn and potatoes. Union rules did not seem to be effective in those days. A man was willing to work along at anything the boss desired. THE RAILROAD ARRIVES Along in the middle or late sixties, the railroad came to town. This was the Baltimore Central. At first, its rails had extended to Oxford, but later Rising Sun was included in its trackage. With the coming of the railroad, the town took on a boom and has grown steadily every since. While the foundry and the old shop, where the carpenters worked in the fields when they were not busy at the bench, have disappeared, a large creamery and condensory, a canning company that employs numbers of people in the busy season, two large general warehouses dealing in fertilizer, lumber, coal, etc., a number of well-stocked stores, several up to date garages, and numerous other businesses may be found along the two streets which comprise the mercantile center of the town. DURING CIVIL WAR Although the Civil War was raging, it did not actually touch Rising Sun. Still, a large number of Federal troops were encamped at Colora, their skirmish lines extending nearly to Rising Sun. All of this was in the yesterday of long ago. Today, Rising Sun is prosperous, its prosperity resting on a solid basis. Its midway situation between Baltimore and Philadelphia gives it a strategic advantage, and it is connected with these two great cities by railroad and by a fine concrete boulevard.