Small town lockups are typically simple and unremarkable structures designed to hold lawbreakers temporarily. However, the Town of North East, MD, at the top of the Chesapeake Bay, boasts a unique municipal lockup that stands out from the rest. This two-story brick structure, designed by architect Levi O. Cameron in 1885, features distinctive three-pronged turrets…
Private Detectives Sought to Solve Mysterious Murders
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the task of solving murders presented a formidable challenge to law enforcement. Cases frequently hit frustrating dead ends when clues or eyewitnesses were scant. Without the proverbial “smoking gun,” public officials turned to private detectives for assistance. Unlike the overburdened sheriffs with numerous responsibilities, agency men had the…
Rising Sun History Book Digitized
RESEARCH TIP — 1960 RISING SUN MD CENTENNIAL BOOKLET DIGITIZED — FREE ACCESS PROVIDED BY ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY — For the centennial of the town of Rising Sun, a committee published an informative 96-page booklet in 1960. It is jammed with helpful information about the town, and I pull it from my bookshelf often…
For Family History Research Ask What’s in Your Attic
You never know what treasures you might find tucked away in attics, closets, or other places. Faith Broadwater Seltzer discovered this firsthand when she stumbled upon a relative’s unclaimed insurance policy during a family history research course I teach at Cecil College. Faith and her classmates were in the computer lab exploring the rapidly growing…