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Baltimore County History > A Brief History of ArbutusA Brief History of the Arbutus Area and Nearby
Communities
The name Arbutus came from the abundance of trailing Arbutus
flowers that once covered the area. Seven small villages played a part in the history of
the Arbutus area. According to Ross Rainey these were Avalon, St. Denis, Relay, Lansdowne,
Violetville, Halethorpe and Arbutus. All but Avalon remain active communities today.
A vast iron ore pit and springs of sulfur water gave the main road the name Sulphur
Spring Road. Horse carts run by the B&O Railroad were brought in and the changing
place for the horses became Relay Station. Another railroad station was added on Sulphur
Spring Road and the Sulphur Spring Hotel sprang up. Water from the nearby springs was
thought to have great medicinal value. As more and more people traveled on the new
railroad, the Viaduct Hotel (pictured) was built in Relay, which became a popular
stopover between Baltimore and Ellicott City.
St. Denis was named after Dennis Smith, a colorful character who was a local politician
and ran a toll bridge over the Patapsco River. The name Halethorpe was taken from the
English words "hale", meaning healthy and "thorpe", a small village.
Violetville was another village inspired to name itself after a local wildflower.
Lansdowne was another area rich in iron ore. The many pits left from mining filled with
water which formed ponds and streams. The railroad opened Coursey Station and Lansdowne
became known as a B&O town. The name Lansdowne came from the British who named it
after the Prime Minister William Petty, the Marquis of Lansdowne.
For more details on the history of the Arbutus area, visit the Arbutus Library.
Brief History of the Lansdowne Area
B & O cars - Hammonds Ferry Rd |
In the late 1800's the Whitaker Iron Co. mined for ore in Lansdowne. Abandoned pits
from the mining were filled up by underground springs creating small ponds and lakes.
Lansdowne was mostly farmland including the Kessler farm, MacLeod farm and Wades farm.
When the railroad came Lansdowne became known as a B&O town. Most people worked for
B&O, commuting by train into Baltimore City. The first station was named Coursey
Station. The Coursey Station senior housing center takes its name from this.
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Coursey Station Senior Housing |
The two main roads were Hammonds Ferry Road and Hollins Ferry Road, both of which led
to the Patapsco River where you could take a ferry across to the other side.
Early churches included the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, St. Clement's Catholic
Church, Lansdowne United Methodist Church, Lansdowne Christian Church and the First Baptist
Church. The site of the original wooden school house was on the property that is now St.
Clement's.
In the area known as Baltimore Highlands is a legendary mansion called English Consul.
The land and house were owned by William Dawson, the first English Consul to Maryland. One
legend claims that Dawson had a brother who was transported from England to America in
disgrace. Each year he was to receive a whip lashing as punishment for the crime he had
committed. This took place on the English Consul estate. Another legend has it that the
mansion was a stop on the Underground Railroad before the Civil War. In 1909 a developer
purchased the estate. It was eventually divided into the areas known as Baltimore
Highlands, Rosemont, Friendship Gardens and the small section still called English Consul.
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English Consul House Today |
In the 1950's housing developments sprang up in the Baltimore Highlands and Riverview
areas. Schools were built for these neighborhoods. In Lansdowne the Lansdowne Elementary
School, Lansdowne Junior High (middle school) and Lansdowne Senior High were known as the
"Golden Education Triangle".
In the early 1960's the B&O closed the railroad crossing and Lansdowne Boulevard
was constructed, connecting Lansdowne to Washington Boulevard, bridging over the railroad
tracks. A tunnel was also constructed under the tracks for pedestrian crossing. Some old
railroad cars were erected as a museum and shopping area alongside Hammonds Ferry Road and
the railroad tracks.
In the 1980's Baltimore County Recreation and Parks opened a large parcel of land for
public use. Southwest Area Park is located on the Patapsco River just below Baltimore
Highlands.
A small library was built by Baltimore County in 1966, on Third Avenue. In
1993 the Lansdowne Library was closed due to budget cutbacks. The building was
then used as the Southwest Community Center, serving the area's needs for adult
education and other county services.
In 1989 the Lansdowne/Baltimore Highlands Senior Center was built directly
behind the library building. After the new Senior Center opened the Baltimore
County Police Department operated a PAL (Police Athletic League) Center in the
former library. In 2006, the PAL Center moved to a new facility on the grounds
of Lansdowne Elementary School and in April of that same year a newly remodeled
Lansdowne Library re-opened for the public.
For more information about Lansdowne, please contact the Arbutus Library.
Condensed History of Relay, Maryland
Prepared by the Arbutus Library
In 1830 the first railroad track had its debut from Baltimore to Ellicott Mills which
ran 13 miles. The first trains were horse-drawn wagons that ran on rails made of wood.
Since the distance between the two towns was considered too long for one team of horses, a
new team, known as a relay was secured at the halfway point of the trip. The town of Relay
was given its name at the spot where the first team of horses were exchanged.
Even though Peter Cooper lost the race with the Tom Thumb he started the era of the
Iron Horse on August 28, 1830 in Relay.
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The Thomas Viaduct |
Benjamin Latrobe designed the Thomas Viaduct and John McCartney, an
engineer from Ohio built the bridge. Construction of the "bridge that couldn't be
built" took three years. The bridge was named the Thomas Viaduct in honor of Phillip
Thomas who was the first president of the B&O Railroad. The bridge stretches 612 feet
from Baltimore County to Howard County and is still in use today. A monument stands today,
designating government and railroad officials connected to the project.
Samuel Morse's workshop for the telegraph was located at 5128 South Rolling Road. The
first commercial telegraph service opened May 24, 1844. The telegraph pole was invented at
this time because the stone base of the land was too difficult to dig the normal trench
for placement of the telegraph wire.
The Eighth New York and Sixth Massachusetts regiments and Cook's Boston Battery
occupied Relay during the Civil War on May 5, 1861. A Civil War fort was located on the
property of Margaret Bennett, where her current home is still standing after being constructed in 1800 on Gundry's Lane. In August of 1862 the 138th Pennsylvania Volunteers
came to Relay. Their commander was Colonel Sumwalt. The regiment had a total of 36
officers and 820 enlisted men. They made their headquarters at the Relay House and had
come to the area to protect the railroad.
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The Viaduct Hotel |
Construction began on the Relay Station (Viaduct Hotel) in 1872. The gothic structure
was built of Patapsco granite and trimmed in red seneca stone. The two-story porch on the
river side of the hotel gave visitors a magnificent view of the Patapsco Valley and the
Thomas Viaduct. Due to the decline in train travel the Relay Station was closed in 1938
after 108 years of continuous service. The station was later torn down in the 1950's. In
1964 the Thomas Viaduct was declared a National Historical Landmark.
During World War II Relay was the sight of the first conscientious objector camp in the
United States. The men worked in the nearby state park and nursery.
The Relay Town Hall |
Relay was home to one of the first Volunteer Fire companies in Baltimore County. In
1892 on Arlington Avenue there stood a one room building which housed a hand drawn fire
engine. In 1911 the present two story structure was built and the hand drawn engine was
replaced by a large hose carriage and three paid firemen. In 1920 Baltimore County built a
new fire house on Washington Boulevard in Halethorpe and the Relay Volunteer Fire company
was no longer needed. The Relay Improvement Association, which was incorporated in 1910,
took over ownership of the building in 1945.
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The Relay Town Hall |
The first public library in Baltimore County was also housed in the Town Hall. The
library was established in 1928 and the books could be borrowed there until the 1970's.
The Relay Town Hall has also been home to the Women's Club of Relay, Grandfathers Club of
Relay, Teen Center, Relay Garden Club, the Relay Golden Age Club, Chesapeake Gem and
Mineral Society and the Red Cross, to name a few. The building continues to be supported
today by the Relay Improvement Association and local volunteers.
The items mentioned in this report were contributed by members of the Relay
Improvement Association, and only briefly touch on the history of Relay. More information can be
obtained by reading Daniel Toomey's book, A History of Relay Maryland and the Thomas
Viaduct. The Arbutus library also maintains a file on the history of Relay.
Arbutus Oak Tree
 A little known piece of living history exists in Arbutus. The
Arbutus Oak is a large white oak tree that is approximately 289 years old. Many Indian
artifacts have been found around the tree. The gravestone of Emmanuel Wade has been placed
under the tree, a reminder of the Wade family farm that was divided by the building of the
highway. But the tree leads a lonely life.
 Some years ago it was cut off from the community by
the Baltimore Beltway and Interstate 95. It sits on a grassy knoll between the outer loop
of I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) and the exit ramp for northbound I-95. Because it is so hard
to reach, many people do not even know it is there. In 1972 the local Lions Club took on
the task of maintaining the tree and erected a plaque to mark it. (The original plaque
disappeared. A second plaque now hangs on the wall in the Arbutus library.) Today the
Maryland State Department of Natural Resources is responsible for the tree, one of several
hundred in Maryland that are more than 200 years old. So the next time you are traveling
south from Baltimore on I-95, take a look at the Arbutus Oak, quickly, before you pass it
by!
Tom Day Boulevard is a one block street that runs between Oregon
Avenue and Southwestern Avenue in Halethorpe. The boulevard was named for Tom Day who is
remembered as living one street over from the present Tom Day Boulevard. Tom Day was one
of the first Halethorpe soldiers killed during WWII. It is unconfirmed whether or not he
was the first. He served in the army and was killed during the D-Day invasion of Omaha
Beach. Tom Day's name is included on a plaque, in the Church of the Ascension, of those in
the area killed during WWII.
A. Anderson, 9/94
Sources: American Legion Dewey Loman Post 109; also interview with former
residents of Halethorpe.
The Arbutus Library began in 1948 when local residents such as George Klein, Beatrice
Williams and Elsie Ijams, discussed starting a local library with members of the Kiwanis
Club and local business people. A library was created in the basement of the Arbutus
Hardware store at 5417 East Drive. The Kiwanis gave $300; and a new floor was donated. A
large table and 10 chairs were also acquired. Alberta Klein, George's wife, obtained more
than 400 books from friends and local residents. Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Ijams would drive
around picking up the donations. Each book was officially stamped by George and Alberta.
Frances Herrmann, one of their 14 children, recalled "I remember Mother and Dad, late
at night, stamping the book pages. I believe they stamped each book on page 17 and another
page that I don't remember." This was done for sentimental reasons, as seventeen was
the age that her mother married her father. On February 16, 1948, there were about 1500
books with more than 400 new children's books. 150 library cards were originally issued.
Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Ijams devoted much time and energy to this project. They could
always be found in the library greeting people and helping them to select a book.
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The Arbutus Library, 1998 |
The Arbutus-Halethorpe Free Library was such a great success that in the early 1950's
it needed to move into larger quarters over the A&P supermarket, when it became a part
of the Baltimore County Public Library system. Gloria Grikit, who retired as clerical
supervisor in 1989, fondly recalled days over the A&P when she and the librarian found
time to make slipcovers right in the library. In 1962 the library moved into a more modern
building on Sulphur Spring Road, where it remained for 30 years.
As the community grew and changed so did the library and in 1992 it moved yet again
into the Arbutus Business Center. This new building added space and made the library
completely handicapped accessible. Throughout all these changes the Arbutus branch has
remained a library with a small-town, friendly atmosphere.
Memories of the Arbutus Library
I remember the pet contests held on the parking lot. Every contestant won a blue ribbon
for something. I remember the Halloween programs when the children paraded thru the
library in their costumes. I remember the haunted house created in the basement of the
"old" library. I remember the big book sales & flea markets held out on the
parking lot. I remember the Saturday they were giving flu shots in the Health Center under
the library. Just about every person that received a flu shot borrowed something from the
library. We were not prepared for the influx. I remember wading thru all the pollsters
when they had voting booths in the basement of the library.--G. Ries
In 1948 at age 10 I joined the Arbutus Library. I received one of the first cards. It
was located in the basement of the Arbutus Hardware store and it was very nice. Mrs.
Williams was the librarian, Mrs. Ijams was the clerk. Mrs. Williams gave me a great love
for books and she was a great librarian. I read every dog and horse story that they had.
It was a really nice place to go as a little girl and now 60 years later I work here. It
is great and we are blessed to have this facility.--G. E. Lewis
I'm not sure if May 7, 1998 is too recent to qualify as a memory of the Arbutus
Library, but what occurred there on that date brought back many 50 year old personal
memories for me. Recently, my daughter had my picture and service record from World War II
placed in the Navy Log
Online computer at the Navy Memorial in Washington D.C. This computer is on the
internet. I saw that picture and service record for the first time on an Arbutus Library
computer on that date. My special thanks to librarian Mrs. Ellen Ray for assisting me at
the computer and for providing me with a print out of that document. Also I wish to thank
all the librarians, past and present who have assisted me in various ways during my fifty
years of visiting the Arbutus Library.--W. E. Pfeifer
Occasionally there are some customers that come in the category of
"characters". We had this one customer that whenever he came into the library he
had this habit of calling me "Reds" and telling another staff member "Why
do you have dark circles under your eyes?" He would want to occasionally try &
tell us something "off color". So one day I was on the return desk and I saw
this customer coming into the library. I sort of drifted back to the workroom (unbeknownst
to me, the girl with the dark circles under her eyes saw him too). We both almost got
stuck in the doorway trying to avoid him. We wound up behind the door in the workroom.
Seeing my co-worker (Jean), I said, "Well! what are you doing here?" (We both
started laughing and to this day it is one of my favorite memories). --P. Wagner
One of my favorite stories is of the "virgin". I was helping a hard of
hearing senior citizen, who spoke very loudly, to fill out an application for a dog tag. I
asked her if the dog was spayed, "You know fixed." She replied loudly that
"There was no need for me to be fixed, as I am a virgin." I explained that I
wasn't talking about her but I was asking about the dog. She then told me that neither she
nor the dog was "fixed" as both of them were still virgins.--G. Ries
As a maintenance worker for the library, I have one memory and it happened about a year
ago. I was changing door handles on the staff restroom, when the door closed and the
handle fell off. This is normal except I was inside with no tools, so I had to call for
help through the key hole. Fortunately someone was in the room next door and was able to
hand me a screwdriver to open the door with. Since then I change all door knobs from the
outside.--R. Broadnax
I have visited libraries thru out the states between Maine and Florida. I always manage
to obtain local information as well as the latest read. I have yet to meet a librarian I
did not like. Having said this, I must tell you the librarians at Arbutus are my
favorites! You are proficient as well a efficient and the overall treatment is just like
best friends. (They are attractive as well!) I have great respect and admiration for the
work and service of each librarian and it is always a joy for me to visit!--W.
Bradshaw
A friendship started over 50 years ago with Elsie Ijams. We met at Arbutus Methodist
Church and she asked me to help at daily bible school. I had 2 girls and she had a son, we
worked & had a friendship that lasted until she passed away. Elsie & Bea Williams
helped at Arbutus Elementary school & started a library at the hardware store on East
Drive. Elsie's son took books on his way to the library that she and Bea started in the
late 40's. They then moved to a bigger place on East drive over the A & P store a
couple blocks up from the hardware store. Elsie read to children every Saturday morning at
this library. I put my children on a bus & she would meet the bus & take them to
the library, they were 7 and 8 years old. The next place the library was at Sulphur Spring
Road, we made good use of the library, I worked there part time in the 70's. Bea and Elsie
were more than giving their dedication to the library. They were both retired from the
library that they helped to start in the 40's - until they left in the late 70's and early
80's. I miss them still and hope this helps in the 50 year anniversary of the library.
Good luck & by the way I still visit the library when I can.--H. J.
Masenheimer
I remember my mom, Brenda Miller, taking me to programs at the old library as young or
younger than 3. My favorite was and still is the Summer Reading Club program. I started
before there was a "Read-to-me" program. I appreciate all the friendly
librarians who work and did work at the Arbutus Library. I am very happy to give something
back to the "Summer Reading Club program" by volunteering as a "Summer
Reader Clubhelper."--K. Miller
I always loved to read and it was my best school subject. My best Saturday afternoons
were spent in a dark corner of the Arbutus Library reading books like "Big Red"
and "Moffat in the Middle." Dad would drop me off outside and I'd climb the dark
stairway and turn right to avoid the pungent odor of the beauty parlor at the top of the
stairs. On days I didn't spend curled up on the rug in the corner of this treasury of
books, I'd spend 5 cents on a Highs ice cream cone or 25 cents on a matinee movie at the
Hollywood. I was proud to carry my Arbutus Library card in my Lassie wallet. As a student
in Elementary Education courses at UMBC I coped with automating the card catalog by
scrolling A-Z on the archaic, huge, self-service machine. I loved learning PC skills on
the keyboard, "quick" library Catalog as a veteran teacher at the
"new" library across the street. In all locations, the librarians were helpful
to me and my children and I'm thankful. My 3rd graders read the Nancy Drew stories I had
to buy with my birthday money in the 1950's. (The public library didn't carry such
"generic" literature.) Times have changed and imagine renting a movie with a
library card! --P. T. Distefano
I never did like heights, but I loved playing dress up. The library had a Halloween
costume party and I had my favorite costume on. My dilemma was that the function was held
in the cellar down a long, dark flight of stairs. I fought my fear and descended to
quietly watch the affair. Mom took my brother and I to all special events for children at
the Arbutus Library.--A. Distefano
I finally turned 12 and wanted to earn some spending money. The library led a Red Cross
Babysitting class but it was on my birthday! I spent the whole day listening, learning,
and practicing CPR on the dummy so I could be a certified, card carrying babysitter for
all the little kids on my street all summer. I thank the library for this chance even if
it was on my birthday. I loved the homemade ice cream making day. My picture was in the
Times with my tongue licking my lips. I got up in the front of the line and it was lots of
fun at the library.--L. Distefano
I worked as a page in the Arbutus Library from 1969-1971. It was my first job and I
absolutely loved it! I have always been an avid reader and to have a job working with
books was pure joy! I remember Mrs. Ijams, Mrs. DeBoy and Mrs. Birdsong, the librarian.
There was a real family atmosphere among the staff. In my senior year of high school, the
boy who was going to take me to my senior prom cancelled the date. One of the other pages,
a nice young man named Bernie, took me to my senior prom. I've never forgotten his
kindness. --D. R. Christianson
My family and I moved to the Arbutus area in the early 50's. I seem to remember going
to the library up a stairway over the old A & P store on East Drive. There was a large
room with tables of books and shelves around the sides. There was a drug store down stairs
next to the stairway. My girls were only about 3 and 5 years old at the time. Does anyone
else remember this? I think Mrs. Williams was the librarian at that time. We always loved
to go to the library. My youngest daughter got a job there when she was old enough. She
was a page and helped out when Catonsville opened their new library. After she graduated
from high school, she graduated from Western Maryland College and had a career with Bell
Atlantic. The other daughter went to work for the Telephone Company and now is with St.
Agnes Hospital for over 23 years. So you can see they gained a lot from the education they
received in Arbutus and the library, and we all love to read. In re-verifying this with my
younger daughter, she remembered not being allowed to take out her book selection. She
came home & told me and I went down & told the librarian to let her have the book.
She was 10 years old and a very precocious reader. It was a teen-age adventure book, and
after that they let her take out whatever she wanted. There were no so-called
"bad" books in the library in those days, anyway. The ladies were looking after
our kids, however. Last, but far from least are my memories of Mrs. Dale Dyson. She was a
lovely lady and so helpful in finding a book that I liked. She liked to read the same type
of book I did and always had a suggestion for me. She died far before her time and is
greatly missed. If I remember correctly, she also started the coupon box.--R.
Phelps
My favorite memory was when I first took out a book. I remember it like it was today,
it was the Cat in the Hat. It was a great book and that was also the day I got my first
library card. I felt so special and grown up it was a great day. Oh, and I shouldn't say
it but a lady that worked there, said have a nice day. But since I was new she showed me
all the sections and now the library is one of my favorite places to go. I also want to
thank you for your kindness and support and don't forget the good books.--M. C.
One of my favorite memories as a librarian at the Arbutus Branch was of a special
patron who regularly came in to look for books. As an elderly woman she would walk to the
library from her home nearby, at least once a week. She lived alone with her two little
dogs for company. But her favorite books didn't fit her image at all! She loved espionage
novels and suspenseful mysteries. She was a prolific reader and would share with us all
her tips on the best books she had read. She had a good sense of humor and was always glad
to see us and ask us how we were. Frances Hallmayer died on January 25, 1997. I still miss
seeing her and will always remember her fondly.--S. Fridrich
My best memories of the library are of the staff and customers I have worked with. One
of our favorites is Mr. Ray Norris. For years he has come to the library and supplied us
with donuts and pastries! I'm sure this has helped us perform better in our jobs! As a
retired gentleman he was a very talented wood craftsman. He always offered us his latest
creations at special prices. Many of us still have clocks, birdhouses and other beautiful
woodworks he made in our homes. When we moved into our new building he gave us napkin
holders and a paper towel roller for out staff lounge. He often comes in just to say hello
and brighten up our day.--S. Fridrich
My memories at Arbutus library are funny and cool. Because when I was 5 it was my first
time here. I did not know how to use a computer, so I just hit the keys and nothing would
happen. So I went to the information desk and the librarian who helped me was very helpful
and nice. Ever since then I love coming to the library. --T. Brown
Baltimore County
Public Library, Towson Maryland USA
Last Revised:
25 January 2008
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