It's been a while since Historic Ellicott City Inc. sponsored a show house in the historic district, which makes this year's effort at Mount Ida that much more special.
It's a beautiful house, and this beautiful weather makes an outing there even more fun. The group has outdone themselves with extensive renovations to the house, and the dozen designers involved have risen to the decorating challenge.
Additionally, the experience includes "Events in the Tent." Every Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m., there are free presentations and demonstrations in the food tent on the property. On Oct. 10 you can meet the designers and learn how they work their magic. On Oct. 17 the program will feature architecture and life at the Patapsco Female Institute and on Oct. 24 it will be flower arrangements you can do at home.
I'll be there at lunch time on Oct. 17 and 25 to sign copies of "The Enchanted Forest," the book I wrote with Martha Clark.
The show house is open daily except Mondays until Oct. 27. Proceeds enable the organization to continue its mission of preservation, education and restoration in the historic district.
For more information, and to purchase tickets, go to the website at http://www.historicec.com or call 410-461-6908.
Antiques Appraisals
The Howard County Historical Society is sponsoring its second annual Antiques Appraisal Fair on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year the event will be held at the Kittleman Room in Duncan Hall at Howard Community College.
The admission fee of $12 for the public and $8 for society members entitles you to two appraisals. Additional appraisals are $5 each. The appraisers are John and Shelley Harris, who formerly owned Caplan's Antiques on Main Street. This is a wonderful opportunity to dust off that treasure you inherited and see what it's really worth.
On Oct. 19, the society is hosting the Howard County Genealogical Society at the Miller Library from 1 to 4 p.m. This is a regular event, occurring the third Saturday of each month, to help the public research family histories.
The society also continues to accept submissions for its 50th anniversary cookbook. Go to the website http://www.hchsmd.org to download a recipe form. Send submissions until Dec. 31.
To contact the society about any of these events, call 410-480-3250.
Fire department celebration
The Ellicott City Volunteer Fire Department is celebrating its 125th anniversary. Yes, the service started on Main Street on July 10, 1888, and the volunteers are marking the occasion with a parade on Main Street on Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. The parade will feature fire trucks, apparatus, marching bands and the Pipe and Drum Band. To accommodate this, Main Street will be closed to traffic from 10 to 11 a.m. What a nice time of year to have a parade.
Fall Fest
The Oella Community Association and the Benjamin Banneker Park are sponsoring the Oella Fall Fest on Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Banneker Park. The event is free, and includes scarecrow making, children's activities and music. For more information, call 410-887-1081.
Ghost Tours
If you are ever going to do a Ghost Tour, now is the time. Howard County Tourism sponsors these scary events on Fridays and Saturdays in the historic district as well as at Savage Mill. Reserve your space by calling 410-313-1900.