7hstorr Trails County Histrical Society

Agriculture Building 9811 Van Buren Lane Cockeysville, Md. 21030

ISSN 0889-6186 Editors: JOHN W. McGRAIN and WILLIAM HOLLIFIEED VOL. 26 AUTUMN 1991-WINTER 1991-92 NO. 1 & NO. 2

The Romantic -ynn's Falls Valley

George E. Tack

Introduction

The following article about the Gwynns Falls Valley appeared in the August 1907 issue of MarylandMonthly Magazine, published by Henry Quarles Nicholson. At that time, much of the Gwynns Falls Valley was in the city of Baltimore, acquired from the county as a result of the annexation of 1888. The county line was just west of the intersection of Franklintown and Wetheredville Roads. After Tack's article, in 1918, the boundary was again moved westward and more of the Gwynns Falls Valley, including the village of Dickeyville and Leakin Park, was incorporated into the city. George E. Tack was born in 1873 and lived most of his life, at least up to 1918, in West Baltimore. In 1900 he lived with his parents, two brothers, and a sister. His father, born in Germany, was a clerk. George was then a clerk for a steamship company. Baltimore directories show a variety of occupations for him: frame maker (1893), solicitor (1898-1900), painter (1901), nurse (1903), clerk (1910, 1913), and nurse (1916-1918). Interestingly, he was listed as a poet in 1911. His interest in poetry is reflected in his style of writing and his inclusion of Folger McKinsey's poem at the end of the Gwynns Falls Valley article. An example of his own poetry, about a winter rainbow over Glyndon, had appeared in Monthly Magazine earlier in 1907. It can be found reprinted after his Gwynns Falls Mount Holly Inn, Walbrook, from a postcard of ca. 1910. The Valley story. inn burned December Z 1920. The small structure at the Henry E. Shepherd in his Representative Authors of bottom was the "Witch's House, "actually the gatehouse of the Maryland(1911), wrote of George E. Tack's work that he Jesse Lazear estate, Windsor Grove. It apparently survived was into the 1960s. a diligent and versatile contributor to the the contemplation of nature in her calmer poetical columns of more than one leading and serener moods. In the best sphere of his journal and periodical. His range includes production in verse he is, perhaps uncon- the patriotic, the devotional, the romantic sciously, a disciple of Wordsworth. Digres- features of contemporary life and develop- sions or excursions into prose do not reveal ment. His purest inspiration proceeds from Mr. Tack in his most attractive light. His PAGE 2 HISTORY TRAILS AUTUMN 1991

work, when seen in its congenial forms, displays vigor and grace, in conception as well as execution. His frequent contribu- tions in diverse fields seem to indicate a growth of productive faculty as the years increase. Though Shepherd considered Tack's prose inferior to his poetry, the Gwynns Falls Valley article is inter- esting and even amusing. Who today would think to describe a House of Refuge, or reformatory, in this way? "Here are placed for certain periods of time the wayward boys who refuse to heed the injunctions of their fond parents." The Gwynns Falls Valley would have been easily accessible to people living in West Baltimore. So would Ellicott City and other parts of Howard County. George E. Tack wrote a similar, shorter article, "A Ramble -Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore through Howard County," which appeared in the July Walbrook Mill on Calverton Mill Lot No. 2 in the chain of Five 1907 issue of Maryland Monthly Magazine. Mills, about 1899. The same structure was depicted in a line drawing in the American of January 20, 1895. George E. Tack was not listed in city directories after 1918, and careful searching has not produced any early morning; and afar in the east the trembling light information concerning his later activities or his death. seeks its way through the dense curtains of the early - William Hollifield day. The sky flushes once more, in the joy of its freedom from the embrace of night, and the herald of day THE ROMANTIC throws a bright lance straight up the sky. Swiftly now GWYNN'S FALLS VALLEY the shadows depart, and the forests and trees upon the hillside seem to be embossed in dark green upon the GEORGE E. TACK light verdant slopes, and the opaline sky. Along the Far up the valley the blue sky flushes and reddens hillside are white daisy paths that lead up to the as the summer sun rolls down behind the towering summits and over to the groves, where the birds are woods. The crimson clouds, some long, and some banked pouring forth their enraptured songs of joy and praise. high, like far-off mountain ranges, slowly change their The mists slowly roll up from the valley, and the sun colors to purple, and softly glow in the tremulous flashes bright beams along the meadows and , twilight, like enchanting fields of fairyland; transform- revealing the precious sparkling jewels that deck the ing their shape, and then softening into deep violet ere garments of the fair flowers and bushes. the light wanes and dies. The solemn hush of evening Afar on the hills the grazing cattle are now seen, and descends, and silently the stars heliograph their mes- the faint tinkle of the bells are heard as they wend their sages from the far-off worlds, as if to tell the dwellers way along the slopes and down to the murmuring on this planet that "God's in his heaven, all's well with brooks in the vales. The Gwynn's Falls glitters as it rolls the world." A little season of starlight, and then the along over the rocks and sand; and the waters, as they radiant lamp of night gleams overhead; and through glide by the overhanging rocks and trees, reflect so the darkened heavens there rolls a flood of glorious perfectly their shape that it is sometimes difficult to light that changes the hills into burnished cathedral tell where the objects end and the reflections begin. domes and sends the frightened shadows far down into Softly the cool morning breeze flows over the hills and the vales and through the darkened groves, where they vales in refreshing waves, and lightly caresses the lurk like thieves. awakening woods, that tremble with delight at its The waters flow down through the hills, rippling touch; and thus another day has dawned upon the and gleaming in the silver light; while through the beautiful Gwynn's Falls Valley. quiet air is borne the fragrant odor of blossoming This valley is indeed a romantic one. All through it woodbine; and from the sleeping vale below there are places around which cluster the memories of the uprises the damp odor of the and the pasture far-past years, when its mills and villages were the fields of clover. The silence of the night is weaving its rendezvous of men of wealth; and of the farmers and spell over all things, when there comes with startling ranchmen from the western states, who brought their resonance the shriek of a locomotive, as it winds its herds of cattle through the mountains of Ohio and way along the rock embankment, where the big quar- Maryland, over the dusty winding Frederick road; and ries reverberate the sound with mocking echoes that after they had disposed of them, hand their money finally die away somewhere along the murmuring across the gaming tables with a free hand. waters of Gwynn's Falls. The night slowly wings its A little below the Frederick road, in fact below flight unto the daylight, through the dark hours of Wilkens avenue, which takes its name from the late WINTER 1991-92 HISTORY TRAILS PAGE 3

A little above the quarry, we get a fine view of the Edmondson avenue bridge, and before us are the cur- tain-like rolling waters of the falls, that flow down upon the dark rocks with ceaseless rythm; and over at one end of the dam they fall and tumble over the rocks with such force that they break into beautiful foaming spray. Amid the ceaseless roar of these waters many reckless persons have been ushered out of this life, who came here to enjoy a refreshing plunge into the cool depths below. To the right is the lock of the old mill race, whose waters once turned the wheels of the big mills down the valley. From here on up to the valley the landscape grows more beautiful, and we now behold the lofty hills that range far up the country, where they meet the mountain ranges of the Blue Ridge, of which they are Walbrook Mill in a drawing from the American, January 20, the foot-hills. The placid waters here and above the 1985' the illustration was based on an 1893 photo by Dr. bend, much frequented by bathers, reflect the graceful Theodore Hinrichs, "taken from Franklin Road." The mill was willows and the various objects along the bank with shown for the last time in the 1906 edition of Bromley's atlas. wonderful clearness. We will rest here awhile on this grassy bank, with William Wilkens, whose hair factory is still in opera- the broken rocks and the big oak grove to protect us tion on the Frederick road, are the Union Stock Yards, from the sun's rays, and reflect awhile upon the history where the cattle are brought in great numbers from the of these vales and hills, and the people who once lived west, and the best are sent over the various railroad amid their quiet precincts. lines that centre here, to Sparrows Point and Canton, Over the way is Gelston's Heights, where lived years thence to be shipped to European ports, and to the ago Hugh Gelston, the proprietor of the carpet mills, British Isles. A considerable amount of business is that once stood on the left bank of the stream. The daily transacted here, and a visit will prove of interest home is now occupied by young Hugh Gelston and his to those who care to study the conditions of the meat wife, where they entertain in good Maryland style. A industry, which has assumed vast proportions in re- sister lives in France, having married a French noble- cent years. man, some years ago. When the mills flourished, there From this place we will follow the Western Mary- were also dwellings along the high slopes, where lived land, or Wabash track, which runs alongside the the workers in the mills, but the buildings are gone and Gwynn's Falls under the old Frederick road, to the the lights that once gleamed from the windows, when House of Refuge. Here are placed for certain periods of the day's work was done and the inmates had gathered time the wayward boys who refuse to heed the injunc- around the flaming logs on the hearth, have perished in tions of their fond parents. Yet from this place have the ashes of the years that are dead. Here and there over come forth not a few young men who have become a the sides of the hills is a foundation of stone, and a few credit to their city and state. The buildings and walls rose bushes or shrubs that once adorned some fair are built of gray rocks taken from the hills hereabout; garden. Sometime in the late sixties a flood came and the high walls sometimes keep the boys within roaring down the valley, and swept away a dwelling, their confines. Many have been the escapes and cap- causing the loss of several lives. Some years later the tures of the inmates from time to time, although of late mills ceased their merry clatter and in course of time years such affairs are of rare occurrence. were gradually destroyed. Today herds of cattle graze Along the Falls at this point, is one of the city's free where the homes once stood. The word Ichabod briefly baths, and the sights to be witnessed here at times are sums up the history of this one time interesting spot. ludicrous. All sorts of nondescript bathing suits are A little way over this rocky hill on the old Calverton worn, and a visit to the pool at certain hours is road, were enacted some stirring scenes during the calculated to drive away the blues. The keeper main- civil war. Companies of Union soldiers were encamped tains vigilant watch over the boys, and they in turn in the fields near the old alms house, where now stands enjoy to the full the pleasures of "swimmin," as many of the Hebrew Orphan Asylum, erected through the gen- them term it. Wonderful dives and treading of water, erosity of the late William Rayner, father of the and surreptitious ducking of each other's heads are of Junior Senator of Maryland. The asylum stands on frequent occurrence. Continuing on our way we walk Raynor avenue, named after the donor. beneath the high bridge of the Philadelphia, Wilmington Just below this bend swings the Edmondson avenue and Baltimore branch of the Pennsylvania railroad. bridge, over whose shaking iron braces the Ellicott City Just above are several quarries, and across the Falls, cars run to and from the quaint old city on the rocks bordering upon an old mill race, is the Western Cem- beside the . On the right side of the Falls, etery. There is much flint along the track at this point. not far from here, once flourished the old Calverton PAGE 4 HISTORY TRAILS AUTUMN 1991 flour mills. Often at the doorway could be seen the jolly miller, his hair and clothes dusted with the creamy meal that came from the golden grain brought by the farmers from the country many miles around; and the water that flowed down the old mill race steadily turned the big wheels that made music all the day long. Some years back several of these mills were de- stroyed by fires that originated from some cause un- known; and now there are but two remaining. Nearby stands also the big building once occupied by the Wenstrom Dynamo and Electric Company. The mills are built of the gray rock found in these hills, and are now deserted save the lower portion of one. For more than a century they have stood, and now they seem to look wistfully out of their darkened window frames across the verdant valley, like giants that have out- lived their days of usefulness; yet waiting to tell of the Western Maryland Railroad Bridge No. 21 from glass negative happy days of old, when the sound of whirring wheels, identified as "near Gwynns Falls, May 30, 1906." and songs and laughter filled the rooms now vacant. There still remain several houses, in a good state of beautiful scene, where lofty trees stretch their strong preservation, that were built more than a century ago, arms over our heads, and through the gold-gleamed which were once occupied by the miller and other aisles the summer birds call in liquid tones to each employees. What tales of joy and sorrow could they tell, other. Across the valley the Gelston Hills loom up had they but power of speech! against the orange sky, and along the stream the woods A little distance up the stream we see the high wear a purple veil. There are several quarries along the embankment of the Wabash railroad, that crosses the winding Franklin road, and during the noon hour Falls and runs along through the high hills and rocks blasting is carried on, which at a distance sounds like to Spring Gardens and Curtis Bay, where the cars a bombardment between two hostile armies. transfer their freight brought from West Virginia and To the left is the Winans estate, where once dwelt Maryland, to boats that await it there. This tide-water the late Ross Winans, who built the Russian railroads; branch leaves the Western Maryland railroad at and who was afterward president of the Baltimore and Walbrook, and crosses a pretty country to the Ohio railroad. The place has a romantic appearance, Gwynn's Falls valley; and may in the near future carry with its deep forests and rolling hills, through which passengers, who will be enabled to view the fine scen- wanders the Dead run. The house is hid away in the ery this section of country affords the traveller. woods, and a steep road runs along the side to the top There is a long stretch of smooth water from the of the hill. The place is now in possession of Mr. G. M. dam up to Gelston's place, and from the Quaker Hill Hutton, a son-in-law, whose city home is on Hollins road to .the iron bridge on the Franklin road, and street, the grounds of which are surrounded by a high several of the village people have boats, which they use brick wall. This country place bears a Russian name, in the summer time, rowing up and down the rippling that of Crimea. stream, along the high rocky hills, where grow beauti- To the right, on a broad-topped hill, stands the ful wild flowers. The willow trees and the feeding kine Mount Holly Inn, now under the management of Mr. in the green vales make a charming pastoral picture, James Filon. This is the second building, the first and the gleeful songs of birds amid the leafy dells ring having been destroyed by fire just prior to its comple- out over the wind-kissed sparkling waters, and make tion. It overlooks the beautiful "valleys of Gwynne," and time for the measured stroke of the oars. There was Walbrook, and the Windsor Hills; upon the high rocks once good fishing in this stream, but of late years the of which are situated many fine homes. All through dye from the mills amid the hills has wrought havoc this section are homes of prominent Maryland families, with the finny tribes of the Falls. and the old tulip and oak and maple woods have been Nearby is Highview, a beautiful estate on the the trysting places of the happy lovers of other days, Bloomingdale Road, opposite a rapidly developing sec- who wandered along the edge of the stream, and told tion, Dukeland Park. This mansion, embowered by a the old, sweet story that never loses its charm, to the grove of stately trees, is occupied by Mr. William Smith, accompanying cadence of the rippling waters; and a clerk in the Circuit Court of Baltimore City. Mr. Smith today the same scenes are enacted by modern romantic is an ardent admirer of pigeons, and delights in spend- lads and lassies under these same shady trees. ing his spare time in caring for the hundreds of choice A red bridge suspends over the bridge at the Windsor homers and dragoons that fill the large rookery among Mill road, and crosses the road that goes its shady which are some noted flyers. length to Dickeyville. The other road climbs the long Let us now stroll up to the old race bank, which runs grade which bears the classical name of Pumpkin Hill, from the old flour mills to the Windsor Mill road. It is a and runs through Franklintown and Woodlawn, and WINTER 1991-92 HISTORY TRAILS PAGE 5

in the beautiful sights about us, we recall the words of that inspired writer, the BENTZTOWN BARD, who, after a visit to these whispering woods and laughing streams reflecting the changeful light of nature's wonderful prism, wrote these lines:

Old legends of oak and of chestnut, old runes of the cliff and the rock, Draw hearts to the dream of the valleys, where bramble and brier interlock; Far stretches of smooth-flowing water, quick bends, and a song in the day, From the lilt of the leap and the sparkle of pools that bloom white in the spray.

A B. & 0. locomotive on Western Maryland Bridge No. 29. from Mount Holly from verges of velvet looks a glass negative identified as "near Gwynns Falls, May 30, down and looks up and looks in 1906." The heart of the wonder that glories the sweep of the valleys of Gwynne! far up the country, past the beautiful Lorraine Cem- Good day to you, frail little bridges, etery, and within sight of Gwynn Oak Park, whose like webs over fairyland rills! glinting lake waters are rippled by sweet breathed Good day to you, little pavilions, where winds from the clover fields hereabout. Windsor rests rocked in the hills! Up the Dickeyville road is a big quarry, and a stone crusher; and encircling hills guard the fair valley. The music of waters is merry, the murmur of Beyond are the mills with their busy looms, operated by magic is sweet. hundreds of people who constitute the population of Where violet and primrose and bramble Dickeyville, named after the head of the company, Mr. climb over the glens to your feet, William Dickey. And down in the dream of your waters Now we climb this slope, and stand upon Windsor and far from the cities of din; Hill, and look over the vale and deep woods toward You lure with your romance and Franklintown. There, outlined against the sky, boldly ripple, 0, beautiful valleys of Gwynne. stands a cedar, like a faithful sentinel, through all the seasons of the year. Down the steep slope we look through the leaf palms of the gold-flecked trees, and behold the stream that flows over the rough rocks, and THE WINTER RAINBOW forms quiet pools along the banks. This is a beautiful old valley, all the year round. The George E. Tack spring and summer seasons have their charms, with their birds and flowers; and autumn, with its gold and I saw a rainbow in the winter sky, russet skies, and haze that hangs like a radiant veil O'erarch the many homes of Glyndon fair; over all the face of nature; and in the winter season, Its radiant length o'er fields and woodlands high, when the fields and woods are draped in ermine robes, Glowed with the brightest colors through the air. and along the rocky hills hang great white ice curtains, when the songs of birds are no more heard, save that of The dark storm-cloud touched but the gilded edge the songsparrow and the titmouse, on quiet sunny Of this bright message from the kindly Sun, days, we may hear the click of the steel skates as the And blending with the colors of the pledge, young people, and their elders move over the frozen Swift melted, until cloud and bow were one. surface of the falls. At night huge fires are built along the shores, which brighten the scene, and throw long, Then hush, my heart, the storm is not for aye, weird shadows over the crystal floor where the skaters And Winter's skies may bring thee radiant light; glide with measured graceful movements. Though God be high, and Heaven be far away, A sudden blaze of glorious light, as the sun descends Love's message sweet He writes o'er cloudy height. behind the cloudy height, proclaims the departure of the king of day; and over the vast sea of the sky float flecks of colored clouds, like tiny skiffs on a motionless Baltimore, Md. deep. The croon of crickets is borne to our ears, as the veil of evening is being drawn over the quivering features of the enchanting valley, and as our eyes drink (Maryland Monthly Magazine, February 1907) PAGE 6 HISTORY TRAILS AUTUMN 1991

MARYLAND MONTHLY MAGAZINE

William Hall/field

Maryland Monthly Magazine, in which George E. Tack's Gwynns Falls Valley article appeared, was pub- lished by Henry Quarles Nicholson from July 1906 to August 1907. It was started at Reisterstown where the Nicholson family lived. In the first issue, under the heading "In the Editor's Sanctum," Mr. Nicholson wrote: We again enter the field of journalism, after a resttful relaxation from the exacting and arduous duties incident to the publication of a daily newspaper, and express the hope that this endeavor to add to the home plea- sures of our neighbors may meet with sub- stantial approval.

Henry Q. Nicholson was born in 1836. When he Below the 1884 Edmondson Avenue bridge stood the dam that married in 1855, he was the proprietor of the Howard channeled Gwynns Falls water to power the Three Mills near County Gazette. Later he owned and edited the Roanoke, Frederick Road. Some of the water had already been used by Virgnia, Daily Record and edited the Roanoke Evening the Five Mills upstream of the bridge at Calverton. A 541-foot- World. His wife, Emmie Feelemyer Nicholson, was a long concrete bridge was installed in 1908. graduate of the renowned Patapsco Female Institute at Ellicott City and was described as accomplished in and Brother), October 1906. music and painting. An obituary stated that she was of "'Soldiers' Delight'-Historical Reminiscences," No- great assistance to her husband "in his literary pur- vember 1906. suits as editor of various daily newspapers and maga- "Francis Scott Key-Francis Scott Key, Jr.: The 'Elms' zines ..." -Reminiscences." (The Elms was on the Westminster Maryland Monthly Magazine cost ten cents a copy Pike at Glen Falls), December 1906. or a dollar a year. It was a family magazine containing "Gwynbrook Distilling Co." January 1907. short stories, poetry, feature articles on travel or well- "The Old Garrison Forest Fort," by Charles L. Shipley, known people, a section on ladies' fashions, another on April 1907. home furnishings or the building of a house, and at "Col. John Eager Howard-A Maryland Hero ," by times a children's page and sheetmusic for a popular Charles L. Shipley, June 1907. song. The pages in the front of each issue were devoted "St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, Western to local advertisements and in the back to national Run Valley," July 1907. advertising, including a classified advertising section. "The Maryland Line Confederate Soldiers' Home," by Mr. Nicholson encouraged readers to submit their Charles L. Shipley, August 1907. reminiscences of past local events, and a number of these short items often appeared on a page headed Of the local articles, only Charles L. Shipley and George "Marginalia." Of greater interest were the longer ar- E. Tack were listed as authors; no author's name was ticles relating to local history, illustrated with photo- shown for the others. Henry Q. Nicholson may have graphs. The Baltimore County items were as follows: written some of the articles himself using information he encouraged his readers to provide. Except for his "Reisterstown Reminiscent: Before the Railroads- editorial comments, the only items signed by Mr. Primitive Transportation-Taverns and Their Patrons," Nicholson were several poems: "An Apostrophe in Time," July 1906. (October 1906), "Life's Ruling Passions" (December 1906), "The Reisterstown Savings Bank," July 1906. and "The Old Year and The New" (January 1907). "Franklin High School," August 1906. Apart from the articles listed above, the most useful "Glyndon," August 1906. feature of the magazine for local historians is the "Emory Grove," August 1906. section devoted to advertisements of local businesses, "Montrose-Once the Home of a King-A Palatial Resi- mostly in or near Reisterstown. There were advertise- dence,' September 1906. ments-some with illustrations-for general stores, drug "Reisterstown Reminiscent: Old Time Storekeepers, stores, banks, dairies, livestock dealers, contractors, Who Provided the Food and Clothing for the People," and cemeteries. In addition, some issues contained a September 1906. "review of advertisers," paragraphs describing the busi- "A Modern Stock Farm," (Fountain Valley, 1 1/2 nesses and their history. Little may be known other- miles west of Reisterstown, the stock farm of W. P. Bird wise of some of these businesses because they were WINTER 1991-92 HISTORY TRAILS PAGE 7

described her, in part, as "a wise counsellor, . . . and a devoted idolized wife." They had been married for more than 51 years. It is not known how much she may have contributed to the magazine since nothing was attrib- uted to her. It seems that the magazine may not have been financially successful. Indicative of this was its re- moval to Baltimore (319 West German Street), where the last two issues were published. In the introduction to the July 1907 issue, Mr. Nicholson wrote: Consulting the best interests of this publi- cation, and to increase its sphere of useful- ness, it has been decided to change its office of publication to the city of Baltimore. While it is with regret that we leave Reisterstown, where we have received such flattering encouragement, yet from a business stand- point, the change has been deemed neces- sary. The issue of July 1907 had only 16 pages of text. The next issue was the normal size again-79 pages of text -but it was the last; it contained no reference to the suspension of publication. Mr. Nicholson himself moved to Baltimore, either when he moved his magazine's office to German Street or not long afterward. The Baltimore directory of 1907 listed him as "editor, Maryland Magazine, Reisterstown." The next year's directory listed him at 2620 North Charles Street and the 1910 directory at 2415 St. Paul Street. He died in 1912 at 2620 North Charles Street, the home of his son Jacob, after having been confined to his bed with asthma for eight months. Typical cover of the Maryland Monthly Magazine. probably too far away to advertise profitably in the THE INTENSE UTILIZATION Towson or Baltimore newspapers. OF GWYNNS FALLS The magazine was rather substantial for a monthly John W. McGrain publication in Reisterstown-about 80 pages exclusive of the advertising sections. There were, however, only Gwynns Falls was put to use for milling purposes as 13 issues. It was intended that each half year would early as 1719 when Peter Bond built a sawmill on the make up a volume. Thus, the first volume consisted of tract called "Newtown." By mid-19th century, the falls the six issues for July through December 1906. Volume was one of the most intensely used water power sources two had only five issues since none was published for in Maryland, operating powder, textile, and flour mills, March 1907. There were only two issues in the third putting the outflow water of one mill back to work in volume, for July and August 1907; no further issues the wheel of the next mill downsream. By 1983, almost were published. all above-ground remains of these mills had vanished, Mr. Nicholson was in his later years when he started especially in the urbanized sections downstream of the magazine. It Is likely that the death of family Dickeyville. In descending order downstream of the members and possibly his own declining health led to surviving Ashland-Ballymena Mill at Dickeyville (once its demise. Wetheredsville) were the sites of: The issue of December 1906 contained a lengthy obituary and a full-page photograph of Mr. Nicholson's Tschudi Paper Mill oldest brother, John A. Nicholson, a scholarly man who Old Windsor Mill had served two terms in the House of Representatives. Orndorff Mill (or Betwood or Davies Mill) He died at his home in Dover, Delaware. (burned 1864) The editor's wife, Mrs. Emmie Nicholson, died in Old Holly Mill April 1907, and this probably accounts for the lack of Gelston's Calverton Carpet Factory a magazine in March. Her death was not noted until the Linen Manufactory (1813-1815) issue of June 1907 where, in an obituary, Mr. Nicholson Lorman Powder Mill (exploded 1812) PAGE 8 HISTORY TRAILS AUTUMN 1991-WINTER 1991-92

The Calverton Mills (five successive flour mills of 1816): a. New Windsor Mill b. Walbrook Mill c. New Holly Mill d. Olney Mill e. Calverton Mill

The Three Mills (all Ellicott owned, just north of Frederick Road. Also the site of an older and smaller works called Kenseys Mill) Kidds Mill (or Ball & Company Factory, Maiden Choice Run, west of Gwynns Falls) Millington Mill (1799) Baltimore Iron Works Company Forge (ca. 1730) Peter Bond's Sawmill Mount Clare Mill Baltimore Iron Works Company Furnace, south bank of Charles Run, west side of Gwynns Falls Dr. Carroll's personal iron furnace (ca. 1753), east Stereograph by William M. Chase shows Franklin Woolen side of Gwynns Falls, somewhere down- Factory ca. 1870 at Wetheredville, sometimes spelled Wetheredsville, still later called Dickeyville. stream of Washington Boulevard

The W. B. Marye "Indian Road" and "Garrison" ar- juveniles) also occupied the high ground; still shown on ticles of 1920-1921 published in the Maryland Histori- street maps of 1906, it has been replaced by Southwest- cal Magazine mentioned the survivals of dam footings ern High School. for the Baltimore Company's Forge, which could be Recent archaeological surveys by Stephen Israel seen from the Wilkens Avenue bridge. He also wrote and by Katherine J. Dinnel (1982) have indicated al- about the remains of the Mount Clare Mill. At the time most total obliteration of most of the ruins and ves- of the Society for Industrial Archeology bus tour of tiges that could have been seen 50 to 60 years ago. Baltimore in 1975, only the dam abutments from the Remnants of the Calverton Carpet Factory were iden- Mount Clare Mill could be identified just downstream of tified by Deborah Harrison (1978). The Dinnel report the Carrollton Viaduct. The Mount Clare Mill had, in its neatly summarizes the data about the Three Mills last days under the ownership of William E. Woodyear which had appeared in "The Molnography of Maryland" and Company, been expanded into a large, mass-pro- (1977). duction plant with considerable storage capacity, with Possibly, segments of Ellicott Driveway can be con- a steam engine, boiler house and industrial smoke- sidered archaeological, being nothing more than the stack. The mill was apparently entirely removed in the filled-in mill races that served the Calverton Mills and development of Carroll Park Golf Course. the Three Mills. Older maps show the "Three Mile Race" The Baltimore Iron Works Furnace was last shown that powered Calverton or Five Mills and the "Three on an 1833 map by Fielding Lucas that showed the Mill Race" that powered the Three Mills founded by the properties of the South Baltimore Land Company. Its Ellicotts. After the burning and collapse of all these site can be accurately plotted by a map found in the mills, there was a plan to make the millrace a walking Maryland Historical Society manuscript collection; in path, indicated on some city topographical maps. How- present-day terms, its site lies under a concrete-block ever, by completion of the project in 1917, the race had equipment storage garage building at 2200 Berlin been filled and paved as a parkway for automobiles. Street. Early histories of Baltimore state that the developers Just north of Charles Run, north of the garage, on of the Five Mills cut the race through solid rock in what the west bank of Gwynns Falls, was a spot indicated by was a notable engineering feat of the time. the 1734 map as Hunting Ridge Landing, probably a wharf for tobacco grown in the present vicinity of South Baltimore and Catonsville. Unfortunate. Last evening the powder works in the The stockyards and packing plants at Claremont neighborhood of this place, belonging to Messrs. were a development of the late 19th century, but they Hollingsworth, &c were blown up. The fire originated in occupied the high ground adjoining the stream, al- the salt-petre refinery. The loss is estimated at $10,000. though their effluent drained into Gwynns Falls. Also The workmen fortunately escaped. The times and the extinct are the Calverton Hotel and the Claremount merit of the owners, cause this accident to be much Hotel. regretted.- Whig. The House of Refuge (a charitable institution for -Baltimore American, September 19, 1812.