By Len Chapel
Special to The Dagger
In early 1958, I was living in Bel Air and completing the sixth-grade, and with but a few months remaining, we moved to the upper end of Harford County where I ended up finishing the school year at Jarrettsville Elementary.
While living in Bel Air, I had been involved in Scouting, both Cub Scouts (Pack 313) and Boy Scouts (Troop 777), albeit the latter was for only a short time due to my having just reached the legal age of membership. Upon moving to Harford Creamery Road, I switched Scouting Troops from the troop sponsored by Bel Air Methodist to the troop sponsored by Bethel Presbyterian located in Madonna. For whatever reason, I felt out-of-place with this Troop, and after having spent many of my summers on my grandparent’s farm, the most logical group for me to join was the 4-H.
The local club in the area in which I lived was the Black Horse 4-H Club, and after attending a meeting or two, I joined their ranks. I can now look back on it as one of the ‘better’ things I did during my adolescent years.
The group’s leader was Ben Markline, and he had a farm on Madonna Road just north of the (then existing) Fire Tower. We met at his house, but we also met at the homes of the various other Club Members. Meetings consisted of staying up to date with our individual projects and taking care of Club business…which was always followed by a snack and a drink. As a rule, one quickly learns that (most) farm women are excellent cooks and bakers, etc., also.
Having received my first calf when I was 6-years-old, it seemed quite natural for me to chose cattle as my main project. It is to be noted that I also raised rabbits…New Zealand (white) and Dutch (multi-colored)…as a secondary project. While my grandparents’ cattle herd consisted mostly of Holsteins and Guernseys, I, however, chose to raise and ‘show’ the Ayrshire breed. With the assistance of an acquaintance at church, I ended up going to the Masonic Homes Farm in Elizabethtown, PA, and purchasing a couple Purebred heifer calves. My grandfather ended up buying a few others—two heifers and one bull. The cost was $60.00 each, and at that time it was a lot of money to pay for calves about four-weeks old.
Mr. Bobby Busbice was a Harford County Extension Agent, and one of his duties was to oversee the 4-H members’ projects. He came to the farm on a regular basis to check on the animals and to see that my record books were being properly maintained. He was a great man, but sadly, he passed away in 2005. Two others who were also instrumental to the operation of the 4-H Organization within the county were Julia Lockhart and Reginald “Reg” Traband.
In 1959, Black Horse 4-H Club outright nailed it at the County Fair at the Harford Mall…well, in 1959 it was the Bel Air Race Track and not a collage of stores, condos and enough macadam in the parking lots to pave a road from Bel Air to Baltimore. Anyway, July of each year, the County Fair was held, and the show rings were a hot-bed of activity.
We kept our livestock in the horse stables that were located well behind what is the current-day Mall, and when an animal’s ‘Class’ was called, we led them to the show ring where they were shown and judged. In ’59, I believe Steve Jones had a Guernsey that took Grand Champion, Steve Piper had a Brown Swiss that took Grand Champion, one of the Smith boys (we had a few of them) had a Holstein that took Grand Champion and I had an Ayrshire that took Grand Champion. Collectively, we were all members of the Black Horse 4-H Club. It should be noted that that only left the Jersey breed (in the milk cow divisions) to be won.
Not to be ignored, the lady’s Black Horse 4-H club won more than their share of the ribbons that year. And before you ask..yes, the sexes were in different groups.
Each summer, sometime in mid to late July, Rocks 4-H Camp was one of the highlights of the year. 4-H members would converge on the campground for a five-night stay. We campers were divided into four groups, each group named after an Indian Tribe, and the tribes (Mohawks, Deer Creeks, Susquehannas (Susquees), Cherokees) would compete in various events all week, such as softball, swimming or “challenges” offered up at the nightly campfire where the “O-Chief” reigned supreme. Note: There were/are two weeks of camping — one for the older members and one for the younger members.
I have many, many memories of the camp, one of which was taking a black snake, which had been captured in the showers of the boy’s dormitory, and tossing it into the girl’s dormitory. Yes, I tossed it in…and Wanda Cornwell carried it back out. The girl was afraid of nothing.
Seeing I played the trumpet, I brought a bugle to camp each year which I used to play ‘Reveille’ each morning and ‘Taps’ each night. On one occasion, after playing Reveille, I came back into the dormitory only to find my bunk mattress gone. It seems a few guys took it outside and ran it up the flag pole.
Vespers were held nightly after dinner, but before the campfire. Ministers/Pastors of various faiths were the invited speakers. The setting was ideal…far back in the woods perched high on a hill along the east side of the Deer Creek. The locale was very conducive to its intended purpose.
The week’s activities culminated with Friday night’s dance which was held in the dining hall. Many cases of ‘puppy love’ occurred during the week, yours truly experiencing one or two over my years of attending, and this was the last evening together.
In my opinion, one of the two premier families involved with the 4-H in Harford County was the Harkins family. I first met them while they lived in Fallston. They later moved to the Whiteford area. Edgar and Margaret Markline (Ben’s sister) Harkins had several children: Betsy, Kathy, Janet, Edgar Jr., George, Charles and Richard. All the children, as well as their children have passed thru the ranks of 4-H membership, with some still heavily involved in one manner or another. FYI, Betsy marred Tom Galbraith, son of the gentleman who taught ‘shooting’ to the campers. Yes, gun safety and shooting were a small part of camp life back in the day, however I can’t speak for today.
The other premier family was the Smith clan from the Black Horse area of the county. The patriarch of the family, Ross Smith, had a group of children, and all but two earned their living by working the land. Clifford, Harold (Hap), Charles (Shot) and Ross, Jr. all had farms within a stone’s throw of the old Black Horse Tavern. Kenneth (Ken) became a barber, the one son who chose a profession outside of farming. And the girls; one sister, Helen, married Leonard Piper, another sister, Dorothy (Dixie) married C. Edwin (Bunk) Grimmel, and Thelma married Carroll Davis who worked by Harry T. Campbell’s. Each of these family members had children who were involved in 4-H. So, should it be it cattle, canning, etc., the Smith family has laid claim to more Blue Ribbons at the County Fair than they can probably count. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren are now doing the same.
I developed many friendships, beginning in 1958, that remain intact to this day. And like me, these friends can each recall the meetings, the projects they worked on, and 4-H Camp — the nightly campfire, the tribes, the ice-cold water in the swimming pool, the Friday night dance and the sound of someone jumping up and yelling, “O-CHIEF” as another challenge was offered up.
If you or a child is interested in 4-H, they can be contacted at the Extension Office in Forest Hill or by calling(410) 638-3255. Take it from me; you will never regret the experience of becoming a member.
4-H Pledge: I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country and my world.
4-H Motto: To Make the Best Better.
Thank you for sharing your memories and friendships with us.
Len, I grew up on My Lady’s Manor but attended Bethel Presbyterian in Madonna. The names, Marklines, Smiths were all so familiar to me. My mom was very active at Bethel. I also had an Ayrshire that I showed at the Harford County fair and state fair. I was in the Sugar Hill 4-H led my Ben Amoss and state senator Bill Amoss and the rest of the Amoss clan. I’m a bit older having gradutated from BAHS in 1959. All you wrote about in this article was all so familiar to me…Thanks
Thanks Len for a great article. Tom and I also have many of the same fond memories of 4-H as you. How have you been? Many old friends ask about you. Keep in touch!
Betsy, tell everyone I said HEY! I’m hanging in there. How’s your mother doing? Well I hope.
Len, Mom is doing great. She stopped driving in January, and Ed and I take her wherever she wants to go. She is still as active as ever. In fact, she plans to go to the 4-H camp on the 26th to attend supper with the campers. I shared your article with the family yesterday, and they thought it was well written. Caused us to talk about other memories. Thanks again!
Take care
Betsy
Yes Len, I too remember well the 4-H camp and the fun days involving the 4-H. I actually received the “Honorary Camper” award the last year I went there. If I had continued to be involved, I could have been a counselor. Imagine that, eating raw eggs and winning many “challenges” at the campfire earned me the opportunity to be a counselor. ( I’ll never say “O Chief” again :)) , but I was elated to receive such an acknowledgement. I still have the rose they awarded me that night. Such an honor. I was extremely proud.
I was in love within the first two days of being at camp. You are right about the “puppy love”. I was smitten over the counselor I had with a nick name of “Puck” as I recall. I think his last name was Snodgrass but not sure. How time flies.
I agree that 4-H was an amazing time in life. 4-H is a wonderful opportunity. I hope the kids of today will take advantage and join up. Such fun! SO MANY experiences.
Great article Len, Thanks for sharing and jogging my memory. Keep it up.
“Sug”
Len,
Love your Article for remembering the “great days of youth” in Harford County. I belonged to the Emmerton boys 4-H. Hendrickson, Kilby, Bice, Tracey, Heaps, Magness, Ward, all boys, now men, who made memories together. Just so you know, not all camp love was “puppy love”. I met, a girl there, Susanne (Susie) Smith of Blackhorse, and she has been my wife for 44 years.
Bob, I knew Bill quite well. I graduated with his younger brother, John, from BAHS in ’64.
Len, I graduated with George Amoss and knew brother John pretty well. My Ayrshire, Beckie, had a mean set of horns too. You needed to stand back when she shook her head! I inherited her from by brother Jim when he went off to the U of M. After Beckie, I had an Angus steer one year and then a couple of years of Herefords. I was chatting with my cousin George Denbow and his wife Pat as a result of your article. He thinks he graduated from NHHS the year before you and Pat the year after. My wife and I moved to Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster last year…tough after living most all my life in Harford!
Bob
Bob, I remember George. Tell him HEY for me.
Len, will do! Again, thanks for the great article!
Sug, that was Hubert Snodgrass. He’s in the group photo. Thanks for the kind words.
Yes, that was his name…..we must be in that photo as well but I sure don’t see us.
There is a guy with a dark shirt sitting in the middle of the second row, and you are directly behind him.
Hubert is sitting in the second row in the center. He has his elbows resting on his knees…white shirt, dark hair.
I’m in the 3rd row, about the 5th from the left. There are two girls right behind me wearing white tops.
Len, You jogged my memory and the name of our group was the “Lady Bugs” and I think we met mostly at the Scarff farm. Thanks again for bringing back such good memories. Sug
Wow this was a great article. Brought tears to me. I have so many memories from my 4-H days. Thanks.
Thanks Len, I found us. I’m torn, I’m not sure who’s the best looking, you or your cow. Love ya, Sug
Dotty H and Kenny J were there too. I’m impressed you can remember how we looked that far back in time. Great memory Len.
Masonic Homes Elva is a really pretty little cow. You don’t see too many like that.
If you look at the photo of me and Elva, you will see another cow on the left side of the photo. That was my other Ayrshire, Masonic Homes Blissful Lynn. Unlike Elva, she was predominately dark red. And for the record, she did NOT show well as she was 38 weeks into a 40 week pregnancy. Elva had calved a few weeks earlier and showed well.
I was just reading about the breed – tough and able to browse not perfect pastureland. In prior years recognized for having attractive horns. I know they mostly remove the horns nowadays but Elva’s look perfect. Did you shine them or did they naturally have that sheen? I remember coming up on a little boy almost sleeping next to his blue ribbon lamb. I congratulated him and asked him what he’d do with the lamb and without missing a beat he replied “sell him for meat”. 4-H kids live in real worlds. What happened to Elva? Did you keep her or sell her?
The horns and hooves were both sandpapered smooth and lightly oiled. When I had my livestock at the fair, I spent the night in the barnstall right there with them.
When I exited the show ring at Timonium, a farmer from the Frederick area offered me $600.00 for her. I sold her as soon as I could get the halter off her head.
At true 4-H’er!!! That’s good money in 1959!
Very well done Len, my Dad and I knew and sold equipment to most of these folks. The days of the Bel Air Fairground and racetrack are memorable to me. We always had a display of our Massey Ferguson equipment and I especially enjoyed the shit spreader backing contests. Even though I belonged to 4H and we had many animals on our farms, I never participated in the showing contests but always watched and enjoyed the showings. The animals were always manicured to a T. As to the 4H campground, many a summer day I rode my bike the hour ride each way for a swim. The decking around that pool was all of wood as I remember. It was just a great place and many local folks enjoyed it.
Thank you for a wonderful article! I am a former member of Black Horse 4-H, though many years later (the late 1990’s). But all of the names you spoke of are also very familiar to me…parents and grandparents of my fellow 4-H’ers and dear friends. 4-H will always be one of the best youth organizations around and I encourage everyone to join, even if they don’t live on a farm. With the loss of productive farm land In Harford County and an aging population of farmers, we need all of our youth to support the agriculture industry (and way of life) if it is to survive. I am very proud of our 4-Her’s and I’m looking forward to volunteering as a judge for some indoor exhibits at the fair in just a few short weeks! Thank you again for your article.