Howard Life - June 2008-September 2008 - (Page 29)

U History records that Andrew Jackson was the first U.S. president to ride on a train. Another railroad-related first is the Thomas Viaduct (1835). This is the first multi-span masonry railroad bridge in the United States and the world’s largest multiplearched curved stone railroad bridge (700 feet long with eight elliptical arches). The world’s last Bollman Truss railroad bridge (1869) is situated at Savage Mill, which began operation in 1822 and remained in business until 1947. This is located along the southern boundary of the county, the Little Patuxent River. The Patapsco Female Institute was one of the first schools in the nation to educate women academically, teaching them some of the same courses that were taught to men, including math and science. The school was built in 1837; today, the ruins and grounds are an award-winning historic park situated in the Ellicott City Historic District. Originally, Howard County was designated the “Howard District of Anne Arundel County,” and remained so until 1851, when it became an independent jurisdiction. The western area of Howard County offers Lisbon, a small farming community that became a way station on the Frederick Turnpike and a summer resort for those wanting to escape the heat of the city. A little farther west, the town of Poplar Spring was the spot to rest and take advantage of the fresh water that still emanates from the spring today. The Civil War divided the county, much as it did the rest of the nation. Our small town of Cooksville, about 13 miles west of Ellicott City, played a part in the outcome of the Gettysburg campaign. General J.E.B. Stuart was heading north to assist Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg when he was slowed by a skirmish with opposing forces at Cooksville. Stuart won the skirmish but was delayed in reaching Pennsylvania; by the time he did, the tide had turned in favor of the Union. The annual Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival, held the first weekend in May at the Howard County Fairgrounds, just east of Lisbon and Cooksville, is the largest festival of its kind. The festival began in 1973 and has grown each year. It is the largest event held in Howard County. Just as the founders of Howard County were visionaries, so, too, have been many others throughout its history. The world’s first fully submerged hydroelectric plant built in a dam was erected in 1906 at the Bloede Dam on the Patapsco River. The surrounding area was incorporated into what was Maryland’s first state park—Patapsco Valley State Park— in 1907. Patapsco Valley State Park encompasses large areas within Howard and Baltimore counties. The Enchanted Forest in Ellicott City was the first theme park in Maryland and on the East Coast. It opened Monday, August 15, 1955. In the 1960s, another visionary, James Rouse, purchased 14,000 acres and began creating Columbia, one of America’s premier planned communities. Spend some time with us and discover why Howard County is such a great place to live. Money magazine listed Howard County in the top five best places to live, work, and play in 2006. That came a year after the Howard County Public Library was ranked first in the nation among great public libraries, according to Hennen's American Public Library Ratings. So immerse yourself in our history and heritage as you enjoy today’s delights. You’ll be glad you did! I Kenneth Losurdo, Jr. The Patapsco Valley State Park is Maryland’s first state park, recently celebrating its 100th year. HISTORY RESOURCES U Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum, 901 West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21223, 410-752-2462, 410-752-2499 (fax), www.borail.org Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum, Ellicott City Station, 2711 Maryland Avenue, Ellicott City, MD 21043, 410-461-1945, 410-461-1944 (fax), www.ecborail.org Columbia Archives, 10227 Wincopin Circle, Columbia, MD 21044, 410-715-3103, www.columbiaassociation.com Ellicott City Colored School Restored, P.O. Box 6595, Columbia, MD 21045, 410-381-1292, 410-313-1427 Friends of Patapsco Female Institute, Inc., P.O. Box 293, Ellicott City, MD 21041, 410-465-8500, 410-465-8617 (fax), www.patapscofemaleinstitute.org Friends of the Whipps Cemetery & Memorial Gardens, Inc., 3651 St. Johns Lane, Ellicott City, MD 21042, 410-465-6721, 410-465-7332 (fax) Howard County Historical Society Museum & Library, P.O. Box 109, Ellicott City, MD 21043, 410-750-0370, 410-750-0370 (fax), www.hchsmd.org The Vintage Motorcycle Museum at Bob’s BMW, 10720 Guilford Road, Columbia/Jessup, MD 20794, 301-497-8949, www.bobsbmw.com howardLIFE 29 http://www.borail.org http://www.ecborail.org http://www.columbiaassociation.com http://www.patapscofemaleinstitute.org http://www.hchsmd.org http://www.bobsbmw.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Howard Life - June 2008-September 2008

Howard Life - June 2008-September 2008 Contents Important Numbers Welcome to Howard County, Maryland Join Howard County Tourism The Good Life Events Clark’s Elioak Farm: Home of the Enchanted Forest Farms Merriweather Post Pavilion Ghost Tours Howard County’s Famous Firsts History Resources Volunteerism Getaways: Trips for the Guys and the Girls Golf Resources Spas and Wellness Resources Recreation Resources Howard County Map Ellicott City Walking Tour Savage Mill Artists Art and Music Resources Dining Profiles: Aida Bistro, Jordan’s Steakhouse, and Tersiguel’s Dining Resources Shopping Shopping Resources For the Event Planner Where to Stay Relocation Resources Business and Service Listings

Howard Life - June 2008-September 2008

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