History

The selections here offer our residents a view of past events in our community.

Dredging of the C & D Canal

These are links to documents concerning the dredging of the C & D Canal which our community opposed. Members of our community were key in getting the proposed deepening stopped by presenting evidence that the shipping traffic was declining and it was not cost effective to proceed.

Department of the Army
Shoal Documents — this is a large file and will take a while to load. Some maps were removed because they did not display correctly.

Highlights, 2011–1961

A chronological glimpse of our community's history, drawn from decades of meeting minutes and records.

2011: Website moved to GoDaddy hosting and WordPress, managed by Jerry Truitt, saving money and improving usability.
2010: Dues raised to $60/year for mosquito spraying; holiday party ended due to low turnout; John & Renie Poole honored before moving to Colorado; sheriff noted low crime among 109 houses.
2009: Dues increased to $30/year for increased spraying.
2008: Heavy seaweed; emergency procedure and Vial of Life info distributed.
2007: APM spraying at $180/spray; AED purchase proposal rejected; resident info added to website; traffic safety concerns at Rt 213 & Elk Forest Rd.
2006: The community safety deposit box was found empty.
2005: CERT team offered reflective markers, Vial of Life, fire extinguisher training, and emergency plans. Broadband arrived; John Poole revamped the website; Stapleford proposed rebuilding an Elk River channel.
2004: Concerns over river/canal toxicity; two subdivisions proposed; frequent mail misdelivery.
2003: Increased traffic at Welch's Point; aerial gypsy moth spraying; residents protested a proposed B&B on South Shore that turned out to be a scheme for bank money.
2002: Gypsy moth tree loss; water bacteria concerns; county sprayed Permethrin (28-year practice); Gail proposed a path/channel.
2001: Corps of Engineers paused canal deepening for 3 years; proposed 50'×5' channel; concerns about activity in Welch's Point and loose dogs.
2000: Loose dogs; "Friends of Welch Point" pass available; Noennich battled the Corps over dredging; Corps admitted spoils seepage; Elkton bought Elk Landing for a living museum.
1999: Noennich fought the Corps over dredging data; wells went dry; fights at rental of 1612 Elk Forest Road; loose dogs.
1998: 2-acre fire at Welch's Point; irregular spraying; gypsy moth increase expected; algae scum from drought; canal got rip rap.
1997: Ray Ruhmann had an area history file; mailbox vandalism; Noennich met Congressman Gilchrist and the Corps on dredging.
1996: No gypsy moth spraying needed; Elk Forest Road paved via community effort; Roberts built a resident database; spraying cost $68/spray; waterways committee formed; 92 homes.
1995: Residents chose mosquito or gypsy moth spraying and paid accordingly.
1994: 82 properties; dues $5 plus spraying fees; McCool won zoning appeal for a gun shop; taxes quadrupled; two fires at Welch's Point; sign refurbished; Smith updated NOAA depth charts.
1993: Road curve fix achieved; 11 crimes (mostly vandalism/burglary); 41 attended second holiday party; Night Out Against Crime "Checkpoint Charlie"; ~50 fulltime homes; McCool firearms zoning fight.
1992: Two Lyme cases; free state gypsy moth spraying; canal range light added; 40 attended first Christmas party; crab poaching; spraying fees raised; 37 at annual picnic; oil spill at Port Hermann Beach; joined NET program.
1991: Twiford attended Corps canal-widening meeting; low gypsy moth eggs; trash dumping; 3 Lyme cases.
1990: DNR "Give a Day for the Bay" cleanup at Welch Point; safety deposit box opened; 31 EFCA members; canal deepening study.
1989: Mosquito spraying cost $12/hr, set to double.
1988: Burglary notices, Operation Identification recommended; 85 homes; increased oil slicks; better Welch Point enforcement; no cable; 36 at annual meeting; tree-removal/lot-size law enacted with pre-Dec 1985 lots grandfathered.
1987: Sought deed for 5' South Shore stretch; motorcycle gang left; 40 at annual meeting.
1986: 132 signed petition to close Welch Point; gate installed; motorcycle gang loitering; 6' of land eroded along canal; 26 at picnic; Welch Point closed for illegitimate use.
1985: 39 at picnic; new sign erected for $480; spraying skipped due to weather; police checked Welch Point; break-ins/vandalism; boaters warned about docks.
1984: 29 at picnic; gypsy moth spraying done; DNR took over Welch Point enforcement; proposed spraying all properties and mailing bills; got EIN.
1983: Whig article on trash/vandalism led MD to close Welch Point; mailbox vandalism; 40 members/90 owners; phone exchange changing to Elkton; directory available.
1982: EFCA paid for private gypsy moth spraying; 23 at annual meeting; high spraying costs; duck-blind hunting safety concerns; beauty salon variance on S. Shore; Fair Hill Dam study vetoed by governor.
1981: Protested a home beauty parlor approval; gypsy moths defoliated over 7,500 acres; 26 at annual meeting.
1980: First CD purchased; supported Fair Hill Flood Control; Elk River deemed no longer navigable due to mud; special meeting on marijuana at Dr. Krishna's property; 47 members.
1979: No progress on Lockwood road issue; purchased engraving machine for Operation Identification; Welch Point boat ramp installed; 24 at annual meeting.
1978: Lockwood road/park ownership questioned; modular home and speeding concerns; McKelvey construction stalled; limited spraying because sprayers were teachers.
1977: Wanted Welch Point blockade; proposed objecting to 50' canal dredging; 48 members.
1976: No park news; asked Corps for rip-rap; separated mosquito and civic funds.
1975: Opposed Arundel Corp Elk River dredging/pier plan; new spraying method (2× weekly); 23 at meeting; complaints about loud parties at Quigleys' lot 38.
1974: Senator Miller announced Welch Point Park stopped; requested closure for vandalism; atomic plant proposed at Summit Bridge; state considered a red light at Rt 213 & Locust Point.
1973: Argued silty Welch Point unsuitable for swimming; declined to fund but would coordinate spraying ($35); 44 members (10 year-round); 213 bridge repair reduced to one lane.
1972: MD proposed a Welch Point recreation park; sold No Trespassing signs; wanted boater slow-down signs; apartment permit concern; ended police-patrol pilot; added canal-side spraying; proposed Shaeffers farm nuclear plant; no picnic; signs redone for $75; declined school board nominee.
1971: Trespasser/hunter/camper concerns; took over spraying admin; netted $1,641 from condemned 5' strip; requested Welch Point wildlife preserve; Melnick's erosion issue unresolved; 18 members.
1970: Hired lawyer to fight federal condemnation of 5' strip; recreation park rumors; new constitution/bylaws; trespassers posing as workers; president called to Vietnam; 5 spraying groups formed; membership cards first issued; lost deed (Poole found it 30 years later); 44 members.
1969: Paid for county spraying; collected legal fees for 5' strip; legislators invited to inspect Welch Point and 62 acres; 23 at annual meeting.
1968: Board conflict (Quigley vs. others); proposed state park at Welch's Point (Cecil Whig, May 15, 1968); federal condemnation of 5' strip plus 62 acres at below-market price; 57 members.
1967: Septic violations; discussed Shaeffer's farm; considered deputizing residents; sent minutes to residents; considered bus shelter; BF Goodrich chemical plant plan (990 acres rezoned to heavy industrial); funded anti-pollution league.
1966: 20 at meeting; Quigleys deeded 5' strip to EFCA for leverage protecting Welch Point; hired lawyer against condemnation.
1965: Forest ranger spoke on fire rules; Brown had letter confirming no state park or dumping; Atlantic Gulf & Pacific did the dumping; Lockwood residents joined EFCA; wanted info on S. Shore land; Corps denied dumping responsibility; canal erosion issue; first roadside cleanup.
1964: Residents opposed a Welch Point public park; dredging spoils damaged Elk River.
1963: Paid for deer-season patrolling and anti-hunting ads; second association season; fiscal year-end moved to August 31.
1962: Initial meeting of 30 agreed to form the Civic Association; Welch Point park articles appearing; No Hunting signs printed for members.
1961: Residents fought a proposed tap room adjacent to Elk Forest.