Finding clues from the past that give us a glimpse into the places and lives of Marylanders who came before us
The following incidents reported in the late 1880s and 1890s show us how life can change in an instant: A Fork in the Eye In 1897, Mrs. Hobbs, the wife of farmer Wm. M. Hobbs living near Sykesville (Carroll County), lost an eye after attempting to untie a knot. “She was trying to untie a... Continue Reading →
Walking along East Main Street in Westminster, the county seat of Carroll County, one can find clues from the city’s past. Take, for example, the words “T.W. Mather & Sons” etched into one of the buildings, the remnants of one of the city’s downtown shopping destinations. A description of the former establishment from a 1996... Continue Reading →
Like today, thieves of yesteryear had some pretty creative ways of getting what they wanted. Take, for instance, the man who impersonated a park police officer for some easy cash in February 1897 Baltimore. It happened when Harry Crooks — the son of a police officer — was sitting on a park bench in Druid... Continue Reading →
In July 1897, 70-year-old William B. Trout and 62-year-old Mrs. Mirian Lawler were lucky enough to find love yet another time. The Baltimore Sun article “An Aged Bride and Groom” outlines how the Ellicott City couple sought out an old acquaintance to help them find the way to the Methodist Episcopal Church, where the Rev.... Continue Reading →
Bygone Maryland 