Westminster in Carroll County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Who was Bennett Cerf?
Bennett Alfred Cerf (1898-1971) was a publisher, founder and chairman of the publishing house Random House. He was also a well known writer of many humor books and a popular panelist on television's long-running game show, What's My Line?
Born and raised in New York City, he graduated from Columbia University in 1919. In 2915, Cerf formed a business partnership with his friend Donald Klopfer. In 1927 after deciding to publish a few books at random, they decided to name the new company Random House.
Bennett Cerf was a major figure in American publishing for more than four decades, maintaining friendships with such writers as William Faulkner, James Joys, Eugene O'Neill, James Michener, Theodore Seuss Geisel (better known as Dr. Seuss) and other great writers. Cerf himself authored nearly a dozen books and wrote an episode of The Twilight Zone. Random House, Inc. has been a generous supporter of Carroll County Recreation & Parks over the years including donating the land for this park and funding for park improvements.
Erected by Carroll County Recreation & Parks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.
Location.
this page online
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 markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Westminster (approx. 1.1 miles away); World Wars I & II Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away); Gen. Bradley T. Johnson's Raid (approx. 1.1 miles away); Vietnam (approx. 1.1 miles away); Carroll County Korean War Casualties (approx. 1.2 miles away); Pvt. Jerome L. Day (approx. 1.2 miles away); Carroll County Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Westminster.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 5, 2022
3. Nearby scuplture
This sculpture, while not exactly related to the nearby marker about Bennett Cerf, is a defining part of Random House Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 5, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 1,142 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 5, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
