Gwynn Oak in Baltimore County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Franklintown's Historic Roots

Photographed by Christopher Busta-Peck, March 18, 2008

1. Franklintown's Historic Roots Marker

Inscription. The Gwynns Falls Trail begins near Franklintown at the abrupt end of Interstate 70 and passes by two of the community's landmarks, a mill and an inn. The gristmill operated on Dead Run from 1761 to 1934. Franklintown Inn accommodated patrons of a racetrack established by William H. Freeman, an 1800s entrepreneur who also was involved in building Franklin Turnpike and planning a Victorian cottage suburb called Franklin Towne. Though it became a part of Baltimore City in 1918, Franklintown never lost its rural roots and sense of place. Residents helped stop the East-West Expressway (1-70) from running through their community and Leakin Park in the 1960s-70s.

[photograph]
Franklintown gristmill - now a private home - in 1934.

[photograph]
The milldam on Dead Run (below), a tributary of the Gwynns Falls, in 1901.

Erected by Gwynns Falls Trail Council.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Maryland, Gwynns Falls Trail series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1761.

Location. 39° 18.215′ N, 76° 42.752′ W. Marker

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is in Gwynn Oak, Maryland, in Baltimore County. It is at the intersection of Security Boulevard (Maryland Route 122) and Old Ingleside Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Security Boulevard. Marker is at the southeast corner of the intersection. Parking is available at a couple businesses on Old Ingleside Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gwynn Oak MD 21207, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic

and in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gwynns Falls Trail (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Gwynns Falls Trail (approx. ¼ mile away); Caretaker House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Gateway to Leakin Park (approx. 0.7 miles away); Chapel (approx. 0.7 miles away); Leakin Park at the Crimea Estate

Photographed by Christopher Busta-Peck, March 18, 2008

2. Franklintown's Historic Roots Marker

(approx. 0.7 miles away); Orianda House (approx. 0.7 miles away); Norman Van Allan Reeves (approx. ¾ mile away).

Also see . . . Gwynns Falls Trail Council. (Submitted on March 17, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio.)

Gwynns Falls tributary image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Christopher Busta-Peck, March 18, 2008

3. Gwynns Falls tributary

As seen from the bridge just to the east of the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 17, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,218 times since then and 37 times this year. Last updated on March 21, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1. submitted on March 18, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. 2, 3. submitted on March 19, 2008, by Christopher Busta-Peck of Shaker Heights, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.