Walkin' the Line: A Journey from Past to Present Along the Mason-Dixon

by Bill Ecenbarger

This unique history/travelogue examines the influence of this great divider which remains the most powerful symbol separating Yankee from Rebel.

Most boundaries between states and nations have been determined by land features, such as rivers and mountains. But the Mason-Dixon Line does not follow anything palpable; it runs along uneven latitudes and longitudes, and at no point does it touch any prominent landmark. Except for its stone markers, it is invisible -- an arbitrary and man-made demarcation, direct and true, but without dimension.

Ecenbarger calls it "simultaneously, a product of reason and a national landmark."

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, History

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Apryl Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a rather obscure title, but one that I find quite important for anyone studying the social history of this neck of the woods. We learned about the Mason-Dixon line in school, nuff said, unless one stops to consider how much living is overlooked in the history books. Frankly, I'm rather jealous of Mr. Ecenbarger for his grand tour--how cool is that, to take a long walk just for talking to people? What is so disturbing, though, is the reality of "race relations"--the most ignorant paradox that I know. I suppose that I should be somewhat relieved to realize that, growing up in York county in the 60s - 80s, I was spared the base inhumanity showered upon "them coloreds", but damn that undercurrent! Living in Munich in my 20s, I felt for my generation who were beaten over the head with what their grandparents did to the Jews. Perhaps my people could do with having a bit of sense knocked into them. Fascism must fail, lest we're dragged down with it! (By the way, chapeaux to France for voting against Le Pen yesterday!!! Now, if the 35% can learn a bit of humanity, we're that much closer to honor and integrity.)

[Marianne Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

A strange and informative travelog; of which I never considered what happened then and now. As a descendant of a slaveholder, I grieve every time I read of another bitter tale. Each story shocks me and hurts my heart deeper. I'm glad this book was written. We should never forget. And we should never repeat.

[Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unique and detailed walk along the Mason Dixon. Having grown up in this area. I’m always amazed that I don’t know where some of these spots are. My bucket list just grew!

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an moderately interesting book about a man who walks the entire length of the Mason Dixon Line (except for swamps and such) and explores nearby areas. He delves into the history of the creation of the line, the history that occured along the line, the tensions and sometime humorous situations that occur when the line split towns or even buildings. It revealed interesting facts about the racial tensions along the line, history of jim crow laws, slavery, underground railroad and such. Although I understand that race issues are one of the most predominant facts of the Mason Dixon Line, because of the structure of the book (written in the order that he walked the line) by the end of the book I felt like I was getting hit over the head with one case after another of egregious behavior on part of whites. And the book lost steam...at least for me. Although description of modern day KKK behavior was startling and disturbing. There is OTHER history along this route and he discusses very little of that...although he did have a humorous account of a moonshiner making use of jurisdictional disputes to escape prosecution. I would recommend this book to my Pennsylvania friends as much of the last 2/3rds of the book is along the Pennsylvania/Maryland line.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author started out to walk the 1760s border line surveyed by Englishmen Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon between Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania and to identify markers and record physical features. But the venture quickly turned into a more people-related project. After all, the Mason-Dixon Line was/is the symbolic barrier between free and slave states. He found many buildings that contained attics, bunkers and crawl spaces used to transfer southern slaves into northern freedom. These evoked stories from current residents and proprietors. Especially poignant were reports about escapees detained by professional slave catchers and then returned in chains to slavery. Author didn’t walk the line in one continuous hike, but managed week-end segments over a year’s period. Also, he found parts of the western end too rugged to traverse on foot. I like the book’s colophon: “This book, on its way to you, has straddled the Mason-Dixon one last time. It was printed and bound in Hagerstown, Maryland, and distributed to stores from Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania.”

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a followup to the more technical description of how the line was created. The author walked the entire length of the line, visiting historical sites and talking with residents along the way, in order to get a feel for what the line has meant in people's lives over the years. The book was published in 2000. He set out to explore general history, but the vast majority of his encounters and research led him to focus on the history of slavery along the line and race relations from the Civil War going forward. It was very interesting reading - at times a bit depressing, but very educational and a good tonic for Americans who start feeling a bit too morally superior.

[John Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a powerful book about Mason and Dixon who surveyed the borderlines between Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania in the 1760s and in the process set up the border between the North and the South in the US. As the author traveled this line about 225 years later, he explored the history of race relations in small towns along this border line. For me, it ended up being a very powerful book with its mix of local history tied in with much larger national issues.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reading this book as Trump has just come into office. I think it's a poignant example of history repeating itself. We are defined by our actions. What we do to one- we do to all. Christ said "What you do for the least of my brothers/sisters that you do unto me."

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am facicinated with this book filled with historys events on the Mason Dixon Line. The author has done a comparison on what the Mason Dixon line was like then and now.