baltimore and ohio railroad

How the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad brought prosperity to Aberdeen, competition for PRR

Aberdeen City Manager Randy Robertson has been working to dispel rumors that the city plans to sell The Aberdeen Room Archives and Museum's building downtown, although some residents, including a former mayor, remain unconvinced.

On Saturday, Sept. 17, Savage Mill will commemorate its 200th "birthday" in a bicentennial celebration, broadcasting live on WWMX-106.5FM outside of the New Weave Building beginning at 10 a.m.

Renovating the Howard Street Tunnel to accommodate double-stacked containers is essential if the Port of Baltimore is to maximize the cost efficiencies provided by the expanded Panama Canal, super Panamax cargo ships, a 50-foot channel and super Panamax cranes.

Arthur W. "Otts" Smith, a retired CSX supervisor who began his career with the old Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, died Aug. 22 from cancer at Oak Crest Village in Parkville. He was 84.

Margaret D. "Mustang Margie" Pearce, a former businesswoman and well-known Harford County volunteer, died Aug. 17 from cancer at her Belcamp home. She was 72.

It's been over two weeks since our historic town was devastated. My heart still aches. The pain is still raw. The photos and videos are forever etched in my mind.

Railroads crisscrossed Carroll County enabling movement of passengers and freight east, west, north, and south. Farmers shipped milk and other produce to Baltimore markets. Freight and/or passenger depots sprang up in some of Carroll's small communities along the tracks as well as in larger towns. Carroll became a mecca for visitors escaping the stifling summer heat of Washington and Baltimore. You can still see some of the buildings that served as inns in Sykesville, Mount Airy, Westminster,

Aug. 15 

The storm that hit the historic district last weekend was so fast and furious we didn't even have time to name it. I remember Tropical Storm Agnes well. Now I will never forget July 30, 2016. The loss of life is the most significant tragedy that resulted from that onslaught, followed by the destruction of so many iconic buildings.

It had been days since Richard Jones had been to his apartment — days since floodwaters roared down Main Street in Ellicott City, sweeping away cars, gutting buildings and killing two people. On Wednesday, Jones was granted 15 minutes to return.

The role of six dozen Howard County African-Americans who served as Union soldiers in the U.S. Colored Troops during the Civil War will be commemorated July 30 in Ellicott City on the 152nd anniversary of the Battle of the Crater — an ambitious attack that spawned a hometown hero.

My 4 Runner truck crossed the 100,000 mile mark last week, at 18 years of age. People have marveled that it took me so long. Well, the way I see it, at least half of those miles were accrued making the 10-mile round-trip between my house and the historic district. If my math is right, that's about 500 trips. I do love Main Street, and I look forward to the next 100,000 miles.

Ian Shaw has lived in Sykesville for the past 20 years, and has served as the mayor of the southeastern municipality since 2013. We asked him what some of his

When Jeremy Neville Jr. graduated from Mount Saint Joseph High School on Sunday, June 5, it marked a milestone at the school.

The Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway non-profit group is working on an extension of a national water trail system to promote history-based tourism between the waterfront towns of Perryville, Havre de Grace and Port Deposit.

For those looking to rescue a damsel in distress, the house at 2605 Old Court Road in Baltimore County just might be the challenge for you.

Congratulations to my favorite Ellicott City firefighter,

Just beyond a sharp bend in the steep and narrow road known as Mulligan's Hill, a set of steps that lead nowhere bisects a low wall of mossy, granite blocks.

Dr. Walter R. Welzant, 86, a retired internist and kidney specialist who practiced medicine for five decades, died of respiratory failure May 13 at Gilchrist Hospice Care.

Fellow bus passengers described a trip to Pimlico to watch Nyquist work out in the early morning. As I eavesdropped on their enthusiasm, I considered the historic track, its history and place in Baltimore. That day I had been looking at 1938 newsreel footage of the Seabiscuit-War Admiral match race when my eye caught a streetcar in the Pimlico backstretch.

We never run short of events to celebrate here in the historic district. This weekend I am delighted to inform you that we are marking the 186th anniversary of the B&O Railroad. Yes, on May 24, 1830, service began between Baltimore and Ellicott City — the first in the country.

Railroad hobbyists say that when spectators see a detailed, large-scale replica of a locomotive in motion, they can get a thrill similar to watching an actual train chugging along the tracks.

The Town of Mount Airy has another new attraction, but it is not quite ready for prime time. It is a caboose from the B&O Railroad which has been given the name Mackenzie — and a new lease on life.

This Brewers Hill couple met through OKCupid, and got engaged at the same place they had their first date.

Only 10 Major League Baseball teams, including the Baltimore Orioles, don't have a naming rights deal or a pending one for their ballparks. Such deals — which can produce revenue of more than $10 million a year — have become the norm in professional sports. But don't expect any changes at Camden Yards.

Baltimore's newest museum honors Baltimore's 1.2 million European immigrants

Harford County legislators have secured a combined $516,000 in state bond funds to support community construction projects as of the end of this year's Maryland General Assembly session.

The Spring Fest is coming up on Saturday, April 23. The entire historic district comes alive with music, food and games. The event goes from noon to 8 p.m. and includes four music stages scattered around town with over 25 bands performing. There are special sales, craft beers, crafts and games for the kids and lots of family fun.

Evelyn Stevens, 95, a retired career grocery store cashier, died of heart disease and dementia Friday at her Towson home.

A newly opened Baltimore Museum of Industry photographic exhibition poses a question about Baltimore. In the past century, we've changed, but just how much?

With easy access to jobs in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., not to mention standout schools that rank among the top in the state, it¿s no surprise that Howard County is a magnet for families. From indoor rock climbing to laser tag to pumpkin patches, there¿s always something fun nearby for parents and children.

Howard County has a distinct and thriving collection of communities, old and new, stable and growing. In Columbia, one-third of the land is designated as open space. Woods, parkland, playgrounds and other public spaces are required by covenant to remain undeveloped.

Set squarely between the nation¿s capital and Baltimore, Howard County is a well-blended mix of the bucolic, the urban and the suburban.

This weekend's celebration of the B&O Railroad's 189

Our award-winning Howard County Library is celebrating its annual Evening in the Stacks on Saturday, Feb. 27, from 7 to 11 p.m. This is the library's premier event each year and attracts about 600 people. This year's event is called the Black-eyed Susan Ball and features celebrity chef John Shields and the 25th anniversary edition of his book, "Chesapeake Bay Cooking."

Robert Tarring, president of an ad-hoc committee formed to oversee the restoration of Aberdeen's historic B&O Railroad station, estimates it could cost more than half a million dollars to restore the building to its 1885 glory.

Freezing rain overnight left icy conditions on roads and sidewalks in the Baltimore area Tuesday morning. Though temperatures are expected to rise, several area attractions and businesses closed or delayed opening.

Peabody Chamber Opera offers mostly effective staging of Paul Crabtree's "The Ghost Train" at B&O Railroad Museum.

Happy Valentine's Day! I know many restaurants around here are serving up special menus for the big day and they all sound enticing. For something a little different you might want to consider the Valentine's Day tea offered by Tea on the Tiber.

How do you make your special day feel truly special when it's just one in a line of weddings?

Well, winter has finally caught up with us, bringing on some real snow, too. It is tempting in the next couple of weeks to hunker down at home and watch the Super Bowl and eat pancakes on Mardi Gras, Feb. 9. You should just put on an extra sweater and get out of the house.

Mary Portera, 101, who worked until she was 100 as the ambassador of a Roman Catholic religious shrine, died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Sunday.

Chestnut Hill, the 19th-century estate within the Ednor Gardens-Pen Lucy neighborhoods, has all the lines associated with the tastes and pocketbooks of Baltimore's merchant and industrial elite.

The Harford County Board of Education reached a tentative agreement on a teacher compensation package and contract that included a 1.5 percent pay increase for all teachers, plus a 3 percent salary step and longevity increase. The salary increases would take effect for the 2015-2016 fiscal year beginning July 1.

This was a year when construction cranes pointed out the changes in Baltimore's neighborhoods.

Eldersburg site to become headquarters of B&O RR Historical Society

You really need to take a walk down Main Street. So many of the shops and restaurants have pulled out all the stops to decorate for the season. Most likely you will see Father Christmas, aka Barry Gibson, chatting with pedestrians in front of the Forget-Me-Not Factory. Across the street re-enactors in period dress will give you an idea what the holiday was like in Colonial times at the B&O Railroad Museum, Ellicott City Station.

Columnist Kate Drabinski goes on a tour of the Confederate memorials in Charles Village with Eli Pousson of Baltimore Heritage.