Images of America: Maryland
Series · 88
books · 1999-2016
Books in series
#2
Accokeek
2013
Accokeek is an unincorporated place in the southwest corner of Prince George's County. The name "Accokeek" is an Algonquian word meaning "at the edge of the hill." Before the arrival of Capt. John Smith in 1623, indigenous people had occupied the area intermittently for thousands of years. After an initial increase in the European population and a corresponding decline in the number of American Indians, the population of Accokeek stabilized. The area could be described as a rural community in harmony with nature. Since World War II, the size and diversity of the population have changed rapidly. In 1942, Indian Head Naval Reservation Access Road was constructed. The major highway passes through Accokeek and connects residents to federal government jobs in Indian Head to the south and Washington, DC, to the north. Today, Accokeek citizens continue efforts to preserve the natural environment and historical landmarks from development.
#3
African Americans of Calvert County
2008
Nestled between the Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent River, this tiny peninsula county is home to one of the oldest African American communities, established when the first settlers arrived. Located just south of Washington, D.C., Calvert County's African American community can be traced back to the county's beginning in the 17th century. From a time when Calvert County's black population grew to approximately 60 percent of the populace, to its present-day residents representing the national average of 12 percent, Calvert's African Americans have attempted to hold on to many of their rich cultural traditions. Although their livelihoods as farmers and watermen have mostly ceased to exist these days, they continue to maintain strong ties to the land and an unwavering commitment to family values and community. The beautiful photographs and documents in this volume give a glimpse into the past of these proud people who continue to flourish while holding onto their distinctive identity.
#4
Allegany County
2011
Allegany County's historical significance covers a broad range of topics and years. Established in 1789, the county rapidly developed in the 19th century due to transportation advantages, industrialization, natural resources, and the entrepreneurial spirit of its citizens. Allegany County's economy continued to expand in the 20th century, as additional industries made western Maryland their home. Industrial growth created towns and commercial opportunities that have shaped the county's character for more than two centuries.
#6
Around Greensboro
2008
The quaint town of Greensboro, Maryland, is nestled in the middle of the Delmarva Peninsula on Maryland's Eastern Shore where its American roots travel across the Choptank River and reach deep into the agricultural soil of Caroline County. The Choptank River's path meanders up the peninsula from the Chesapeake Bay, cutting through Caroline County, and it is at the great bend in the river that Peter Harrington brought into full bloom his grandfather Peter Rich's vision of a town. This location was vital to the movement of products to and from people living in the middle of the peninsula, and Greensboro quickly grew into a thriving small port town where businesses, including tanneries and shipbuilding, appeared. Greensboro's accessibility to Washington, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Wilmington makes this quiet town a convenient bedroom community with big-town access and rural serenity.
#7
Around Mount Washington
2013
One of Baltimore's first suburbs, Mount Washington was originally part of a 17th-century land grant owned by Edward Stevenson. The hilly terrain provided a sense of privacy and isolation from the commerce of downtown Baltimore, and the cool summer breezes and cleaner air attracted city dwellers. With the advent of rail transportation, the village of Mount Washington evolved into a summer retreat in the mid-1800s. Shortly thereafter, it blossomed into an independent community of year-round residents who love the rural setting but may enjoy the urban amenities of downtown just minutes away. The nearby communities of Pimlico and Pikesville were established by Jewish families who migrated from the downtown area. The communities featured in Around Mount Washington have managed to retain elements of rural charm that originally attracted visitors in the 19th century.
#9
Around Susquehanna State Park
2005
In 1608, Capt. John Smith navigated the waters of the Susquehanna River and named it "Smith's Falles." At that time, the surrounding land was occupied by the Susquehannock Indians, and after their departure, land grants were awarded to English colonists. These early settlers hewed timber from the dense forests for shelter and cultivated the land to grow crops of corn, wheat, and tobacco. The waterway served as a means of travel and as a source of food for these adventurers. They fished from the river and nearby streams and harnessed water power to operate their flint and grist mills.
#10
Baltimore County
2009
In its beginnings, Baltimore County was covered with dense ancient forests of deciduous trees and so little undergrowth that it was said a man could gallop horses within them. Today horses gallop over bucolic pastures of renowned Thoroughbred farms amidst quaint historic towns seen dotting the rolling landscape. Named for the Lords Baltimore, Baltimore County was originally an expansive area extending well beyond today's boundaries. Founded in 1659, the county has evolved from tobacco farming to diverse industries ranging from steel manufacturing to picturesque vineyards. Both then and now, nearby Baltimore Harbor on the Chesapeake Bay provides lucrative opportunities for merchants to trade their crops and commodities. The county offers endless recreational pursuits on over 175 miles of shoreline. Baltimore County is proud to claim among its residents the noted neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson; baseball's all-time iron man, Cal Ripken; and famous author Tom Clancy.
#11
Baltimore in World War II
2005
The World War II years were a time of growth and productivity for the Baltimore area, and the city contributed significantly to the Allied war effort. Baltimore launched the first of the famed Liberty ships, the SS Patrick Henry, which was constructed at the Bethlehem-Fairfield yard. The Baltimore area also produced many advanced military aircraft such as the B-26 Marauder, built at the Glenn L. Martin plant in Middle River. At Camp Holabird, the army first tested the world-famous jeep and trained the soldiers who kept the jeeps and other army vehicles running. Coast Guard sailors trained at Fort McHenry and Curtis Bay before heading to combat or stateside duties. Baltimore sent plenty of its own men and women abroad to take the fight directly to the enemy in every theatre of war. Through wartime photographs, this volume tells the story of Baltimoreans engaged in the war effort—men and women, the young and old, lifelong residents and newcomers—from a variety of racial and religious backgrounds, all working together toward victory.
#12
Baltimore's Deaf Heritage
2014
The booming job market and beautifully designed city of Baltimore attracted many families and individuals to the area in the 19th century. Several of these transplants would become prominent figures in the Deaf community. George W. Veditz, an early American Sign Language filmmaker and former president of the National Association of the Deaf; Rev. Daniel E. Moylan, founder of the oldest operational Methodist church for the deaf; and George Michael “Dummy” Leitner, a professional baseball player, all influenced Baltimore’s growing deaf population. Through vintage photographs of successful organizations and sports teams, including the Silent Oriole Club, Christ Church of the Deaf, the Jewish Deaf Society of Baltimore, the Silent Clover Society, and the National Fraternal Society for the Deaf, Baltimore’s Deaf Heritage illustrates the evolution of Baltimore’s Deaf community and its prominent leaders.
#16
Baltimore's Patterson Park
2006
Patterson Park is an urban oasis, a sacred green space surrounded by red brick row homes and generations of diverse cultures and neighborhoods. For almost 180 years, Baltimoreans have picnicked under tall tulip poplars, strolled the deeply curved paths, and enjoyed the rich architectural design of this 137-acre East Baltimore park. Patterson Park is not simply beautiful landscapes, scenic vistas, and tree-lined pathways. This refuge is also an urban emerald with many facets. Patterson Park has served as the defenses of Baltimore during the War of 1812, a Civil War surgical hospital, and a picturesque home to herons, wood ducks, and painted turtles. Patterson Park has a free outdoor gym with tennis courts, volleyball nets, and an ice rink, as well as paths for relaxing walks around the boat lake. Since its beginnings in 1827, Patterson Park has been a prime example of how urban open spaces can complete and unify diverse communities.
#19
Bel Air
2004
The town of Bel Air is the hub of Harford County and one of the most vital towns in the state of Maryland. Developed as the county seat in 1780, Bel Air began as an area of about seven blocks by two blocks with a courthouse directly in the center. Today, after tremendous growth, Main Street and the courthouse still lie at the heart of the town. From Bel Air's beginning to its incorporation in 1874 and through the 21st century, growth and change have presented challenges and opportunities for this storybook community.
#26
Carroll County
2006
Carroll County, in central Maryland, was created in 1837 out of the western part of Baltimore County and the eastern part of Frederick County, making it one of the last counties created in the state. It takes its name from Charles Carroll, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He lived the longest of all the signers, dying a few years before the county's founding. Carroll County's location has influenced its history, bringing together Mason and Dixon, the Baltimore and Ohio and Western Maryland Railroads, the Union Army of the Potomac, J. E. B. Stuart's Confederate cavalry, and the rural free delivery of mail. Settled by Pennsylvania Germans along the northern border and English settlers in the south, its diverse heritage is reflected in the cities of Westminster, Hampstead, Manchester, Mount Airy, New Windsor, Sykesville, Taneytown, Union Bridge, and the crossroad communities of Linwood, Patapsco, and Union Mills.
#28
Cecil County
2008
Location, location, location: this catchphrase speaks to a dominant theme in the shaping of Cecil County's history. Cecil County is at the head of the Chesapeake Bay, with rivers defining two boundaries and the famous Mason-Dixon Line delineating the northern and eastern boundaries. Close to major cities and known as the most rural county along the northeast corridor of I-95, Cecil has held on to its agricultural heritage while at the same time accommodating the flow of trade, tourists, recreational visitors, dignitaries, military supplies, armies, the navy, and romantic couples ready to be married. The county has added its own agricultural products, natural resources, industrial goods, and citizens to the flow of traffic on the county's historic waterways and highways. Separated from Baltimore County in 1674, Cecil was a few decades from celebrating its bicentennial when the first itinerant photographer unpacked his equipment at the courthouse and began the process of preserving the county's history through images.
#29
Charles County
2007
Faithful subjects of the English crown, Jesuits, and entrepreneurs first settled in Charles County in the early 1630s. The area quickly sprouted into Colonial-styled plantation life of distinct Southern charm. The currency of the day was tobacco, even for payment of taxes and doctor bills. Through the War of 1812 and the Civil War, the mainly agricultural economy of the county was devastated. But as time passed, plantations became farmsteads, Native American trails became roadways, and the railroad created new town centers, such as Waldorf and La Plata. In the earlier years, the county's self-sufficiency was strongly displayed when the public school system and fire departments were started through private donations. For most of its life, Charles County's only employer not associated with agriculture was the Indian Head Naval Proving Ground, now known as the Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center. It is still ranked as the county's number one employer. Tobacco still reigned as the cash crop of choice until 2000.
#30
Charles County Revisited
2009
Charles County was chartered in 1658 and marked its 350th anniversary in 2008. In its lifespan, it has transformed itself from an agriculturally based English colony to an explosive commercial bedroom community for Washington, D.C. In this second volume on Charles County, the author reveals just how that happened. Most of the images in this book focus on the explosive growth the county experienced from the 1940s to 1970s. They also provide a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people doing everyday things. An eye-opening chapter about the county's legalized gambling era will recall the neon icons that signaled entrepreneurial risk takers, gamblers, and service industries to enter, and forever change, southern Maryland's plantation lifestyle. A chapter on law enforcement and the judicial system will solicit an appreciation of one of the earliest institutions in the county. Good Samaritans are properly recognized for their noble works in chapters on infrastructure and service clubs.
#32
Chesapeake's Western Shore
Vintage Vacationland
2009
In 1952, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge opened for travelers in Maryland and created unprecedented access from the mainland to the Eastern Shore and the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean. Before then, the Chesapeake Bay itself was the "seaside" for residents of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Popular bay-side vacation spots sprang up in Maryland during the late 1800s and early 1900s, and began to transform the rural fringes of the Chesapeake's Western Shore. People journeyed by railroad, steamboat, and automobile to escape the sweltering city summers and to swim, fish, and boat along the bay. Amusement parks, casinos, and dance halls enlivened the scene. Developers actively promoted the sale of summer cottages near resort areas that dotted the Patapsco, Magothy, Severn, and South Rivers, as well as the open bay, and laid the roots for many communities that still exist today. The images presented in this book evoke a shared heritage in the pleasures of the Chesapeake Bay and depict an era that triggered permanent changes along its shores.
#33
Chincoteague and Assateague Islands
2000
The thriving barrier islands of Chincoteague and Assateague entice over a million tourists to their shores every year. Adjacent to one another, these parcels of land jutting into the Atlantic have a symbiotic relationship—Chincoteague, a modern, developed community that thrives on tourism, helps attract visitors to neighboring Assateague, which in turn acts as a natural buffer against the surging tides and is home to Assateague Island National Seashore, a state park that provides protection for native flora and fauna and leisure activities for the nature lover. Overlapping the border between Maryland and Virginia, Assateague Island remains an undisturbed natural habitat boasting extensive wetlands and wildlife. Images of the native inhabitants of this area abound—the ponies, birds, and sea life take center stage, while the sandy dunes and rolling ocean provide a beautiful backdrop. The families who made the island of Chincoteague their home, from as early as 1650, were a tough breed and, over the years, made many contributions to the improvement of their community. Schools, churches, and businesses were established, bridges were built, roads were paved, and waterways made navigable—all of this visually documented and now available in this remarkable volume.
#35
Columbia
2005
Columbia is a planned community that has influenced suburban development since its creation in the mid-1960s. This city of 100,000 grew out of rural farmland, patterned by the best thinkers of its time, including visionary developer James Rouse and a team of consultants such as sociologist Herbert Gans and transportation planner Alan Voorhees. World-famous architect Frank Gehry designed key buildings. Oakland Manor, featuring a barn that is a historical landmark, is one example of the structures preserved to give roots to the new town. Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Chabon grew up in Columbia and has said it altered the course of his life, making him into the writer he is today.
#36
Crisfield
The First Century
2006
Crisfield, once one of the largest communities in Maryland, is a city literally built on seafood: its foundation is comprised largely of oyster shells. Named in 1866 for Eastern Shore Railroad president John W. Crisfield, the city was formed from the Somerset County communities of Annemessex and Somers Cove and incorporated in 1872. Known then as "Dodge City of the East," the railroad's seafood-shipping opportunities gave the area new hope, and by the 1930s, it gained the nickname "Seafood Capital of the World." Crisfield: The First Century highlights landmark events—the Great Fire of 1928, Hurricane Hazel in 1954, and the creation of the National Hard Crab Derby—and everyday life at school, church, and downtown. Crisfield's rich history is captured in more than 200 images in this volume.
#37
Crofton
2009
Established in 1964 as a planned community, Crofton's almost 2,000 acres have been colonized and cultivated since the mid-17th century. Its roots can be traced to America's first planned community—Williamsburg, Virginia. Williamsburg's elegance and charm inspired developer W. Hamilton Crawford's idyllic design for Crofton: a grand boulevard, curving residential streets, arching trees, a country club, and easy access to nearby Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. This collection of photographs from the mid-19th to the mid-20th century reflects the life and times of the maturing village of Crofton. Fields of tobacco and corn, towering woodlands, cherry tree saplings along Crofton Parkway, the dedication of Crofton Park, summer Little League camp—Images of America: Crofton is a compendium of dreams fulfilled. Independence Day parades; fairs; bicycle races; pumpkin-design competitions; softball, soccer, and basketball teams; and summer concerts on the Green are all here. While historians record the facts, artists and cameras capture the small moments as well as the grand events. Those moments, large and small, are what readers will find between these covers.
#39
Dorchester County
2002
Dorchester County's special blend of past and present, treasured by locals, appeals also to visitors from all walks of life. Presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Jimmy Carter, performers Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Ella Fitzgerald, and Pulitzer Prize-winning authors James Michener and Richard Ben Cramer all enjoyed sojourning here. Dorchester County is surrounded almost entirely by scenic waters: the Choptank and Nanticoke Rivers, Hunting Creek, and the Chesapeake Bay. A cruise along these waterways offers long stretches of pristine marsh and uplands that transport visitors to earlier days, when Native Americans traveled these same waters in log canoes. Occasional glimpses of historic homes evoke colonial times. Within these watery boundaries, this largest of Maryland's counties encompasses landscapes and activities to gladden any heart. Railroad and history buffs, hunters, birdwatchers, epicures, and visitors from more hectic locales all find their heart's content in this land of pleasant living.
#40
Dundalk
2006
Dundalk of today was born in 1895 when an Irish businessman affixed a handmade sign to a newly constructed freight station, proclaiming the name of this Baltimore County community. From then on, the area developed into a hotbed of industry and military activity. The Pennsylvania Steel Company fired up its blast furnaces at Sparrows Point. Brickmakers Burns and Russell, whose firm dates back to 1790, began manufacturing on a 125-acre parcel near what is now Logan Village. During the War of 1812, British forces invaded Patapsco Neck and were repelled by local militia. People lucky enough to make Dundalk their home over the years have fond memories of Riverview Park on Colgate Creek, a popular family amusement park along what is now Broening Highway, and of playing and relaxing at William McShane's Maryland Swimming Club, which boasted first-rate clay tennis courts and a bathing beach. More than 200 vintage photographs are included in this volume, assembled from private collections and the files of the Dundalk- Patapsco Neck Historical Society Museum. They feature current and former landmarks like Harbor Field, Fort Holabird, the Brentwood Inn, Todd House, Bay Shore Park, WAYE Radio, and the Lyceum Theatre. Equally important are the images of everyday people, many of whom impacted the community through their character and profession.
#41
Easton
1999
Known today as "A Family Town," the city of Eastpointe, Michigan possesses a vibrant history and a unique heritage. This book showcases over 220 historic images, including rare plat maps, to document Eastpointe's growth and development throughout the past two centuries. Eastpointe, Michigan serves as a visual tour of the area's rural roots and urban progress, from the 1830s, when immigrants began to settle in the region, through the present day, when it thrives as a multi-ethnic suburb of Detroit. In these pages, discover Eastpointe's founding families, its notable historic homes and businesses, and its evolution from an agricultural hamlet into a celebrated suburban community.
#43
Edgewood
2012
Located in southeastern Harford County, Edgewood was established in the mid-1800s as a small village around a train station. It remained small until 1917, when the government took over thousands of acres to create the Edgewood Arsenal military complex. Thousands came to build the arsenal on land previously known for having fertile farms, gentlemen's waterfowl hunting clubs, and one of the earliest meeting places for Methodists in America. World War II brought an even greater increase in military personnel and civilians. Later, numerous housing developments replaced obsolete off-post government buildings. The creation of Route 40 through Edgewood in 1939 and 1940 and the Edgewood exit on Interstate I-95 in 1963 brought travelers and spurred new business.
#44
Elkridge
2013
Founded in 1733, Elkridge is the oldest settlement in Howard County. With its proximity to the Patapsco River, railroad tracks, and highways, Elkridge has served as a vital Maryland artery over the years. A port town, Elkridge’s reputation as an exporter of tobacco and iron to England was rivaled in Maryland only by Annapolis. In 1830, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad laid its tracks, and the construction of the Thomas Viaduct, the nation’s first curved railroad bridge, followed thereafter. Today, Elkridge is a blend of generations-old families and new residents who were attracted by the area’s central location on the Baltimore-Washington corridor. Despite some of the hardships the community has faced, Elkridge has persevered through the flood of 1868, World War II, and the construction of Interstate 95. Elkridge shares how the community continues to thrive through the resilient spirit of its people.
#46
Essex
2007
Advertised in a 1909 sales brochure as "The Rising Suburb of the East," Essex, Maryland, has seen its fate and fortune rise and fall and rise again. The town enjoyed its early reputation as a haven for city dwellers with picnic groves, hunting and fishing clubs, dance halls, and waterfront amusement parks. The boom continued with new jobs and prosperity until the 1950s, when a fire destroyed much of the town's main street. Economic decay set in as a result of the loss of industry and an influx of low-income housing. Several attempts at redevelopment and legislation failed, resulting in the residents' distrust of government intervention. Finally a county-backed Renaissance project was established in 2002, bringing Essex a new epithet: "The Hidden Gem of Baltimore County."
#47
Farming in Anne Arundel County
2011
Since early settlers landed on Maryland's shores, agriculture has played a vital role in shaping the colony and state. Founded in 1650 in central Maryland, Anne Arundel County is home to Annapolis, the state's capital. Spanning 416 square miles and boasting 533 miles of Chesapeake Bay coastline, the county was once dotted with pastoral farming villages where tobacco was the major cash crop. In time, farmers diversified and adapted their craft and products to meet the demands of an ever-changing world. By the mid-1900s, truck crops became a leading agricultural commodity as farmers began to raise livestock and other produce to supplement their income. The county's proximity to Washington, DC, and Baltimore created job opportunities that led to suburban expansion, and by the late 20th century, tobacco—once the backbone of Maryland agriculture—was replaced by other crops. Images of America: Farming in Anne Arundel County chronicles the county's rich agricultural history and transformation through images collected from farm families and historical organizations.
#48
Farming in Carroll County
2009
Carroll County's road signs are a testament to the farm families who settled here. Bollinger, Hoff, Roop, Baugher, Royer, Bushey, and many more are road names that honor those who have produced food for themselves and the nation in times of peace, war, and the Great Depression. In 1917, when the first county agricultural agent arrived, 96.6 percent of the land was held in 3,384 farms. By 1926, Carroll County, Maryland, led the state in corn, swine, and poultry production. It was second in dairy and beef, and it was the world leader in wormseed oil production. A prominent feature of Carroll County's landscape has always been the red barns, and they still are today. The photographs in this book were collected from farm families and historical organizations, portraying a unique insider's view of the history of farm life in Carroll County.
#49
Federal Hill
2012
Baltimore's historic Federal Hill district thrives as one of the city's most active and resilient communities. In 1789, city residents gathered at Federal Hill Park to celebrate the ratification of the US Constitution. Later, the park would be occupied by Union soldiers during the Civil War. For decades, bustling shipyards ringed the harbor around Federal Hill. But in the 1960s, parts of the neighborhood, including the park itself, were targeted for destruction to make way for an interstate highway. Fortunately that plan was abandoned, and today, the National Historic Districts of Federal Hill, Federal Hill South, and Sharp Leadenhall—plus the adjoining neighborhood of Otterbein—are home to museums, restaurants, and breathtaking views of the Inner Harbor and skyline. Its quaint streets are lined with iconic Baltimore row houses from the 19th and early 20th centuries.
#52
Firefighting in Frederick
2004
The story of firefighting in Frederick, Maryland, is a complex tale of heroism, sacrifice, and duty that dates back to 1818.
Firefighters play a vital role in any time, but it's almost easy to forget the days before mandatory fire safety practices, when most buildings were made of wood, how often the fire department was the only thing to prevent a fire from destroying an entire city. This volume describes the heroic role the fire department has played in defending the city of Frederick for close to two centuries. Highlighted in this work are the Independent Hose Company, Junior Fire Company, United Steam Fire Engine Company, Citizen's Truck Company, Fort Detrick Fire Department, as well as historic fires, emergency medical services, and major disasters throughout the region.
#53
Firefighting in Frederick County
2005
Images of Firefighting in Frederick County honors the contribution of both volunteer and career firefighters through the years. Captured in these 200 vintage images are the local volunteer fire companies, many support agencies, and other emergency services organizations that have been assisting Frederick County for centuries. Featured also will be photographs of the Independent Hose Company of Frederick, which has the honor of being the oldest continuously operating fire company in Maryland, having been founded in 1818. Today, Frederick County is home to the National Fire Academy and the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, both located in Emmitsburg and featured in the book.
#54
Firefighting in Hagerstown
2004
The story of firefighting in Hagerstown is almost as old as the town itself. From the bucket brigades in 1791 to the modern fire apparatus used today, the fire department of Hagerstown has played a significant role in protecting local citizens and structures from the ravages of fire. By highlighting the major components of the fire department, including firefighters, fire stations, and the blazes that have spread throughout the city, Images of America: Firefighting in Hagerstown chronicles over two centuries of protection in Hagerstown. This work touches on the dedication, sacrifice, and willingness to serve by the members of each fire company. With over 200 archival images, this volume highlights many rarely seen photographs, including horse-drawn equipment, firehouses, and many of Hagerstown's most challenging fires.
#55
Forest Glen
2004
Forest Glen, Maryland, a sleepy suburb of Washington, D.C., has weathered the arrival of the railroad, construction of a summer resort, development of a fashionable girl's finishing school, and the establishment of a U.S. Army base. Throughout these times there has always been a close-knit community of homes and people that were often overshadowed by the many diverse events and changes that prevailed here. The focal point of the community—one of only a few extant eclectic architectural follies in the United States and consisting of many international styles—is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the National Park Seminary Historic District.
#58
Frederick County
2005
Frederick County is the crossroads of American history. Established in 1748, Maryland's largest county boasts some of the major building blocks of our country: the National Road, the C&O Canal, and the B&O Railroad. The images in this volume illustrate the lives of everyday people, from the daily chores on a rural farm to the urbane pastimes of Frederick residents. The camera's lens provides a unique opportunity to look back in time and view a devastating fire in Braddock Heights, see Confederate troops marching to battle through Frederick, and witness the inaugural run of the Frederick & Middletown Railway. Included are places and events that make Frederick County's history distinct yet truly all-American.
#60
Frostburg
2002
Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains in Western Maryland sits Frostburg, a community brimming with a deep sense of history and tradition. Whether as a stop along the National Road, a booming coal-mining area, or the diverse college town of today, Frostburg has always fostered a rich ethnic heritage, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to education.The vintage photographs in Frostburg reveal the story of a town abounding with history. Carved out of Revolutionary War military lots, the town gained significance in the early 1800s as a stagecoach stop. The people who came to build the community represent a variety of cultures: Scottish, Welsh, German, and Italian residents of decades past are all included in this pictorial retrospective. The diligent efforts of early coal-mining families helped to establish what is now Frostburg State University in 1898, and the impact the institution has had on the community is evident within these pages. Photos of lively baseball games, decorated bands, public servants, early businesses, and memorable events are just some of the engaging images that are displayed in this collection.
#62
Greater Roland Park
2015
Developer Edward Bouton revolutionized American life with the creation of Roland Park, one of the country's first "streetcar suburbs," located in Baltimore, Maryland. Unlike many late-19th-century suburbs, Roland Park is well preserved, and many would consider it a late-Victorian version of Colonial Williamsburg. In the 20th century, Bouton also created Roland Park's sister Guilford, Homeland, and Original Northwood. The latter two were developed after the heyday of the streetcar; in contrast, Roland Park without streetcars would have been unthinkable. Even now, trolley memories abound in the form of surviving old trackage and waiting shelters. Greater Roland Park explores the development of the suburb and its Embla Park, Evergreen, Keswick, Lake Falls, Lake Roland, New North Roland Park, The Orchards, Poplar Hill, and Tuxedo Park.
#64
Growing Up in Baltimore
A Photographic History
2001
Chronicling the period from the mid-nineteenth century to the early 1900s through striking vintage photographs, Growing Up in Baltimore pays tribute to the enduring courage and spirit of children. In a city that has been, at once, blessed with a rich port and torn apart by war, filled with pristine parks and scarred by the ravages of industrial life, childhood has reflected the ever-changing times and culture in American life. From baseball games and trips to the zoo to schoolyard pals and amusement park rides, children explored the world around them. But the nostalgia and innocence of well-born youth mingled with the harsher realities that many boys and girls knew as their daily lives-laboring in the mills and factories, the haphazard destruction of fires and storms, the segregation of public places, the cold and hunger so keenly felt during the Great Depression.
#65
Guilford
2015
Discover the rich and unique history of Guilford, Maryland -through the lens of vintage images; some never before seen.
Guilford, which debuted in 1913 as a collaboration of the Roland Park Company and the acclaimed Olmsted Brothers, became a model for suburban developments nationally. Carved from the country estate of Baltimore Sun founder Arunah Shepherdson Abell, Guilford was a pastoral retreat for Baltimore's social elite. Its aesthetics combine that of an English country village with modern construction and design to coincide with the American mania for English architecture and town planning. The area has been generously endowed with English-style greens, squares, and signature Olmsted Brothers "places," creating one of the country's most parklike developments. Part of a shining, new suburban Baltimore, the prominent neighborhood was developed concurrently with Wyman Park, Johns Hopkins University, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Now a National Register Historic District, Guilford remains a showcase example of the American garden city movement.
#68
Hagerstown in the Civil War
2011
Wedged strategically between the Mason-Dixon Line and the Potomac River, Hagerstown was destined to play a significant role in the Civil War. A diverse community, most residents gravitated toward the blue while some sided with the gray. Slavery was not a major presence in western Maryland, yet some local residents owned slaves along this route on the Underground Railroad. The intriguing story of Hagerstown during the Civil War is captured in this volume of vintage photographs, portraits, drawings, and other illustrations. Learn the stories of participants, both local and from across the country, whose wartime experiences in Hagerstown forever affected them. From the secretive arrival of John Brown in June 1859, to recent efforts to commemorate this history, the reader will come to understand the rich heritage that can be found in Hagerstown.
#69
Hampden-Woodberry
2006
The urban Baltimore neighborhood of Hampden-Woodberry began as a mill village in rural Baltimore County, where the swift-flowing waters of Jones Falls provided the power for early gristmills. As the nearby city grew into a major international port, the flour mills gave way to cloth mills that turned out cotton duck for sails. At their peak, the mills of Hampden-Woodberry turned out 80 percent of the world's cotton duck. Thousands of men, women, and children were employed in what was, in the late 19th century, the United States' largest concentration of factory labor. Fortunes were made by such men as Robert Poole and the Hooper, Carroll, and Gambrill families, who owned the mills. When it was annexed to Baltimore in 1888, Hampden-Woodberry was a thriving industrial community. The last of the mills closed in 1972, but many of these historic structures are now being reused for a variety of purposes. More importantly, Hampden-Woodberry still survives as a community with deep roots in America's industrial past.
#71
Havre de Grace
2006
Situated where the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay meet, the city of Havre de Grace in Harford County, Maryland, has seen Revolutionary fervor, a rich maritime tradition, a flamboyant gambling industry, prosperous farms, and thoughtful public servants. Over 200 photographs in this volume depict a century of change in Havre de Grace, from a time when Washington Street was unpaved and covered with oyster shells, to the beginnings of today’s tourist industry and efforts to beautify the cityscape. Striking photographs from over the decades show everyday life: the vegetable truck that took local produce street to street, the butchers at Seibert’s Market standing proudly with their prize-winning hog, and the exciting Fourth of July parades. Over the years, kids swam in the Susquehanna, played around the oil tanks at Gilbert Oil, danced ‘round the maypole, sang in the church choir, and had their photographs taken on Velvet the Pony. At Christmastime, youngsters whispered their wishes to Santa for a Howdy Doody or Betsy Wetsy doll or a set of Lionel Trains. Grown ups bought hardware at Hecht’s, car supplies at Western Auto, prescriptions at Lyons Pharmacy, clothes at Levy’s, and shoes at Frank’s. And every family and business toted the trash to the dump that never stopped smoldering.
#72
Highlandtown
2006
Highlandtown's strong roots are nourished by old world traditions of family, culture, and faith. Settlement of the area first known as Snake Hill dates to the 19th century's expansion of the waterfront communities of Fell's Point and Canton. Farms and slaughterhouses soon emerged, relying heavily on immigrant laborers from Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, and Ireland. Fort Marshall was established atop the area's highest point, the present site of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. A military hospital emerged in Patterson Park, which began as a six-acre gift to the city from merchant William Patterson in 1826. After being renamed Highland Town" in 1862, Baltimore City annexed the town from Baltimore County and changed its spelling. By 1915, much of the retail district had been built along Eastern Avenue among row houses. Streetcars traveled down roadways of dirt or cobblestone, passing theaters, bowling alleys, horse-drawn wagons, and first-generation American children at play. Bakeries, barbers, grocers, and bars were on every corner, along with churches that worshipped in European tongues. There was no need to ever leave Highlandtown, and some folks never did."
#73
Highlandtown Revisited
2011
Highlandtown is arguably the most colorful, eclectic, and diverse neighborhood in Baltimore. Dating from the mid-19th century, the community gained its foothold when a plethora of European immigrants settled into modest brick row houses neatly laid out on numbered streets that replaced early farms. A majority lived within sight, sound, and/or smell of the waterfront factories, foundries, and shipyards where mostly men toiled. With last names like DiPasquale, Markwood, Skurzynski, Vogler, Regan, and Schultz, each brought with them a unique language, heritage, and culture. Aromas of ethnic cooking mingled with those of nearby businesses and industries, and the air was filled with chatter in German, Italian, Polish, Russian, and heavily accented English.
#75
Holland Point
2008
Begun in 1923 as a cluster of summer cottages, Holland Point has developed into a jewel-like residential community on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay at the southern tip of Anne Arundel County. Vintage photographs here capture the history of this community's early beach life that virtually vanished in an August 1933 storm. Behind rock seawalls, residents continued to celebrate with seafood, boating, and parties. Fourth generations of founding families now build luxury homes around "Grandma's cottage" but appreciate the same waves, waterfowl, and wildlife that their ancestors admired when they first cut through the forest to discover the bay.
#78
Howard County
2011
Although it did not officially become a county until 1851, Howard County has a long and varied history that spans more than 400 years. Named for Revolutionary War hero John Eager Howard, this rapidly suburbanizing county features a landscape dotted with farms and grand manor homes situated on rolling farmland that plunges down into the Patapsco River Valley. There, in 1772, the Ellicott brothers established a mill-driven economy that became a center of prosperity, industry, and higher education as well as a home to the first railroad station in America, the National Road, and the first and largest multi-span masonry railroad bridge in the world. Today, Howard County is one of the wealthiest and most progressive counties in the nation. With its rural roots, intriguing architecture, and the charming 18th-century mill town of Ellicott City and the planned community of Columbia as its crown jewels, Howard County offers both the actual and the armchair visitor a wealth of exploration opportunities.
#79
Hyattsville
2008
Hyattsville, Maryland, takes its name from businessman Christopher Clarke Hyatt, who was made the area's first postmaster in January 1859. Hyatt's home and general store were located at the intersection of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Washington-Baltimore Turnpike, only six miles from the Capitol. Hyatt and other early entrepreneurs transformed the rural countryside, aided by the railroad, into one of the largest communities in Prince George's County by the city's April 1886 incorporation. With its prime location and the advent of the streetcar and automobile, Hyattsville's regional prominence was insured. Today the city's history is reflected by its 1,000-building historic district, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The photographs here, collected from area archives and family memorabilia, depict the life of the community over a 100-year span, including wars, women's suffrage, Prohibition, economic depression, rapid growth, and racial divide. Hyattsville's citizens met these and other challenges with spirit, innovation, perseverance, and tolerance.
#81
The Jewish Community of Baltimore
2008
When Jews arrived in the mid-1700s, Baltimore was little more than a backwater port with an uncertain future. As the city grew so did its Jewish community, forming its first congregation in 1830 and hiring the first ordained rabbi in America in 1840. Today Baltimore is home to one of the nation's largest and most diverse Jewish communities, with approximately 100,000 Jews living in the metropolitan area. Through photographs and documents drawn primarily from the collection of the Jewish Museum of Maryland, The Jewish Community of Baltimore chronicles this fascinating history. More than 200 historic images portray the progress of Baltimore's Jews from a handful of immigrants starting new lives in a growing port city, to an established network of clergy, businesspeople, educators, philanthropists, and civic leaders. From the family-owned delis on Lombard Street and the grand department stores on Howard Street, to the majestic synagogues on Eutaw Place and the current epicenter of Jewish life on Park Heights Avenue, Jews have left an indelible mark on Baltimore.
#82
Kent County
2005
Kent County, Maryland, has retained its serene beauty and tradition despite the passage of time. Situated on a peninsula where the Chester and Sassafras Rivers meander into the Chesapeake Bay, Kent County boasts 209 miles of scenic shoreline. The rich history of the waterfront towns features the 1782 founding of Washington College, the only college named for George Washington with his express consent. Chestertown, the county seat, is home to Emmanuel Church, where the name of the Protestant Episcopal denomination was proposed and adopted in 1780. Tolchester Beach’s many amusement rides will be remembered by generations of tourists and Kent County residents.
#83
Lakeland
African Americans in College Park
2009
Lakeland, the historical African American community of College Park, was formed around 1890 on the doorstep of the Maryland Agricultural College, now the University of Maryland, in northern Prince George's County. Located less than 10 miles from Washington, D.C., the community began when the area was largely rural and overwhelmingly populated by European Americans. Lakeland is one of several small, African American communities along the U.S. Route 1 corridor between Washington, D.C., and Laurel, Maryland. With Lakeland's central geographic location and easy access to train and trolley transportation, it became a natural gathering place for African American social and recreational activities, and it thrived until its self-contained uniqueness was undermined by the federal government's urban renewal program and by societal change. The story of Lakeland is the tale of a community that was established and flourished in a segregated society and developed its own institutions and traditions, including the area's only high school for African Americans, built in 1928.
#87
Maryland Thoroughbred Racing
2005
“Thoroughbred racing has always played a central role in Maryland’s identity and must continue into the 21st century.” Gov. Bob Erlich and countless other Marylanders salute the cherished history of thoroughbred racing, though jousting is the official state sport. This volume highlights the people, places, races, faces, and, most important of all, the horses that have held the public’s attention and bolstered Maryland’s economy for several centuries. Subjects range from the legendary to the forgotten and from millionaires to railbirds. Horse racing is a great equalizer, drawing fans of all ages and walks of life.
#88
Maryland in the Civil War
2013
As a border state between the North and South during the Civil War, Maryland's loyalties were strong for both sides. The first casualties of the war occurred during the Baltimore Riot of April 19, 1861, when members of the 6th Massachusetts Regiment were attacked by Confederate supporters while traversing through the city on their way to protect Washington, DC, from attack. Ten days later, Maryland chose not to secede from the Union by a vote of 53-13. On September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the Civil War took place at "Bloody Antietam." At the end of the day, nearly one in four men would be a casualty of the battle, making it the bloodiest day in American military history. There were over 75 skirmishes, raids, and major battles that took place in Maryland during the Civil War. Through vintage photographs, Maryland in the Civil War shares the state's rich military heritage.
#90
Maryland's Lighthouses
2008
In Colonial times, as the Chesapeake Bay and larger rivers became vital shipping channels, the need arose to mark Maryland's dangerous shoals and waterways. Lighthouses sprang up throughout the 1800s and early 1900s, including wood-framed cottages placed upon screw pile foundations that stood offshore in the unforgiving waters. Most of these unique structures did not survive, lost tragically to ice that also occasionally claimed the lives of the keepers who faithfully tended them and rescued mariners in trouble. With the advent of electricity and GPS, many beacons succumbed to vandalism and neglect, leaving a fraction remaining.
#91
Maryland's Motion Picture Theaters
2008
Since movies were first exhibited in the late 19th century, Maryland has been home to hundreds of theaters. Some of these theaters were built for movies, but others were traditional theaters, academies of music, lodge halls, and even town halls. This volume illustrates the development of movie theaters throughout Maryland with historic photographs from the author’s extensive collection as well as from the collections of several historical societies, libraries, and individuals. Contemporary theaters have not been neglected; as the average life span of a movie theater is 25 years or fewer, these theaters may vanish almost overnight. This has been the fate of almost all of the theaters built in the 1960s and the multiplexes built between 1964 and 1990. Readers can relive the nostalgia of past trips to the movies as they explore the pages of this book.
#92
Maryland's Skipjacks
2008
Chesapeake is an Algonquian word meaning "great shellfish bay," and for decades, the oyster was the undisputed king of Chesapeake Bay shellfish. Early settlers reported them to be as large as dinner plates, and the reefs or rocks in which they lived were large enough to be hazards to navigation. In 1884, fifteen million bushels of oysters were harvested and shipped around the world. The skipjack was the perfect vessel for sailing into the Chesapeake Bay's shallow waters and dredging for oysters, and each winter, hundreds of these wooden craft set out across the bay's cold waters. The oyster population of the 21st century is a fraction of what it once was, and the skipjacks have disappeared along with them. No longer economically viable, the boats have been left to rot in the marshes along the bay. Only 25 boats are still operational, and fewer than five still dredge.
#94
Middletown Valley
2012
The towns of Maryland's Middletown Valley bear the imprints of some of the most telling events in early American history: the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and the building of Americas first national road. Andrew Jackson, the nations seventh president, described the Middletown Valley as one of the most favored and delightful spots on earth. The largest town, picturesque Middletown, was the scene of intense activity during the Civil War. Mountaintop Braddock Heights became a resort getaway after the construction of a trolley line in 1896. Myersville was settled in the 1700s by industrious immigrants who set up a bustling community of farmers, craftsmen, and merchants. Wolfsville, an appealing old settlement near the Mason-Dixon Line, was occupied by Confederate forces in 1864. The charming little village of Burkittsville sits beneath a mountain that boasts the worlds only monument to fallen war correspondents. Using images gathered from local families, historical societies, and libraries, Middletown Valley explores the unique history and daily lives of the people who have lived and worked in this magical valley.
#99
Mount Vernon Place
2006
Long cherished as the cultural heart of Baltimore, Mount Vernon Place arose in the wake of a contested idea: the construction of America’s first freestanding monument to George Washington. Responding to opposition from local residents, Revolutionary War hero and Federalist statesman John Eager Howard offered part of his wooded estate as an alternative site for this bold and graceful Doric column. After its dedication in 1829, Howard’s heirs developed the area into public parks and individual building lots. Mount Vernon Place became an early and successful model of enlightened civic virtue and shrewd commercial enterprise. Noted writer John Dorsey observes, “It is the history, the accumulated life, that gives the Place its depth of sensation.” Images of America: Mount Vernon Place explores this depth and chronicles the growth of this gracious urban space from its 19th century origins to the present day.
#101
Ocean City
Volume I
1999
Originally the land of the Algonquian people, the barrier island on which Ocean City is now located, served as a protective wall for the mainland Delmarva peninsula. It was a somewhat remote area until five men, having formed the Atlantic Hotel Company Corporation, built the first lodging facility, and Ocean City as a coastal resort began to take root. From the cattle grazing in the mid-1800s to the few blocks of buildings constructed at the turn of the century, from the infamous storm of 1933 to the overwhelming growth of the 1940s, Ocean City has had a rich and vibrant history. This volume offers a historical perspective of Ocean City from its inception to 1946, a period when growth was steady but slow. Now boasting over eight million visitors annually, the area is Maryland's golden-haired child and its second-largest city during peak summer weekends when an average of 300,000 tourists arrive.
#102
Ocean City
Volume II
1999
Ocean City, Maryland's own seaside resort, has become so popular that it is almost too small—five square miles—to hold all its tourists. The last few decades have brought tremendous growth to the area in the form of both population and development. Bridges and tunnels have been built, high-rise hotels and condominiums have grown up, and amusements of all kinds have become available to the summertime crowds. In this second volume of Ocean City, images of beach life from the late 1940s to the present day capture the spirit of this popular vacation spot. From funnel cakes to Ferris wheels and deep-sea fishing to seasonal festivals, Ocean City, now a year-round retreat, has offered millions of visitors an endless variety of entertainment. Having survived destruction caused by storms, problems associated with the real estate boom, and the overwhelming surge of visitors who each summer crowd the boardwalk and Coastal Highway, this "small" town has matured over the last few decades into the jewel of Maryland's shore.
#103
Oxon Hill
2006
One of the fastest growing cities in Prince George’s County, Oxon Hill has recently been named the site of the future National Harbor, a 300-acre development of residences, offices, dining, and entertainment, which is sure to draw visitors from across the state and the country. As the community grows and flourishes, it becomes vital for residents, past and present, to remember Oxon Hill’s heritage and to pay tribute to the people who paved the way for prosperity. Through 200 vintage photographs, Images of America: Oxon Hill documents the history of this diverse city named for the majestic 17th-century manor that was once home to the nephews of George Washington and John Hanson. This volume features notable sites, such as the St. Paul United Methodist Church and the Oxon Hill Farm, and stresses the importance of Oxon Hill’s proximity to the Potomac River and our nation’s capital. These historic images of people and places show readers Oxon Hill’s past so that they have a greater appreciation for the city’s future.
#105
Perry Hall Mansion
2013
Perry Hall Mansion, constructed c. 1775 as the country estate of Harry Dorsey and Prudence Carnan Gough, has long been considered one of the most historic structures in Baltimore County, Maryland. Nestled on a ridge overlooking the lush forest of the Gunpowder River Valley, the mansion has played host to a number of crucial events in both local history and the emergence of Methodism in the United States. Since its completion, the house has claimed 14 different principal owners, culminating with its transfer to public ownership in 2001. Each of the families who lived there left behind unique legacies. Materials contained in Perry Hall Mansion depict the evolving use of the building and grounds and demonstrate how this progression reflected changing conditions within Maryland generally.
#106
Perryville
2012
From the early days—when Perryville was known as Lower Ferry and John Rodgers hosted George Washington and other Founding Fathers in his tavern on the bank of the Susquehanna River—to the present, Perryville has seen boom and bust, war and peace, and triumph and tragedy. The Susquehanna and the Chesapeake Bay have always shaped the growth of the town, providing jobs, transportation, food, and recreation. By the 1860s, the emergence of the railroads as a dominant commercial force ushered in an era of unprecedented prosperity for Perryville. A new commercial and industrial base emerged in the 19th century. Spurred by the proximity of the river and the railroads, this brought good jobs and decent wages to the town. Images of America: Perryville illustrates a century of progress through vintage images, documenting the citizens of Perryville and the town they lived in.
#107
Pocomoke City (Images of America
2008
In 1670, Lord Baltimore sent his representative, Col. William Stevens, to claim and develop land in rural Maryland. He established a ferry crossing along the banks of the deep, dark Pocomoke River, and the settlement that would eventually become Pocomoke City was born. Trade flourished; boats filled with lumber, tobacco, and furs sailed on the river to Northern ports, and shipbuilding became a successful enterprise. People flocked to Pocomoke City to work at the lumber mills and in the shipyards, and the little town grew into a small center of commerce with the coming of the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1922, a devastating fire destroyed 75 percent of the business section of the town, but the community came together and rebuilt what has been called "the Friendliest Town on the Eastern Shore."
#108
Prince George's County
1999
Prince George’s County, one of Maryland’s most populous counties, has a rich and vibrant history. From agriculture to industry, school life to religious life, trolleys, trains, and tobacco, the people of this area share a distinctive regional heritage and a great pride in the communities they have built. With numerous recognized historic sites, Prince George’s County boasts, among others, Mount Calvert, the only structure remaining at the site of the first county seat; Melwood Park and the Magruder House, both visited by George Washington; and His Lordship’s Kindness, a five-part Georgian mansion. Other historic buildings were not elegant manors, but functional public facilities. The College Park Airport holds the record as the oldest continuously operating airport in the world, and the Surratt House played a role in the assassination plot of Abraham Lincoln. But the everyday lives of citizens are represented here as well, in the images of early residents, their homes and businesses, of the city services and social events, of elementary school classes and congregations. All can be found within these pages.
#109
Reisterstown
2010
Before it was a colonial village, Reister's Town was home to tribes of the Susquehanna who lived and hunted plentiful wildlife amidst the dense primeval woods. Travelers journeyed on narrow Native American trails from remote areas through what is now Reisterstown while on their way to the nearby bustling harbor in Baltimore Town. Dirt roads afforded a tiresome trip, and a man's throat would easily become parched from the dust. John Reister, an enterprising German immigrant, was one of these early travelers. Reister recognized that the area, only a day's travel from Baltimore, would make an ideal site for an inn where weary travelers could rest and recoup. In 1758, Reister founded the town on 20 acres that the Calverts had granted him. Soon after, in 1768, Daniel Bower, a Revolutionary War colonel, settled on nearby land and built a tavern reputed to have accommodated George Washington. By 1800, Reister's Town was a busy community boasting shops, a tannery, blacksmith, inn, and taverns, which were all vital to the growth of the town and nearby communities.
#110
Reservoir Hill
2013
Baltimore’s Reservoir Hill, known for its uniqueness and architectural significance in a city of over 225 neighborhoods, is an area of tremendous character and historical importance. It has experienced momentous change, from wealthy business leaders who early on built magnificent homes, through generational and religious transitions in the early 1900s, to a precipice of struggle seen in many inner-city neighborhoods in the 1960s and 1970s. Depending on the year, or even the street, Reservoir Hill has historically been home to the wealthiest residents or those just struggling to survive. Still a diverse neighborhood and home to an eclectic mix of residents, Reservoir Hill provides a most engaging glimpse into the heart of an American city.
#111
Riverdale Park
2011
From the day in 1800 when George Calvert, father of University of Maryland founder Charles Benedict Calvert, saw the land that would become the heart of Riverdale Park along the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, this territory has drawn a fascinating array of people and industries that continues to inspire visitors and residents alike. A small town of beautiful historical houses and thriving businesses grew up around the trolley car and railroad lines. Prominent politicians, war heroes, a Nobel Prize–winning poet, and a pioneer of the bluegrass banjo have all called Riverdale home. The memory of an innovative airplane manufacturing company that helped the United States win World War II still hovers like a ghost over the original factory at the north end of town. All of this is documented in the photographs and recollections gathered in Images of America: Riverdale Park.
#112
Rock Hall
2007
Rock Hall, Maryland, is a small, tranquil community nestled in Kent County on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. Settled by fishermen and recently released indentured servants lured by subsistence fishing and farming, the town soon earned a reputation for enormous hauls of rockfish; thus, Rock Haul (later Rock Hall) was named. Eventually shipbuilding and other water-oriented enterprises developed, and the town evolved. More than 300 years later, farmers and watermen still provide the basis of the communitys economy, and the residents are evermore dedicated to historic preservation. In Images of America: Rock Hall, vintage photographs depict Rock Hall harbor, Tolchester Beach, Eastern Neck Island, and the Chesapeake Bay.
#113
Salisbury
2011
In 1732, Salisbury Towne was founded on the eastern coast of Maryland on 15 acres, which belonged to William Winder. The town flourished, and upon the founding of Wicomico County in 1867, its county seat was declared Salisbury. Both the town and the county grew rapidly, earning Salisbury the nickname “Crossroads of Delmarva,” a fitting moniker for what is today the most populated city between Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Dover, Delaware.
#114
Sharpsburg
2009
Sharpsburg, with only eight streets, has an international reputation as a travel destination. Best known as the site of the Battle of Antietam, it is also the location of the annual Memorial Day celebration observed since 1868. However, Sharpsburg and the surrounding area are more than a battle site. The "Big Spring" served Native Americans long before Joseph Chapline laid out the town's 187 lots in 1763. Gen. Robert E. Lee, inventor James Rumsey, and abolitionist John Brown all stayed in town. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, many businesses lined Main Street. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and the Belinda Springs resort were well known. The resort is gone, but the canal's towpath is popular with hikers and bikers. The businesses and industries of an earlier Sharpsburg have disappeared, but churches and cemeteries sit on original lots. The remaining structures of log and stone still line the streets, although they are no longer dirt lanes. Many properties retain their stables, chicken coops, or necessary houses.
#115
Smithsburg
2008
The town of Smithsburg was founded in 1813 by Christopher Smith when he purchased part of Shadrackas Lot. During the Civil War, Smithsburg acted as a hospital town, treating wounded soldiers from the neighboring battles of South Mountain and Antietam. On July 5, 1863, Confederate general J. E. B. Stuart and Union general Hugh Judson Kilpatrick exchanged artillery fire over Smithsburg. By 1873, the Western Maryland Railroad, which connected Baltimore and Hagerstown, brought new prosperity to the area. By the 1930s, Smithsburg had benefited from an economic boom, becoming the center for banking and trade for the fruit growers of the surrounding region. Today the physical layout of the town remains virtually unchanged, even as the communityas population grows. Both large and small businesses flourish due to Smithsburgas proximity to Hagerstown and larger metropolitan areas such as Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
#116
Snow Hill
2006
Snow Hill, on the banks of the Pocomoke River, has been home to farmers, bankers, merchants, artisans, sea captains, and politicians for more than 300 years. Founded by English settlers from a part of London named Snow Hill," the town became a trading post on the Pocomoke and was designated a royal port by William and Mary of England. Trade was the engine that drove commerce in the town, and the Pocomoke River was the highway. Imported goods were brought into Snow Hill to be taxed, and lumber, tobacco, and crafts by local artisans were exported across the Atlantic. Snow Hill's economic success spread rapidly in the 19th century as steamboats carried passengers to Norfolk and Baltimore and the railroad brought opportunities to expand local markets. Hotels, shops, boarding houses, and stately homes sprang up as the economy expanded. Today Snow Hill boasts one of the largest concentrations of historic homes, churches, and commercial buildings still intact in the state of Maryland. Residents are committed to preserving the town's heritage so it will remain "the Treasure of the Eastern Shore."
#117
Somerset County
2012
The southernmost county in Maryland, Somerset was established in 1666 by Cecil Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore, and named in honor of his wife’s sister, Lady Mary Somerset. The county originally included the area of what today is the adjacent counties of Worcester and Wicomico as well as a portion of southern Delaware. Throughout the years, some of its most prominent citizens, including Declaration of Independence signer Samuel Chase and Civil War–era Union supporters John Crisfield and Anna Ella Carroll, helped shape the nation. Somerset County includes photographs—some never before seen—that take readers from the expansion of the railroad in the 1800s, which led to a boom in the seafood and agricultural industries; to the early days of institutions, such as the University of Maryland Eastern Shore; to the founding of long-standing celebrations, including Olde Princess Anne Days, the Deal Island Skipjack Races, and the National Hard Crab Derby.
#118
Somerset
One Hundred Years a Town
2005
Meet the people of the town of Somerset as they celebrate their centennial. This tree-lined oasis of 440 homes set between the high-rise commercial districts of Friendship Heights and Bethesda retains many small-town characteristics from its past. Vintage photographs bring to life the prominent scientists who purchased a parcel of land called Somerset Heights in 1890 and their efforts to build a town. The history of this trolley suburb is chronicled in images of the town's mayors, beginning with agricultural scientist Dr. Charles A. Crampton in 1906; the townspeople and their families; and great American home architecture. Children who attend the Somerset Elementary School still sled and trick-or-treat along Cumberland Avenue as kids have done for a century. Many swim for the successful Dolphins swim team, now 25 years old.
#119
Sotterley Plantation
2013
Sotterley Plantation, a National Historic Landmark on the Patuxent River in St. Mary's County, is one of the oldest museums of its kind in the United States. Sotterley is the only Tidewater plantation in Maryland open to the public, with original and restored buildings on its nearly 100 beautiful acres. Sotterley's first owner purchased the property in 1699, and it was to become one of the largest tobacco plantations in the Chesapeake Tidewater region. The plantation's location on the Patuxent River made it desirable for shipping and trade but also made it vulnerable during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Sotterley Plantation declined with the end of the Civil War and slavery but was revived in the early 20th century. Life and culture at Sotterley Plantation was greatly shaped by both owners and workers. Family-owned for its entire significant history, Sotterley Plantation was opened to the public in 1961. Today, Sotterley Plantation is a destination for visitors looking to be reminded of a bygone era.
#122
Spring Grove State Hospital
2008
Founded in 1797, Spring Grove State Hospital, now known as Spring Grove Hospital Center, is the second oldest continuously operating state psychiatric hospital in the country. This volume will reveal through a broad array of poignant historic images the extensive, complex, and fascinating history of Marylands oldest hospital. Included are interior and exterior photographs of many of the hospitals historic buildings, as well as depictions of daily life at the hospital during a bygone era. The institutions historic pedigree includes its role as a hospital for soldiers and sailors wounded in the Battle of North Point during the War of 1812, and Spring Groves Main Building may have been used to quarter soldiers during the Civil War. Once a largely self-contained asylum, Spring Groves history is closely tied to the crusader Dorothea Dix, as well as to many more recent treatment advances.
#124
Sykesville
2001
A picturesque, little town located along the banks of the rolling Patapsco River, Sykesville, Maryland has had a long and distinctive history. Though not officially incorporated until 1904, Sykesville was first put on the map when, in 1831, the mighty Baltimore and Ohio Railroad sent its "Old Main Line" from the thriving metropolis of Baltimore to Point of Rocks in Frederick County, Maryland and traveled through the small town of Sykesville on its route. After that, tourism became an important industry in the town, as well-to-do Baltimoreans searched for a country refuge during the hot summer months. Sykesville, located in Carroll County and just 30 miles from Baltimore city, was the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxed and shady holiday.As Sykesville grew and changed over the years, many individuals, including Suzannah Warfield, Frank Brown, Wade Warfield, J.H. Fowble, E. Francis Baldwin, and Edwin Mellor, played important roles in the town's commercial development. But it is Sykesville's unique heritage, the great value placed on preserving that past by residents, and the resilient character of the community that has made Sykesville what it is today. Following a decline in the 1970s, the town experienced a rebirth fostered by the tenacious spirit of local officials and residents who strongly believed that the town could regain its past glory. Now, as one strolls along Sykesville's downtown streets, the past seems once again alive and the community's singular story is at the heart of it all.
#125
Takoma Park
2011
The story of Takoma Park begins in 1883 when B. F. Gilbert purchased 90 acres of hilly woodlands straddling the District of Columbia-Maryland border and laid out Washington's first railroad suburb, ideally situated for the families of federal workers. Envisioning a healthful and forward-looking community, Gilbert also arranged for leaders of the health-minded Seventh-day Adventist Church to move to Takoma Park. By the early 20th century, the town was well established, and residents were creating traditions to pass on to those who followed, including an Independence Day celebration that is one of the oldest in the state. Community activism has been a hallmark of Takoma Park since a 1965 plan to build a freeway through the heart of the town. This sparked a citizen-led protest that stopped construction and led to the creation of historic districts on both sides of the D.C.-Maryland boundary line. The city's reputation as a feisty and culturally diverse community continues to be a source of pride, attracting artists, activists, and new residents from countries around the world.
#126
Talbot County
2006
Situated on the Eastern Shore of Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay, Talbot County, with its many rivers, creeks, inlets, and islands, boasts 600 miles of scenic shoreline. The birthplace of Frederick Douglass, Talbot County has a rich history of waterfront towns and villages and a serene beauty and tradition, which made the county the ideal setting for Pulitzer Prize-winning author James Michener's novel Chesapeake. Easton, the county seat, is home to the Third Haven Meeting House, which was built in 1661 and is the oldest wooden church still in use in America. In Images of America: Talbot County, historical documents, vintage postcards, photographs of local families, and other memorabilia depict the county's people, places, and pastimes. This volume features prominent Talbot County figures as well as many images of Easton, St. Michaels, Oxford, Trappe, Tilghman Island, and other remarkable locations.
#128
Towson and the Villages of Ruxton and Lutherville
1999
Before there were beltways and byways, there were fields and farms. Towson was situated on an increasingly busy route used by farmers, travelers, and merchants heading to the port of Baltimore. The community’s idyllic setting began to change when, in 1854, the local populace voted Towson the new seat of Baltimore County. The neighboring communities of Ruxton and Lutherville once consisted mainly of farmland but also became popular summer retreats. Both areas have since made the shift from vacation spot to suburb, but many of the charming, historic houses found there capture the spirit of an earlier time and have been preserved for posterity. With images culled from such sources as the Baltimore County Historical Society, the Baltimore County Public Library, the archives of Towson University and Goucher College, as well as the cherished albums of local residents, this pictorial retrospective documents the people and places, events and organizations that have helped to shape these three vital communities.
#129
Trimper's Rides
2014
No trip to Ocean City, Maryland, is complete without a visit to Trimper’s Rides. The unforgettable bright lights, carousel music, and elated screams from riders on the Tidal Wave are cherished memories for generations who return to the park annually. The evolution and success of Trimper’s Rides embodies the American dream. It began when an enterprising German immigrant named Daniel B. Trimper and his large family took a chance on a little-known seaside town. They built a top-notch family-entertainment experience that continues to delight visitors today. The Trimpers rebuilt after storms, endured wartime challenges, and experienced periods of rapid growth and prosperity. Trimper’s Rides chronicles this journey with nostalgic images of past attractions and the people who made Trimper’s Rides the destination for family fun.
#130
Turner Station
2008
In 1888, a passenger freight station was built by the Baltimore and Sparrows Point Railroad on land owned by Joshua J. Turner, a local businessman. The train stop was called Turner Station, and as the nearby community grew, it took on that name. The community’s first church, St. Matthews Methodist Church, was founded in 1900, while the first public school, Turner Elementary School, was built in 1925. Adams Bar and Cocktail Lounge, an important entertainment establishment, came into being in 1933. It attracted top acts in African American music and comedy during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, including Red Foxx, Pearl Bailey, and Fats Domino. Turner Station was home to individuals who made lasting contributions to the state and nation, including Dr. Joseph Thomas, physician, businessman, and diplomat; Kweisi Mfume, NAACP president; Calvin Hill, former NFL star; and Kevin Clash, puppeteer.
#131
United States Naval Training Center, Bainbridge
2007
After the federal government purchased the Tome School for Boys in the northeastern most county of Maryland in 1941, more than 1,200 acres were cleared for the United States Naval Training Center, Bainbridge. Preparing 350,000 sailors for battle in World War II, Bainbridge became a city in itself, with a PX, officer’s club, chapel, post office, drill fields, indoor pools, and hospital. Because of the training center, Cecil County’s population more than doubled. After 1976, when the center fell into disuse, the buildings were demolished. They live on, though, through the vintage photographs in this volume, collected from the archives of the Paw Paw Museum, the USNTC Bainbridge Museum, the U.S. Navy, and historic yearbooks and guidebooks. Images of America: United States Naval Training Center, Bainbridge aids in the efforts to preserve the center’s memory for veterans and their families.
#132
Washington County
2002
In the heart of the Cumberland Valley, between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, lies Washington County—site of one of the nation’s oldest settlements dating back to 1737. Its location between Pennsylvania and West Virginia places this county at the crossroads of history and commerce. Washington County celebrates the birth and survival of a place and its people over centuries and mirrors the growth of our nation. American history comes alive in this region created independent of Frederick County in 1776, named for Gen. George Washington, and settled by English, French, Swiss, German, and Scottish settlers. Forgotten images of historic mills and bridges will allow readers to journey to the past. Remember the days of the C&O Canal and a way of life that has disappeared forever. Visit historic sites such as Fort Frederick and the first monument to honor George Washington. Relive the heyday of Pen Mar Park and enjoy the waters of Belinda Springs. Feel the effects that the Civil War, the Battle of Antietam, the National Road, and the coming of the railroad all had on this remarkable area years ago.
#133
Washington County in the Civil War
2016
Washington County’s involvement in the Civil War conjures images of the terrible aftermath of the Battle of Antietam. But many other events occurred there during the war. Wedged into a narrow neck between Pennsylvania and West Virginia, the area was the setting for many important events in the conflict. From John Brown launching his raid on nearby Harpers Ferry at the Kennedy Farm in 1859 to the dragnet that ensnared local citizens following President Lincoln’s assassination in 1865, the military was a constant presence. Antietam changed the course of the war and provided President Lincoln the military events needed to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Harper’s Ferry, the C&O Canal, and several rail lines were of vital importance for projecting Union strength into the Shenandoah Valley. They were regularly attacked and defended, and Hagerstown was nearly burned in 1864. Many from across the nation returned home indelibly affected by their experiences in Washington County; some never made it back at all.
#134
Westminster
2009
William Winchester established Westminster in 1764 by laying out 45 town lots along the main road to Baltimore. The lots sold quickly, and soon there was a small but thriving community. When Carroll County was established in 1837, Westminster was named the county seat, bringing government officials, judges, lawyers, and visitors to the town. Hotels, homes, and stores sprang up to serve the influx of new residents and visitors. The Western Maryland Railway reached Westminster in 1861. In 1863, Confederate general J. E. B. Stuart's cavalry arrived en route to Gettysburg and battled a small detachment of Union cavalry responsible for guarding the vital railroad link to Baltimore. After Stuart's troops continued on to Pennsylvania, Union troops established an important depot, with supplies arriving from Baltimore for transport to the battlefield and wounded soldiers returning to be cared for in Westminster's hotels, churches, and homes. Westminster prospered throughout the 19th and 20th centuries as it became the center of an industrial and agricultural community.
#135
Wheaton
2009
In 1689, Col. William Joseph patented two tracks of land east of Rock Creek. From the 3,860 acres called Hermitage and parts of Joseph’s Park tract of 4,220 acres, the community of Wheaton evolved. The convergence of three history-laden roads gave the area one of its early names, Mitchell’s X Roads. Transportation gave the land value beyond that of other farming communities in the area. The name Wheaton, first used when Union veteran George F. Plyer became postmaster on October 5, 1869, honored Gen. Frank Wheaton, the commander of the defense of Washington, D.C., at Fort Stevens in early July 1864. Proximity to the nation’s capital, large tracks of farmland, and existing roads were an ideal combination for suburban development. The construction boom that began during World War II had entire communities developing at a pace that seemed to occur overnight. The area’s population soared, and a new way of life began.
#136
Wicomico County
2008
Though it was the second-to-last Maryland county to be formed, Wicomico County has a long, rich history celebrated through annual festivals, heritage tourism, and many local museums and preservation organizations. Images of America: Wicomico County is yet another way for residents to commemorate this area whose name sprung from Native American words meaning “a place where houses are built.” Heavily influenced by local waterways, including the Wicomico and Nanticoke Rivers and the Tangier Sound, the heritage of this Delmarva region is preserved in the county seat, Salisbury, and other unincorporated municipalities, including Fruitland, Hebron, and Whitehaven, and the numerous structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Wicomico County has grown over the last 20 years from about 60,000 people to about 100,000 people and continues to prosper.
#137
Williamsport
2005
Conococheague and Potomac Streets, Doubleday Hill, Springfield Farm, the C&O Canal—these names conjure up images of Williamsport, Maryland. The first settlement in what was to become Washington County was located here in the heart of the Cumberland Valley in the late 1730s. This small trading post, set amid local Native American tribes, formed the basis of the town of Williamsport. Gen. Otho Holland Williams, a Revolutionary War hero from the region, laid out what he intended to be a grand city with wide avenues on the banks of the great and mighty Potomac. Upon hearing that George Washington favored a site along the Potomac for the new nation’s capital, Williams persuaded Washington to visit his town, and “Williams’ Port” was given due consideration as a possible location. Williamsport became an important stopping-off point for settlers heading west, and the town quickly grew to be the second largest in Washington County. The arrival of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in 1834 brought a boom to Williamsport as warehouses, shipping firms, and many other businesses were established to handle the increased population and trade. The Civil War, the arrival of the railroad, and a series of disastrous floods also impacted the town. Today, Williamsport is a quiet community rich with local history and flavor.
Authors
Nan DeVincent-Hayes
Author · 4 books
Dr. Gianni DeVincenti Hayes has been writing & speaking professionally for 30 years. She earned her Ph.D Summa cum Laude in English, literature & world/comparative studies from the University of Maryland College Park (focus in humanities—writing, comparative literature, religion, history, politics, philosophy, art). Both masters were earned at Duquesne University with high honor in scientific research, educational administration & technology; her B.S. from VMC/Gannon University is in biology/chemistry where she was honored with Distinguished Alumni Award. She attended the University of Pittsburgh for two years in a doctoral program in instructional technology/communications where she earned The Letter of Highest Commendation. She was endowed to the University of Rochester's writing program for 5 summers & to Middlebury College's prestigious Bread Loaf Writing Program. She earned a Doctor of Ministry in 2013. She speaks internationally, especially for cruises, on globalism, politics, religion, and current events, and she is a recipient of many tributes, as well as a former college professor & department chair, and author of 24 novels & nonfiction books. She writes screenplays, was a print & online syndicated columnist for 22 newspapers nationally and internationally. She hosted a radio talk show on American Voice Station, which features noted authors, celebrities, politicians, culture and religion; it is heard worldwide on AM/FM stations nationwide and the internet, among other venues. Many of her guests are noted personalities, such as TV news correspondent Bernard Goldberg, Congressman Kucinich, Vince Bugliosi (Manson trials), Dr. & Ambassador Alan Keyes, Judge Napolitano, Phyllis Schlafly, Mel Gibson's father and chef, and many others. Dr. Hayes also speaks on politics and eschatology (religion, philosophy and history with Bible prophecy). She founded The Writers Bloc, Inc, on 1992, was distinguished at many authors' receptions, featured in Contemporary Authors Encyclopedia, nominated for the Governor's Award of Writing, and was honored at her undergraduate college for Women's History Month 2003 where she gave a campus presentation. She has been unanimously voted into her high school Hall of Fame Award for Distinguished Alumni. Gianni DeVincenti Hayes, Ph.D has been honored by her doctoral school alma mater by setting up an archive of her papers, in her name, in the University Libraries. The collection consists of her books, various manuscripts, instructional materials she created as a college department chair & associate professor, her business reports, speaking materials, and personal correspondences with other authors and people of note. She also co-hosted a television show on Public Access TV. She served on the Board of Directors for Pemberton Hall, and for her HOA, and is President Emeritus and Founder of the Writers Bloc, Inc.; she also served as Special Assistant to the Chancellor of the University of Maryland ES. Too, she is an equal partner in two corporations, and belongs to Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, the Authors Guild and the National Writers Union. She writers under several pen names, has over 100 articles & short stories published in major newspapers & national magazines, including books published in print & in electronic form. Research, biographies, current events, and eschatological topics are subjects of experience. She has appeared nationwide in newspapers and magazines, and on dozens of national radio and television shows, including A & E Biography, and Pennsylvania Cable Network TV, comprised of 145 stations statewide & nine million viewers. When not speaking around the world, Dr. Hayes enjoys oil painting and listening to classical music, and reading. She is married with two daughters and four grandbabies.
William M. Armstrong
Author · 1 books
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Judith Reveal
Author · 1 books
Judy is a Published author; book indexer; editor of ASI "KeyWords"; president of the Eastern Shore Writers Association; member EFA, Sisters In Crime and she provides freelance editorial services, recommended on Preditors and Editors website. Visit her website at www.justcreativewriting.com"
Mindie Burgoyne
Author · 3 books
Mindie Burgoyne, is a travel writer, blogger, author, tour operator and speaker. Her focus is traveling within the context of a story to mystical – magical places that stir the mind and spirit. She’s also the organizer of a travel club for girlfriends called The Travel Hags. All six of her published books focus on travel destinations but Haunted Eastern Shore: Ghostly Tales from East of the Chesapeake is the most popular (10th printing) with its 19 haunted tales of sites east of the Chesapeake Bay. This book was followed by a series of three - Haunted Ocean City and Berlin (2014), The Haunted Mid-Shore: Spirits of Caroline, Dorchester and Talbot Counties (2015) and The Haunted Lower Shore: Spirits of Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester Counties (Oct. 2106).This collection not only shares mysterious events and haunted activities on the Delmarva Peninsula, it also offers a deep, insiders view of the people and traditions of the "Shore." Mindie also operates a tour company that offers group travel excursions to mystical places in Ireland and western Europe, and she is the founder and operator of Chesapeake Ghost Tours, which offers over a dozen different ghost tours year-round on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Travel inspires her to write.
Maria Sosa
Author · 1 books
Maria Sosa (b. 1950) is an American science writer and editor. The books she has written or edited include Federal Hill, Exploring Science in the Library, and Dragsters. She has worked for the American Association for the Advancement of Science since 1989, where she is Editor-in-Chief of Science Books & Films and head of the Science + Literacy for Health Project. She holds a bachelor's degree from Shimer College and a master's degree from the Teachers College of Columbia University. (from Shimer College Wiki)
