Documenting Harford County History

Joe Swisher has spent more than 20 years working as the chair of the Aberdeen Planning and Zoning Commission. 

But today, he sits at his desk in a small office working on his latest endeavor — the Historic Harford DVD series, a collection of 15 DVDs and more than 45 interviews detailing the local history of Harford and Cecil Counties. 

Swisher's start as creator, producer, editor and host of the series began as a coincidence.

His friend, Ellsworth Shank, hosts a lecture series in Havre de Grace on the second Wednesday of the month — coincidentally, the same night Aberdeen holds its Planning and Zoning Commission meetings. Because of the time conflict, Swisher couldn’t attend the lectures.

This spurred Swisher's decision to host a similar lecture series in Aberdeen. 

With the support from the City of Aberdeen and the Aberdeen Heritage Trust, of which he is a member, the Aberdeen Heritage Trust Lecture Series was born.

The lectures are well attended and held at City Hall Council Chambers on the third Thursday of the month. 

After months of successful lectures, Swisher decided to professionally record interviews with the presenters on location with additional background information. The interviews are professionally edited and burned to DVDs for distribution and television broadcast.

Arranging the "small" details for the project didn’t deter Swisher. He contacted Harford Cable Network, which assigned a professional videographer to shoot and edit the interviews, as well as airtime to broadcast Historic Harford on the HCN. 

To finance the project, Swisher sought donations from local businesses and individuals to help defray the cost of the DVDs. He continues to look for donations.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Swisher to discuss the Historic Harford DVD series.

Swisher grew up in Keyser, WV, just over the Cumberland, MD line. He has a background in chemistry and research.

He joined the Army and was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. After leaving the military with a captain's ranking, Swisher worked at the Ballistic Research Lab.

When Swisher worked in the radiation affects department of the lab, he became interested in the rich history that Maryland, and specifically Harford County, has to offer.

Reading about and visiting as much of Harford County as he could, Swisher was intrigued by the many small, weathered, historical markers that dotted the state's highways.

Swisher decided to write his own book detailing the markers' information. He contacted Maryland photographer Roger Miller to help with his first book, The Complete Guide to Maryland Historical Markers. 

When former Maryland governor Parris Glendening gave all 49 state governors a copy of Swisher's book, the Delaware legislature expressed its interest. 

Swisher was asked to compile a similar book detailing Delaware's historical markers and soon finished The Complete Guide to Delaware Historical Markers.

But Swisher is most proud of the Historic Harford Lecture Series. 

Though Swisher said he's enjoyed all 45 interviews, his conversations with World War II veterans and interviews about the rich and storied history of horse breeding, racing and pleasure riding in Harford County top his list. 

Swisher still has big plans for the series. He would like to make an aerial survey of the Lower Susquehanna River basin, continue to interview WWII veterans, and broaden the series to include interviews with Korean and Vietnam veterans. 

The Lecture Series, hosted by the Aberdeen Heritage Trust, kicks off the 2011 season beginning Thursday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. at Aberdeen City Hall.

To purchase a DVD, please contact Joe Swisher at jaswisher@verizon.net for more information. Each DVD contains three interviews and sells for $10. 

Harford Cable Network shows the series every Tuesday at 4 p.m. and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. 

The DVDs are also available in local schools and the Harford County Public Library.