Blog Posts
19th Century Death Examined Virtual Exhibit
This Virtual Exhibit is designed to explore local Carroll County funeral practices in the context of the 19th Century. Life and Death was very different in rural Maryland from today. https://youtu.be/vvW759xW7pQ
Rural Free Delivery in Carroll County Virtual Exhibit
This virtual exhibit showcases the history of Rural Free Delivery Service in Carroll County. We invite you to view our temporary Exhibit here at the Kimmey House.
Happy Juneteenth
Juneteenth celebrates June 19, 1865, as the day when freedom was granted to over 250,000 slaves in Texas. On June 18, 1865 Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas with 2,000 federal troops. This [...]
Remembrance gathering for Townsend Cook
Lynching victim Townsend Cook will be memorialized on June 2, 2021 at 7:00PM, the date of his killing in 1885 in Westminster. The remembrance gathering has been planned by the Carroll County Coalition of the [...]
Christmas Cards
Well into the 19th century, the tradition was to write lengthy holiday letters and deliver them to friends. Since there were no copiers or home printers, each letter had to be handwritten – a very [...]
“Christmas Eve 1886” Poem
The Historical Society of Carroll County (HSCC) has produced a video that salutes a poem written more than 130 years ago. The author, Louis Edwin Shriver of Union Mills, dedicated the verses [...]
Happy Thanksgiving!
For Americans, the Thanksgiving holiday is usually traced to a celebration at Plymouth, in present-day Massachusetts. In 1620, a group of English settlers crossed the ocean to create a new colony in North America. They [...]
William Winchester Portrait Conservation
While we associate paintings with art museums, most history museums also have them. These are usually family portraits or works by local artists. HSCC has both. But, while paintings are common, they are uncommonly difficult [...]
Summer of 1864 – Civil War in Carroll County
In the summer of 1864, the Civil War came once again to the streets of Carroll County. Confederate General Jubal Early marched into Maryland with the objective of capturing the Union capital at Washington. As [...]
The Places We’ve Gone
Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away! - Dr. Seuss Over the years Carroll Countians have travelled far and wide by a variety of means. The [...]
Criss-Cross Letters
Criss-cross letters were a way for frugal letter writers to save paper and money.
A Soldier’s Story
The United States entered the Great War - World War I - on April 6, 1917. Nearly 1,000 Carroll County men and women served in uniform. Of these, 36 made the ultimate sacrifice. Lloyd D. [...]
Westminster Cemetery
Although the Historical Society had to cancel its tour of Westminster Cemetery scheduled for May 16, the historic burying ground remains open to the public and an interesting place to visit. Established about 1790 at [...]
The Perfect Stitch
While sheltering in our homes, we’ve all been looking for things to keep us occupied. Many are serving their communities by sewing masks for those who need them. What they’re doing is great, but many [...]
Mother’s Day
With all of us locked in our homes, it's sometimes hard to remember how much time is passing. Easter came and went. And now it's Mother's Day already. Mother's Day in the United States started [...]
Roosevelt in Westminster
It's definitely strange times. Here we are in the middle of the primary season and yet nothing is happening. No rallies, no debates, and no robo calls (OK, that last one is a good thing). [...]
Criss-Cross Letters
Criss-cross letters were a way for frugal letter writers to save paper and money.
The Origin of the Teddy Bear
Many of us had a teddy bear when we were young, but few are aware of the toy’s origin.
Local Civil War Soldiers Pictured in Rare Tintype
Friends Winfield Scott Drach and Jesse Barnes of New Windsor experienced different fates during the Civil War
Interning at the Historical Society: River Myer
Our recent intern shares his thoughts about his time at the Historical Society
Charles Carroll School Artifacts On Display
Items in school's time capsule revealed in 2018
‘Historical Society of Carroll County Helped Fulfill My Dream’
Author thanks Historical Society for help in researching family book
Displaying an 1820s Wedding Dress
Volunteers work to display an 1820s wedding dress
The Evolution of the U.S. Census
The value of the U.S. Census for genealogy and local history
HSCC Collection Curiosities
Each piece in our collection tells a story.