Although Secretary is the third largest town in Dorchester County, it is actually a somewhat sleepy little town that “rolls up the sidewalk” when the country store closes at 8:00 p.m. It is rare to see anyone out late at night, which may be explained partly by the fact that many of the town’s residents are watermen, whose days begin around 4:00 a.m. It is a great place to live and raise children. There is an elementary school, a town park with swings, sliding boards, jungle gym, bouncing spring animals, volleyball net, two tennis courts, restrooms, charcoal grills, and a covered pavilion with picnic tables.

The town has no traffic lights, but it does have a fire department, post office, bank, laundromat, boat dock with launch ramp and 18 rented slips, country store, two seafood businesses (one includes a commercial ice business), transport company, several lawn maintenance businesses, an exterminating company, three churches, and a small restaurant. The famous Suicide Bridge Restaurant is located within 2 miles of the town limits and lists its address as Secretary. Many people traveling on Route 50 leave the beaten path to enjoy the fresh seafood and great steaks at Suicide Bridge Restaurant.

The largest annual event in Secretary is the three-day Warwick Riverfest, a muscular-dystrophy fundraiser produced by the North Dorchester Jaycees over the Labor Day weekend. A parade through the town on Saturday morning is a highlight of the event, providing a preview of the homemade rafts that will be competing on Sunday afternoon. There are musical entertainers, games, contests, arts and crafts, liquid refreshments, and food items for various tastes, including the roast beef sandwich called “Bull on the Boatramp.” The celebration culminates with the raft races on Secretary Creek (right). It is not unusual for the town to have several hundred out-of-town visitors over the three-day event.

Secretary has a paid clerk/treasurer who is responsible for administering the affairs of the town under the direction of the mayor and town commissioners. The town’s wastewater treatment plant treats the wastewater of nearby East New Market under the supervision of a “twin cities” commission.