White Chapel Gang

Havre de Grace has its fair share of local legends, and one of the most colorful is the tale of the “White Chapel Gang.” Centered around the White Chapel Pool Hall—located along the Cut on Washington Street and visible on the 1921 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map—this group of men came to symbolize a rough-and-tumble era when the town was known by some as “Little Chicago.”

​

A photo shows a group of men standing outside the White Chapel Pool Hall their nicknames as vivid as their personalities: Gunner, Gusher, Chink, Hunk, Stud, Nippers, Blind, and Mouse. Though referred to as a "gang," they were likely more a social circle than a criminal operation—locals who gathered at the pool hall to pass the time and swap stories.

​

But whispers of the underworld weren't far off. The White Chapel Pool Hall was linked to the racetrack culture of the nearby Graw Racetrack, where gambling was part of the scene. Tote boards—used by bookies to record bets on races—were reportedly stored in a shed behind Tawney’s Garage, further fueling the mystique around the group.

​

Whether gamblers, pool sharks, or just neighborhood fixtures, the men of the White Chapel Gang are remembered today as a colorful part of Havre de Grace’s storied past.