Floodwaters caused more than $9,000 in damages on the grounds of the Catonsville Historical Society last month but no artifacts were destroyed.
At least 2 feet of water made its way into the 75-year-old building, according to Joan Bender, a board member and past president of the society.
In nearby Ellicott City, more than 6 inches of rain fell in less than two hours on Saturday, July 30, inundating the Main Street, damaging buildings and sweeping away dozens of cars.
Along the edge of the historical society property on Frederick Road is the Grist Mill Creek, which runs under the road and leads into the Patapsco River.
A nearby culvert has two arches, about six feet tall, to allow water to flow through. One was blocked by trees, Bender said. Water ended up on the grounds, over the driveway and into the building's basement and first floor.
The historical society, which has about 200 members, did not purchase flood insurance, as the cost was prohibitive, Bender said.
The building's carpeting has been removed, as the building continues to dry out.
"We were pretty lucky with that," she said. "The museum stuff was all high enough that it wasn't a problem."
The building was constructed in 1941, according to state property records. As of Jan. 1, the building was valued at $418,600.
Founded in 1973, the historical society is home to a variety of artifacts that preserve the community's heritage. The collection includes a train garden display, originally created by the Catonsville Fire Department in the 1960s. It was given to the historical society after it was formed and is a popular attraction.
Plastic sheeting from the display fell onto the train garden and, to an extent, protected the exhibit from further damage, Bender said.
"It can be cleaned up," she said. "Nothing was destroyed."
The flooding did not stop the historical society from hosting a scheduled presentation from genealogist and historian Louis Diggs on Sunday, Bender said.
But there remains work to be done, Bender said. She anticipates needing help with cleanup once everything dries.
The historical society's next major event is its annual meeting Sept. 25. Bender hopes new carpeting will be installed by then, as everything returns to normal.
"We did survive the flooding," she said. "We're going ahead strong."