02-26-2023 Harford Magazine - Flipbook - Page 81
ANNIVERSARY EVENTS
The barn quilt at
Broom’s Bloom Dairy
in Bel Air.
PHOTO BY
KENNETH K. LAM
Harford County native and American hero, was
unveiled at Tydings Park.
Born in Havre de Grace in 1924 and orphaned
at age 9, Burke went on to become one of the first
Black men to serve in the Marine Corps during
World War II.
He earned the Rifle Sharpshooter Ribbon
Bar and the WWII Victory Medal. When Burke
was honorably discharged as a corporal, his
commander lauded his “excellent character.”
During his tour of duty in the Pacific, Burke
began to show exceptional skills as a baseball
player. Returning home, he joined the Baltimore
Elite Giants, a professional baseball team in the
Negro Leagues, playing third base and pitching.
The multisport athlete also played semipro
football and tennis.
Later in life, Burke competed in the Maryland
Senior Olympics, and was a motivational speaker
before his death in 2004 at age 79.
Camay Calloway Murphy, an arts advocate
and daughter of the legendary entertainer Cab
Calloway, led the eight-year effort to honor Burke.
It was a “labor of love,” she told The Baltimore Sun
in an interview in 2021.
Concord Point Lighthouse
Havre de Grace
The Concord Point Lighthouse is the secondoldest lighthouse in Maryland, and an iconic
regional symbol. Situated at the point where the
Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay,
the lighthouse aided safe navigation of vessels for
nearly 150 years.
“Built in 1827, the lighthouse served as a
beacon for sailors in the Upper Chesapeake Bay
until being decommissioned in 1975,” said Lauri
Orzewicz, tourism coordinator for Havre de
Grace.
Today, the fully restored lighthouse and keeper’s
house are open for tours.
Nearby is the renowned Havre de Grace Decoy
Museum, where duck decoys, folk art and fine art
are displayed.
Broom’s Bloom Dairy
1700 S. Fountain Green Road, Bel Air
For centuries, farming has been woven into the
fabric of Harford County. Today, Kate and David
Dallam and their family are carrying on that
legacy at Broom’s Bloom Dairy in Bel Air.
“The farm and house date back to the early
1700s,” said Kate Umbarger Dallam. “It’s the
ninth generation in my husband’s family on this
property. I grew up on another historic farm in
nearby Churchill.”
The Dallam farm name originates from the
colonial land grant for the area along with the
land’s original owner, John Broom. The “Bloom”
refers to flourishing crops.
The Dallam family has a herd of more than
50 Holstein and Guernsey cows, several pigs, as
well as chickens and turkeys that are raised on a
second farm. They also grow assorted crops such
as soybeans and corn.
“My husband is up at 4:30 a.m. He milks the
cows and calves. We process the milk, pasteurize
it. We make fresh ice cream and cheeses, which we
sell in our farm store and local grocery chains,” she
said, among them, Shop Rite, owned by another
long-standing county family, the Kleins. A small
country cafe offers soups, sandwiches and other
farm-fresh fare.
Dallam describes the farmers in Harford
County as tight-knit.
“We are close. We sometimes share equipment
and expenses. While a lot of farms have sold
their land and development rights, agricultural
preservation is important to our legacy. This is a
great community. This is who we are.”
March 31: Harford County’s
250th anniversary will
encompass a series of
countywide activities,
anchored by three major
events. The first is “Come See
About Harford,” a showcase at
the APG Federal Credit Union
Arena at Harford Community
College from March 31 to April
1.
The program will feature guest
speakers and entertainers,
including jazz musician Kim
Waters, who graduated from
the county’s C. Milton Wright
High School; its student jazz
band will also perform. An art
show will showcase renderings
of the people, places, and
events that make Harford
unique; booths and displays
will tout countywide
attractions; and outdoor
displays will include vintage
fire and emergency vehicles.
Aug. 19: This summer, the
celebration will move to
Ripken Stadium with a Harford
250 Night at the Ballpark on
Aug. 19. Billed as a history of
sports, the festivities will
include an IronBirds minor
league baseball game, a
parade of athletes, and
concourse displays
highlighting local sports
history, from equestrians and
hunting clubs to legendary
teams and local champions.
March 23, 2024: The
culminating event is
“Celebrating Tomorrow: Make
Harford History Now.” Expect
speakers, musical
performances, a time capsule,
a public art unveiling, and the
sounding of bells throughout
the county. Individual
neighborhoods will be
encouraged to create their
own celebrations focusing on
youth and future leadership
into the next 250 years.
For more information, go to
harford250.org and
visitharford.com.
harfordmagazine.com | Spring 2023 |
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