Mary Clyde Spencer Streett

A woman who endured the death of her mother when she was 12, and worked beside her father on their Forest Hill farm and canning operation, until his death of a heat-stroke working on the farm, has died at the age of 98.

Mary Clyde Spencer Streett was born July 21, 1911 in the village of Forest Hill. Her mother, Mary Estelle Spencer died when the little girl was 12. Her father, Cecil Clyde Spencer later remarried Helen Durham, and the family continued their farming and canning operations in the area known as "Frogtown" in the Rockspring-Bynum area, between Bel Air and Forest Hill.

Mary Spencer graduated from Bel Air High School in 1929, where she often rode a horse and buggy to the school on Gordon Street. She later attended Union Memorial Hospital Nurse's Training School and then was one of two persons who operated the original Commercial and Savings Bank on Main Street in Bel Air.

During this time she and her dad continued daily operations of canning operations on Bynum road, as well as farm chores. Her dad was also a Harford County Commissioner. He named the farms and canning house Spenceola Farms...a name carried down through the years by surviving family members for various businesses, retail projects and real-estate development throughout Harford County.

The Marywood housing development which was one of her family's farms is named after the late Mrs. Streett. In 1933 she married Richard P. Streett and the couple continued the farming and canning operations. Originally the Streett's raised Guernsey dairy cattle but later changed to raising Aberdeen Angus beef cattle during the 1940's. The farm crops were hay, grains and over 100 acres of tomatoes. The canning operation continued to be successful, selling tomatoes under the "Spenceola Label" as well as other Mid-Atlantic retailers.

In the days of the Maryland and Pennsylvania railroad, cases of tomatoes were shipped from the rail-siding at the cannery on Bynum road to soldiers during World War II. After canning 50, 000 cases of tomatoes in 1951 the cannery ceased operations, but the family continued raising them as part of the produce from the farm. The original canning house, long a local landmark at the curve on Bynum road was restored by the family in the early 1990's and is currently occupied by CNA Engineering.

Mrs. Streett worked for the Forest Hill State Bank in downtown Forest Hill and did part-time work for the Harford County Treasurer's office during the 1950-1960's. She relaxed by raising and arranging flowers that she grew at her home.

She was very active in various community affiliations, including the Farm Bureau, 4-H, Daughters of the American Revolution, Harford County Highland Society, Democratic Club, as well as Saint Margaret and Saint Ignatius Churches. She was active in a group of parishioners that worked to repair and re-open Saint Ignatius Church in the 1960's after it had been closed for structural renovations by the Archdiocese.

Mrs. Streett was active and supportive of Alcoholics Anonymous chapters throughout the county. She was awarded "Harford County Living Treasure" in 1981. Her husband of 52 years died in 1985.

She is survived by a son, Dr. Richard P. Streett, Jr. and his wife, Esther, of Churchville, MD. She was predeceased by her first son, Dr. C. Spencer Streett, in 2001. Also surviving are nine grandchildren, Mary DeMers and husband, Marty, and daughters, Lindsay and Grace, of NC, John Streett and wife, Marilee, and daughters, Melanie and Caroline, of Bel Air, MD, Donna Imbierowicz and husband, Matt, and children, Carly and Andy, of PA, Paul Streett and wife, Sarah, and daughters, Hannah, Emily, and Evelyn, of Churchville, MD, Kim Zarzycki and husband, Jason, and daughter, Sofia, of Forest Hill, MD, Dr. Richard Streett III and wife, Karen, and daughter, Sydney, of Havre de Grace, MD, Christopher Streett and wife, Melissa, and children, Penelope and Blake, of Bel Air, MD, Sara Cook and husband, Ryan, of GA, and Maureen Streett of GA. Also a half-sister, Anne Von Schwerdtner, of Chambersburg, PA.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Richard Streett III, Christopher Streett, John Streett, Paul Streett, Jason Zarzycki, and Matt Imbierowicz.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Ignatius Building Fund, 533 East Old Jarrettsville Road, Forest Hill, MD 21050 or Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation, 520 Upper Chesapeake Drive, Bel Air, MD 21014.