Havre de Grace

Situated at the head of the Chesapeake Bay at the confluence of the Susquehanna River is the quaint, historic town of Havre de Grace (Harbor of Mercy).  The city was founded in 1782 and incorporated in 1785.  It was nearly named the Capital of the United States in 1789.  When the House of Representatives voted on a permanent location for the capital there was a tie between Havre de Grace and Washington, the deciding vote was cast by the Speaker of the House.  We began our tour at the Concord Point Coffee Company where the proprietor gave Harry a brief history of the town and Leslie picked up a walking tour map.  We proceeded to the old lock on the Susquehanna River, terminus of the Susquehanna and Tidewater Canal. 

Historic Canal With Swing Bridge

Lock Keepers House

The canal was built because the Susquehanna River is very shallow and too rocky to allow for the transportation of goods.  Operating from 1840 to 1897, the canal was 45 miles long and connected the Pennsylvania Canal at Columbia with the Conestoga Canal at Safe Harbor.  This allowed goods to be shipped from Central Pennsylvania to Baltimore and Philadelphia.  Shallow draft barges were pulled through the locks by mules.  We walked along the “Lafayette Trail” admiring the historic homes along the way.  Soon we reached the Concord Point Lighthouse built in 1827 which claims to be the longest continuously operating lighthouse in the country. 

Concord Point Lighthouse

 

Memorial Park at Concord Point

A wooden promenade connects the Lighthouse and its surrounding park with Millard D. Tydings Memorial Park and City Yacht Basin where Hali and “Somewhere” awaited our return.  

Hali Patiently Waiting

  We then took Hali for a long walk in the park which was being enjoyed by many of the local residents celebrating Memorial Day with family and friends. 

Memorial Day Remembrance at Millard D Tydings Park