About & History of Port Deposit

The historic Town of Port Deposit, Maryland, sits along the Susquehanna River. Known for its remarkable past, its legacy of education and industry, and its nationally recognized character, Port Deposit continues to preserve its unique heritage while planning carefully for future growth.

Early Days & Name Origins

Long before European settlement, the lower Susquehanna River valley was home to the Susquehannock (Conestoga) people, who lived along the river’s fertile banks and used the great waterway as a vital travel and trade corridor. Archaeological evidence and early accounts show that this area served as a seasonal gathering point long before permanent colonial settlement.

The first recorded European to visit this area was Captain John Smith, who explored the Susquehanna River during his expeditions in 1608 and 1609. For generations afterward, the riverfront was a bustling transfer point where vessels traveling upstream met rafts and arks from Philadelphia.

In 1729, Thomas Cresap established a ferry crossing here, known at the time as Smith’s Ferry or The Upper Ferry. It was later purchased by Colonel John Creswell, after which the settlement became known as Creswell’s Ferry. The distinguished statesman John A.J. Creswell, born here in 1828, was a descendant of this early Creswell family.

As the community grew, it was sometimes referred to as The Upper Ferry or Creswell’s Landing, but its expanding role in regional trade eventually gave rise to the name “Port of Deposit.” The term reflected its function as a place where goods—especially lumber and granite—were “deposited” for transfer to larger vessels bound for Baltimore and other ports. In 1812, Governor Levin Winder signed legislation officially establishing the Town of Port Deposit.

John A.J. Creswell

John Andrew Jackson Creswell (1828–1891) was born in Port Deposit. A graduate of Dickinson College, he became a lawyer and a prominent public servant, representing Maryland in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

Appointed U.S. Postmaster General by President Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1874), Creswell modernized the postal system by introducing the penny postcard, abolishing the congressional franking privilege, and appointing African Americans to postal positions during Reconstruction. His rise from a small Susquehanna River town to national office remains a lasting point of pride for Port Deposit.

River, Rail & Commerce

Port Deposit’s location at the fall line of the Susquehanna made it a natural hub for trade and transportation. Goods from Pennsylvania were offloaded here for shipment downriver or by road to Baltimore, while the granite cliffs above town provided both natural protection and valuable resources.

In the mid 19th century, the Columbia and Port Deposit Railroad, chartered in 1858, opened in 1868, and later absorbed into the Pennsylvania Railroad system, linked the town to regional and national markets. The combination of river, road, and rail made Port Deposit a vital point of exchange for timber, granite, grain, and other materials, contributing to the town’s prosperity through the late 1800s.

Granite Legacy

Port Deposit became widely known for its locally quarried granite, prized for its distinctive color and strength. This stone was used in many local homes, churches, and sidewalks, and it was shipped far beyond town. Port Deposit granite appears in landmark buildings across Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, St. Augustine, and Atlantic City, among other cities.

The granite sidewalks, terraces, and retaining walls that line Main Street are now considered defining features of the Port Deposit Historic District, recognized for both craftsmanship and enduring beauty.

Jacob Tome & the Tome School

Jacob Tome was born on August 13, 1810, in Hanover, Pennsylvania, and moved to Port Deposit in 1833. He found early success in the lumber and railroad industries and established several banks, becoming Cecil County’s first millionaire. A noted philanthropist, Tome is remembered for his enduring support of education, faith, and community life.

Tome’s residence, Hytheham Mansion (Tome Mansion), was built in the mid 19th century and once stood as the largest house in Port Deposit. It served as both home and business headquarters and later became a local landmark. Though the mansion was demolished in 1948, a few of its architectural elements, including the porch columns, steps, and lintels, were salvaged and placed at the center of town, preserving a visible link to Jacob Tome’s home and legacy. Tome also funded the Tome Memorial Methodist Church and was laid to rest in Hopewell Cemetery following his death in 1898.

In 1889, Tome used much of his fortune to found the Tome School for Boys, located on a 200-acre campus on the bluffs overlooking Port Deposit. The school gained national recognition for its imposing granite buildings, designed in the Beaux Arts style, and for its rigorous academics.

Jacob Tome

Jacob Tome Mansion

The Gas House

The campus included Tome Memorial Hall, Jackson Hall, Harrison Hall, Madison Hall, the Monroe Gymnasium, Tome Inn, and several faculty residences known as the Masters’ Cottages. These, along with its dining hall, powerhouse, and library, formed a self contained educational community that reflected Tome’s vision of excellence and opportunity.

Several Jacob Tome Institute buildings stood on Main Street, including Washington Hall, the Tome Mansion, the Tome Gas House, and the Banking House, linking the upper campus with the town’s civic and educational life.

The Carriage House, built in the mid 1800s beside the Tome Mansion, remains the only surviving structure directly associated with Tome’s estate. It has been fully restored and today houses offices and meeting space.

The Tome Gas House, built around 1850, originally supplied gaslight to the mansion and nearby properties. Restored in 2017, it now serves as the Tome Visitor Center and Towson University Research and Education Center for the Northern Map Turtle, preserving its historic function of service and innovation.

Adams Hall, completed in 1900 as a gymnasium for the Senior School for Girls, later became Port Deposit Town Hall in 1983 and remains the seat of municipal government today.

After the Tome Institute on the bluffs closed in 1941, the school continued to operate in Washington Hall and Jefferson Hall on Main Street. Both buildings served local students for nearly three decades until 1969, when Jefferson Hall was severely damaged by fire.

Two years later, in 1971, the Tome School relocated to a new 100-acre campus in North East, Maryland, where it continues to serve the region as a respected independent school, carrying forward Jacob Tome’s legacy of education and service. Today, the historic Tome School buildings on the bluffs remain closed to the public. Of the original sixteen granite structures, about thirteen still stand, some damaged by fires between 2014 and 2020, yet they continue to overlook the Susquehanna River as enduring monuments to the town’s educational heritage.

The Tome School in North East, Maryland
Photo courtesy of The Tome School's Facebook page.

Bainbridge U.S. Naval Training Center

In 1942, the U.S. Navy repurposed the former Tome Institute campus as the Bainbridge Naval Training Center and later the Naval Academy Preparatory School. Over its 34 year history, nearly 500,000 recruits trained there before the base closed on March 31, 1976. The property later transferred to the State of Maryland, and the Bainbridge Development Corporation was established to oversee redevelopment as the Bainbridge Logistics Center, an industrial and distribution complex now under construction on part of the former base.

Historic Landmarks & Notable Visitors

In addition to its nationally recognized granite architecture and educational heritage, Port Deposit is home to several other historic landmarks that reflect its early civic and cultural life.

Main Gate of the Bainbridge U.S. Naval Training Center

Paw Paw Museum
Located on Main Street, the Paw Paw Museum occupies one of Port Deposit’s oldest surviving stone buildings, constructed in the early 1820s. Originally built as a Methodist Episcopal church and later used as a school and fraternal hall, the building now serves as a local museum operated by the Port Deposit Heritage Corporation. It preserves artifacts, photographs, and documents that tell the story of the town’s families, industries, and river life, and it remains a cornerstone of Port Deposit’s ongoing preservation efforts.

Gerry House

Built around 1813 by Daniel Megredy, the Gerry House is among Port Deposit’s finest examples of early domestic architecture. Originally known as the Megredy House, it later became the Smith House under the ownership of Cornelius Smith, and subsequently the Gerry House when it passed to Lucius A.C. Gerry, the step-grandson of Cornelius Smith. Gerry later married Jane Vanneman, daughter of John P. Vanneman (owner of the Vanneman House).

Gerry House

Rock Run Mill

Gerry served as First Lieutenant in Captain Alonzo Snow’s Battery B, 1st Maryland Light Artillery, entering service in August 1861, resigning in August 1862, and returning to duty in June 1863. The battery saw action in major campaigns of the war, including operations in Maryland, and local tradition recalls that President Lincoln personally approved Gerry’s request for a short leave home, underscoring his honorable service.

The house is best remembered as the site where General Lafayette, hero of the American Revolution, was entertained during his 1824 Farewell Tour of the United States.

In 1981, the Port Deposit Heritage Corporation restored the Gerry House, preserving its architectural and historical significance. Today, it stands as a private residence with a shop on the lower level, a distinguished feature of Main Street and a tangible link to both local family heritage and national history.

Vanneman House
Built in 1810 from locally quarried stone, the Vanneman House is one of the town’s earliest and finest stone residences. It was the home of John P. Vanneman, who owned a prosperous lumber business that contributed to Port Deposit’s 19th-century growth.

Vanneman’s daughter, Jane Vanneman, later married Lucius A.C. Gerry, linking the Vanneman, Smith, and Gerry families and their nearby properties in a shared chapter of the town’s history.

Rock Run Mill

A short distance south of town within Susquehanna State Park, the Rock Run Mill dates to the late 18th century and represents the region’s early industrial economy. Built of local stone, the mill produced flour and meal for area farms and river trade well into the 19th century. The mill was partially restored in the 1960s and features a working water wheel and an operational millstone, offering visitors a glimpse into the water powered industry that helped sustain Port Deposit’s growth.

Lafayette’s Visit
In 1824, General Marquis de Lafayette visited Port Deposit during his celebrated tour of the United States, retracing the steps of his Revolutionary War service. The town greeted him with a formal reception, and he was entertained at the Gerry House before continuing southward along the Susquehanna. This event remains a proud moment in Port Deposit’s history, celebrated through local heritage programs and historic markers that honor Lafayette’s enduring friendship with the American people.

Floods & Resilience

Port Deposit’s position along the Susquehanna River has brought both prosperity and challenge. The town has experienced recurring floods caused by ice jams and tropical systems. The most severe, Tropical Storm Agnes in June 1972, inundated much of the waterfront, prompting major restoration and flood mitigation work. These efforts and the town’s repeated recoveries reflect the strength and resilience of the Port Deposit community.

National Register of Historic Places

In 1978, the Town of Port Deposit was added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its historic and architectural significance and ensuring its preservation for future generations.

Law Enforcement & Civic Leadership

Port Deposit’s history is also defined by its people. The town’s churches, fraternal halls, and civic associations have long supported education, worship, and volunteerism. In 1966, Horace C. Boddy became Cecil County’s first African American police chief, marking a milestone in local leadership.

The Port Deposit Police Department served the community for many decades but experienced several periods of closure and reinstatement. The original department operated until 2005, when policing duties were transferred to the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office and the Maryland State Police. It was reestablished in 2006 and served the town until 2012, when it was again dissolved. The department was reinstated once more in 2020 under Chief Susan Smith, a retired Maryland State Trooper, who served as the town’s sole part time officer. The department was permanently closed in 2022, marking the conclusion of Port Deposit’s long and dedicated local law enforcement tradition.

Recent Decades & Preservation Efforts

In 2009, town boundaries expanded to include the 1,250 acre Bainbridge property overlooking downtown. By 2015, the site was designated an Enterprise Zone, and the historic Tome School buildings were recognized as part of a Sustainable Community, making restoration projects eligible for state and federal tax credits.

On the waterfront, the restored Tome Gas House now serves as both Visitor Center and research facility, symbolizing the town’s partnership in conservation and education.

Today

The historic Town of Port Deposit is experiencing renewed residential and commercial activity, growing property investment, and an enduring commitment to historic preservation. The town looks forward to continued growth while honoring the legacy that shaped its character.

Quick Timeline

1608–1609: Capt. John Smith explores the Susquehanna River, charting the area that would become Port Deposit.
1729: Thomas Cresap establishes a ferry crossing known as Smith's Ferry (renamed Creswell’s Ferry), marking the area’s first settlement.
1810: Jacob Tome is born in Hanover, Pennsylvania.
1812: Governor Levin Winder signs legislation officially establishing the Town of Port Deposit.
1833: Jacob Tome moves to Port Deposit.
Mid-1800s: Tome Mansion, Carriage House, and Gas House are built.
1889: Tome establishes the Tome School for Boys on the bluffs.
1894–1905: Key Tome Institute buildings are completed.
1898: Jacob Tome dies in Port Deposit.
1941: Tome Institute on the bluff closes.
1942–1976: U.S. Navy operates Bainbridge Naval Training Center on former Tome campus.
1948: Tome Mansion demolished for public swimming pool.
1966: Horace C. Boddy becomes first African American Chief of Police in Cecil County.
1969: Fire damages Jefferson Hall (Banking House).
1971: Tome School relocates to North East, Maryland.
1972: Tropical Storm Agnes floods Port Deposit.
1978: Town added to National Register of Historic Places.
1980: Jefferson Hall rehabilitated as apartments.
1983: Adams Hall becomes Town Hall.
2014-2020: Fires damage several Tome School buildings.
2017: Tome Gas House restored as Visitor and Research Center.
2020-2022: Police Department operates under Chief Susan Smith.
Today: Port Deposit continues to grow while preserving its historic character as one of Maryland's most distinctive river towns.

The "Gym" Steps, Jacob Tome Institute, located next to Adams Hall (Town Hall)

Interested in exploring more of Port Deposit’s rich history? Follow the links below to discover detailed information about the town’s historic sites and architecture.

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