May 2017 – Page 2 – Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River

Fire engine at Essex Fire Station, 1957

Fire engine at Essex Fire Station, 1957. The Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River now resides at that location.

Date – 8/3/1957
Contributor – Gary Kadolph, Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute

Town Hall, 1940s

“In 1907 James and Mary Pospisil purchased a large restaurant and tavern on Eastern Ave. west of Back River Bridge. The family lived on the second floor of the popular establishment which was open seven days a week. House specialties included crab cakes, soft crabs, fried chicken and fish. Live entertainment was booked for the club by the same promoter who brought acts to the Hippodrome. The Pospisils sold their popular business in 1947 to the Emala family. After nine months, the Emalas sold it to Joseph Mirabile who renamed the place Town Hall. Dances, weddings, bingos and other events continued to draw customers until the building was closed to make way for the Eastern Blvd. cloverleaf onto I-695. While boarded up awaiting demolition, it was destroyed by fire in March 1967.” — Jackie Nickel

Date – 1940s

Comrade Bowling Social Outing, 1930s

“The Comrade Bowling Social Outing was held at Pospisil’s Park in Bowley’s Quarters in the 1930s. Democratic club meetings, dances, parties and weddings were among the other activities in the hall which seated 300-400.” — Jackie Nickel

Source – Mary Pospisil, Jackie Nickel
Date – 1930s

Fox Hunting on Back River, 1883

“Pictured in 1883 at George S. Brown’s ducking club on Back River, in the area of today’s Essex Skypark, are members of Elkridge Hunt Club. Pictured from left to right are (first row) George S. Brown, Cary McHenry, unidentified, Fred Shriver, Frank S. Hambleton, and Joseph H. Voss; (second row) John Gill, Harry Harwood, Alexander Brown, and T. Swann Latrobe. The Browns ran the prosperous Baltimore banking company Alex. Brown and Sons.” — Jackie Nickel