At the head of the Bay, just up the North East River, you will find a somewhat hidden, highly historic, sleepy little village called Charlestown. Founded in 1742, Charlestown is the oldest town in Cecil County and the third oldest town in all of Maryland. Like so many other Chesapeake Bay towns and rivers-edge communities, Charlestown began as a small port for ships sailing to the head of the Bay. Named for Charles Calvert, 5th Lord Baron of Baltimore, Charlestown was established by an Act of the Maryland Assembly with the main purpose being to promote trade and to expand and explore the Northern most parts of what is now Cecil County.
Over time, Charlestown developed into one of Maryland’s many communities known for its watermen and their fishing boats. Just as Betterton Beach, in neighboring Kent County was hugely popular during the turn of the century and early parts of the 1900’s, the little beaches of Charlestown, which include Holloway and Murphy were gaining popularity by the 1930’s. Cecil County was becoming known for it’s small, beautiful, and easily accessible beaches. With the increasing access to automobiles, these beaches were becoming highly sought after by vacationers from neighboring Delaware, New Jersey, and especially Pennsylvania. Every summer, vacationers would come in droves and pack the parking lots and side streets so that they could sunbathe on these beaches. The tiny beach communities of Charlestown, Holloway, and Murphy at one time boasted a boardwalk, concession stands, and beach cottages. The Cecil Democrat reported that it was as if Cecil County had its own miniature version of Coney Island. Whether it was day-trippers or vacationers looking for a longer getaway, the beaches were packed every day of the summer months.
Over time, the popularity of these beaches, as well as other beaches along the Chesapeake and its many tributaries have faded out of fashion. Although times have changed, the once booming beach resorts of Charlestown, Holloway, and Murphy are still popular among the locals and some vacationers that have continued the tradition of coming every summer. All of the amenities and entertainment that once lined the beach are all gone and the beach is almost unrecognizable compared to old photos of a once thriving resort. For some though, the small, peaceful little beaches of Cecil County are still preferred to the overcrowded beaches of Ocean City.