Hidden in Plain Sight: Bookies & the Graw
Schedule
Wed, 03 Jun, 2026 at 06:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
HCPL Havre de Grace Library | Havre De Grace, MD
During the 1920s and 1930s, Havre de Grace earned a reputation as a hotbed of gambling and vice—so much so that it was dubbed “Little Chicago.” At the center of that reputation stood the Graw racetrack, a thriving hub that attracted bettors, bookmakers, and curious onlookers from across the region. But how visible was this world of illegal betting, and how deeply was it woven into everyday life?Join Dr. Amy Rosenkrans for an engaging exploration of the bookies who operated around the Graw. This lecture examines how illegal betting functioned, who participated in it, and why authorities and residents alike often looked the other way. By separating rumor from reality, Dr. Rosenkrans reveals how gambling at the Graw shaped Havre de Grace’s identity and left a legacy that was, quite literally, hidden in plain sight.
Where is it happening?
HCPL Havre de Grace Library, 120 N. Union Avenue,Havre de Grace, Maryland, United States
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