Crain Highway Centennial
Saturday, October 1st, 2022 at 11am
What are you doing?
The Town of Upper Marlboro Historical Committee is organizing a recreation of the picture taken in 1922 at the dedication of the Crain Highway Monument (above).
Why is Crain Highway so important?
It might not seem important now, with our interstate system, but Crain Highway (now part of US 301) allowed for farmers to drive their produce from Upper Marlboro to Baltimore easily, rather than be reliant on shipping it by train.
For more information, see the Town of Upper Marlboro's website that is collecting news coverage of this event.
Upper Marlboro used to have a train?
We still do, as there’s one that takes coal to the power plant, but there used to be more rail lines. There was even a train station next to where the Town Hall and new playground are, that ran from DC to Chesapeake Beach. That rail line right-of-way is designated in the state’s Master Plan of Transportation to become a hiking/biking trail.
What are you going to do with this picture?
We are going to have it archivally printed, and placed in a time capsule at the new Town of Upper Marlboro playground.
So I just need to show up?
Yes, but you might want to plan to get there a little early, as we have no idea how bad traffic will be.
People should park nearby, then walk over to Church Street. We will only be shutting down traffic at the monument for a short time, and we need to be able to quickly block traffic, get everyone in, get the picture, then move back to Church street and re-open the monument to traffic.
If you’d like to RSVP for your group, let us know on our Facebook page, or email [email protected] . We may put up a web form to collect group and participant names, so we can add that to the time capsule.
Where should I park?
That’s actually a little tricky. Because the Equestrian Center actually has an equestrian event that weekend (the Capital Challenge), we can’t use their parking lot. Also, State Highway is expected to start construction on the pedestrian walkway on Water Street, so there won't be a safe way to walk from there.
Trinity Episcopal Church has offered to handle handicapped parking in their lot. Because Church Street will be closed to allow us to gather before the photo, you will need to enter from the 7-11 / Bank of America end of the street, and non-handicapped folks will be redirected down Service Lane to exit.
Union United Methodist Church has offered to allow others to park there (a short walk along Old Marlboro Pike, but without sidewalks the whole way). There’s also a county owned lot on Water Street across from the 7-11.
If you’re planning on coming with other friends, or with a school or church group or similar, we recommend meeting up somewhere else and carpooling to the event. Or walking over if you’re a member of a church within walking distance.
And if you know someone who lives in town, ask them if you can park at their place.
How long will this take?
We’re still finalizing the schedule. The 1922 event had a parade, speeches and we have already invited politicians before we found out that we won’t be allowed to shut down Main Street (a state highway).
The original picture had a grandstand and cars in it, but we need to figure out if we can deploy a mobile stage and pick it back up quickly enough to keep all of the people on charge of the road happy.
We hope to keep the (limited) road closures to under two hours. We will have members of the Naval Academy Band playing as we prepare the roads and move people into position, then anticipate 10-15 minutes for the picture, and then a few comments from the invited dignitaries (about an hour?) before we clean up and re-open the roads.
Can I help out in other ways?
Yes! Email [email protected] . Or show up early (10am or so), and we'll put you to work.
We will need people to help with setting things up (signs, information booths, etc), vehicles to block traffic, people to help clean up afterwards, people to assist any participants with mobility issues, help direct people, etc. (Directing traffic will be done by people who are specifically trained in this, you would just be helping to corral pedestrians)
And of course getting the word out to other people. If you know someone from Upper Marlboro, or who might just like to be part of this, let them know!
Can I get service hours for this?
We hope so. We’re looking into what paperwork is required to give students credit for helping us.
Do you know that a hurricane is coming?
yes, but it’s not supp
Can I get a copy of the picture?
We will be posting a digital copy on our website and Facebook page after the event. If enough people are interested in buying printed copies (we will collect names at the event), we may have a limited run produced, either at poster or higher quality.
Where can I get more information?
Our Town Clerk is collecting links to publicity and such on the Town of Upper Marlboro's website: https://www.uppermarlboromd.gov/news_detail_T10_R338.php
Saturday, October 1st, 2022 at 11am
What are you doing?
The Town of Upper Marlboro Historical Committee is organizing a recreation of the picture taken in 1922 at the dedication of the Crain Highway Monument (above).
Why is Crain Highway so important?
It might not seem important now, with our interstate system, but Crain Highway (now part of US 301) allowed for farmers to drive their produce from Upper Marlboro to Baltimore easily, rather than be reliant on shipping it by train.
For more information, see the Town of Upper Marlboro's website that is collecting news coverage of this event.
Upper Marlboro used to have a train?
We still do, as there’s one that takes coal to the power plant, but there used to be more rail lines. There was even a train station next to where the Town Hall and new playground are, that ran from DC to Chesapeake Beach. That rail line right-of-way is designated in the state’s Master Plan of Transportation to become a hiking/biking trail.
What are you going to do with this picture?
We are going to have it archivally printed, and placed in a time capsule at the new Town of Upper Marlboro playground.
So I just need to show up?
Yes, but you might want to plan to get there a little early, as we have no idea how bad traffic will be.
People should park nearby, then walk over to Church Street. We will only be shutting down traffic at the monument for a short time, and we need to be able to quickly block traffic, get everyone in, get the picture, then move back to Church street and re-open the monument to traffic.
If you’d like to RSVP for your group, let us know on our Facebook page, or email [email protected] . We may put up a web form to collect group and participant names, so we can add that to the time capsule.
Where should I park?
That’s actually a little tricky. Because the Equestrian Center actually has an equestrian event that weekend (the Capital Challenge), we can’t use their parking lot. Also, State Highway is expected to start construction on the pedestrian walkway on Water Street, so there won't be a safe way to walk from there.
Trinity Episcopal Church has offered to handle handicapped parking in their lot. Because Church Street will be closed to allow us to gather before the photo, you will need to enter from the 7-11 / Bank of America end of the street, and non-handicapped folks will be redirected down Service Lane to exit.
Union United Methodist Church has offered to allow others to park there (a short walk along Old Marlboro Pike, but without sidewalks the whole way). There’s also a county owned lot on Water Street across from the 7-11.
If you’re planning on coming with other friends, or with a school or church group or similar, we recommend meeting up somewhere else and carpooling to the event. Or walking over if you’re a member of a church within walking distance.
And if you know someone who lives in town, ask them if you can park at their place.
How long will this take?
We’re still finalizing the schedule. The 1922 event had a parade, speeches and we have already invited politicians before we found out that we won’t be allowed to shut down Main Street (a state highway).
The original picture had a grandstand and cars in it, but we need to figure out if we can deploy a mobile stage and pick it back up quickly enough to keep all of the people on charge of the road happy.
We hope to keep the (limited) road closures to under two hours. We will have members of the Naval Academy Band playing as we prepare the roads and move people into position, then anticipate 10-15 minutes for the picture, and then a few comments from the invited dignitaries (about an hour?) before we clean up and re-open the roads.
Can I help out in other ways?
Yes! Email [email protected] . Or show up early (10am or so), and we'll put you to work.
We will need people to help with setting things up (signs, information booths, etc), vehicles to block traffic, people to help clean up afterwards, people to assist any participants with mobility issues, help direct people, etc. (Directing traffic will be done by people who are specifically trained in this, you would just be helping to corral pedestrians)
And of course getting the word out to other people. If you know someone from Upper Marlboro, or who might just like to be part of this, let them know!
Can I get service hours for this?
We hope so. We’re looking into what paperwork is required to give students credit for helping us.
Do you know that a hurricane is coming?
yes, but it’s not supp
Can I get a copy of the picture?
We will be posting a digital copy on our website and Facebook page after the event. If enough people are interested in buying printed copies (we will collect names at the event), we may have a limited run produced, either at poster or higher quality.
Where can I get more information?
Our Town Clerk is collecting links to publicity and such on the Town of Upper Marlboro's website: https://www.uppermarlboromd.gov/news_detail_T10_R338.php
