Reminiscing in Maryland

Frederick N. Rasmussen: A pioneer in teaching Russian to high schoolers

Earlier this week, I wrote about the death of Joseph Glus, 84, a longtime Charles Village resident who was hired as the first Russian-language teacher by Baltimore County's public schools in 1959.

Harford History

Much of the history of horse racing in Harford County has been gathered by George Washington Archer, the late local historian. From sources such as the Maryland Gazette and Maryland Journal, Archer gleaned information about races sponsored by taverns and prominent individuals as early as the mid-1700s. One such event was the "Harford Races" advertised on October 10, 1786. According to The Maryland Journal, the races were "to be held on a beautiful race course in the town of Havre de Grace." Specific stallions were advertised as being entered in the races, along with details of the prizes being offered, such as saddles, fire arms and cash. Similar events were held throughout the county and involved heats run over a course that was several miles long. The horse finishing first in the greatest number of heats was declared the winner.

Frederick N. Rasmussen: Jervis Langdon: the man behind the railroad

Why is it that most biographies of railroad presidents and business tycoons fall flatter than a Michael Phelps diner pancake?

Harford History

As the seat of Harford County government, Bel Air had no significant industry in the 1800s. It did support stores and services for residents and local workers. Many blacksmiths operated in the town, including Philip G. Hunter. He was born in 1833 and lived in Bel Air at the time of the 1860 Census. After moving to Havre de Grace and Halls Cross Roads, he returned to Bel Air and worked shoeing horses and as a blacksmith. In 1900 he moved to North Eutaw Street in Baltimore. He died in a city hospital Oct. 4, 1906.

Frederick N. Rasmussen: Gold comes out of the cellar and into the lore

My column several weeks ago chronicling the Depression-era story of two Baltimore youths, Theodore Jones, 16, and Henry Grob, 15, who turned up 3,558 gold coins in the dirt cellar of an Eden Street tenement, brought some interesting responses.

Harford History

On Sept. 23, 1908, a portion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad bridge span between Garrett Island and the Cecil shore collapsed just as the last of a freight train of loaded coal cars passed over. One span of 377 feet across the Susquehanna River at Havre de Grace and all the falsework supporting the bridge structure fell into the deep water. Twelve coal cars at the end of the train dropped into the river, but the locomotive had successfully crossed and remained intact. Only one person was injured. The second B & O Railroad bridge was rebuilt and redesigned to carry the heaviest of trains and reopened in 1910. It is still in use today.

Jacques Kelly: Oh, the tasks of homeownership

This country's home mortgage crisis reminds me of the advice my neighbor, Grace Darin, once gave me. Darin, who gave Charles Village its name and fought for the neighborhood and homeownership, warned me against buying the house I now own.

Frederick N. Rasmussen: For McDonogh teacher, love of art matched love of school

At 94, E. Carey Kenney's brush is as busy as ever, and the celebrated Pikesville artist who headed the art department at McDonogh School for 33 years before retiring in 1980 is afraid his wife might divorce him if he keeps on painting.

Harford History

The first weekly newspaper in Harford County did not last long. The Abingdon Patriot and Harford County Gazette became Harford County's first weekly newspaper on Sept. 17, 1805. Published in Abingdon by Daniel P. Ruff, the newspaper was published for less than two years. Its last issue appeared on April 21, 1807, and included the following editorial:

Frederick N. Rasmussen: Miss Elizabeth Gilman stayed true to her causes

It's a name you don't hear mentioned around Baltimore much these days but when Elizabeth Gilman died in 1950, The Evening Sun said in her obituary that for many years she was in the "forefront of social reform in Baltimore and Maryland. Her energy was prodigious; her battles many."

Harford History

September 1920 was all about women in politics in Harford County. As a result of the recent passage and ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, women were given the right to vote. The Aegis newspaper reported that the Republican women "will take their initial fling into local political matters when they convene in the Armory to elect a member of the Republican State Central Committee on September 14." The Aegis continued, "In order to get in the good graces of the ladies, our Republican leaders hit upon the plan of filling the existing vacancy with a lady, elected by popular vote. The public will watch the beginning of the suffragist-built political fences with interest." Not to be outdone, the Democratic women of Harford County plan to hold their rally Friday evening, Sept. 17. Attention is also called to all "our cultured women" not to miss this opportunity to register to vote.

Jacques Kelly: Memories of 'the Village,' as it used to be

What is it that has etched the Edmondson Village Shopping Center in our collective memories? Could it have just been the presence of three soda fountains - at the old Arundel, the Tommy Tucker or the Whelan's?

Frederick N. Rasmussen: Treasure in the cellar brought more trouble than riches

The story of two Baltimore teenagers and their random discovery of a cache of gold coins in a copper jug while digging in the dirt cellar floor of a three-story rowhouse at 132 S. Eden St. became a national story during the height of the Depression.

Harford History

On Sept. 6, 1995, Harford County native Cal Ripken Jr. of the Baltimore Orioles, born and raised in Aberdeen, surpassed Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive baseball games played, and his ovation lasted 22 minutes. The night Ripken tied Gehrig's record and the night he broke it, he changed uniforms after the fifth inning. On the night of game number 2,131, the first uniform went to his son, and the second uniform went to the Ripken Museum in Aberdeen. Ripken voluntarily ended his streak on Sept. 20, 1998, at 2,632 games.

Frederick N. Rasmussen: Rediscovering the forge that lent its name to Rodgers Forge

Travelers whizzing up and down York Road probably don't realize when they get to Stevenson Lane, they're at the epicenter of Rodgers Forge.

Harford History

The Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad operated for 80 years, beginning in 1884. The little railroad ran from Baltimore to York twice daily. Stops in Harford County included Forest Hill, Highland, Bel Air and Fallston. With the lack of good roads, the Ma and Pa, as it was called, allowed local businesses and farms to prosper through the barter and sale of their products. The Ma and Pa marked the beginning of a period of prosperity for Harford County. As roads and automobiles improved, the railroad industry suffered. By 1954, the Maryland and Pennsylvania was running at a deficit. On Aug. 31, 1954, the train pulled out of the Bel Air station for the last time. By 1959, the organization ceased all train runs, the roadbed from Baltimore to Delta, Pa., was deserted and the rails were sold for scrap.

Harford History

Students across Harford County will be boarding school buses for the first time this week. In 1912, students were boarding "The Kid Wagon." Harford was one of the first counties in Maryland to offer a transportation system for the schools. After several one-room schools were closed and a central school, the Highland School, was built, students would have to walk as far as three miles. Mrs. George E. Harkins was employed to transport the children from the Mine Branch District. "The Kid Wagon" was a horse-drawn spring wagon, usually driven by the older school boys. Each morning, students would gather at the Harkins home or the old school. At the sound of a large conch blast or the school bell, the wagon would set off for the Highland School.

Frederick N. Rasmussen: 'God Bless America' muse honored World War II effort in Charm City

Jack Hook, longtime secretary-treasurer of Local 40-543 of the American Federation of Musicians, trombonist and connoisseur collector of old-time radio shows, sent me a tape the other day of singer Kate Smith's performance on WCAO radio in Baltimore during World War II.

Frederick N. Rasmussen: From the pool to Hollywood stardom

As Towson-area native Michael Phelps racked up gold medals for swimming at the Olympics in Beijing, I thought it worthwhile to look back at another Olympian, Johnny Weissmuller, who won five gold medals and a bronze at the 1924 and 1928 Olympics.

Harford History

On Aug. 18, 1907, Aberdeen suffered from a devastating fire that destroyed two buildings and damaged several others.

Harford History

On August 13, 1789, John H. Barney was appointed postmaster for Havre de Grace. Postal service has been continuous in Havre de Grace since then.

Jacques Kelly: Book records West Baltimore's heritage, neighbors' devotion to Gwynns Falls

Could a bunch of West Baltimore neighborhood activists ever win a battle against a huge national highway? In the early 1970s, I sat in a West Forest Park Avenue living room and heard Carolyn and George Tyson speak of their work in a group called Volunteers Opposed to Leakin Park Expressway. Their ideas sounded convincing.

Frederick N. Rasmussen: A platterful of fond Connolly's memories

Even though Connolly's Pier 5 Pratt Street seafood house served up its last crab cake platter in 1991, Baltimoreans near and far still fondly recall the old, no-frills restaurant and wish that such a place still existed.

Harford History

Harford History

According to the memoirs of Samuel Mason, two types of squirrels had been known to live in Harford County at the end of the 1800s, the gray squirrel and the red squirrel. The last red squirrel Mason observed in the area was spotted July 22, 1944. Through research and investigation, Mason also noted the appearance of mockingbirds in the area, which were "rare in Harford County much before 1920," and Japanese honeysuckle, "which has deluged Harford's wood to their eventual devastation." Mason's observations of nature, published in 1955, also indicate that few deer and no beavers were present in the county earlier in the 20th century. He further noted that turkey vultures were joined in local skies by black vultures around 1943 and that whistling swans were not common until the 1890s.

Jacques Kelly: Brief job at banking house 40 years ago brings to light a long-buried secret

The recent merger of two Baltimore financial institutions, Brown Advisory and Brown Investment Management, brought up memories of a period 40 years ago when I enjoyed a brief career with the old Alex. Brown & Sons.

40 years

In June 1967, the Orioles wore shiny new World Series rings. Baltimore still had pro teams in basketball and ice hockey. And kids listened to pop music on transistor radios tuned to WCAO-AM.

40 years of Sun athletic standouts

Jacques Kelly: Hippo's opening another night to remember

AS MY CAB turned south on Eutaw Street on Tuesday night, I asked the driver, "Where are the moving lights?"

Jacques Kelly: Hoping B&O Museum is able to maintain pieces of history

I’VE OFTEN thought that Baltimore possesses three truly great object collections: the Cone sisters' canvases, the treasure of Henry and William Walters and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Yes, the rail museum at Pratt and Poppleton, which suffered such a direct hit from this week's snowstorm, is this country's knockout stable of iron-horse history.