Exhibit of Seldom Seen Cecil County Photos Opens -- Nov. 20

“Cecil Through the Lens: 150 Years of Photographing Cecil County,” the Historical Society’s latest exhibit opens Monday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m. Since the local pioneer of the trade, C. P. Hogshead, an itinerant daguerreotypist, carted his bulky camera, equipment, and chemicals to Elkton in 1842 to set up a portrait salon, many camera artist followed. Of course, photography has come a long way since the distributors of the “magic art” drummed up trade, and pictures have permanently captured innumerable moments in time since Mr. Hoggshead required customers to sit for minutes for an exposure before the camera’s eye.

Showing some of the gems of its vast collection, the Society invites you to the opening when it displays dozens of its best images. You will peak at exciting photos of landscapes, street scenes, buildings, railroads, people, disasters, historic-moments, and much more.

Trying to create a timeline of photographic history, running from the Daguerreotype to the digital age, the Society interprets the major periods and includes works from photographers from through the area. Elkton’s W. B. Arminger snapped pictures of the remodeled courthouse in 1877, furnishing images “of the temple of justice” to anyone desiring one. Cameramen Pyle & Barry captured images of Port Deposit’s citizens on film in the 19^th century. When the 20^th century rolled around, Ed Herberner, who once lived in Appleton, captured hundreds of shots all across the county as the postcard craze swept Maryland. In the last decades of the 20^th century, Cecil’s well known and liked photo-journalist, Jim Cheeseman, captured the county 24/7 and his work provides a priceless historical record of those receding years.

The opening reception, being done in conjunction with the Cecil County Arts Council and professional photographer Steve Gottlieb, includes a gallery talk and booking signing by Gottlieb. He has just published a new title, “Cecil County: A Personal Portrait.”

Whatever your interest in local history, the chance to view the best of the collection is a great way to visually understand the vast changes the county has undergone since the Cecil Whig wrote in 1842 that the photo was far superior to anything produced by the pencil for the “whole expression was copied from nature with the utmost precision.” The Society is located at 135 E. Main Street in Elkton and this free exhibit is open to the public until May 27, 2007.

Visit the Society’s website at www.cchistory.org for additional information.