Programs

Uncovering the Boundaries in Our Communities

Be a detective and uncover the history of your own town! In our communities many fences exist that are relics from the past. Some of these barriers are stone wall relics in the middle of the woods. Others reflect symbolic, social, cultural and economic dividing lines, such as how the land in a neighborhood was parceled out and subdivided over time. Some may be represented in the changing development patterns in our communities or the variety of surviving architectural styles.

Using land records, photos, old maps, newspapers, and a range of other sources, participants will discover how to answer questions about the built environment in their communities, thus connecting extant pieces of the past to the present. This unique program will be tailored to fit the interest of the sponsoring organization by broadly examining boundaries in the host community.

Mike Dixon is an adjunct professor at the University of Delaware and other area colleges where he concentrates on social history with a focus on mass media and criminal justice. He is the historian for Town of Elkton and The Historical Society of Cecil County, and he has provided start-up leadership in the development of a 62-acre living history museum. Mike received his M.A. in history from Washington College, his M.S. in Training and Organizational Development from St. Joseph’s University, and his B.A. in Behavioral Science from Wilmington College.