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TIMELINE

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Hollingsworth Family at Elk Landing

In 1735, Zebulon Hollingsworth, Sr. acquired the land from Steelman. In 1783, his son, Zebulon Hollingsworth, Jr. constructed a two-story stone structure along the Little Elk Creek. The two-story brick Federal style house was built around 1800 and damaged by fire in 1850. After the fire, a third floor was added and the house was remodeled in the Greek Revival style.

The Revolutionary War

In 1776, Maryland troops passed through Head of Elk on route to New York. During the war, Head of Elk became an important commissary depot for the Continental Army under the direction of Colonel Henry Hollingsworth (brother of Zebulon Hollingsworth, Jr.). The British moved 15,000 -18,000 troops through the area in August 1777 on their way to capture the capital in Philadelphia. George Washington ordered General Lafayette and his troops at Head of Elk in April 1781 to move south. One month later, the French and American armies under the Comte de Rochambeau and General Washington departed from Head of Elk on their way to Georgetown.

Commerce and Trade

By 1807, many of the products from the fifty-three grist and merchant mills in Cecil County were transported from Elk Landing to Philadelphia and Baltimore. Products departing from Elk Landing included flour, lumber, grain, nails, iron, and pork. Boats coming from the cities to Elk Landing carried coal, coffee, molasses, rock salt, brandy, whiskey, candles, furniture, and clothes.

As the 19th century progressed, passenger traffic increased and Elk Landing was a principal link in the Baltimore-Philadelphia stage and wagon route. Steamboats and sailing vessels also traveled between Baltimore and Elk Landing. In the mid-1800s, new overland routes and the railroad competed with the traffic to and from Elk Landing. In 1887, Henry W. Deibert opened a boat yard where 200-foot schooner barges were launched sideways into the Little Elk Creek.

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