Ellicott store or warehouse before 1790

Martha Ellicott Tyson, daughter of George Ellicott was raised in his stone home across from the mill and store/warehouse. She wrote about the history of many buildings and people in her Maryland Historical Society article 1865. Image from 1854.



"The last building erected in the village, before 1790, by Ellicott & Co., was their warehouse or storehouse, and was built directly opposite to the mills, of triangular stone, from the granite quarries near them, and immediately on the route from Baltimore to Frederick; all the other buildings in the vicinity were the work of Pennsylvanians, but this warehouse was different in style from them all, and was the work of Maryland masons, the Spicers, of Harford county. Externally, it remains unchanged, but the interior arrangements have been transformed into dwellings for private families.

This store and warehouse was built for the accommodation of a variety of articles, with apartments ordered to suit them, and was considered at that day to be commodious and complete. Articles of fine quality were kept on shelves, behind sashes of glass, and in drawers to protect them from dust. The whole establishment was liberally patronized from the care taken in the selection of the goods; a great change had then taken place in the condition of the planters in the vicinity, who, instead of cultivating tobacco, .and awaiting the slow returns of European agents, now, raised wheat and corn for which they found a market near them; such goods also as they had been accustomed to order themselves from London, they could purchase at the store of Ellicott & Co., at as fair a rate of prices.

The goods were selected with care by agents who visited New York and Philadelphia, for the purpose; from whence they were shipped, and before colonial habits had ceased to operate, the cargo was discharged at Elkridge Landing. By such means, linens and diapers of fine and coarse qualities; silks, satins and brocades; India china dinner and tea sets, mirrors and other glassware, mathematical instruments, iron-mongery and groceries, including liquors (The Society of Friends dealt in liquors until the Discipline, which made it a disownable offence was introduced, and carried out in practice.) and wines, were always on sale. Before the Revolution, Great Britain offered every facility to American merchants to deal in her native commodities, or those of her East Indian possessions, facilities of which they readily availed themselves.

After the Independence of the United States was secured, Ellicott & Co. imported more extensively, and sometimes sent directly to London for goods by an agent, Samuel Godfrey, an Englishman by birth, who afterwards became a partner in the store.

The traveller of the present time [1860s], in passing near this old building, which, as before observed, is directly on the road from Baltimore to Frederick, would not be apt to imagine that for a long series of years it was a place of resort for all the influential men from miles around, who came to sell their grain, to make purchases, to receive their letters and papers from the post office, which was opened in one of its chambers, or to discuss political, legal or scientific questions. The pleasure of these habitual gatherings was much enhanced, by the fine abilities and character of the Ellicotts, of whom we write, men, who were not only well read on all such subjects, but who combined therewith courteous manners, earnestness in pursuit of knowledge, and becoming gravity."

A Brief Account of the Settlement of Ellicott’s Mills, With Fragments of History therewith Connected. Martha E. Tyson. Fund publication, Maryland Historical Society, no.4. Baltimore: 1865. In 1871 published as a book.

Image from 1854 Sachse map (Library of Congress)

Image #3 1860 Martenet Map of HoCo (LofC) - Miss Tyson inherited the George Ellicott house. Patapsco Flour Mills run by Gambrill from Charles Carroll V (1801-1862)

©2025 Patricia Bixler Reber
Forgotten history of Ellicott City & Howard County MD