Finding clues from the past that give us a glimpse into the places and lives of Marylanders who came before us
The deplorable actions that took place alongside a desolate country road outside Myersville in July 1924 briefly thrust Frederick County in the national spotlight. Dorothy Grandon, 21, and her friend Mabel Mills had been in Myersville for about a week, calling on a friend. During their stay, there was talk that the young women had... Continue Reading →
Out of Washington County comes this tragic tale of a man coming to an untimely demise due to injuries he received from the family horse. In October 1921, 35-year-old John Weisner was unharnessing the horse when it lashed out at its owner, causing injuries that would ultimately lead to the well-known storekeeper and farmer’s death.... Continue Reading →
Those who knew Edward McKenna in life were shocked at the surprise he left in death. The Cumberland man, described as an “octogenarian gardener and expert fruit grower” by The Washington Post, died in February 1905 and was laid to rest on February 10 in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. The Post article described Edward as “…generally... Continue Reading →
Situated on sloping East Mulberry Street in Baltimore, the sign’s words on the side of the building are chipped and peeling, but still easy to read: Baltimore School of Beauty Culture Licensed to Teach Marinello System An online Maryland State Archives search reveals that two buildings – at 5 East Mulberry Street and 7 East... Continue Reading →
In 1929, Carroll County was rocked by two violent murder cases that each made front-page news, and they even shared newsprint on the same day. Threads of similarities ran through each of these cases — the death of a spouse at the hands of the other, alcohol, domestic violence and two shots — but the... Continue Reading →
Like the other businessmen and merchants of their time, dentists advertised their services in newspapers to gain new business. Dentist T.J. Smithers informed his patients and the general public that he was back in his South Washington Street office in Easton in the pages of September 30, 1890 issue of The Star-Democrat. Smithers offered a... Continue Reading →
Searching for companionship, in 1924 Emmanuel C. Fink of Lewisdale (Frederick County) put a notice in The News (Frederick) seeking a wife. Fink, a 60-year-old childless widower, was looking for a “matrimonially inclined” woman with whom he could spend the rest of his life. In his notice, Fink explained he was financially stable, made good... Continue Reading →
Painting advertisements on the side of buildings was one of the ways companies got the attention of potential customers in years past. Today, those fading advertisements are sometimes called “ghost signs.” The more I noticed them in my travels, the more I became curious about the companies and products they once represented. The Zile’s Ice... Continue Reading →
Bygone Maryland 