by Don Barker | Dec 26, 2018 | 20th Century, Colonial Era, Highways and Byways, Town
It’s a bit of a stretch to call Reliance a town. Officially, it’s an unincorporated community. It’s a place that straddles two states and three counties – Caroline and Dorchester counties in Maryland, and Sussex county in Delaware. But in its heyday,...
by Don Barker | Sep 23, 2018 | 20th Century, Age of Sail
The skipjack Flora A. Price was built at Chase, Maryland, in 1910. She was one of the largest skipjacks ever built. Flora lived briefly on the upper Choptank at Denton. Flora A. Price at Old Harford Town Maritime Center, West Denton, Feb 2002....
by Don Barker | Feb 27, 2017 | 20th Century, Black History, Everyday Citizens, Town
In West Denton … there were two blacksmith Shops serving the farmers and residents of the area. One was operated by a Negro named Walter Moore … I doubt if any kingdom ever fell because Walter’s nails came loose. [Excerpt from Bridges...
by Don Barker | Jan 29, 2017 | 20th Century, Farms, WWI
Dutch immigrants poured into Caroline County in two waves in the 1890s and settled in “Wilhelmina Colonies” east of Dover Bridge. They came to America when farmland became scarce in their native Holland. They worked hard, built homes and churches, and...
by Don Barker | Dec 27, 2016 | 20th Century, Everyday Citizens
The Single-Tax Colony at Gilpin Point Gilpin Point on the Choptank River was once the site of a colony of radical economic reformers. The small colony of “Georgists” advocated the economic philosophy of Henry George. They held property in common at...
by Don Barker | Aug 10, 2014 | 20th Century, Age of Sail, Everyday Citizens
As many as four or five two- and three-mast sailing vessels at a time were often tied up at the Denton wharves. I often had the job of leading the mule forward to lift the bag out of the vessel’s hold, and backing him up again to drop the bag...
by Don Barker | Mar 30, 2014 | 20th Century, Age of Sail
I know, I know . . . She still shows up in the Registry of National Historic Landmarks. But I tell you, Joe, Maggie Lee died ten years ago in West Denton! I have photos to prove it. The Chesapeake Bay skipjack Maggie Lee is listed in the Registry of National...
by Don Barker | Mar 23, 2014 | 20th Century
Public Sale of Valuable Personalty Having decided to leave the State and having no further use for my property, I will sell at public sale, at my home at the Adams Landing Poultry Farm, 1 mile from Denton on the Greensboro road, commencing at 10 o’clock, rain...
by Don Barker | Feb 20, 2014 | 20th Century, Highways and Byways
1919-2013 The Sandy Island Bridge carries Maryland Route 287 over the Choptank River east of Goldsboro, Maryland. The bridge built in 1919 was demolished and replaced in December 2013. The 1919 bridge replaced an earlier bridge of unknown age. The 1919 bridge...