by Don Barker | Mar 16, 2021 | Everyday Citizens, Farms
Maryland honors families that have owned and operated the same farm for 100+ years. The Maryland Century Farm Program was established in 1994 to recognize farms that have been in the same family for 100 years or more. Since the Century Farm Program began, 200 farms...
by Don Barker | Jan 15, 2021 | Everyday Citizens, Historic Sites Mapping
This article shows you how to use the Choptank River HeritageFamily Search Map to find names of persons who owned farms and businesses in Caroline County in the 1890s. Open the map app. Type a family name (last name) into the Search box. Not case sensitive....
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 | 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 | Dec 26, 2016 | Age of Steam, Everyday Citizens
The Wheeler Crowd J.S. Dodds tells how Minne Wheeler symbolized the ”hometown” atmosphere and service that Wheeler offered his clients along the Tuckahoe: “After Easton’s debut, Minnie Wheeler was relegated to the role of freight carrying. Although regular Minnie...
by Don Barker | Dec 26, 2016 | Age of Steam, Everyday Citizens
Charles W. Wright was master of the Ruggles, Minnie Wheeler, and Chesapeake. He resigned from Wheeler employ in 1887 to accept the post of captain of the new steamer Choptank, of the Choptank Steamboat Company. Two years later, he joined the United States Steamboat...
by Don Barker | Dec 26, 2016 | Age of Sail, Age of Steam, Everyday Citizens
Caleb Clark Wheeler of Gilpin Point Caleb Clark Wheeler was born in 1839 at Gilpin Point in Caroline County. At age 12 he began work as a cook on a sailing schooner that shipped goods and passengers between the Choptank and Baltimore. By age 18, he was a schooner...
by Don Barker | Mar 1, 2016 | Everyday Citizens, Town
A survey of the Denton Journal 1870-1960 shows that blacksmithing peaked in Caroline County around 1895 then declined rapidly soon after. This map shows the locations of blacksmith shops that were marked on county maps in 1875 and 1897. Zoom the map to find...
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...