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Welcome
The Historical Society of Mount Airy, MD. Inc. was established in 1998 by Travis Norwood and Mayor Jerry Johnson. Its mission is to foster interest in the town history and its various historic landmarks. Our main goals are to establish and maintain a museum for the preservation and the display of artifacts, photographs and other historic memorabilia related to the Town’s history, and to educate the public about our history. The Historical Society manages the museum, caboose, and Rails to Trails. Check our links above to explore further.
Wanted! Any information you can provide on the people, places or events in these pictures!
The Historical Society of Mount Airy, Maryland is looking for referenced, researched, verifiable documentaries, presentations, reports, etc. on the history of Mount Airy. Please submit to us for consideration as exhibits, presentations at our meetings, or articles for the newsletter. You can submit to our email address. Thank you.
Announcements & Events
2022 Summer Adventure Program has Begun!
The Carroll County Celebrating America Summer Adventure Program has begun. Kids grades 1-9 are eligible to participate from May 15th to September 15th. Kids can win prizes by earning badges through the Carroll County Library portal. Badges are earned by completing eligible tasks like, reading books, watching videos, and visiting specific places. Once you earn all 8 Badges, you have completed the program and are automatically entered into a raffle to win all prizes including the GRAND Prize. For more information on how to register and participate, please see the attached flyer.
Strawbridge Shrine Colonial Market Day - June 18, 2022
The Strawbridge Shrine in New Windsor is holding their FREE Colonial Market Day on Saturday, June 18, 2022 from 10 am - 2pm. Come visit for tours, crafts, music, and viewing of historic buildings. The Strawbridge Shrine is the home of the beginnings of the Methodist Movement in America. For more information, visit their website.
Colonial Market Fair - June 11-12, 2022
Our friends at the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum in Catonsville will be having a free Colonial Market Fair on June 11 and 12, 2022. Come experience the 18th Century come alive with Artisans, Reenactors, Music, and Children's Activities. For more information, visit their website at https://www.colonialmarketfair.com/.
Mount Airy Pants(Sewing) Factory
Preliminary research has been done on the history of the Mount Airy Pants Factory, which was in operation off and on from 1921 to 1985, in several different locations. Please see the attached report for further information. We are seeking anyone who may have information, newspaper articles, artifacts, or stories to share as we pull this exhibit together. Please contact Doris Bujanowski at jedolidama@gmail.com if you have information.
Help Save the Flat Iron Building
The Flat Iron Building, once known as the Smith Building and the Pryor Building, has existed in its current configuration since 1903, housing a number of different businesses, including a harness shop, barbershop, drug store, music shop, as well as town hall, the local Maryland State Police office, a branch of the County Library, a military museum, and the former home to the Historical Society of Mt. Airy museum.
Unfortunately, the town is now weighing several options to tear down the building to improve “walkability” along that section of Main Street. The building is viewed by some as an impediment to pedestrian safety and stands in the way of pedestrian access to businesses located along the east side of Main Street.
But the Historical Society of Mt. Airy stands behind another effort to preserve this building, rather than tear it down. Historic restoration with available grant funding, municipal bonds, and alternative sources other than town tax dollars is the most cost-efficient option compared to all others. Since 2005, every option proposed by the town has estimated $900K-$3 million in taxpayer dollars to remedy the property, but not a single option has considered restoration through preservation grants specifically designed and set aside for historic buildings such as ours, at minimum cost to the town.
There is intrinsic and commercial value in preserving this building. For 120 years the building has stood at the heart of downtown Mt. Airy, and contributes to our town listing on the National Register of Historic Places. It is recognized as one of only four remaining buildings built immediately after the great fire of 1903, and is recognized across the state of Maryland as a landmark in our town. People come to downtown Mt. Airy because it’s appealing in many ways, and our historic architecture serves as an attractive feature and commercial draw which brings people into downtown to explore and spend money. It is time to aggressively pursue other options now. You can help by signing the petition to save the building at Ben Gue Antiques & Gifts on S. Main Street, and by directly contacting the Mayor and each of your town Council Members through the town website, by phone or email, to let them know you support the restoration and preservation of this town icon. Once gone, this important piece of Mt. Airy history will be lost forever. For more information on this iconic building, check out the attached report.
The Mount Airy Museum is open Saturdays and Sundays 12 noon until 4 p.m., and from 3-7 pm on Wednesdays when the Farmer's Market is open
Please, observe social distancing; face masks are now optional for your safety. You can contact us at historicalsocietyofmountairy@earthlink.net.
Historical Society of
Mount Airy, Maryland, Inc.
History of the Museum
The Mount Airy Museum was established in 1998 in the Main Street level of the Flat Iron Building by Mayor Gerald "Jerry" Johnson and Travis and Virginia Norwood. In 2006, the museum was renovated to include better lighting, heating and air conditioning, and restroom facilities. The reopening ceremony was conducted on October 10, 2006. The ribbon was cut by Mr. Oscar Baker and Mrs. Pat Norwood. Attending were the outgoing and incoming Mayors, James Holt and Frank Johnson; and Town Council Members, Peter Helt, Wendi Peters and Dave Pyatt. Hosting were Historical Society President, Mike Eacho (not shown); Vice President, Pete Bowlus, Treasurer, Pat Norwood,Secretary, B.J. Dixon (not shown), and Clarice Runkles, board member (not shown).
The Mount Airy Museum Reopening Ribbon Cutting
In 2017, the Town of Mount Airy purchased the old Mount Airy Station as the new home for the Mount Airy Museum. The old train station, located at 1 N. Main Street, was built in 1869. The original, central portion was used as a freight house. Additions were made to each of its ends in 1876. A wooden passenger facility was added to the west end of the station in 1882. In the early 1900s the wooden passenger structure was replaced by the brick structure, which is now home to the Med One Mount Airy Pharmacy.
The Mount Airy Station was designed by E. Francis Baldwin, railroad designer of trains and stations, including the stations at Sykesville, Ellicott City, Rockville, Gaithersburg and Brunswick. The Mount Airy Station is a long single-story brick combination station, meaning it served both passengers and freight. It has a fairly conventional single-story layout. The station includes rather ornate brickwork and wood roof braces, which can be seen on the station’s exterior.
Wooden passenger waiting room of Mount Airy Station circa 1900
Construction of the brick passenger waiting room circa 1904
now home to the Med One Mount Airy Pharmacy
Rear of Mount Airy Station circa 1900
Mount Airy Station circa 1940.
Renovation of the train station by the town began shortly after the purchase and continued through the summer of 2018. The grand opening of the new Mount Airy Museum was held on August 26, 2018. It was dedicated to Councilman Ken Phebus, who worked so hard to accomplish the purchase. The opening ceremony included a ribbon cutting for the renovated train station. This ribbon was cut by Mayor Pat Rockinberg and Town Councilmen Peter Helt, Bob King, Larry Hushour, Jason Poirier and former Councilman Ken Phebus.
Ribbon cutting for the new Mount Airy Museum was then conducted. Cutting the ribbon for the museum grand opening was Mrs. Helen Simpson, Mr. Oscar Baker, Diann Linton, B.J. Dixon and Mike Eacho. The ribbon was held by Councilmen Peter Helt and Larry Hushour.
The Mount Airy Station now provides a beautiful facility for the Mount Airy Museum to tell the history of our town.
Mount Airy Station Ribbon Cutting
Mount Airy Museum Ribbon Cutting