Ellicott City in Howard County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Howard County Courthouse, 1843
National Park Service Underground Railroad
— Network to Freedom —
The 1843 Howard County Courthouse, Located on Court Avenue in the Historic District of Ellicott City, Maryland, was the location for judicial proceedings related to legal cases involving those charged with encouraging enslaved persons to run away. From 1843 to the end of slavery in Maryland on November 1, 1864. The Courthouse was designed and built of native granite between 1840 and 1843, and is located high atop Capitoline Hill above Main Street in Ellicott City. Arguably, the most famous case involved the transfer of known Underground Railroad agent William L. Chaplin of New York from Montgomery County to Howard County in 1850 but there were many cases involving local free Blacks like that of Warner Cook, charged with enticing those enslaved to run away.
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1843.
Location. 39° 16.091′ N, 76° 47.925′ W. Marker is in Ellicott City, Maryland, in Howard County. Marker can be reached from Court Avenue. This marker is at the Howard County Circuit Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8360 Court Avenue, Ellicott City MD 21043, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Word Wars I, II and Korea Memorial (here, next to this marker); Votes For Women (a few steps from this marker); Wootton Law Offices (within shouting distance of this marker); Starr Funeral Home (within shouting distance of this marker); The Firehouse Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Disney’s Tavern (within shouting distance of this marker); Yates Market & Hardware (within shouting distance of this marker); The Sykes Building (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellicott City.
Also see . . . Howard County Courthouse. Maryland Historical Trust Architectural Survey File PDF. (Submitted on December 19, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 19, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 626 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 19, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 6. submitted on December 21, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 7. submitted on December 19, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.