New Book Releases

From abandoned gristmills to Olmsted-inspired landscapes, the Gwynns Falls is a virtual time capsule of Baltimore's natural, social and cultural history. Stretching from the city's waterfront to its northwest uplands, this cascading stream and its valley have played a key role in the area's heritage, yet often have been treated as neglected resources. Today, the Gwynns Falls Trail provides a new opportunity to discover this natural
corridor and to connect the diverse neighborhoods along its route. Step off the bike trails and footpaths with W. Edward Orser to discover the rich legacy and contemporary stories of West Baltimore's Greenway to the Chesapeake Bay.

One of Baltimore's first suburbs, Mount Washington was originally part of a 17th-century land grant owned by Edward Stevenson. The hilly terrain provided a sense of privacy and isolation from the commerce of downtown Baltimore, and the cool summer breezes and cleaner air attracted city dwellers. With the advent of rail transportation, the village of Mount Washington evolved into a summer retreat in the mid-1800s. Shortly thereafter, it blossomed into an independent community of year-round residents who love the rural setting but may enjoy the urban amenities of downtown just minutes away. The nearby communities of Pimlico and Pikesville were established by Jewish families who migrated from the downtown area. The communities featured in Around Mount Washington have managed to retain elements of rural charm that originally attracted visitors in the 19th century. ?

The mysteries and lore of Delmarva in Maryland are revealed here.

Between the waters of the Atlantic and the Chesapeake is Delmarva, a storied land that was once the hunting ground of Blackbeard, where ancient sea monsters lurk and wild ponies gallop along the beaches. Local author David Healey explores the lore of Delmarva, from the legends of St. Michaels--the town that escaped British cannons with a clever trick--to stories of Assateague's cannibalistic colonists and the all but forgotten history of Anna Carroll, President Lincoln's ""Dear Lady,"" who is rumored to have brilliantly advised him on strategy during the Civil War. Join Healey as he reveals the secret history and remarkable legends of Delmarva.

Eel Pot, Buffalo Wallows, Coxson Rest, Tankerville, Hawkins' Merry-Peep-O-Day, Berlin--readers might not recognize a few of the names the area now known as Brunswick went by in years past. Brunswick, Maryland, just six miles by towpath from historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, is rich in history. The area holds Civil War importance and served as a supply depot for the Union army after the Battle of Antietam. Primarily known as a canal town until the late 1800s, the town became an important rail center when the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad came to
town and set up huge rail operations. Today the town sits on the now-quiet banks of the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal, and the train whistles don't sound quite so often, but this community continues to draw visitors seeking history, outdoor recreation, and
small-town charm.

In the early 1600s, Capt. John Smith explored the Chesapeake Bay from Jamestown. On the Eastern Shore of Maryland, he found dozens of small islands, including a chain of three islands that later came to be named Hoopers Island. Fifty years later, when Lord Baltimore allowed permanent settlement on the Eastern Shore, Hoopers Island was quickly settled. Planters came for the island's fertile soil, fresh water, timber, and easy access to the sea. Oysters and crabs were of little interest. However, after the Civil War, more and more Hoopers Islanders turned to the water to make a living, and it is for its seafood that the area is best known in modern times. Island watermen have been harvesting the bay's treasures for more than a century and sending them to the kitchens of Maryland and beyond. Over the last 400 years, Hoopers Island has lost much of its land to erosion, but its culture still retains connections to its past.

Shady hills, rolling lawns, and gardens in the core of the city: Druid Hill Park lies at the heart of Baltimore, and
made history as one of the first public parks in
America. One of Frederick Law Olmsted's commissions, it led the way for other estates and green spaces
to be deeded as parks that are open to all. Druid Hill's
design reflects the tradition of European garden style and
it stands as a natural refuge for fun and relaxation amid
the urban neighborhoods of Baltimore.

For nearly four centuries, St. Mary's County has been called "the land of pleasant living." The county's fertile fields and pristine waters invite visitors and natives alike to revel, relax, and renew. As the "Mother County" of Maryland, St. Mary's has a rich written history dating from 1634, when George and Leonard Calvert established the first American settlement founded on the principle of religious tolerance. After surviving British raids during the War of 1812 and divided loyalties in the Civil War, the county leapt into the modern era when the US Navy established Naval Air Station Patuxent River, the Navy's premier flight test center and test pilot school. Today, millions of Americans trace their roots to Southern Maryland and are welcomed home as "Sons and Daughters of Old St. Mary's."

Begun in 1923 as a cluster of summer cottages, Holland Point has developed into a jewel-like residential community on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay at the southern tip of Anne Arundel County. Vintage photographs here capture the history of this community's early beach life that virtually vanished in an August 1933 storm. Behind rock seawalls, residents continued to celebrate with seafood, boating, and parties. Fourth generations of founding families now build luxury homes around "Grandma's cottage" but appreciate the same waves, waterfowl, and wildlife that their ancestors admired when they first cut through the forest to discover the bay.

See how the Baltimore suburb of Catonsville became thesummer retreat in the late 1800's and still retains much of its 19th century ellegency today.

Catonsville, a major suburb of Baltimore, still maintains much of the genteel country-estate charm it developed in the early 19th century. In 1810, Charles Carroll bestowed the land that is now Catonsville upon his daughter, Mary, and her husband, Richard Caton. The Frederick Turnpike helped the area grow, and many estates and farms cultivated the community. By 1880, it was the preferred summer retreat from the heat of Baltimore City for some of Maryland's most prosperous merchants. The completion of the Catonsville Short Line Railroad in 1884 made the burg attractive to middle-income families and a diverse village was born.

Highlighted in this volume are many long-gone homes, mansions, and institutions such as Castle Thunder, Ingleside, Nancy's Fancy, Catonsville Casino, Farmlands, and Arden, the centerpiece of Eden Terrace. Featured as well are monuments that still stand today: Uplands Mansion, Homewood, James Gary's Summit, Hilton, St. Mark Catholic Church, St. Charles College, Old Salem Lutheran Church, Mt. de Sales Academy, Belle Grove, numerous Victorian manors, and the early 20th-century homes that completed this hamlet.

In the shadows of the quiet mountain towns of Western Maryland, strange creatures are said to lurk in the woods while phantoms wander the foothills.

The Hagerstown clock tower is reportedly haunted by the ghost of a young artist killed during the Civil War, while the low summit of South Mountain was once host to a mysterious spell-caster, the Wizard Zittle. Farther west, tales of legendary hunter Meshach Browning echo among the Allegany Mountains while visitors to Deep Creek Lake may feel the chilling presence of monks who never left their former monastery. From the 1909 hoax of the monstrous Snallygaster that terrorized the Middletown Valley to the doglike Dwayyo that was spotted near Frederick in 1965, local historian Susan Fair rounds up the bizarre beasts, odd characters and unsolved mysteries that color the legends and lore of Western Maryland.

Conococheague and Potomac Streets, Doubleday Hill, Springfield Farm, the C&O Canal--these names conjure up images of Williamsport, Maryland. The first settlement in what was to become Washington County was located here in the heart of the Cumberland Valley in the late 1730s. This small trading post, set amid local Native American tribes, formed the basis of the town of Williamsport. Gen. Otho Holland Williams, a Revolutionary War hero from the region, laid out what he intended to be a grand city with wide avenues on the banks of the great and mighty Potomac. Upon hearing that George Washington favored a site along the Potomac for the new nation's capital, Williams persuaded Washington to visit his town, and "Williams' Port" was given due consideration as a possible location. Williamsport became an important stopping-off point for settlers heading west, and the town quickly grew to be the second largest in Washington County. The arrival of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in 1834 brought a boom to Williamsport as warehouses, shipping firms, and many other businesses were established to handle the increased population and trade. The Civil War, the arrival of the railroad, and a series of disastrous floods also impacted the town. Today, Williamsport is a quiet community rich with local history and flavor.