Finding clues from the past that give us a glimpse into the places and lives of Marylanders who came before us
In 1902, thieves believed to be from Washington, D.C. came to Montgomery County to steal goods of the feathered kind: “Edgar Cashell, near Rockville, Montgomery county, had 100 chickens on Friday of last week. On Saturday morning he found all had been stolen except one. George W. Day, a neighbor, had 25 taken the same... Continue Reading →
When I was little, we went to Ocean City for a week’s vacation every August. We’d set off super early in the morning, before it was light out, with plenty of stops along the way to check out ponds that my dad had planned on fishing at during the week. Sometimes my aunt and uncle... Continue Reading →
I had the pleasure of accompanying my daughter on a field trip to Rose Hill Manor in Frederick last week. My husband and I each had fuzzy memories of being served mint tea and some sort of cracker when we had visited Gov. Thomas Johnson's retirement home during our own elementary school field trip days... Continue Reading →
A October 1895 issue of the Catoctin Clarion described an awful-sounding accident, making us realize that even the most mundane hobbies can have painful consequences: “Miss Rose Coleman ran a crocheting needle into the index finger of her left hand. Dr. Kefauver was called, forced it through her finger and cut the barb off, then... Continue Reading →
In 1865, January 1 fell on a Sunday, as it will for us in a few short days. The following day, The Baltimore Sun reported on the holiday, its evolving traditions and the anticipation of a better year than the one that had just passed. The sentiment below seems as relevant today as it was... Continue Reading →
It’s hard to believe that it is once again time to give thanks for what we have in our lives. Read on to see how Marylanders celebrated Thanksgiving in years past: Printed on Thanksgiving eve 1847 in The Baltimore Sun: “To-morrow is the general Thanksgiving, and as some of the perquisites of the day, a... Continue Reading →
Early this morning, Maryland and most of the nation turned its clocks back one hour as daylight saving time ended. The act of switching from standard time to daylight saving time was formally introduced in 1918, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) website. But some areas in the country — and... Continue Reading →
The folks in the 1800s used the newspaper as one way to communicate about lost belongings, with notices looking for items ranging from lace veils to spectacles to animals. Check out a few below: A Happy Reunion Mrs. Flossy DeGrange lost her canary, “bright with top-knot on head and black tip on wings” and placed a... Continue Reading →
Today, we generally think of flies as more of a nuisance than a health hazard. But in the early 20th century, flies spreading typhoid, cholera, tuberculosis and other diseases was a true public safety concern. In 1912, government officials encouraged farmers to keep stables clean, use screens in doors and windows and fly-catching devices to protect... Continue Reading →
Hot. Humid. Sticky. Miserable. If you’re like me, you’re not a fan of Maryland’s oppressive heat. Ads and information in local papers had remedies and recommendations for dealing with Maryland summers: The Heat Does All This? We're In Trouble The medicine advertised in the August 25, 1880 Herald and Torch Light (Hagerstown) claimed to cure a... Continue Reading →
Bygone Maryland 