Ellicott City in Howard County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

MISSING

SEE LOCATION SECTION

The Road to Prosperity

Ellicott's Mills

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, December 18, 2017

1. The Road to Prosperity Marker

Inscription. Ellicott City’s Main Street, with its businesses, shops and dining establishments, reflects four centuries of prosperity built through hard work, innovation and the connection to economic opportunity. In 1771, the Patapsco River Valley was a “wild place” when it was settled by the Ellicott family. Brothers Andrew, Joseph and John chose the valley because it offered the balance of two things needed for a successful milling operation – water power and land fertile enough to grow wheat. As the milling business grew, the Ellicotts initiated their expansion through the building of a road west to Doughoregan Manor, home of Declaration of Independence signer, Charles Carroll, their partner in the wheat growing end of the business. In 1790, Jonathan Ellicott, son of Andrew, oversaw the extension of the road to Frederick, when it became the Frederick Turnpike. To move goods eastward, the Ellicotts funded and constructed a road to Baltimore’s waterfront where they built a wharf on the property they owned. The successful completion of the system of roads from Frederick to Baltimore was instrumental in the 1806 Congressional

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decision to build the first federally-funded road west from Cumberland, Maryland with the purpose of connecting an east coast seaport to the Mississippi River.

Erected 2006.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1771.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 39° 16.13′ N, 76° 48.043′ W. Marker was in Ellicott City, Maryland, in Howard County. It could be reached from the intersection of Main Street (Maryland Route 144) and Ellicott Mills Drive. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 8394 Main Street, Ellicott City MD 21043, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the Baltimore Metro Region

and in Central Maryland.

It was also in the American Mid-Atlantic

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, December 18, 2017

2. The Road to Prosperity Marker

and the Old Courthouse

least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: The National Road (within shouting distance of this marker); Ellicott’s Mills (within shouting distance of this marker); New Fire Station & Transit Terminal (within shouting distance of this marker); Fire House Annex (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Fells Lane Community (within shouting distance of this marker); Ellicott City Volunteer Fire Department (within shouting distance of this marker); Jonathan Ellicott Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Disney’s Tavern (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellicott City.

Other markers no longer nearby. Old Court House, 1840: (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing); MaryLandscapes (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Fells Lane Community (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Additional commentary.
1. Ellicott City Flood 2018
A recent visit to Ellicott City shows

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 15, 2006

3. The Road to Prosperity Marker

and the Thomas Isaac Log House.

this marker is missing, resulting from the May 2018 floods.

— Submitted June 25, 2018, by Andy P of Ellicott City, Maryland.

Ellicott Houses image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress

4. Ellicott Houses

With the road to Baltimore in the forefront, the Ellicott Homes of John, Jonathan and George sat elegantly behind the millrace. A store was built in 1790 and the town was named ‘Ellicott Mills’. from a E. Sachse lithograph, c. 1854.

Samuel Burgess image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, December 18, 2017

5. Samuel Burgess

Three generations of the Burgess Family operated out of the wooden structure in front of you. Samuel Burgess ran a grist mill for three months and a wheelwright/blacksmith shop for the rest of each year. In 1917, the building became Burgess Automobile Sales and Service.Close-up of photo on marker

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 15, 2006

6. Unveiling

Senator Paul Sarbanes et al. unveil this marker on May 15, 2006.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2018. It was originally submitted on December 22, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 664 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 22, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 3. submitted on December 24, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 4, 5, 6. submitted on December 22, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.