About Ellicott City's Historic Ellicott City

Love where you live.....and talk & write about it too. (Part One ~Ellicott City, MD)

When I relocated from the sunny shores of Daytona Beach, Florida to the Central Maryland area 15 years ago, I discovered Ellicott City and the Historic District located on the East side of Howard County and very close to the Baltimore County line. It was love at first sight.

Olde Towne Ellicott City is very similar to an old English village. I felt right at home. It's steeped in history, it's an eclectic mix of retail and restaurants and it's adorably quaint. The community is very close and friendly. Our first visit to Ellicott City we seriously thought we were on the movie set of "Funny Farm" and Chevy Chase was paying the locals to be really nice and make us feel at home. All around us people were calling across the street saying hello and helping their neighbors and generally being friendly and neighborly. Not a movie set, but simple small town reality!

When we moved in to the Historic District on Main Street it was even better than we had imagined. The church bells peal on the hour, the comforting sounds of the freight trains rumbled in the night and the national parks are just a few minutes away. There is always something to do: festivals, ghost tours and monthly events. (I must admit when the ghost tour guide would stop outside my home and tell the story about the ghost inside, I was a little freaked out- but the spirit never bothered me!) Every natural disaster is also sure to affect the community to add a little flavor to living at sea level. Anticipate floods, heavy storms and insane amounts of snow that never miss Ellicott City. Regardless of the weather there is always a restaurant to walk to.

This is my photo tour of Historic Ellicott City.






Writing about Historic Ellicott City is a joy. Year round there are many different faces to talk about. Great restaurants, neat quirky little stores and Historic sights to visit. Here are a few of my Ellicott City posts.

Why do you want to live in Ellicott City in Howard County Maryland?

Americas Richest Counties- Howard County Maryland in the top 3

What is NEW in Historic Ellicott City?

What does Howard County have to offer?

Ellicott City, Maryland: One of the 10 great Cities to raise a family.

Take a Historic Ellicott City Picture Tour

Friday's Fotos- Early morning in Historic Ellicott City, Maryland

Money Magazine Ranks Columbia/Ellicott City #2 "America's Best Places to Live 2010"

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If you are planning to move to the Central Marylandarea and you want a BUYERS AGENT that really knows the area and all that it has to offer, I can help. (Personal tours of the area included in the service)


If you are looking to successfully sell your Maryland home with a Realtor who will market your property with multiple resources, call me for an appointment.



These are the areas that I serve Buyers orSellers in the Metro Baltimore area : Howard County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Harford County, Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Montgomery County or Prince Georges County . If you would like more information please call me, Ellie McIntire at 443-418-7668or e-mail EllieMcIntire@MRIS.com

Ellie McIntire

The McIntire Team Real Estate Services.

Keller Williams Realty Centre

443. 418 7668 (cell)

443.766 1768 (O)

443.766 1769 (E-Fax)

E-mail: EllieMcintire@MRIS.com

http://www.EllieMcIntire.com

We redefine the essence of service

I am no Mall-hater by any means. As a matter of fact I actually enjoy a good Mall, outlets are a bonus - just not in December! Shopping at the Mall between Thanksgiving and Christmas is like the Running of the Bulls in Spain! You better watch out, walk fast and get out of everybody's way ... or else!

Call me crazy but having to circle the parking lots for an hour until possibly lucking out and scoring a precious parking spot does not really help me get into the holiday spirit. Neither do those stalkers that follow you driving 5 mph when you are walking back to your car - on the other end of the lot of course since that was the only place you could score a spot! CREEPY! It does get interesting when those people being followed are just unloading their stuff and go back into the madhouse ... and just thinking about the 84 times of Jingle Bells one is subjected to during just one visit is giving me a headache.

In my humble opinion the best place for holiday shopping is still Main Street USA. Fortunately, I have quite a few of Main Streets to choose from in Central Maryland and shopping there is an entirely different experience. People are pleasant, you are greeted with a smile, Christmas music actually does just run in the background and hunting for those unique presents is actually fun!

One of my favorite Main Streets is in Ellicott City, Maryland (love Annapolis and Frederick, too). It's just a charming street with its historic buildings and great mix of antiques, collectibles, wine, home decor and toys. Being able to find lots of items Made in USA is also to its advantage.

The town of Ellicott City is again offering free parking this holiday season to encourage people to shop along historic Main Street. There's also the Annual Ellicott City Historic District Photo Contest going on:
check out the storefront windows while you are out and about Ellicott City's historic district and vote for the best holiday decoration. You can enter to win a $75 gift certificate to one of the shops or restaurants. Ballots are available at the Howard County Tourism Center which just recently relocated to 8267 Main Street!

While you visit you may also want to stop by the B&O Railroad Museum Ellicott City Station - it's very charming and practically on your way, you can't miss it!

Friendly people, decorated storefronts, charming historic buildings, free parking (at least in Ellicott City), unique gifts and support of local small businesses - all reasons why Main Street USA is still the best place for Holiday Shopping!

There's something about trains and the holidays ...

The oldest train station in the country - B&O Railroad Ellicott City Station - is well worth a visit. It is a quaint museum nowadays that's just perfect for little kids - they can climb in a 1927 Caboose - even the beds - ring the bell on the platform and watch the model train displays on the upper level of the station.

Holiday Festival of Trains @ Ellicott City Station

There are 4 displays in the Main Depot Building - the "big" one (I knew I should have taken notes as I can't remember what it is called) that you can walk around and take in all the details, the interactive one for children featuring buttons within easy reach which turn on lights & move people, the display in the ticket office and then there is Thomas & Co. - which little kid doesn't like to see them in action?

The Holiday Festival of Trains @ Ellicott City Station runs through January 29th, 2012.

The Museum is also currently featuring the exhibit: The War Came by Train: The First Front and on the lower level a living history exhibit: Christmas in the 1860s. Living because Ina & Stan are dressed in period clothing and move about the exhibit just as if they were living there. They did a wonderful job engaging my girls and made for an educational experience that was interesting and fun, talking about typical toys from that time, schooling and sleeping arrangements for example. A bonus for me: Ina happened to be from Germany! The exhibit is in the original station keepers living quarters & I suspect the fireplace and floors among others are original features.

Ellicott City Station was part of the Baltimore-Ohio Railroad and the first town reached from Baltimore. It was built in 1830 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1960s.

The station sits right off Ellicott City's historic Mainstreet (one of my favorite places in all of Central Maryland) and is within easy walking distance of several parking lots and, of course, Ellicott City's unique stores and antique centers.

Admission is only $3 for children and $5 for adults ($4 with military discount). You can also get a discount if you are purchasing admission to the Station's big brother, the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, at the same time.

If you are planning a visit, call ahead to see what days Ina and Stan are there - they add so much charm to the Ellicott City Station Museum you wouldn't want to miss them!

Ina & Stan, if you happen to read my blog: Vielen Dank fuer das tolle Erlebnis!
Ihr macht das super! Bis bald!

Halloween "Trick or Treat" on Main Street in Historic Ellicott City 2011


One of the highlights of the season in Howard County, Maryland is the yearly Halloween "Trick or Treat" event in the Historic District of Ellicott City.

Two weeks from today, on Halloween night, October 31st 2011, the 28th Annual event will take place from 4pm till 6pm. (Rain or Shine)

Before I had a child I would be found watching the festivities on the steps of Tersiguels French Country Restaurant with a delicious glass of red wine in hand.

Now I get to really have all the fun. For the past 4 years I have had the great joy of escorting my Son up and down the street collecting candy from all of the participating store keepers with hoards of other festive seekers. (Very few businesses do not participate) Princesses, Ninjas. Star Wars characters, Super Heroes, Dora, Thomas the Tank Engine and strollers full of adorable soft cuddly creatures who are unable to walk, to name but a few, fill the downtown Historic Ellicott City area. Some of the restaurants have adult treats too, such as The Wine Bin who make a point to get involved in the area activities.

It's a great start to Halloween Night as there is still plenty of time to enjoy downtown and then get home to "Trick or Treat" in your own neighborhood.

Up to this point, for my Son, all the candy he has collected has been donated except for maybe a few pieces, but a more savvy five year old may figure out what is going on. Sometimes it's a shame that they grow up!

Here is a slide show from Halloween "Trick or Treat" in Ellicott City last year.

If you are in the area be sure to join the fun.

Have a safe Halloween

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you are planning to move to the Central Marylandarea and you want a BUYERS AGENT that really knows the area and all that it has to offer, I can help. (Personal tours of the area included in the service)


If you are looking to successfully sell your Maryland home with a Realtor who will market your property with multiple resources, call me for an appointment.



These are the areas that I serve Buyers orSellers in the Metro Baltimore area : Howard County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Harford County, Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Montgomery County or Prince Georges County . If you would like more information please call me, Ellie McIntire at 443-418-7668or e-mail EllieMcIntire@MRIS.com

Ellie McIntire

The McIntire Team Real Estate Services.

Keller Williams Realty Centre

443. 418 7668 (cell)

443.766 1768 (O)

443.766 1769 (E-Fax)

E-mail: EllieMcintire@MRIS.com

http://www.EllieMcIntire.com

We redefine the essence of service

GET YOUR SPOOK ON! ~ ELLICOTT CITY GHOST WALKS ~

Historic Ellicott City is not only known to have a haunted history but also has a reputation of being the most haunted city in the State of Maryland! Why, we can only speculate but it may be due to its past as a mill town or the fact that it was built on granite. Perhaps it is because ghosts are said to be attached to antiques - Ellicott City has plenty of antique stores along and around Mainstreet. To satisfy people's curiosity the Howard County Department of Tourism offers 3 Ellicott City Ghost Tours YE HAUNTED HISTORY OF OLDE ELLICOTT CITY . Local guides are dressed in period clothing and retell the stories shared by Ellicott City's residents, retailers and restaurateurs.

The Ghost Tours run from April - November but are obviously most popular in October - so please make reservations or you may not get to go! Tickets can be purchased at the Visitor Information Center: 8267 Main Street in the historic district and are $13 Adults and $11 for children 6 - 12, Seniors (65+) and Active Duty Military.

Historic Ellicott City Ghost Tours
evening walking tours around Mainstreet
take about 60 - 90 minutes
Part I Fridays 8:30 pm
Part II Saturdays 8:30 pm

Spirits of Ellicott City $20
takes you inside some of the haunted locations
enjoy a drink while listening to the ghost stories (drinks not included)
2nd Thursday of each month at 8 pm
must be 21 or older

Other times and private tours may be available, please check with Howard County Tourism Council 1(800)288-8747.

My husband was born on Halloween - yes, occasionally things do get creepy at my house! ;-) On his birthday last year I surprised him with an Ellicott City Ghost Tour to enjoy with his friends. Did he possibly see one of the Union Soldiers vanish into the night or hear unexplained noises or even feel his pants tucked on? I'll keep that a secret ... you'll just have to go and see for yourself!

GET YOUR SPOOK ON!

~ Video curtesy of HoCoMoJo ~

STAY TUNED FOR MARYLAND GHOST TOURS PART II - COMING OCTOBER 8TH, 2011

Get your spook on Part II