9/11 Garden of Hope in Centennial Park - 25 years later

September 11, 2001 - the surprise attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center towers in NYC killed 2,977 people. The following year the Garden of Hope was created in Centennial Park to remember the attacks and the four Howard County residents who were killed. It is located across from the white outdoor amphitheater at Centennial Park, South off Rt 108.

Lanterns / cupolas on roofs in Howard County MD for light and ventilation

One way to cool buildings was to have a 'lantern' or cupola on the roof that would draw the warm air up stairs, or through vents or ductwork then out the slat openings or open the windows of the lantern. Cooler air would be sucked in from below. Lantern on Linwood.

The interior view (next photo) of Linwood's lantern c1865, shows the ropes that opened the windows and the black square vents below each window.

Carrollton Hall

During a recent open house, I took some pictures of the fabulous vaulted entry hall ceiling, one of several architectural gems designed by William F. Small in 1831. Charles Carroll gave the land on Folly Quarter Road to one of his granddaughters, Emily Caton MacTavish (1793-1867) then to her son, then through a series of owners until finally to The Franciscan Friars Conventual who have owned it since 1928.

Mount Ida

Mount Ida was built by 1834/1836 by William Ellicott (1793-1838) son of Jonathon and grandson of Andrew Ellicott, one of the founders of Ellicott City.

It was the last house built by an Ellicott in the historic district. The formal entrance that faced the town, is now the back, and the current front was the rear of the house with two doors - large one into the entry hall, and smaller one on the right into the kitchen.

American Revolution exhibit at Mount Ida. June 16 - July 1

For HoCo250 a national exhibit is at OEC - American Revolution Traveling Exhibit - by DAR and American Battlefield Trust is in The Inn at Mt. Ida, 3691 Sarahs Lane, Ellicott City. June 16-July 1. More about the display HERE

Mount Ida was built by 1834/1836 for William Ellicott (1793-1838) son of Jonathon and grandson of Andrew one of the founders of Ellicott City. Robert Cary Long, Jr. (1810-1849) designed and "supervised the building of it." William was raised next to the mill at his father's home beside his Uncle George Ellicott's stone home (which survived the flood that distroyed the Jonathon Ellicott stone home in 1972). His cousin Elizabeth Ellicott Lea, Maryland's first cookbook author (in 1845), was born the same year as William and lived next door (George was her father). Recipe at end.

HoCo 250 - local activities, online talks, open houses

Howard County (and the USA) is celebrating 250 years since 1776 in 2026. HoCo 250. Open houses, talks and other activities. Below are some links to calendars of events. In 2022 Ellicott City celebrated EC250 - 250 years of its founding in 1772, blog post HERE

15 buildings! - Museums, businesses, homes and even the Odd Fellows - are participating in an Open House Day on Sat. Oct 17.

Art on Main Street - OEC - Old Ellicott City

A variety of art including two large murals on the buildings next to the visitors center (part of the Yates mural, left), inside the old Post Office are two New Deal Murals, sculptures of an eggplant and peach on upper Main, mill wheel and water sculpture on side of a building, tile entryways to some of the stores, faux painting of bricks and rocks for the Times building, faux painting on plywood window covers after flooding, Christmas art on store windows...

Click to enlarge each photo, HABS is Historic American Buildings writeup.

Four Firehouses of Ellicott City

The first three firehouses were on upper Main Street, and the current firehouse is above Old Ellicott City at the top of Old Columbia Pike at 4150 Montgomery Road.

Thanks to everyone - present and past - who stepped forward to be firemen and protect us all.

Main Street OEC Old Ellicott City - South side

A 'walk' by historic & flood prevention sites along Main Street, Old Ellicott City OEC. For more information click on the HABS - Historic American Buildings writeup.

Main Street buildings - Old Ellicott City - North side

Historic & flood prevention sites along Main Street (Frederick St.), in Ellicott City. 1860 Schase map (left) and 1834 McLoughlin lottery sketch depict the buildings on Main Street.

Occoquan - Ellicott mills in Va near DC

John Davis, travelling from England, worked for a few months as a tutor to Nathaniel Ellicott's (1763–1841) children at his home Rockledge and two mills. Davis wrote that he "was nearly stunned by the noise of two huge mills, whose roar, without any hyperbolical aggravation, is scarcely inferior to that of the great falls of the Potomac, or the cataract of Niagara."

Nathaniel was the son of Andrew Ellicott (1733-1809), one of the founders of Ellicott City, and brother of George Ellicott (1760-1832) whose house is opposite the old EC mill on the Patapsco River. All three are buried in the Ellicott family cemetery in Ellicott City.

Ten years and 200 blog posts since Feb 24 2016

Initially the blog was about notable women and historic homes of Howard County, but there are so many other intriguing topics from B&O RR (oldest train station in the US, photo left) and bridges to the Ellicotts, Columbia history, Babe Ruth's marriage and much more - look at "Labels" links list at right.

Caplan's store redone and open for business

Although the back portion which went over the river was removed, a small portion has been fixed up by the county and open. Stop by while you are in old EC shopping or just walking around.