The Hurlock History Project

The Hurlock History Project Preserving the stories, photos, history, and heritage of Hurlock, Maryland.

POSTCARD FROM THE PAST: Main Street Residences (October 9, 1907) 🏡Step back nearly 120 years to an autumn evening in Hur...
08/28/2026

POSTCARD FROM THE PAST: Main Street Residences (October 9, 1907) 🏡

Step back nearly 120 years to an autumn evening in Hurlock. On October 9, 1907, local resident Susie Collins paid one cent in postage to send this view of town to her friend, Miss Addie Davis, over in Federalsburg.

Between the crisp 7:00 PM Hurlock postmark and the intricate turn-of-the-century architecture in the picture, this postcard offers a stunning look at everyday life in early Hurlock.

✉️ The Handwritten Notes on the Card:

Front: "Have you any idea who lives in one of these homes? Don't you think they are very good."

Back: "Dear Addie: Was delighted to get your letter, intend to answer it soon. We are all real well and enjoying this lovely weather. Hope this will find your people well. Susie Collins."

🔍 The Community Challenge:

The Houses: Susie asked Addie if she recognized who lived here back in 1907. Do you know which street these two homes sit on, and if are they still standing in town today?

The People: Do you have any Collins or Davis branches in your family tree who might connect to Susie Collins of Hurlock or Addie Davis of Federalsburg? If so, what can you tell us about them?

Drop your location guesses, memories, information, or genealogical clues in the comments below!

(Stay tuned—in an upcoming follow-up post, we’ll share a modern "Then & Now" photo, reveal the houses' location, and share some fascinating history uncovered about Susie herself!)

DID YOU KNOW? Choctaw Flower Farmers at the "Glad Patch" 💐 In the late 1950s, a unique agricultural business right outsi...
08/12/2026

DID YOU KNOW? Choctaw Flower Farmers at the "Glad Patch" 💐

In the late 1950s, a unique agricultural business right outside town brought a special pair of growers to North Dorchester County!

When local farmer Andrew Katinsky transitioned away from conventional crops, he partnered with his brother-in-law to establish the "Glad Patch," growing fresh gladiolus flowers for wholesale florists from Cambridge to Crisfield.

To help run the demanding flower operation, Katinsky relied on a dedicated couple: Mr. and Mrs. Billy Joe.

Full-Blooded Choctaws: Both Mr. and Mrs. Billy Joe were full-blooded Choctaw Indians who worked full-time on the gladiolus farm.

Year-Round Dedication: They handled the intense physical labor required for gladiolus culture—planting new bulbs every two weeks, cultivating, spraying, and harvesting the blooms.

Farm to Florist: The cut flowers were preserved in a specialized walk-in cold storage room before Katinsky loaded them onto his truck to supply florists across the Shore.

It’s a fascinating, verified chapter in our local agricultural history, showing the diverse group of hardworking people who helped drive North Dorchester's economy!

🎉 MILESTONE UNLOCKED: 300 FOLLOWERS! 🚂We just passed a major milestone here at the Hurlock History Project—our page has ...
08/08/2026

🎉 MILESTONE UNLOCKED: 300 FOLLOWERS! 🚂

We just passed a major milestone here at the Hurlock History Project—our page has officially reached 300 unique followers!

While our post views and engagement have been skyrocketing thanks to all of your likes, shares, and comments, watching our permanent community grow to 300 strong is something truly special.

Whether you joined us back when this page was just an idea or found us through one of our recent history posts—THANK YOU.

This project was never meant to be a one-way lecture or an exclusive club. It was built to be a living conversation—a shared space where our town's past is brought back into the spotlight by the people who live here, grew up here, and love this community.

🗣️ Help Us Reach the Next 300!
If you enjoy town trivia, historic photo deep-dives, and town milestone posts, here’s how you can help keep the momentum going today:

Tag a friend or neighbor in the comments who loves Hurlock history!

Share this post to your timeline to help local folks discover the page.

Send us a DM or email (⁠[email protected]⁠) if you have old family photos, newspaper clippings, or artifacts you'd like us to feature!

Here’s to the first 300—and to continuing to write Hurlock's story together! Landmark by landmark. 🥂

DID YOU KNOW? Cross-Roads of Progress 🚂 Long before Hurlock was incorporated as a town in 1892, a single event in 1890 c...
08/05/2026

DID YOU KNOW? Cross-Roads of Progress 🚂

Long before Hurlock was incorporated as a town in 1892, a single event in 1890 changed our landscape forever!

While John M. Hurlock had established a small stop along the Delaware Railroad years earlier, everything changed when the Baltimore and Eastern Shore Railroad built its line straight through town—crossing the existing tracks right in the heart of Hurlock.

Here’s why that 1890 railroad crossing was a game-changer:

The Iron Cross: Hurlock became one of the rare places on the Delmarva Peninsula where two major, competing rail lines intersected at a right angle.

The Economic Boom: Suddenly, local farmers and merchants could ship goods in four different directions—north to Wilmington, south to Cape Charles, east to Ocean City, or west to the Chesapeake Bay steamships at Claiborne.

Instant Growth: Within just two years of the tracks crossing, the area grew so rapidly that citizens officially petitioned to incorporate as the Town of Hurlock in 1892.

It’s a great reminder that our town’s very foundation was built on being the ultimate crossroads of the Eastern Shore!

07/21/2026

🚨 BREAKING: HURLOCK TORNADO HISTORY IN THE MAKING 🌪️

Talk about wild timing... Just as we were all in the comments discussing Hurlock's tornado history, news broke today that the National Weather Service officially confirmed an EF0 tornado touched down just outside of town this past Saturday evening (July 18, 2026)!

Quick Facts from the NWS Report:

Time: Saturday, July 18 around 6:30 PM

Strength: EF0 (80-85 mph winds)

Damage: Metal roof damage at a transport facility and a moved tractor-trailer caught on security video at Koski Enterprises.

This officially marks July 18, 2026 as another chapter in our town's tornado history alongside 1984 and 2021.

💬 Did you catch any photos, video, or severe weather in town on Saturday around 6:30 PM? Let us know below!

🚨 BREAKING UPDATE (7/21): Unbelievable timing! The National Weather Service officially confirmed today that an EF0 torna...
07/21/2026

🚨 BREAKING UPDATE (7/21): Unbelievable timing! The National Weather Service officially confirmed today that an EF0 tornado touched down right here in Hurlock this past Saturday, July 18, 2026, around 6:30 PM! It packed 80-85 mph winds, damaged local transport facilities, and moved a tractor-trailer. History literally repeated itself while we were writing this post!

DID YOU KNOW? 🌪️ Hurlock’s Tornado History

When we think about Eastern Shore weather, we usually think of nor'easters, heavy snow, or tropical storms pushing up the Bay or the coast. But did you know that Hurlock was struck by a fatal tornado over 40 years ago?

On the afternoon of May 8, 1984, at around 5:05 PM, severe weather swept across Dorchester County. An F1 tornado touched down and carved a devastating 12-mile path roughly 100 to 150 yards wide right through the Hurlock area.

The storm caused catastrophic damage, including the total destruction of a large local commercial chicken house, tragically taking the life of one person and injuring six others. To this day, it remains one of only two documented fatal tornadoes in Dorchester County history (along with the 1944 Cambridge tornado).

⚡ A More Recent Close Call:
For those who thought 1984 was a one-off event, severe weather reminded us again on September 1, 2021. The outer bands of the remnants of Hurricane Ida spawned an EF0 tornado that touched down right outside town limits along Bobtown Road and Gravel Branch Road. That spin-up mangled an agricultural irrigation pivot, knocked down trees, and left behind funnel cloud video taken by local residents before lifting.

🗣️ We want to hear from you!
Do you or your family remember the 1984 storm? Where were you when it hit, or what damage do you recall seeing around town afterward? What about the 2021 tornado on the outskirts of town? Please share your memories or photos in the comments below! We would love to see and hear what you captured or remember from these two extreme weather events that impacted life in our town!

🤔 DID YOU KNOW? 🍅🥫For decades, Hurlock was an absolute powerhouse for the Eastern Shore's booming tomato and canning ind...
07/10/2026

🤔 DID YOU KNOW? 🍅🥫

For decades, Hurlock was an absolute powerhouse for the Eastern Shore's booming tomato and canning industries! But did you know our famous canning plant at 1 Railroad Avenue changed hands a few times before becoming a town icon?

The site's rich industrial history traces all the way back:

1902: Began operations as the Eastern Shore Can Company.

1919: Purchased by local packing leaders W.H. Neal & Sons, Inc.

1929: Acquired by the corporate giant Continental Can Company, who designated it as the beloved Plant #24!

For over half a century right here along the tracks, Continental Can manufactured millions of cans specifically to supply the massive late-summer tomato harvests for local food packers. Special train cars would line up daily at the Hurlock crossroads just to haul the finished tin goods across the region.

Whether you or your family members remember it as Eastern Shore Can Company, Neal's, Continental Can Plant #24, or later Crown Cork & Seal—this site was the true heartbeat of Hurlock's industrial economy! Share with us any memories or information you may have about any of these businesses that operated at that location on Railroad Avenue. We would love to hear it!

🚨 Opening To The Public! 🚨 We’ve been keeping a major secret, and we are finally ready to share it with the town!For mon...
06/28/2026

🚨 Opening To The Public! 🚨

We’ve been keeping a major secret, and we are finally ready to share it with the town!

For months, a small team of volunteers and members of The Hurlock History Project has been working hard behind the scenes to preserve our community’s incredible stories, memories, and heritage. We are thrilled to announce that the historic Hurlock Train Station has been completely transformed into our brand-new Hurlock History Museum! 🚂

This museum belongs to the people of Hurlock, so we couldn’t think of a better day to officially open the doors than on the 250th birthday of America, Independence Day—Saturday, July 4th! 🇺🇸

Whether you're in town for the big 4th of July Car Show right down the street or just looking to celebrate our town's roots, come on by and check out what we've built for our community.

📅 Grand Opening: Saturday, July 4th
📍 Location: The Historic Hurlock Train Station
🎟️ Admission: Free for everyone!

Come take a walk down memory lane with us this Saturday. You won't want to miss it!

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: The Story Behind the Hurlock History Project 🚂We’ve been sharing a lot of town history lately, but to...
06/18/2026

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT: The Story Behind the Hurlock History Project 🚂

We’ve been sharing a lot of town history lately, but today, we wanted to take a moment to pull back the curtain and share a bit more about who we are, why we’re here, and where we’re going.

👥 A "Living Conversation"—Not an Exclusive Club
When this project was founded, the goal wasn't to create just another rigid "historical society" or a one-way street where one person lectures everyone else. We wanted something different: a living conversation. History belongs to all of us. The core mission of the Hurlock History Project is to create a collaborative space where anyone can bring a piece of the past into the spotlight, and together, we can build a truer, richer story of Hurlock.

📈 The Momentum So Far
The response from the community has been incredible! Seeing individual posts reach over 1,000 views proves that the hunger to learn about our town's roots is alive and well. Uncovering these lost pieces of history alongside all of you has been the most rewarding part of this journey.

🗺️ What’s Next? (Big Things are Coming!)
We are just getting started. Looking ahead, our immediate goal is to keep growing our digital and community footprint.

Town Partnership: We hope to forge an official partnership with the Town of Hurlock to tag-team on promoting our local heritage and historical events.

Regional Connections: We are prioritizing partnerships with other local museums across Dorchester County.

A Tangible Piece of History: And yes—we have some big things in the works! We are currently working behind the scenes to bring the physical side of Hurlock's history to life inside a well-known, historic town landmark. Stay tuned!

✉️ How YOU Can Help Write the Next Chapter
Getting involved is incredibly simple, no matter your age or background. You don't need a degree in history—you just need a memory, a keepsake, or a curiosity!

If you have:
Old photos or postcards 📸
Newspaper articles or documents 📰
Physical artifacts 🪎
Stories, family lore, or personal knowledge 🗣️
..we want to hear it and see it!

Join the Conversation:
Drop a comment on our page, send us a direct message, or email us anytime at [email protected]. Every piece of the puzzle matters.

Thank you for being a part of this living history. Like, follow, and share this post to help us keep the conversation growing! 🛤️ 🌾

🎺 DID YOU KNOW? 🎺Long before the days of digital music or radio, downtown Hurlock had its very own live “soundtrack”!Aro...
06/17/2026

🎺 DID YOU KNOW? 🎺

Long before the days of digital music or radio, downtown Hurlock had its very own live “soundtrack”!

Around 1901, local town merchants banded together to form a community Brass Band.

To entertain the town, they would set up right in the heart of downtown and play open-air concerts. Because this was years before electricity arrived, the musicians played their evening sets directly under the warm glow of the town's old kerosene street lamps!

It’s a wonderful snapshot of how early Hurlock residents gathered to support local businesses and enjoy community life over 120 years ago.

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Hurlock, MD
21643

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