Grist mill became an electric power plant on the Tiber

Just off lower Main Street on Tiber Alley, a grist mill was built sometime before an 1860 map labeled it "T McCrea Depot Mill." The 1894 Sanborn map labeled it "Ellicott City Electric Light & Power Co." (black on pink rectangle behind Kraft Meat) with the "Engines & Dynamos".  The electric company was started in 1892 but was in financial troubles by 1894 and in 1898 EC went with a Catonsville company.   Click images to enlarge.

Electric trolley to Ellicott City for Christmas shopping

"Line will be in operation in time for Christmas Shopping" was the headline for an 1898 article in the Baltimore Sun.  Initially started in 1895 by the Edmondson Avenue, Catonsville Ellicott City Electric Railway, they stopped constructing the road which involved cutting through a 50-foot hill and diverting a stream. The new company had problems building the eastern bridge abutment and had to get permission to shut down the mill race for the Gambrills mill while they built the abutment.

B & O Rail Road in the Niles' Weekly Register 1830

The opening of service on the Baltimore and Ohio Rail road was covered in the local Niles’ Weekly Register  Baltimore: Mar – Sept 1830.

Chronology of the B & O railroad 1825-1853

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was started by businessmen in Baltimore, with the first line going to Ellicott mills.  As recalled by JHB Latrobe, John Eager Howard hosted a dinner at his mansion "Belvidere" in 1825 (or 1826) to discuss the possibility of a railroad. In 1827, a more formal meeting was held at George Brown's home.

Howard County and Russian Jewish immigrants

A small community of 29 Russian Jewish families started farms near Hollofield on the old "Brosenna" estate.  The following articles from The Baltimore Sun, Sept. 17, 1905 and Aug. 3, 1906.