Native Americans

Long before European colonists arrived, the Susquehannock peoples used the lands and rivers surrounding what is now Havre de Grace for hunting, fishing, and trade. Garrett Island, located at the mouth of the Susquehanna River, was a key landmark in their territory—serving as a hub for travel and exchange due to its strategic position between the river and Chesapeake Bay. Artifacts found on the island suggest human activity dating back 8,000 years.

 

When Captain John Smith explored the Upper Chesapeake in 1608, he observed the abundance of natural resources in the area and recorded a detailed account of his journey. He described the Susquehannocks as physically impressive and diplomatically gracious. Smith noted they already possessed European goods - iron tools and hatchets - acquired through trade with the Dutch and French. At the time, the Susquehannocks controlled the entire Susquehanna River Valley, from New York to Chesapeake Bay, a region encompassing more than 64,000 square miles.

 

European colonization soon brought increased tension over land and water access. A 1652 treaty between the Maryland colony and the Susquehannock people attempted to resolve these disputes, granting the Susquehannocks continued rights to the Upper Bay region. This treaty was later broken. By 1695, when the settlement of Susquehanna Lower Ferry was established where Havre de Grace is now, the area had become a well-traveled corridor for both commerce and settlement.

 

From its earliest days, Havre de Grace has stood at the intersection of cultures, commerce, and geography - a meeting point shaped as much by rivers and diplomacy as by its natural resources.