The American Gretna Green: A Haven for Secret Marriages
In short: In the early 20th century, a small Maryland town became the most notorious destination for eloping couples in the East. While northern states tightened marriage laws, this town offered a loophole for those seeking a quick union, eventually hosting thousands of weddings for celebrities and commoners alike.
Elkton, Maryland, earned its reputation as the 'Gretna Green of the East' due to its position as the northeasternmost county seat in the state. Because Maryland did not pass the restrictive marriage laws adopted by northern states in the early 1900s, Elkton became a primary destination for couples seeking to marry quickly and without many restrictions. During its heyday in the 1920s and 1930s, it was famously dubbed 'the elopement capital of the East Coast,' with thousands of marriages performed annually.
The town's popularity was such that it hosted high-profile weddings for celebrities like Joan Fontaine, Cornel Wilde, and even athletes like Willie Mays. However, the 'tawdry flavor' of the business eventually drew scrutiny from the state government. In 1938, the Maryland Legislature imposed a 48-hour waiting period to curb the trend. In 1937, 16,054 licenses were granted by the local marriage bureau, even though the population was roughly 3,300. Even after the mandate, ministers found loopholes—such as claiming a mother was expecting or a man was heading to war—to keep the business thriving until the last commercial chapel closed in 2017.
Beyond its romantic notoriety, Elkton has a deep military and colonial history. Founded in 1694 by Swedish mariners from Fort Casimir, it served as a strategic point during the American Revolutionary War. It saw the landing of Sir William Howe's Anglo-German army in 1777 and served as a staging point for the Marquis de Lafayette and George Washington. Today, while the era of mass elopements has faded to Las Vegas, the town remains a significant cultural hub, hosting the Fair Hill Scottish Games and serving as a vital transit point between Maryland and Delaware.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Elkton, Maryland
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