History and Background

In 1819 the Rev. Roger Smith purchased a half acre from Daniel Glacken for a church and a burial ground. The church was built and the first religious service was held in 1819. The congregation consisted mostly of Irish immigrants working in the lumbering operation bordering the Susquehanna River and the canals on both sides of the river. They built a new church. They called it St. Patrick’s Chapel.

St. Patrick’s Chapel is a testimonial to the toil and faith of the early nineteenth century residents of Cecil County. Old Conowingo was a busy thoroughfare; a major crossing of the Susquehanna River. Here Lafayette and Compte de Rochambeau, with their troops, crossed the Susquehanna in 1781 on their way to Yorktown. Here, lumber operations were established and canals created to foster the growing economic life of the county and here people built their church telling us that their faith was as important as their commerce. For these reasons alone, the chapel is an important landmark deserving preservation.

With the advent of the railroad, canal commerce diminished and the population shifted away from Pilottown. The chapel was abandoned several times during its’ 188 year history. In spite of sporadic “restoration” attempts, the chapel frequently experienced neglect. A passerby in the 1920s remarked that the grounds were overgrown with brush, the front door swinging on its hinges, and the interior invaded by animals. Most old wood framed buildings would not have withstood such an assault. However, this building refused to collapse; refused to die. It still stands, a witness to our past, and a potential refuge to future generations. This is a humble, courageous building, but it needs our help! It stands there saying “I’m part of your history, I won’t let you forget me.”

Other important dates:

1832 – First wedding, between John Poole and Mary Ann

Mackey

1859 – Chapel administered from St. Patrick’s, Havre de Grace

1864 – Chapel administered from St. Teresa, Port Deposit.

1881 – First “restoration” by Rev. Joseph Barry

1892 – Chapel under jurisdiction of Wilmington Diocese

- Fr. Peter And, St. Teresa, continues “restoration”

1908 – 1925 – Chapel abandoned.

1934 – Last public Mass for many years.

1960 – Fr. William Couming, Good Shepherd, undertakes

restoration.

1971 – Fr. Thomas Peterman renovates chapel.

1972 – Bishop Mardaga celebrates first Mass since 1934.

1978 – St. Patrick’s registered as a site in the Maryland Historical

Trust

1990 – Fr. Raymond Forrester continues restoration work with small grant from the Cecil County Historical Society

2005 –-2006 - St. Patrick’s Chapel Historical Society

incorporated in the State of Maryland. and acquires

Federal tax free status under Section 501 (c) (3) of the

Internal Revenue Code.

Back to Home Page