Ellicott City in Howard County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Freight House
Designed by noted architect E. Francis Baldwin and constructed in 1885, the Freight House served as a loading platform and storage room for freight. Materials were transferred in and out of the building on Maryland Avenue using a wooden platform. This side of the building was accessible to wagons and then automobiles. Doors on the side track of the building then allowed freight to be loaded into waiting boxcars.
The B&O Railroad used the Freight House until the Ellicott City complex closed due to severe flood damage caused by Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Local preservationists sought to save the structure from demolition and meticulously restored it to its previous appearance.
Today the Freight House contains a 40-foot HO scale model train layout depicting the first 13 miles of railroad track in America. It includes Baltimore (the birthplace of the B&O), the Old Main Line, and Ellicott's Mills.
[Captions:]
Portrait of E. Frances Baldwin, 1920s.
E. Francis Baldwin designed many structures for the B&O, including the roundhouse in Baltimore and the Sykesville train depot.
The Freight House in its restored and current version. The restorations for the Freight House occurred the same time as the general restoration work for the museum in the mid 1970's.
These photos show some of the damage that occurred to the Freight House. While most of the damage shown is from long term exposure to elements, some of the damage shown is a result of Hurricane Agnes which ravaged Ellicott City in 1972.
Erected by Baltimore
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Railroads & Streetcars • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.
Location. 39° 16.028′ N, 76° 47.696′ W. Marker is in Ellicott City, Maryland, in Howard County. It can be reached from Maryland Avenue just south of Main Street (Maryland Route 144), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3711 Maryland Avenue, Ellicott City MD 21043, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic. 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
Other markers no longer nearby. Ellicott City Station, 1831 (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Turntable & Track (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Phoenix Emporium (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Road Versus Rails (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named B&O Railroad Station (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on September 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 19, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 758 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 19, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
