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TOWN OF UPPER MARLBORO WILL RE-CREATE
HISTORIC 1922 CRAIN HIGHWAY MONUMENT PHOTO
“If there are any current Town of Upper Marlboro residents who are descendants of someone
who appeared in that original 1922 photo, we would love to hear from them.”
UPPER MARLBORO, MD (Monday, Sept. 12, 2022) – Early next month, the Town of Upper Marlboro is inviting area residents to participate in the Centennial Anniversary of the unveiling of the Robert Crain Highway Monument by re-creating an iconic and historic photo that was taken in September 1922 (attached). The monument was erected a century ago to celebrate the start of the long journey to create a new regional road linking Southern Maryland to Baltimore. The original 1922 celebration included dignitaries from Anne Arundel County, Calvert County, Charles County, Prince George’s County, St. Mary’s County and Baltimore City.
The photo re-enactment will be held on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022 at 11 a.m. at the monument, located at Main Street and Old Crain Highway in the Town of Upper Marlboro. Officials from the State of Maryland, Baltimore City and the five original counties are expected to participate, along with Town of Upper Marlboro Mayor Sarah Franklin and her fellow Commissioners.
John Hoatson, Upper Marlboro’s Town Clerk and organizer of the upcoming Oct. 1 event, said every effort is being made to replicate as many of the special features of the original celebration as possible. For example, the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) Band is scheduled to perform, just as they did in 1922. This time, the Annapolis-based USNA Band will perform the Star-Spangled Banner (National Anthem), which has special meaning to the Town of Upper Marlboro.
In 1814, Francis Scott Key wrote the Star-Spangled Banner after observing the flag still flying at Fort McHenry in Baltimore while securing the release of Upper Marlborough resident Dr. William Beanes. Dr. Beanes was captured by the British for his role in imprisonment of some British soldiers who were stealing from the Town citizens as they returned from burning Washington.
“If there are any current Town of Upper Marlboro residents who are descendants of someone who appeared in that original 1922 photo, we would love to hear from them prior to our Oct. 1 celebration,” Hoatson said.
“At the 1922 event,” Hoatson added, “five ‘Matrons of Honor’ representing the five counties adjacent to Baltimore City were presented with fans made from ostrich feathers. We will re-create that moment by having fans made and distributed at our Oct. 1, 2022 centennial anniversary celebration. We hope that attendees will keep their fans as a keepsake of this historic day.”
An article from the Baltimore Sun newspaper – published on Oct. 1, 1922 – captured the major highlights of the event: https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22057174/robert-crainrobert-crain-hwy-dedication/
That Sept. 1922 celebration and parade would forever change the Town of Upper Marlboro and its future. The Merchants and Manufacturers Association of Baltimore had decided that Southern Maryland was an important location for bringing a variety of agricultural produce and goods into and out of Baltimore. The association and political figures in Southern Maryland created a route which would connect Baltimore to Southern Maryland counties.
The original program from 1922 ceremony tells of the events leading up to that celebration. A train brought members of the association, the Mayor of Baltimore, and hundreds of Baltimoreans onto Upper Marlboro’s Main Street for the celebration. Leading figures in the day’s ceremony were Albert C. Ritchie, then-governor of MD; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Crain, for whom Crain Highway was named; John N. Mackall, of the Maryland State Roads Commission; and the Honorable W. F. Broening, then Mayor of Baltimore.
As part of that regional observance, the five young women who represented each of the five counties also participated in a flag ceremony along with the City of Baltimore. Governor Ritchie assured everyone that the flags would be preserved in City Hall as a constant reminder of the meaning of the ceremony. The celebration was a tribute to the retail merchants from Baltimore and Southern Maryland and the future of increasing trade to help all parties’ businesses grow.
Robert Crain Highway was originally a narrow, twisted dirt path passable only by horse-drawn vehicles. This vital link between the two cities was improved with a total of $1.25 million from the Maryland legislature (which would be $21-$22 million in today's dollars) to complete a better road. On Oct. 22, 1927, Robert Crain Highway opened for the first time, thus greatly improving trade between Baltimore and the southern Maryland counties.
“We are excited and proud to bring people together to re-create the photo that was taken 100 years ago,” said Hoatson. “We hope everyone who attends will feel a tremendous sense of pride in the role that Upper Marlboro played as a catalyst for transportation and trade in the Southern Maryland region of our state.”
For more information, visit the town’s website (www.uppermarlboromd.gov) or call the town offices at 301-627-6905.
The Town is very excited that Trinity Episcopal Church (14515 Church Street, Upper Marlboro) is going to be providing handicapped parking and setting up a welcome center for this grand event!!!
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