March 14, 2005
Hollingsworth House to Re-Open! 
By Eric F. Mease

In 1813, when the British attempted to invade Elk Landing for a second time, there were two houses standing on the site. One of them, the Hollingsworth House, went through many changes following a fire in 1848. But on April 30th of this year, it will reopen to the public in all its former grandeur, just in time for the 192nd anniversary of that second British invasion that we now call "Defenders Day".

Over the last 9 months, the Hollingsworth House underwent a facelift that cost about $350,000 in public and private funds. The Historic Elk Landing Foundation, which is the custodian of the property, invested in new electrical, plumbing and heating and air conditioning systems, a new basement floor where there was none, coats of plaster and paint, a few new window treatments, and some exterior touch up.

The newly renovated house will be opened for tours during Defenders Day, but Foundation board member and Event Committee chairman, Bruce Leith, says he would like to see the house opened more often for a variety of functions.

"The house could be opened for weddings, corporate meetings, retreats, etc.," Bruce said. "It could be used for pictures (the staircase is a prime example) as well as a place for the bride and groom and family to change, get away, etc. For corporate functions, the double parlor downstairs could be fitted with period furnishings that could be pushed to the wall and tables and chairs could be set up for meetings."

Tours are also a possibility, according to Bruce. "As soon as the building is decorated, we should start thinking about tours on weekends and perhaps one day during the week. We could then talk to local schools about field trips."

In addition to the reopening of the Hollingsworth House, Defenders Day 2005 will feature the return of elements of the Cecil County Militia, refreshments for sale, a gift shop, children's activities and workshops and relevant lectures, and more. Tentative plans call for the house and grounds to be open between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on April 30th. Watch for updated information on Defenders Day at our web site (www.elklanding.org) and in local media outlets.

March 12, 2005
"Rookies" Join EL Board 
By Eric F. Mease

Four new members were added to the Historic Elk Landing board of directors in the past 6 months. And while they may be "rookies" on our board, they are far from inexperienced when it comes to directing local nonprofit organizations.

Raymond W. "Chick" Hamm is the Chief Operating Officer at the Mercantile County Bank and has been on no fewer than a dozen private and public boards of directors since 1996. Among these are the Susquehanna Workforce Network, Maryland's Tomorrow, Northern Maryland Association for Retarded Citizens, Union Hospital of Cecil County, Del-Mar-Va Boy Scouts of America, Cecil County Library Trust, and the Cecil County Economic Development Commission. Appropriately enough, Chick will head up EL's Fund Raising committee.

Our second newcomer is Bruce Leith who hales from the Philadelphia Phillies organization. No, he's not a utility infielder; Bruce is the manager of event contract services. Translated, that means he manages the concessions for the Phillies. Somebody had to plan and layout all of those concession stands at the new Citizens Bank Park. Bruce was the guy. Closer to home Bruce was or is associated with the North East Water Festival Association, the Cecil County Economic Development Commission, and he also serves on the Cecil County Tourism Advisory Committee. If you see Bruce, ask him about his nomination as one of Cecil County's Most Beautiful People in 2003! Bruce will head EL's Publicity Committee.

Gerard "Rod" Wittstadt, Jr., Esquire came to the Elk Landing Board during 2004. Rod brings with him more than a decade of legal experience serving in both the Judge Advocate General's Office of the United States Navy and private practice in the Baltimore and Elkton areas. He serves on the Board of Trustees at Cecil Community College, was appointed by Maryland's Governor Ehrlich to the board of the Cecil Historical Trust, is on the Government Relations Committee of the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce and is a panel attorney for the Cecil County Office of the Public Defender. Finally, Rod is a member of the Society of the Cincinnati, which claims amongst its founders, General Washington himself. When asked why he joined up with Historic Elk Landing, Rod said "I consider myself an amateur historian, and I just wanted to get involved with the project and be a part of history."

The new secretary of the foundation is the fourth new member of the Historic Elk Landing Foundation board. Lea Gochnauer is no stranger to nonprofit organizations. For the past ten years, Lea worked with the Relay for Life event in Cecil County. This year she is co-chairperson of the event as well as being in charge of logistics. She comes to Elk Landing after a 34 and one half year career with the District Court of Maryland, retiring as County Clerk in Cecil County working with Elk Landing Foundation President, Judge Kenneth Wilcox.

Welcome to Chick, Bruce Rod, and Lea

March 7, 2005
192nd Defenders Day
By Eric F. Mease

On Saturday, April 30th The Historic Elk Landing Foundation will once again throw open the gates to the Landing to celebrate the 192nd anniversary of the defense of Elkton during the War of 1812. and you are invited! The observance is in recognition of the battle on April 29th , 1813, between British soldiers and elements of the Cecil County Militia.

A British fleet sailed up the Chesapeake, burning towns and farms along the way. In spite of bleeds to spare it, the British burned Frenchtown, just to the south of Elkton. As they moved north along the shoreline, the Red Coats came upon the plantation of one Mr. Henderson, where they captured a slave woman and demanded that she take them to Elkton to put it to the torch as well. Fortunately, the woman took her captors straight to Elk Landing, the site of Forts Hollingsworth and Defiance. There the British were defeated by 200 members of the Cecil County Militia and driven back to their transport boats down stream. However, this did not end the Red Coats' path of destruction. They continued their voyage up the Chesapeake to attack and burn Havre de Grace, Fredericktown, and Georgetown. The next year, the British sacked and burned Washington, DC, but were turned back at Baltimore and the battle at Fort McHenry when the Star Spangled Banner was written.

The public is invited to join the celebration of Defenders Day on Saturday, April 30th between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. This year's event will include the Cecil County Militia re-enactors encamped at the Landing, the reopening of the Hollingsworth House, refreshments for sale, a gift shop, children's activities, workshops, relevant lectures, and more. Watch for updated information on Defenders Day at our web site (www.elklanding.org) and in local media outlets.