Wednesday, May 22, 2013
The Havre de Grace Arts Commission organized a look back at the city's history through music.
The sounds of 19th century America sounded through the Havre de Grace High School auditorium recently. As part of the War of 1812 bicentennial commemoration and the 150th anniversary of the Civil War in the city of Havre de Grace, Stevenson University's Greenspring Valley Symphony Orchestra came to town to put on a show called "An American Salute: Music of Our Nation" on May 18. The Havre de Grace Arts Commission organized the event, which included patriotic songs punctuated by narratives and dances telling the story of the attack on Havre de Grace in 1813 and events through the Civil War. Carolyn Black-Sotir, the Steppingstone Museum's dance troupe and others performed. Watch the show online, courtesy of the Harford Cable Network.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
The weekend featured a series of commemorative events in the city.
The British descended on the city of Havre de Grace 200 years ago, and again this weekend. As part of the city's War of 1812 bicentennial commemoration, reenactors were stationed at the Lock House museum through the weekend. Have pictures from their march back into the city Saturday? Share them here.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Costumed actors portrayed the British attack on Havre de Grace through downtown.
One day and 200 years after British troops arrived at Concord Point Lighthouse and burned much of the city, Havre de Grace relived the experience. As part of the city's War of 1812 bicentennial commemoration, reenactors sailed into Concord Point on The Sultana, which had been docked at the Tidewater Marina. On land, reenactors responded with gunfire and cannons on behalf of the citizens of Havre de Grace. Once the British came ashore after 10 a.m., the two sides exchanged gunfire intermittently between Concord Point Lighthouse, Market Street and Saint John St. The conclusion came at the Lock House around 3 p.m. Saturday. Did you watch the skirmishes in Havre de Grace? Tell us in the comments!
Havre de Grace officials encourage using the shuttle service due to street closures.
As reenactors and their battles overtake downtown Havre de Grace, police have shut down many roads and are conducting rolling street closures for others. To make the War of 1812 bicentennial and Havre de Grace Decoy Festival accessible for travelers, the city of Havre de Grace is offering a free shuttle service from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. The shuttle will be available at the Havre de Grace Armory at 301 Old Bay Lane and will run every ten minutes. There will be multiple stops. In addition, the tourism office encourages those coming from outside the city to use the following routes to get to the shuttle for parking:
Friday, May 3, 2013
The Sultana and Pride of Baltimore are docked at Tidewater Marina and Hutchins Park.
For information about tours, see Tall Ships Sailing into Havre de Grace on Friday.
The city's War of 1812 bicentennial commemoration begins Friday afternoon.
Main Street will come alive with vendors, performers and reenactors on May 3.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
The TV network featured Havre de Grace in a segment near the Concord Point Lighthouse.
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Thursday, May 2
See the story on WBAL: "Havre de Grace Commemorates War of 1812 Attack"
Police said they have a team prepared for the downtown events May 3 to 5.
For the Havre de Grace Police Department, working special events is old hat. "We have all hands on deck," Pfc. Jeff Gilpin said, in advance of the War of 1812 bicentennial festival. He explained that police know the drill for special events, since they handle the Seafood Festival and the Fourth of July parade and carnival, among others downtown. The Harford County Sheriff's Office, Maryland State Police and Aberdeen Police Department will be assisting the Havre de Grace Police Department with this weekend's activities, which the city expects will lure 20-to-30,000 visitors. "We have a huge response force so everyone can enjoy the event without any worries," Gilpin said. "But our primary goal is to not be intrusive; we’re there as needed…
The cannon, last fired in 1812, is at the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum.
Marsha Tarbert
11:32 am on Monday, May 6, 2013
Here are my thoughts on the Reenactment: The unsanitized story would have been much more interesting than the story the emcee who wouldn't shut up told at the Lighthouse. You would have thought the pristine citizens of HdG were such noble creatures how DARE the British shoot at us? Paleese. HdG was full of fishermen and smugglers. Everyone except old drunk John O'Neil left town and fled up the … more ›