The Historical Society of Harford County welcomes individuals, families, and organizations of all backgrounds, ages, and degrees of interest and involvement. The only requisite for membership is a genuine commitment to the county and its people, and the payment of annual dues (a portion of which is tax deductible). The Society encourages all members to become as active as they can. The Society is run mostly by volunteers. Members get the occasional Bulletin, meeting notices, use of the all Society research collections, admission to the Hays House Museum, Headquarters museum, advanced invitations to Society dinners, programs, and activities, and the Newsletter free
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The Historical Society of Harford County, Inc. seeks to be preeminent and most user-friendly source for an individual to obtain historical information about the county and genealogical information about its inhabitants.
Mission: The Historical society of Harford County, Inc. collects, preserves, promotes, and interprets the rich and diverse history of the Harford County area in its regional context from prehistoric origins to the present for the education and enjoyment of current and future generations.
The Blue Bell Restaurant in Fallston no longer exists, but for many years this was the place to go for Sunday dinner and other special occasions. The restaurant’s recipes and family secrets were always sought after. The family and business are still remembered fondly by long-time residents.
https://www.harfordhistory.org/
The Historical Society of Harford County, Inc., established at the County Courthouse in 1885, is the oldest county historical society in Maryland.
The Bel Air Race Track brought visitors from all along the east coast. During the season, Bel Air’s six hotels were full and the town bustled. Races of all kinds were held here along with the annual county fair and track meets of local schools. Today the property is the home of the Harford Mall and its surrounding businesses and residences.
The Sheriff’s Home in Bel Air was situated on Main Street near Courtland Street. In the early days, the sheriff was required to live near the jail, and for many years the jail was actually in the sheriff’s residence. This building was demolished when the current sheriff’s office was constructed in the 1960s.
In the 1950s, Reuben’s Drive Inn was the hot spot in Bel Air. Burgers, fries and a place to hang out and have fun. The restaurant was built on the old Irwin Farm property next to Bynum Run. Girls on roller skates served customers and teens came to see and be seen.
The early days in Aberdeen while canning was still king, show a prosperous city. With new automobiles along a wide Bel Air Avenue. This view changed dramatically. Once the Aberdeen Proving Grounds and Edgewood Arsenal were built in 1917 - 1918.
Train coming in to Bel Air on what is now the Ma & Pa Trail.
The Ma & Pa changed the face of Bel Air forever, bringing industry to the northern part of the Town, providing farmers with access to Baltimore markets and workers for the canneries and offering a scenic, though slow trip to Towson State Teachers College and the Baltimore Department stores.
As early as 1820 there was a bridge of sorts connecting Harford and Cecil County known as the Conowingo Bridge . The first bridge was carried away in one of the spring floods. A second bridge built in 1859 was the only bridge across the Susquehanna and was the site of several skirmishes between Union and Confederate troops during the Civil War. That bridge was partially destroyed by fire in 1907 and eventually replaced with the bridge shown here in 1910. The bridge, dynamited in 1928 when the new Dam was constructed, now lays beneath the Conowingo Lake about a mile north of the Conowingo Dam.
Thank You for Your Support! - https://mailchi.mp/harfordhistory/thank-you
The Historical Society Needs Your Help! #GivingTuesday is here, and we need your help. Due to the Pandemic, our fundraising efforts have come to an unexpected screeching halt. The cancellation of our many fundraisers, Brown Bag Lunch Series, teas, workshops, and Hays House events has greatly affected our revenue income.
Please consider making a donation today. Your gift will help to ensure that we are able to continue the work of recording, preserving and (when our doors are once again open), presenting, Harford’s History.
DONATE TODAY!
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Z5Z8G694GUVVE
#GivingTuesday #LivingHistory
Built in 1854 by William Hensel, a retired ship’s carpenter, Wildfell was the dream house of Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Jewett. The 8 sided Darlington residence was built from lumber gleaned from an old War of 1812 clipper ship that was abandoned in Baltimore harbor. The short oaken timbers lent themselves perfectly to short walls an octagonal house required.
#GivingTuesday Due to the Pandemic, our fundraising efforts have come to an unexpected screeching halt. Your gift today, will help to ensure that we are able to continue the work of recording, preserving and (when our doors are once again open), presenting, Harford’s History.
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Z5Z8G694GUVVE
#GivingTodayNow #LiveandLearn #FutureGenerations
The house of Col. John Streett.
Liriodendron was built in 1898 as a “small country house” by Dr. Howard Kelly, one of the Founding Four physicians at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The property originally included 196 acres, extending from Bel Air Road to Broadway, serving as a summer retreat from the heat of the family’s home in the city.
Initially the property contained a historic house that later became the farm manager’s home. Over time Kelly built the mansion and a swimming pool, orchards covered the area now known as Howard Park. The property included a working farm as well as the beautiful forest and stream that are there today.
Tudor Hall is best known as the home of the Booth family. Built by the Shakespearean actor, Junius Brutus Booth in 1847, the family originally lived in a white washed log cabin that Junius had moved to the site when he originally leased the land in 1824. His lease called for an annual rent of “one cent and one peppercorn…only if lawfully demanded.” Over time the family outgrew the cabin and a new home was planned.
Junius Booth and his second wife, Mary Ann Holmes had ten children, including the famous Shakespearean actor, Edwin Booth and the infamous assassin, John Wilkes Booth. Junius died the year after the house was completed returning from a performance tour in California. The house was sold in 1878 by Trustees acting for the family.
We know that grocery shopping is not the easy task of the past. However, if you are a Giant Food customer please consider purchasing one of their multiple use bags. You'll be helping to support the Historical Society and you'll be helping out the environment too!
#GivingTuesday is almost here and we really need your help this year. Due to the Pandemic, our fundraising efforts have come to an unexpected screeching halt. The cancellation of our many fundraisers, Brown Bag Lunch Series, teas, workshops, and Hays House events has greatly affected our revenue income.
Please consider making a donation today. Your gift will help to ensure that we are able to continue the work of recording, preserving and (when our doors are once again open), presenting, Harford’s History.
Donate Now!
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=Z5Z8G694GUVVE
#GivingTuesdayNow #LivingHistory #LiveandLearn
Former Historical Society intern Nicole Six talking about her work in England where she is a student at Durham University.
Meet Nicole, a student from Durham University who is also part of our volunteer team at Auckland Castle.
As well as greeting visitors to the Castle, Nicole has also been involved in archaeological digs on site and has a passion for its history.
The Kenmore Inn stood at the corner of South Main Street and Baltimore Pike from the turn of the twentieth century until 1960 when it was demolished to make way for a supermarket. The site is now the home of Looneys Restaurant. The Second Empire style architecture was unusual in Bel Air. It became popular after the Civil War especially for public buildings.
Colonel H. D. Hanway bought the property in 1894 from Captain Richard Bouldin. He then removed the existing eighteenth century house and the Pinckney Law office on the corner of the lot, adding an L-shaped structure with a mansard roof, two story bay windows and an inviting front porch.
The Inn became a popular gathering place for automobile club members, racetrack visitors, and even served to house President Taft on his visit to Bel Air and provided rooms for some of the suffragettes on the 1913 March to Washington. People came for miles around to enjoy its restaurant’s fine food, particularly its signature fried chicken.
Note from the President - https://mailchi.mp/f67b57a77ca0/note-from-the-president
“THIS PLACE MATTERS”
May is National Historic Preservation Month. The Historical Society, in conjunction with the Harford County Historical Preservation Commission, originally planned to showcase an exhibit during the month of May, entitled This Place Matters at the Society headquarters including photographs and stories of historic properties. Due to the pandemic, this plan had to change.
We still wanted to share some of the stories of Harford’s historic properties and to let you share your memories about these places as well. So, each day in May a picture and brief history of a historic property in Harford County will be posted on the Historical Society of Harford County page.
We encourage you to check the site often and to share your memories of these places with us. The photographs, stories and comments will be archived for the enjoyment of future researchers.
We hope you will join us in the fun of seeing some of these old buildings and remembering your youthful adventures there.
Harford County Cultural Arts Board
Harford County Independent Artist COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grants - Apply by April 29, 2020
Something fun!
In February 1995, Robert's wife spotted footprints in the backyard of their Harford County home. They weren't your TYPICAL footprints, so Jamie Costello took the call and went out to investigate. You'll never believe what he found once he arrived on the scene...
Harford Cable Network
Harford’s Heritage is back on the air, thanks to Harford County author Jack Shagena. Watch “Havre de Grace: A Town of History” on VOD.
https://hcn.viebit.com/player.php?hash=KAtwm3UMAvo9
The Historical Society of Harford County Inc Havre de Grace Explore Havre de Grace Havre de Grace Historic District Visit Harford
The National Archives
We’re pleased to confirm that we will be giving everyone free access to our digitised collections very soon, but it’s taking our amazing digital team a bit of time to make it happen.
They’re facing similar challenges to the rest of the world with regard to connecting to our various technical systems while working from home, and many of them are also juggling childcare duties. Stay tuned for an update soon!
EDIT: To clarify, we’re referring to digitised collections that are available on our website (and usually chargeable) – at this stage, this doesn’t extend to our collections on other sites.
Harford County Public Library
Checking on our seniors is critical and Maryland has set up this voluntary program.
A Message from the HSHC President
Hello,
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has enacted an executive order requiring closure of all non-essential businesses as of 5PM EST, on March 23rd in order to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Maryland.
We, here at the Society, kept our distance and watched as the events unfolded. As predicted, our fast approach to the crisis paid off. Not allowing volunteers and visitors into the building eliminated the possible transfer of the virus.
To the people that work tirelessly behind the scenes, your hard work is greatly appreciated. These are Historic times! I am focused on doing the right thing for all. I will continue to keep you, our staff, volunteers, visitors and employees at the forefront of my decision making through this crisis.
As we gain information and remain in crisis mode, all events are canceled or postponed. Carol Deibel, Events Committee Chair, and I will be working on postponed dates and or cancellation of future events. [email protected]
Maryanna Skowronski, Society Director, will continue to report to work on a very limited basis. Contact can still be made by email or phone, but admittance will be limited to emergency and maintenance personnel.
Please continue to stay informed through trusted sources such as the Harford County Health Department website at: https://harfordcountyhealth.com/coronavirus/ and the Maryland Department of Health website at: https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/ as more information is gathered surrounding this situation.
We are all in this complicated, uncertain and rapidly changing situation together, and we encourage everyone to look out for each other. Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones. We encourage you to consult www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html for information and updates.
I hope that all of you are remaining safe in this uncertain time. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at [email protected]
Thank you,
Bill Walden
President
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a virus (more specifically, a coronavirus) identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China.
Online Research - The Historical Society of Harford County
Past Perfect (Online Catalog) The Historical Society’s record keeping system is called PastPerfect. This is an online KEYWORD search database providing researchers the ability to search our records without having to travel to our Headquarters. Library books, vertical files and AV materials are ind...
**Donations are currently NOT being accepted for our upcoming Rummage Sale in JUNE due to the society currently being closed for safety measures for the Coronavirus.
Harford County Earns Federal Historic Preservation Certification
One of your neighbors posted in Home & Garden. Click through to read what they have to say. (The views expressed in this post are the author’s own.)
Ladies from the Bel Air Cheveux Salon and Day Spa just stopped by! Welcome to the neighborhood!
The Historical Society of Harford County Inc. is pleased to assist Harford Community College with its ongoing exhibit Harford County: Our Land & Environment, which will be open to the public March 3 – May 29. The exhibit tells the story of Northern Maryland’s history in the nascent agro-environmental movement and the part local residents, Russell and Kate Lord played in this endeavor. Stop by and enjoy the Society’s exhibit materials and the beautiful exhibit prepared the college staff.
Feels like spring out there! Our spring exhibit opens tomorrow at 12 pm, and will be on view until the end of May. Join us for the opening!
https://www.facebook.com/oldlineplate/
In 2018 I’m hoping to branch out to some of the interesting archives and historical collections in other parts of …
Good Morning Everyone! The society is open until 2:00PM today and four of our best historians and genealogist are volunteering today! Members Free / Non-Members $5.
143 N Main St
Bel Air, MD
21014
Hours: Tuesday COURT RECORDS 9AM-3PM - Wednesday ARCHIVES 9AM-3PM - Thursday RESEARCH LIBRARY 9AM-3PM & Open the fourth Sat of the month from 10AM-2PM
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 15:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 15:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 15:00 |
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A wonderful interview of one of our most devoted Historical Society Members Mr. Walt Holloway, by Harry Lockley. Walt will be speaking at our next upcoming Brown Bag Luncheon on Sept 13th, 2016.
Historic Jerusalem Mill Village
2813 Jerusalem Rd, KingsvilleFinney Houses Historic District
Churchville 21028