Excellent column -- well written, intriguing -- I am a newcomer to HDG, but would think that knowing more about the footsteps of the past would bring clarity to "why we are what we are" -- and be valuable for future generations. Look forward to reading other's stories.

Great start, well written. History does have that "aura" surronding the facts and most certainly HdeG has that "aura" in the streets and buildings developed over 200 years.

AWESOME ADDITION TO TH PATCH!!!!IT JUT GETS BETTER AND BETTER!!!!AND WHO BETTER TO WRITE THE FIRST HISTORY COLUMN!!!!!!GREAT CHOICE!!!!MR."W" IS THE MAN FOR THE JOB!!!!!

The Patch continues to grow in scope and value. This is one more reason I will look forward to reading HdG Patch. I am also a newcomer to HdG (June 1996) but have grown in my appreciation for the history of this area of our great nation.

Fantastic column! Havre de Grace is also the hometown of the most decorated family in the history of the Navy. I look forward to reading the next!

Great job Gary! I look forward to the rest of the articles as well!!! We at Bahoukas love history and work daily to preserve it!!! Thanks for helping us keep the history alive!!!!

Jeanne P. Hawtin

GREAT job and look forward to more! The oyster shells are because the streets were paved with them prior to macadam......and there were high curbs up to the sidewalks - and I would guess that Pennington Ave is curved because it was originally "the cut" and I think a railroad track....and there was a bridge on Union Ave by the library .....AND our police station was in the cut on Washington St. - next to the new Wive Shoppe...it was the size of a phone booth. Imagine the slate and granite were local and easy to obtain and lasted.......??

Saint Clair street is curved because trains can't make a hard right turn.

I was raised in HDG, and I always knew that there was something special about this little historic town I called home.I miss my wonderful little town filled with beauty and grace..I hope someday I will be able to visit home again.I love this site it brings back memories to me and makes me smile Thank You so much.

I would love to know more about Fishing Battery Island.That would be very interesting.

CHAPTER 40.
Passed Jan 28, 1853

AN ACT to give the consent of the State to the purchase of certain lands by the United States, and ceding to the United States jurisdiction over the same.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the consent of the State of Maryland is hereby given to the purchase, by the United States government, of a part of the land near the mouth of the Susquehanna river, known as Edmonston's Island or Shad Battery, for the purpose of erecting thereon a light-house; and also, to the purchase, by the said government, of a lot or parcel of ground and buildings in the city of Baltimore, to enlarge the custom-house in said city.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That jurisdiction over the same parcels of ground, after the same shall have been lawfully conveyed to the said United States government, be, and it is hereby ceded to the United States government; reserving, nevertheless, to the State of Maryland concurrent jurisdiction over the said lots or parcels of ground, so far as may be necessary to authorize the service thereon of process issued by any court or officer of the said State, and the punishment by said State, of crimes thereon committed.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That this act shall take effect immediately.

CHAPTER 136.
Passed Feb 17, 1844.
An act for the benefit of the Fishery known by the name of Edmunson's Island or Shad Battery.
Whereas, the State of Maryland having granted to the proprietor a piece of land between Havre-de-Grace and Spesutia Island, known by the name of Edmunson's Island or (Shad Battery) a patent, and the said proprietor having improved the said property at great expense, and paying taxes for state and county purposes on the same, it is but just and right, that the State should extend to said property all the lights, privileges and protection which are given by law to the Shore Fisheries—Therefore, Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That all the rights, privileges and protection which are given by law to the Shore Fisheries on the Chesapeake Bay and its head waters, be, and the same are hereby given to the Fishery known by the name of Edmunson's Island, or Shad Battery, situate as aforesaid.

This post is a long one so I have to split it up.
CHAPTER 99.
Passed Feb, 8 1836
An act to authorize the improvement of an Island therein named.
WHEREAS, it appears to this General Assembly that Robert Gale and John Donahoo are owners, by grant from the State of Maryland, of a small tract of land or island containing nearly three acres, called Edmond son's Island or Shad Battery, situate at or near the mouth of the Susquehanna river, and between three and four miles from the town of Havre de Grace; And whereas, it also appears that the same may be filled up and improved without prejudice to the navigation of the Susquehanna or of the Chesapeake Bay:
Therefore, Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the said Robert Gale and John Donahoo, or their heirs or assigns, entitled to said tract, be and they are hereby authorized and empowered to fill up and improve their said tract of land, called Edmondson's Island or Shad Battery, by deposits of stone and gravel or other wise, and to make all such erections and improvements thereon as they may deem necessary or proper; Provided, such improvements and erections shall not exceed the limits of the land acquired by said Robert Gale and John Donahoo, in the said grant, and as described in the patent thereof;

And provided further, that in order to prevent any such filling up as aforesaid, from being so far extended as to impede or injure the said navigation, George Veazey, Thomas Sadler, Amos Osborne, and William P. Smith, of Harford county, be and they are hereby appointed commissioners, whose duty it shall be to determine and cause to be laid down and marked, the lines and bounds to which said tract may be filled up without injuring or impeding the navigation as aforesaid, and said filling up may take place to the extent of the limits as fixed by said commissioners, and not further; the determination aforesaid in the premises of a majority of the said commissioners, all four of said commissioners however, acting, being effectual, and in case any of said commissioners, before the duty prescribed by this act shall have been completely discharged, shall die or resign, or if any shall decline to act, the vacancies thereby occasioned shall be filled by appointment by Harford county court; and said commissioners shall return their proceedings in the premises, with an affidavit of the truth and fairness thereof, thereto annexed, and with a plat of said lines and bounds to the office of the clerk of said court, there to be recorded among the land records of said county, at the cost of said Gale and Donahoo;

and said commissioners shall for their services be paid by said Gale and Donahoo, the sum of two dollars to each of them for every days the sum of two dollars to each of them for every days attendance, in performance of their said duty, and all the expenses of surveys and other expenses that they may occur in the premises.

Who better to lead off the history section than "W"? Looking forward to reading more.

Great job Garry and a wise choice by "The Patch"!

Well done Gary! Great article. Do I sense an article about the "lost cemetery" in the near future? I will be looking forward to future articles.

I recently discovered, not that it was hidden, a great book at the Havre de Grace library. It's named 'The Susquehanna River Hills Chronicles' and was written by a guy named Starr who lives in Aberdeen. It's kind of a 'tom sawyer' book.... fictional history... about 3 young boys who are 12 years old when the story begins. One boy is white and lives on his family's farm near Darlington, one boy is a free black who lives with his family at Creswell. The Third boy is one of the last Susquehannok indians and he lives with his parents near Conowingo. The book covers the time period from 1811 to May 1813 (the burning of Havre de Grace by the British). These boys get into enough mischief to make it entertaining but the real attraction is the detailed description of the people, the area and the times. I HIGHLY recommend this book to the 'natives' of this area (you will see many familiar names and places). I also recommend it to any 'newbies' like myself who want to acquire a 'Harford County sense of history while being entertained. Teens and adults.... this is a fun read!

This really great article prompted me to get out some of the materials I have. Regarding the oyster shells, that was the "paving for the streets." I recently loaned the city my original of an 1892 Mayors Report to the citizens. Not only were there things in the report such as asking the citizens not to throw their garbage in the street (it was causing complaints) but there was an entire financial report, and some of the items were things like oyster shells. Among the most interesting items I haveare the old maps that show the shoreline. It is amazing just how much fill there has been. (Log Pond is not called that accidentally. The area - where I live - was under water and was where logs were kept after being floated down the river. Jim Vancherie gave me a picture that showed just exactly where my building is today.) It hasn't been that long since Havre de Grace had a booiming downtown. The Correri family had a produce business, and across the street was a really good grocery store called Seiberts. When I was very little my grandmother came to Havre de Grace often, and during shad season there was fresh fish, on ice, to be bought when the fishing fleet came in. The real history is wonderful. The people are the salt of the earth. It all needs to be remembered - as it was. Thanks for the great memories. And, by the way - Bourbon Street was not named for a drink. It was named for French royalty, and is pronounced that way.

Thanks for setting up a page about the history of Havre de Grace. I grew up in HdG but left for the Air Force in 1983. Since then, I have been living overseas. As a kid, I was always interested in history and wanted to know more about the history of my own town. I have been researching my family for a couple of years now and have been able to trace my ancestors in HdG all the way back to the mid to late 18th Century. I was always fascinated by the Concord Point Lighthouse and to discover through my research that Nicholas Sutor was my G.G.G. Grandfather, I guess, pretty much explains why. Lol !
My G.Grandfather used to own a parcel of land near the Toll House in Rock Run. It was called "Schweers Landing" . I have a lot of pictures from that time period (1920 -1960) if anyone remembers the place or would like to see them. My other G.Grandfather, Alonzo Walker was actually one of the founders of the first Havre de Grace Volunteer Fire Dept. This was before the SHCo. He was the Fire Chief of this brigade. Later, as the SHCo came about, he was made the first Captain of Division 1 on N. Adams st. His son, Richard "Dick" Walker was at one time the Chief of Police in Havre de Grace. (Not sure of the dates, though)
The more I dig into my family`s past, the more I become proud of their part in my towns history and the more pride I develop in my town of Havre de Grace !
Bill Schweers