A Brief History of Essex and Middle River
Place Names in
Essex
The eastern part of Baltimore County, which includes Essex and Middle River, was the
least-urbanized area closest to Baltimore City at the turn of the century. Yet this area
eventually displayed the most sustained growth rate in the county. By 1931, the population
was nearly 23,000.
Originally, Essex was ten blocks, running from Mace to Marlyn Avenues. It was begun in
1909 by the Taylor Land Company for those residents in Baltimore who wanted a place
outside the city limits to perhaps grow a garden or to pursue some other rural activity.
Land was cheap and sales were enhanced by a promotional pamphlet.
Henry Guttenberger built the first general store in Essex in 1910 on the corner of
Eastern and Mace Avenues. Between 1911 and 1912, the Taylor Land Company donated the lots
for Essex Methodist and St. John's Lutheran churches. They also donated the land where the
volunteer fire department built their station on Eastern Avenue. The permanent fire
station opened in 1921.
With the ever-growing population came the need to build schools. The elementary school
opened in 1925 with 400 students. Essex Community College was founded in 1957. Classes
were first held at Kenwood High School, with fifty part-time and nine full-time students.
In 1961, the college moved to Dorsey Avenue, and in 1968 moved to its present location.
This site was owned by the Mace family, and the family burial plot is maintained and
protected by the college.
A fire in August, 1957 destroyed an entire block of businesses on Eastern Avenue, and
the business district never fully recovered from that catastrophe.The ten-alarm blaze
caused a half million dollars in damages, and, in the time it took to repair the
buildings, new shopping centers were built, changing the buying habits of consumers.
The Glenn L. Martin Company was the single biggest reason for the rapid growth of the
area. Employment at the company peaked at 53,000 workers during World War II. However,
this same facility was the cause of high unemployment after the war, when only 800 people
worked there by the mid-1970s.
Another important company was Eastern Rolling Mill, which opened in 1919. The plant, at
the head of Back River, produced carbon sheet steel. In 1944, Eastern merged with
Industrial Stainless Steel, Inc. to form Easco, which is still an impotrant source of
employment for Essex.
Today, there is interest in revitalizing the Essex area by including it in
government-sponsored empowerment zones. Many neighborhoods have begun a
"clean-up" of their areas, hoping to transform Essex into a place that will be
ready to move into the next century.
Bibliography
A Short History of Essex and Middle River by George Martinak
History of Baltimore County by Neal Brooks & Erie Rockel
History of the Back River Neck Peninsula by Keith Roberts
Origin of Selected Place Names in Essex and
Middle River
BACK RIVER - the back branch of the Gunpowder River
BALLESTONE MANSION is located at the Rocky Point Golf Club and is named after William
Ball, who owned the property in the 1600s, and was the great-great grandfather of George
Washington.
BARRISON POINT is the result of a typographical error printed in the 1898 edition of
Bromley's Atlas. The original name was Balliston Point, again named after William Ball.
HART ISLAND was originally named Hooper's Island in 1659. Joseph Hart bought it in 1821
and renamed it.
LONG'S CREEK was owned by Thomas Long, who was the High Sheriff of baltimore County.
Originally called Ball's Creek, it is another place named after William Ball.
MARS was the name of Glenn L. Martin's flying boat, giving its name to MARS ESTATES.
MIDDLE RIVER - the middle branch of the Gunpowder River
MILLERS ISLAND was owned by John Stansbury and was originally named Bentley's Island.
The 1849 survey of the coast was the first time it was listed as Millers Island.
PORTER'S POINT was originally called Chancellor's Point, after Philip Calvert,
Chancellor of Maryland. By 1783, the property was owned by John and Robert Porter, who
changed the name.
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