1800s Towson, Maryland

the former grafton bosley estate uplands , towson maryland. after later becoming presbyterian home of maryland (photo c. 1930)

during civil war, towson scene of 2 minor engagements. many of towson s citizens sympathetic southern confederate cause, so ady s hotel, (later towson hotel) , current site of 1920s-era towson theatre (for movies) , recher theatre, flew southern flag. union army found necessary overtake town force on june 2, 1861. during raid, union army seized weapons citizens @ ady s hotel. local paper, in jest, referred towson “strongly fortified , impregnable city of towsontown” , downplays need attack, stating, “the distinguished straw, 2 hundred , fifty men, has taken whole city , frightened 2 old women out of wits.”

the second engagement took place around july 12, 1864, between union , confederate forces. on july 10, 1864, 135-man confederate cavalry detachment attacked northern central railway north in nearby cockeysville, under orders gen. bradley t. johnson, late of frederick, maryland. first , second maryland cavalry, led baltimore county native , pre-war member of towson horse guards, maj. harry w. gilmor, of glen ellen , attacked strategic targets throughout baltimore , harford counties, including cutting telegraph wires along harford road, capturing 2 trains , union general, , destroying railroad bridge in joppa, maryland. following became known gilmor s raid, cavalry encamped in towson overnight @ ady s hotel men rested , gilmor met friends. next day, large federal cavalry unit dispatched baltimore overtake gilmor s forces. though outnumbered more 2 one, confederate cavalry attacked federal unit, breaking federal unit , chasing them down york road around current day woodbourne avenue within baltimore city limits. gilmor s forces traveled south along york road far south govans, before heading west rejoin gen. johnson s main force. following war, gilmor served baltimore city police commissioner in 1870s.

the towson fire of 1878 destroyed of 500 block along york turnpike causing estimated $38,000 in damage.

during summer of 1894, towson water company laid wooden pipes , installed fire hydrants connected artesian near aigburth vale. on november 2, 1894, towson supplied electric service through connection mount washington electric light , power company.