Trains for the holidays

There are many model train sets scattered on tables/stands throughout the B&O Railroad Station in old Ellicott City (Main and Maryland streets) in addition to the permanent HO-scale model of the original thirteen mile track from Baltimore to Ellicott Mills that fills the side building (1885 freight house).

The Holiday Train Garden at the Ellicott City Volunteer Fire Department, 4150 Montgomery Road, is from Dec 2 to Jan 1. See it, then cross Montgomery Road and take Old Columbia Pike down to Main Street to the train station. And after, go shop at some of the Main Street stores.

Mark Russo Creations creating art on Main Street 2023

This fall, artist Mark Russo painted some bright vibrant paintings on the boards of Great Panes and Phoenix on lower Main Street, Ellicott City. He cleverly made the two art pieces look like stained glass, on the building (Great Panes) which used to make and sell stained glass. Likewise the painting for the Phoenix includes an imaginative version of the brick wall breaking apart, and the phoenix (bird) rising. Unfortunately those buildings and two others will be demolished this January. So go down and see these creative paintings quickly!
ALERT the wall mural was torn down early, see below.

Andrew Ellicott - the first to write about a meteor shower in US 11/12/1799

Early morning, about 2 AM, on Nov. 12, 1799 Andrew Ellicott, who led his crew to survey the southern US border, recorded the hours-long shower of shooting stars, falling stars, shooting meteors or meteor shower off Florida.  The "phenomenon was grand and awful, the whole heavens appeared as if illuminated with sky rockets" and he feared some would fall on the ship.  The winds reversed direction and the temperature dropped 30 degrees to 56.  Humboldt saw the show while researching in South America and with Ellicott's descriptions, past sightings and another in 1833, Humboldt was able to "conjecture that at that particular period the earth was passing through a ring or belt of minute planetary bodies." Upcoming meteor showers HERE

John J. Audubon and the Ellicotts

Four brothers, the grandsons of one of the Ellicott founders (Andrew), supported Audubon (1785-1851) by being subscribers for his first book - The Birds of America, 1827.

Baltimore Orioles (left) and a sketch of Baltimore behind Canvas backed ducks (below) showed Audubon's appreciation for the geneosity of Baltimorians after his plates were destroyed.

Large iron safes washed away in 1868 flood

Two iron safes weighing a ton were swept downstream during the 1868 flood. Following the next large flood in 1889, there were hopes that the safes containing gold, cash and company books could be found. Excerpt is from the Baltimore Sun, June 3, 1889 newspaper.

Visitors thronged to Ellicott City just days after the July 24, 1868 flood

Ferries and a newly constructed foot bridge charged "tourists" from Baltimore and the country ten cents to get closer to see the damage of the flood by Monday July 27... the flood was Friday evening.

Sanborn fire insurance maps of Ellicott City

The buildings were color coded (blue - stone, red - brick, yellow - wood) and other details that insurance agents and firemen would find useful. Library of Congress holds many maps by Sanborn, those for Ellicott City: 1887, 1894, 1899, 1904, 1910. HERE

I've included these maps many times in past blog posts, and will continue. Today I posted many images of the large Patapsco Flour Mill on my Researching Food History blog. That post was initially intended for this blog, so I've compiled links to EC posts using Sanborn maps.

The Oaks

Built in 1856 by Caroline and Robert H. Hare, "The Oaks" was bought by sea captain Edward P. Dennis from NY and his Georgia wife after their 1857 wedding. Son Edward R. Dennis inherited it but in 1920 moved closer to Ellicott City. From 1946 Evelyn & Carl Meyers lived there 30 years. Sadly, it burned down.

Libraries in Howard County 1904-1923

The Maryland State Library Commission was formed by law in 1902 and did annual reports. Three colleges in Howard County - St. Charles College, Rock Hill College (picture left) and Redemmptorists' College Library. By 1923 there were 22 traveling libraries, and new public libraries in Ellicott City.

MDLANDrec.net - Find your house history or family lands from home

Maryland land records online (deeds, morgages) allow you to trace back owners of your house or other historic buildings from home. Howard County separated from Anne Arundel County in 1840, so for earlier searches, use AA indices. The MDLAND site is also convenient for geneaology, to find your ancestor(s) home and other properties they may have owned. How to navigate MDLANDrec.net is explained with photos of each page, below.

Catalog kit houses ("Sears Homes") - online resources

Ready cut houses - where all the lumber was pre cut, then sent by train with everything needed to build a house. The first was Aladdin in 1906, then Sears, and today 'Sears House' has become the common term for all kit homes. Several good virtual talks have been taped, links below. Also links to catalogs (then used to pick a house, now to match an existing home) and information on some major companies, such as where their papers are archived. Images of similar styled homes with floor plan, for each company...

When a Sears House is not a Sears house

A local street is named for the Sears mail order kit houses: Sears House Court, Ellicott City. But, the 1921 house was actually by Gordon Van Tine Co. of Iowa. The wood was precut for every part of the house and numbered. Then the 'kit' was sent by train to be assembled by owner or local craftsman. More on the Sears House Court house (pictured); a small 2-family bungalow in EC, and some ways to detect if a house you've seen or own is a true kit house.

Children's play areas around Howard County MD

Several include historic sites (Children’s Museum in c1812 Quaker school, oldest train station, Enchanted Forest), many local farms, indoor activity centers, libraries, and more.

Near Wilde Lake, a tot slide has been incorporated within the ruins of historic Bleak House.