Spring 2005...

This second edition of CECIL SOIL MAGAZINE was even better than the first! Our Bravos to Ed and Carol, Apryl, all of the other writers, advertisers, and the readers (who will be increasing in number with each publication).

Each of the columns and stories is so interesting and relevant. Especially we liked the ones by Lois Inglisa, historian Mike Dixon, and Mike Collins (Walt Mason story), and the recognition of our troops in Iraq.

“In my day,” author Edgar Guest wrote several folksy poetry books (at a time when poetry rhymed!). One of his most popular was “Just Folks the Friendly Way.” Those are the same folks writing and reading CECIL SOIL MAGAZINE!

Doris Twitchell
Rising Sun, Maryland

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Dear Ed,
This is George Green; we met at Herb’s Barbershop while being shorn of some winter growth off the top of our heads. Your CSM publication is a welcome addition to the "Cecil Scene". It is very enjoyable to read about people and places where we live and work everyday. I particularly enjoy stories about our ancestors and how they lived and grew up standing and tracking across the same ground we travel today. I hope you will continue to bless us with your accounts of life in the "County" both now and from days of olde about "The Gentle People" of Cecil County.

Warm Regards,
George Green
Nottingham, PA

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Mr. Belote,
I have been meaning to send an email to compliment you and your staff for the fine article in the Winter 2005 issue entitled “Woodbine Farm & Walton Mason.”

This article brought back a lot of fine memories of my mother and father growing up on Woodbine Farm. The lessons taught to me in growing up on the farm have carried on in my life as my wife, Anne and I have raised our children, Kathleen, David and Michael on the principles of hard work and treating people fairly.

I have always felt that you should never forget where you were raised and the family and friends that have helped you through life. Through this article, Cecil Soil has brought these memories back for me and for that I am forever grateful.

Thank you again for your article!

Sincerely,
Dave Mason and family
Taylorsville, MD

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(note at right)

Emily Brooke Belote, age 9
Port Deposit, MD

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Dear Ed and Carol,
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Anna Stoops. First, let me start by saying that I have read each issue of Cecil Soil from cover-to-cover. The nostalgia and community feeling behind the magazine are exactly what our county (and country...OK - the world) needs.

My husband and I recently had a son. We have always felt strongly about ethics and moral values. It is a magazine like this that I would be proud to let my son read when he is old enough. We are so very tired of the constant barrage of 'loud' advertisements and salesmanship that is sleazy and cheap - for lack of better words.

It is great to know that this magazine stands for the community and preservation of values and morals and serves as a voice of our community. Thank you for taking this step to provide our community with an outlet such as this!

Best regards,
Anna Stoops
Elkton, MD

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Ed,
Sorry this is so late getting to you – four kids and I lose track of time. I wanted to tell you how thoughtful and caring the article on our soldiers was…beautifully done and thank you! Everyone I had shown it to and or told me they read it said that it is a nice article and a great idea to honor our local military men and women. Thanks again.

Elizabeth Gambill
Rising Sun, MD

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Hi Ed and Carol,
Recently I had dinner at the “Bay Gourmet” and happened to notice a new free magazine on the rack called Cecil Soil Magazine. I brought it home and dropped it on the table. Next morning, while having my tea, I picked it up and started browsing through it. Well, I soon returned to the first page and to my amazement, I enjoyed every article and advertisement.
I found that “The Elkton Diner” serves 'All You Can Eat Chicken and Dumplings' on Wednesdays and discovered a new antique shop (new to me) on Appleton Road. (See you soon, Susan). But what really made my morning was the last page dedicated to UNION HOSPITAL, where my husband and I volunteer. I immediately called and complimented the Belotes and said “I'm hooked and looking forward to your next issue”.

Fran Hammond
Rising Sun, Maryland

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The following two letters were forwarded to us from Helen S. Ward of North East, MD. Helen received these letters from her friend, Raymond Parrett, from Clearwater, Florida. She also shared the image of Biddle's Yacht in the Cecil Scrapbook on page 46. – ETB

Dear Helen,
Thanks very much for the Cecil Soil Magazine copies. I enjoyed every bit of it!

I particularly enjoyed the article on the LaMonicas. What wonderful people. In today's society we don't hear as much as we should about the good people that surround us. Unfortunately, we have too much about the other kind.

The article about the big explosion at Triumph Explosives brought back a flood of memories. I was fifteen years old at the time and was working in Paxton's Drug Store. Mr. Paxton was not there and it had been a slow day with very few customers. Suddenly a mob of people rushed into the store and started ripping things off the shelves – ice bags, hot water bottles, ointments, etc. They ran out with some of them tossing money on the floor as they left.

No one took time to tell me what was going on. I was petrified – very scared that Mr. Paxton might hold me responsible for the loss of merchandise. Since I was earning only about thirty cents an hour this would have indeed been catastrophic. It must have been almost an hour before I heard what had happened.

Later in the day my father came home very sick. At the time of the explosion he had been in the area with a flat-bed truck and was enlisted to carry bodies of badly burned people on the truck to the hospital. He was really sick from the horrible sight and the odor of burning flesh!

The history of the great number of newspapers and magazines in the county was also very interesting. It's such a shame we have no competition in local newspapers any more. Most communities, like Cecil County, have only one paper and a large part of what it prints is a repeat of national items from Associated Press, United Press, etc. I liked it when Mr. Ewing published the Whig and Mr. Leffler the Democrat!

Thanks again, Have a great 2005.

Sincerely,
Bud (Raymond Parrett)
Clearwater, Florida

Dear Helen,
Thanks again for your thoughtfulness in sending the Cecil Soil Magazine copies. In a few weeks I will be visiting Bill and Sunda in Tallahassee, so I will take copies to them, I'm sure they will enjoy it as much as I do.

When looking at the Winter 2005 copy I realized I was paying as much attention to the ads as I was the articles. Reading them makes me very aware of the huge changes in Cecil County in the past few years. The number of good restaurants is just unbelievable, as well as all the other stores and service agencies. I guess the days of having to go to Wilmington to do your shopping are over!

Lorraine mentioned you might want to send my last note to you to the publisher of the magazine. By all means go ahead.

I'm hoping to see all of you in June when I come up for the Elkton High Alumni Banquet - my 60th!! Thanks again.

Sincerely,
Bud (Raymond Parrett)
Clearwater, Florida