Catonsville

By Marsha Wight Wise

Book Overview

See how the Baltimore suburb of Catonsville became thesummer retreat in the late 1800's and still retains much of its 19th century ellegency today.

Catonsville, a major suburb of Baltimore, still maintains much of the genteel country-estate charm it developed in the early 19th century. In 1810, Charles Carroll bestowed the land that is now Catonsville upon his daughter, Mary, and her husband, Richard Caton. The Frederick Turnpike helped the area grow, and many estates and farms cultivated the community. By 1880, it was the preferred summer retreat from the heat of Baltimore City for some of Maryland's most prosperous merchants. The completion of the Catonsville Short Line Railroad in 1884 made the burg attractive to middle-income families and a diverse village was born.

Highlighted in this volume are many long-gone homes, mansions, and institutions such as Castle Thunder, Ingleside, Nancy's Fancy, Catonsville Casino, Farmlands, and Arden, the centerpiece of Eden Terrace. Featured as well are monuments that still stand today: Uplands Mansion, Homewood, James Gary's Summit, Hilton, St. Mark Catholic Church, St. Charles College, Old Salem Lutheran Church, Mt. de Sales Academy, Belle Grove, numerous Victorian manors, and the early 20th-century homes that completed this hamlet.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0738518255
• ISBN13: 9780738518251
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (SC)
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.6" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Great stuff

Catonsville chronicles through photographs the story of a great American suburb. Residents of the town will certainly enjoy it, but more broadly anyone interested in how a small town grows and transforms into a bustling suburb will find it fascinating. Well laid out and thorougly documented. Great stuff.

Great Compelation of Catonsville History

This book is great for people who are looking to find out what old Catonsville looked like. I love all the pictures of the homes and families and the information it includes about the Catons. It has a lot of pictures that are included from the Catonsville Library's collection. It is well organized.

Images of America - Catonsville

This book complements another book, "Catonsville 1880 to 1940, from Village to Suburb", previously published in 1979 in conjunction with the Catonsville Historical Society. The author brings out of the files even more photographs of our past. It could almost be titled "Catonsville Lost". Not only does it makes us mourn the loss of such magnificent homes and the "village" atmosphere, but a certain lifestyle of the residents of the long-gone era. In doing her research the author revealed finding even more material for yet another book. I look forward to a continuation of this theme. Lucy W. McKean, President Catonsville Historical Society

Outstanding photos and information from Historic Catonsville

I had the opportunity to purchase this book a few days ago, and I was unable to put it down until the end. It is packed full of photos and history, bringing back fond memories of my childhood, and creating some new thoughts for discovery. I thought I already knew so much, then I read the book and learned so much more. The author has done a wonderful job of gathering and creating an order of things. I'm overwhelmed at the photos she has accumulated. I hope to read more from this author. Her style is enjoyable, and very easy to follow. Thank you.