A Little History Lesson: The 1860's

Okay, I like to start things off with a little history lesson about the PRR's Cambridge Secondary Track.

I love all things history, so here is what I gathered using the "bible" for all things railroading on the Delmarva Peninsula: "Rails Along the Chesapeake A History of Railroading on the Delmarva Peninsula 1827-1978" by John C. Hayman (Marvadel Publishers, 1979) and Christopher T. Baer's "PRR Chronology, A General Chronology of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Predecessors and Successors and its Historical Context" at the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society's website.

I did make corrections to both resources as I did my research due to conflicts or other findings that supported or refuted information from other sources, but the chronological order pretty much remained intact.

I do have a rather large time line, but I'm going to break it up over several posts just so it can be read in smaller bites.

First of all, this line ran from the town of Cambridge on Maryland's Eastern Shore to Seaford, Delaware (approximately 33 miles long - you'll see below that it says originally the line was 27 miles long, but look at the combined description of the mileposts to help sort this out).

So, here's the history of the line in the 1860's:

On February 6, 1866, the Dorchester and Delaware Railroad (D&DRR) was chartered in Maryland. The railroad will build from Cambridge, MD to the Delaware state line, where it will meet a short branch of the Delaware Railroad. (Hayman, Digest)

“Captain” Thomas B. Sherman (1811-1885) and William Wilson Bryn (1811-1886) were commissioners of the railroad.

Captain Thomas Benjamin Sherman portrait, possibly in the 1830s, Collins Factor collection.

“Captain” Thomas B. Sherman was a farmer and fruit grower who also started the Sherman's Collegiate Institute in the 1840's, but by the turn of the century, the Institute closed. In 1860, he received permission, by a Maryland State Legislature act, to build a wharf on the north side of Indian Creek and “charge reasonable wharfage fees for the use thereof.” He was allowed to extend the wharf far enough into the creek for steamboats and other vessels to enter. The wharf was used for steam shipping between Dorchester County and Baltimore, MD in the second and third quarters of the 19th Century. He received the nickname “Captain” after building the wharf. He was also a large property owner in the town of Cambridge, MD. He is buried in East New Market, MD.

Portrait of William Wilson Byrn at the Dorchester County Historical Society, Cambridge MD, Whitney Blum collection.

William Wilson Bryn was a produce merchant and may have been a lawyer. He was born and died in Cambridge, MD and is buried at the Cambridge Cemetery.

On May 9, 1866, the D&DRR is organized at Cambridge, MD. William Wilson Bryn (1811-1886) is elected President. (Val, American Railroad Journal, Jones/Dorchester)

On June 19, 1866, the D&DRR begins its surveys. (American Railroad Journal)

On July 6, 1866, the D&DRR surveys are completed. (American Railroad Journal)

On July 18, 1866, the D&DRR's Chief Engineer, David Stewart Hessey (1835-1896), reports on the surveys. (American Railroad Journal)

David Stewart Hessey from the "Confederate Faces in Color" book by Shannon Pritchard, P. 116, Civil War Talk collection

During the Civil War, David Stewart Hessey served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 13th Virginia Infantry, Company G. He was wounded in the Seven Day’s Battles, then transferred to the 1st Confederate Engineers Corps, Company I.  He was presented with binoculars (that he holds in the above photo) by General Robert E. Lee (1807-1870, General of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia 1862-1865) in appreciation of the speed in which he built a pontoon bridge. He was originally from Seaford, DE and is buried in East New Market, MD.

On January 30, 1867, the D&DRR Company is incorporated in Delaware. (Digest, C&C)

On March 22, 1867, a Maryland act authorizes the payment of the $13,000.00 (about $209,677.42 in 2015 dollars) set aside for a subscription for the never-built Mispillion and Choptank Railroad, under the act of 1860, to be divided equally between the Maryland and Delaware Railroad and the D&DRR on the basis of their construction in both Caroline and Dorchester counties. (PL)

On May 15, 1867, the D&DRR Board adopts a route between Cambridge and Federalsburg, MD. They are undecided whether line will head east to Seaford or to Bridgeville, DE. (American Railroad Journal)

On June 24, 1867, the Delaware Railroad Board authorizes a branch from Seaford, DE to meet the D&DRR at the Maryland state line and arranging a lease of the D&DRR. The Delaware Railroad loans the D&DRR sufficient capital to complete its 27-mile line to Cambridge, MD. (MB, Hayman)

On October 23, 1867, ground is broken for the D&DRR in Cambridge, MD, by Governor Thomas Swann (1809-1883; Maryland's 33rd Governor between 1866-1869) and D&DRR President W. Wilson Bryn (1811-1886). (SmyrnaTimes, American Railroad Journal)

On April 11, 1868, the Delaware Railroad begins laying track at Seaford, DE (roughly in a northwest direction) towards the Maryland state line (American Railroad Journal)

During April 1868, the D&DRR began construction in Cambridge, MD heading towards the Delaware state line (roughly in a southeast direction). (Hayman)

Between October 12, 1868 and November 1868, the D&DRR completed to East New Market, MD for construction trains. The railroad also builds a 2-stall engine house in Cambridge, MD. (SmyrnaTimes, Hayman)

During October 1868, the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, PA builds a wood-burner 4-4-0 (C/N 1784) steam locomotive & the D&DRR names it the “W. Wilson Byrn” after the railroad's first President. It had 12” x 22” cylinders & 56” drivers. (Hayman)

Dorchester & Delaware Railroad's "W. Wilson Byrn" at an unknown date & location & by an unknown photographer, Delaware Department of Transportation collection.

During November 1868, the Dorchester Branch of Delaware Railroad opens between Seaford, DE and Maryland state line near Oakgrove, MD to link with D&DRR. The D&DRR accepts the “W. Wilson Byrn” from the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, PA. (Val - may be wrong; Hayman)

On November 8, 1869, the first service train runs over the entire line between Seaford, DE and Cambridge, MD. The total cost to build the railroad amounted to $300,000.00 (approximately $5,263,157.89 in 2015 dollars). The line was constructed with 50 lbs. rail. Unfortunately, during one of the first trips, a train struck and killed several pigs and a cow owned by a “Mr. Hurley” near Cambridge, MD. The citizens of Cambridge contributed $50.00 (approximately $877.19 in 2015 dollars) to make up for Mr. Hurley's loss. (Hayman)

Here are the approximate mileposts of the stations along the line. I've combined the line showing, in order, the stations geographically running from Seaford heading westward (roughly) to Cambridge. Note that the Delaware Railroad's mileposts run West from Seaford to the Maryland state line, while the D&DRR's mileposts run East from Cambridge to the Delaware state line (confusing - huh?). Eventually, the PRR will change all of the mileposts and they will run from Seaford to Cambridge - more on this later.

Stations along the Delaware Railroad's Cambridge Branch (beginning at Seaford) were:

Seaford, DE, Milepost 0.0.

Flowertown, DE, Milepost 4.0.

Stations along the D&DRR (beginning at Cambridge)

State Line (changed to Oak Grove, DE before February 1885), approximately Milepost 27.0.

Dessard, MD (closed before February 1885), approximately Milepost 24.0.

Federalsburg, MD, approximately Milepost 23.0.

Williamsburg, MD, approximately Milepost 19.0.

Hurlock, MD, approximately Milepost 16.0.

East New Market, MD (changed to East Newmarket, MD before February 1885), approximately Milepost 13.0.

Linkwood, MD , approximately Milepost 9.0.

Ayries, MD (changed to Airey, MD before February 1885), approximately Milepost 6.0.

Thompson, MD, approximately Milepost 4.0.

Cambridge, MD, Milepost 0.0.

Citizens of Vienna, MD petitioned the D&DRR to build a line after their rail line opened, but it would be awhile before they would see a railroad. (Hayman)

The D&DRR Board looked at extending the railroad from Seaford, DE to Georgetown, DE, but this would never happen. (Hayman)

It was reported that land adjacent to the line between Seaford, DE and Cambridge, MD had been selling for $5.00/acre (approximately $87.72/acre in 2015 dollars). After the line was completed, the price jumped to $50.00/acre (approximately $877.19/acre in 2015 dollars). (Hayman).

On November 17, 1869, a severe rain and hailstorm swept through Dorchester County and the D&DRR's Cambridge, MD depot is lifted off its foundation, causing considerable damage. (Hayman)

I'll talk about the 1870's in my next post.