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Friday, June 12, 2009

A Chronology of Ellicott Mills History

1771 - John, Andrew, and Joseph establish a settlement at Ellicott's Mills.

1774 - The Ellicotts are milling wheat at their new mill on the east side of the Patapsco river

1780 - Flood.

1790s - Ellicotts built the road west to Fredericktown.

1830 - B & O build Train Station on land given to them by the Ellicotts.

1830 - Rock Hill College founded by the Christian Brothers.

1831 - Angelo Castle built by Samuel Vaughn, an artist.

1831 - The Ellicotts sell a half-block parcel on the north side of the river to Andrew McLaughlin for $16,000.

1833 - Andrew Jackson became the first President to ride on a train. He makes the trip to Ellicott's Mills by stagecoach, and boards the train for a trip to Baltimore.

1834 - McLaughlin has to sell his property and establishes a lottery to do so. The poster describes Ellicott's Mills: "One of the most romantic, healthy, and prosperous villages in the United States, admired by every passing traveller and celebrated for it's great manufacturing advantages. The clink of the hammer is heard from every quarter, splitting the gray granite, which abounds in inexhaustible quantities; the dull noise of the forges and rapic motion of Saw Mills; the hum of ten thousand spindles in the Cotton Factories, the whirl of the many mill stones, and the white spray of the pure water which is constantly tumbling over the dam, mingling with the cheerful bustle of the industrious and enterprising villagers, give the whole scene a most animating character and make it the happy resort of thousands of admiring visitors."

1834 - 1837 - Patapsco Institute built.

1837 - Emory Methodist Church built.

1840 - Howard County Courthouse built

1851 - Howard County officially established out of part of Anne Arundel County.

1861 - "Winan's Steam Gun" recaptured by Union troops when Southern sympathizers attempt to take it through Ellicott's Mills to Harper's Ferry.

1867 - After being granted a city charter, Ellicott's Mills name is changed to Ellicott City.

1868 - Flood destroys much of the Town on both sides of the river.

1885 - Freight station built in 1885.

1914 - Wooden covered bridge spanning the Patapsco river burns.

1962 - Town celebrates the Centennial of the "Raid on Ellicott's Mills" Civil War event.

1972 - Hurricane Agnes sweeps through the town causing massive damage and destroying George Ellicott's house.

1972 - The old town's Bicentennial is celebrated with many special events and publications.

1974 - Ellicott City declared a Historic District by the Howard County Government.

2 comments:

  1. I should like to point out and correct an error in the above timeline. Rock Hill Academy was founded in 1824 as a private enterprise. It was successful until 1850 until it was closed. The Christian Brothers acquired the premises in 1857 and organized a school, which was chartered by the Md. legislature in 1865 as Rock Hill College. The college ran until it was destroyed by fire 16 Jan 1923.
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  2. Thank you Richard. You seem to know a bit about that particular property, would you like you write an extended blog entry?
    Or if you have time, and would like to contribute to the quality of this blog, I could add you as an author. Please email me at wiley@wileypurkey.com.
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