New Windsor Heritage

06/18/2026

FYI - and please contact the HSCC if you are interested !

Call to action ... Do you think you would be a good tour guide? Check out the flyer and let us know if it's something you would be interested helping the Historical Society with!

06/06/2026

Hi everyone,
Due to unforseen circumstances, the New Windsor Heritage Museum will be closed until further notice. We will still be selling tickets to our biggest fundraiser of the year, "The Liberty and Legacy Ball" that will take place on Dec. 12th during our closure. Please scan the qr code on the flyer below or email [email protected] to make arrangement for ticket purchase in person.

05/23/2026

Get your tickets today for this fun event!!

05/13/2026

Tickets are on sale now for our
✨ The Liberty & Legacy Ball ✨
Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday
Hosted by New Windsor Heritage

📅 Saturday, December 12, 2026
🕖 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
📍 St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Westminster

Step back in time for an elegant evening of history, music, dancing, and holiday celebration honoring 250 years of the American story — with a special winter festive atmosphere filled with seasonal décor and celebration.

✨ Historic dancing with live instruction
✨ Beer & wine available for purchase
✨ Light hors d’oeuvres
✨ Professional photographer on site to capture the evening

✨ Guests encouraged to dress from any era of American history
Whether Colonial, Victorian, Roaring Twenties, Civil War-era, or another favorite period in American history — come dressed to celebrate the spirit and style of the nation through the centuries.

🎟️ Tickets: $60

Click here-

Celebrating America’s 250th BirthdayHosted by New Windsor Heritage Saturday, December 12, 2026 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, WestminsterStep back in time for an elegant evening of history, music, dancing, and holiday celebration honoring 250 years of the American story...

05/07/2026

FYI

Only one day away and we were in the Carroll County Times! Thank you, Marissa Yelenik, for covering the opening. Don't forget to join us tomorrow afternoon at 5 pm sharp for the unveiling of the sign and ribbon cutting. The new Helen A. Gorman Library of Carroll County History will be open for all to see! We have a special surprise to present around 5:25 pm or so. There will be lite refreshments and beverages. All are welcome and no reservation is needed. See you tomorrow!

04/30/2026

FYI

From our collection:
A photograph of a Sulphur Spring Lodge, No. 130, International Order of Odd Fellows, New Windsor fraternal ribbon found in an envelope addressed to Robert J. Whitney.

Our site states...
Found in old HSCC office files in an envelope addressed to: Mr. Robert J. Whitney, R.F.D. #5, Box 104, Westmisnter, Maryland [no zip code]. Not sure if Whitney is the donor
Ribbon, fraternal. Sulphur Spring Lodge, No. 130, International Order of Odd Fellows, New Windsor. Rectangular silk ribbon, two-sided; one side is black, the other is red. Both sides printed in silver "SULPHUR SPRING LODGE NO. 130 I.O.O.F. NEW WINDSOR, MD." Gold metallic fringe at bottom. Ribbon is suspended from a bar; bar is decorated with an oval medallion marked in black with the lodge name and number; suspended from bar by two small chains is a medallion marked "MEMBER" in red; suspended from this is a ornate medallion with enamelled panel at center; panel has an eye and below that "F L T". Reversible; ribbon can be removed and reversed to show red side for lodge meetings and black side for funerals or solemn occassions. Maker's mark in two places: THE M.C. LILLEY & CO. COLUMBUS, O." 8.75" x 2.75"

04/18/2026

FYI , owners of beautiful, historic, New Windsor homes!

Do you want to participate in a historic house and garden tour? Is your home historic and located in Carroll County, Maryland?

The Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area showcases homes in one of three counties (Frederick, Carroll, or Washington) each year on a rotating basis as part of the Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage. This year the tour is in Frederick County on June 13, 2026. See the link below to buy your tickets for the Frederick tour. https://heartofthecivilwar.org/explore/maryland-house-and-garden-pilgrimage/

Next year, 2027, it’s Carroll County’s turn to be showcased. At this early stage we're beginning to think about what route and theme we might approach. Please let us know if you have a property (or you know of someone with a property) that we could consider for the Carroll County tour, which will be on June 12, 2027. If you are interested in participating as a host or if you have any questions, please contact Amy Yingling, co-chair of the Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage Carroll County tour at [email protected].

04/09/2026

FYI - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18GVc8KKoG/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Strawbridge Shrine begins a new season soon. Regular hours for visits to the Shrine begin April 1: Fridays and Saturdays 10 AM to 4 PM, Sundays 1-4 PM.

To mark the start of the new season, join us on Saturday, April 11, for a Spring Open House. All the historic buildings will be open and tour guides will be there to show you around. Take a trip back to 18th century Maryland and hear the story of Robert and Elizabeth Strawbridge.

03/29/2026

What an incredible day of history and community! Yesterday’s "Women of Carroll County" event at Sunday Morning at Savannah’s was a truly special part of our ongoing Carroll 250 celebrations. 📜✨

We were honored to have a packed house, including a special visit from the Mayor of New Windsor and his wife, who joined us in honoring the legacies of the women who shaped our region.

The after noon reached a significant milestone during the America 250 Citation recognition. Savannah Mitchell shared that our B&B has been invited to play an official role in the Carroll 250 celebrations. We are incredibly proud to have received an Official Citation from the Maryland General Assembly, recognizing our commitment to preserving local history and highlighting the vital role of women in our county’s foundation. 🇺🇸

This high honor was signed by our representatives from Legislative District 5:

* Delegate April Rose (who presented the citation)
* Senator Justin Ready
* Delegate Christopher Eric Bouchat
* Delegate Chris Tomlinson

Program Highlights:
* The Legacy of Mary Shellman: Laura Bankard from the Historical Society of Carroll County gave a fascinating talk on the "grit" of Mary Shellman—the powerhouse suffragist and founding president of the Just Government League of Carroll County.

* Voices from Taneytown: Our very own David Buie, Taneytown Historian, introduced us to the social leadership of Mary Motter and the poignant Maggie Mehring both from Taneytown.

Margaret “Maggie” Mehring
Born in Taneytown in 1847, Maggie Mehring was a Carroll County native whose early life was marked by severe personal tragedy. She was the youngest of nine children of George and Elizabeth Mehring, and by age six had lost multiple siblings, her mother to su***de, and soon after her father as well. These hardships shaped her resilience and later activism.

Mehring went on to become associated with the woman suffrage movement, emerging as a figure of determination and reform during a period when women’s public roles were expanding.

She died in 1923, remembered as part of the broader network of local women who contributed to the national push for voting rights.

Mary Louise Rudisill Motter
Mary Louise Rudisill Motter (1842–1936) was a prominent member of a well-established Taneytown family. The daughter of Thomas Rudisill, a local tannery owner, she married Dr. George Troxell Motter in 1869 and became part of one of the town’s leading professional and civic households.

Through her marriage, she was closely connected to Taneytown’s medical, business, and civic life during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Motter family played a lasting role in local development, property ownership, and community institutions, with their home and holdings remaining tied to the town’s history for generations.

A HUGE thank you to everyone who joined us for the Q&A and the house tours. We are honored to be a bridge to our local past!

03/13/2026

FYI