Lapidum, Maryland

The former town of Lapidum in Maryland, located at the head of navigation of the Susquehanna River on the south bank across from Port Deposit, traces its history to the granting of land patents for the tracts “Eightrapp” (1665), “Faton” (1679) and “Land of Promise” (1684). As settlers transformed the surrounding land from forest to farmland the area grew in importance as a commercial center. Fields of corn and tobacco were grown on land near the river, and an important fishing industry also developed, based on the runs of shad and herring. [http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/susquehannahistory.html Susquehanna State Park History ] ] [There were "Rock Run Mills" on both sides of the river just above the ferry landing. ]

A ferry was established between this point and Port Deposit in the 1720s and operated until the completion of the bridge from Port Deposit to the Rock Run Mill just upstream of Lapidum in 1818. In 1729 Thomas Cresap established a regular ferry service near Smith's Falls (in the upper Port Deposit area) crossing the Susquehanna to Lapidum; this was referred to as Smith’s Ferry or Upper Ferry [There was a lower ferry at the mouth of the Susquehanna River just off the Chesapeake Bay.] . In 1731 a road from Susquehanna Upper Ferry toward Philadelphia, as far as the jurisdiction extends, was authorized. In the same year, in the jurisdiction south of the river, a petition was submitted for a road from the mill at "Rock Run" just above Lapidum to Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania. This upper ferry was later purchased by Colonel John Creswell and came to be known as "Creswell's Ferry".* [http://www.mdhc.org/resources/lshgreport.pdf A History of Maryland’s Lower Susquehanna Region] ] cite book|author= Johnston, George |title= History Of Cecil County, Md, And The Early Settlements Around The Head Of Chesapeake Bay And On The Delaware River |publisher=Regional Publishing, Baltimore |year=1881 (reprint 1972) |id=ISBN ]

A three story Victorian building, the Susquehanna Hotel, was built here by Conrad Baker in 1868. It was constructed of stone, brick and framed with lumber, and included several large porches. Other building included a church, a mill, a Masonic hall, a school, and numerous houses, stores and warehouses as well as wharves to serve the trade from goods being brought down the Susquehanna River or by road from the adjacent countryside to be loaded onto ships.

Initially Lapidum profited from the financial success of the ferry, the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal, and from its location as one of the highest deepwater landings for Chesapeake Bay shipping. By 1900, however, these sources of commerce were lost to railroad competition. Ice accumulations (referred to locally as ice gorges) eventually destroyed the warehouses and wharves. The hotel continued as a fishing lodge and men’s club until the 1960s, when it was torn down.

The land is currently part of Susquehanna State Park in Maryland.

External links

* [http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/susquehanna.html Official website of Maryland Susquehanna State Park]
* [http://www.unep-wcmc.org/wdpa/sitedetails.cfm?siteid=21871 Susquehanna State Park in World Database on Protected Areas] Susquehanna State Park]

References and notes