Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River
2025 Calendar of Events
FEBRUARY
February Membership Meeting Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 7 p.m.
MARCH
Mysterious Middle River Live
Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 1 pm
Spend an hour with amateur researcher Joshua S. Bell as he explores local mysteries, supernatural phenomena, and forgotten history in Essex, Middle River, and other local paranormal hotspots. Topics include hauntings, documented UFO landings, strange creatures, and unexplained coincidences. Doors open at 12:30. Visitors may tour the Museum after the presentation. Light refreshments will be served.
Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River
2024 Calendar of Events
JANUARY
No Monthly Membership Meeting.
January 15 – Annual Board Meeting.
Museum closed except for Paranormal Investigations.
FEBRUARY
February Membership Meeting Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Speaker Series: “Henrietta Lacks”
Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Servant Courtney Speed, founder of the Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group, will discuss the impact of the life of Turner Station resident Henrietta Lacks, who died of cervical cancer in 1951. Cells taken from her body without her knowledge were used to form the HeLa cell line, which has been used extensively in medical research and has played a role in the development of the polio vaccine, in vitro fertilization, cancer treatments and more. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Visitors may tour the Museum after the talk. Free and open to the public.
MARCH
March Membership Meeting Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Speaker Series: “History and Hauntings: In Conversation with The Baltimore Paranormal Society” Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 7 p.m. Members of the Baltimore Paranormal Society will discuss some of their most active investigations, including their experiences at the Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River. Guests will have the opportunity to learn about the tools/equipment used during their investigations and hear about the team’s methodology when approaching haunted locations. A Q&A session will follow the talk. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Visitors may tour the Museum after the talk. Free and open to the public.
APRIL
April Membership Meeting Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 7 p.m.
First Responders’ Appreciation Day Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 12 to 2 p.m. Join us for a special First Responders’ Appreciation Day! We’ll have emergency vehicles out front for visitors to check out. (List of agencies and vehicles will be announced closer to the event.) Visitors can also tour the Museum. First Responders will be treated to lunch. Free.
MAY
May Membership Meeting Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Speaker Series: “Friends I Never Met: A History of Oaklawn Cemetery” Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 7 p.m. Kevin Garrity, Vice President of the Dundalk-Patapsco Neck Historical Society, will discuss the history of Oaklawn Cemetery and its famous residents. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Visitors may tour the Museum after the talk. Free and open to the public.
Essex Cube Celebration Date to be determined Join us as we celebrate the relocation of the Essex Cube to its permanent home in the Heritage Society Courtyard.
JUNE
June Membership Meeting Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Speaker Series: “Three Turning Points of WWII” with Dale Grimes Thursday, June 13, 2024 at 7 p.m. (Date Subject to Change) Dale Grimes will present a PowerPoint on the three turning points of WWII leading up to D-Day. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Visitors may tour the Museum after the talk. Free and open to the public.
JULY
Dundalk Independence Day Parade July 4, 2024, beginning at 8 a.m. Join our friends in Dundalk for the Dundalk Independence Day Parade!
July Membership Meeting Thursday, July 11, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Grinch-mas in July! Saturday, July 20, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Join us for a visit from our very special guest, THE GRINCH! The Grinch will be ready for photo opps, and we will have a special Grinch craft for the kids. Stop by and take a tour. FREE for all!
AUGUST
August Membership Meeting Thursday, August 1, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Closed except for Paranormal Investigations.
SEPTEMBER
September Membership Meeting Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 7 p.m.
ESSEX DAY FESTIVAL essexdayfestival.com Saturday, September 14, 2024, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The biggest one-day outdoor festival in Eastern Baltimore County! Live music, food trucks, kids’ zone, vendors, beer garden and more. Museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free for all.
OCTOBER
October Membership Meeting Thursday, October 3, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Speaker Series: “Rosedale History with Bob Dean” Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 7 p.m. (Schedule Subject to Change) Rosedale Historian Bob Dean will take us through the history of the nearby community of Rosedale. Free. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Visitors may tour the Museum after the talk.
Members-Only Paranormal Investigation Date TBD Members of the Baltimore Paranormal Society will lead us on an investigation of our 104-year-old building. Open to the first 15 Heritage Society members who RSVP. Free. Become a member!
NOVEMBER
November Membership Meeting Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Veterans Day Event Saturday, November 9, 2024, TBD
DECEMBER
December Membership Meeting Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Essex Community Tree Lighting Saturday, December 7, 2024 5-7 PM Join us for the most wonderful night of the year in Essex! Tree lighting, gifts for the kids, DJ, fire trucks and a visit with Santa. FREE for all.
Museum Historian Paul M. Blitz
Speaker Series: “An Evening with Historian Paul M. Blitz” Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 7 p.m. Join us for the last Speaker Series of the year with Heritage Society Historian of more than three decades, Paul M. Blitz. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Visitors may tour the Museum after the talk.
2024 Essex Community Tree & Cube Lighting
Saturday, December 7, 2024 5-7 PM
Join us for the most wonderful night of the year in Essex! Tree lighting, gifts for the kids, DJ, fire trucks and a visit with Santa and Cubey the museum mascot!
This special night will also feature the lighting of the original Essex Cube, now located in our courtyard.
Speaker Series: “Streetcars in Baltimore and Beyond” Wednesday, February 15, 2023
Father Kevin Mueller, a longtime member of the Baltimore Streetcar Museum and streetcar enthusiast talked about the streetcar system that we had and what made it go away. He discussed cities that still have streetcars to this day. Visitors toured the museum after the talk.
Museum Tours and Open House Saturday, February 18, 2023 This will be our first opening since the December Holiday Open House. Stop by for a tour or to browse our gift shop.
March
Monthly Membership Meeting Thursday, March 2, 2023
Speaker Series: “Rosie the Riveter” Thursday, March 9, 2023
Debi Wynn from the Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum discussed the important role of Rosie the Riveter in manufacturing during World War II. Visitors toured the Museum after the talk.
Open House Saturday, March 11, 2023 Visitors toured the Museum and browsed our gift shop.
Haunted History Night Sat, March 18, 2023
We joined The Baltimore Paranormal Society for a night of haunted tales as we explored our historic building and exhibits while learning about the haunted happenings experienced by our guests and local paranormal teams. The night began with a brief overview of ghost hunting equipment before being led on a candlelight tour of the museum where museum staff and BPS members regaled visitors with tales of the supernatural that have been reported within our 103-year-old building.
April
Monthly Membership Meeting Thursday, April 6, 2023
Earth Day Open House Saturday, April 22, 2023 Visitors joined us for Museum tours and special activities geared towards celebrating our earth, planting sunflower seeds to take home to watch them grow and participating in a scavenger hunt along with other fun activities.
May
Monthly Membership Meeting Thursday, May 4, 2023
First Responders’ Appreciation Day Saturday, May 6, 2023
Local police and fire stations along with MDTA police had their emergency vehicles set up out front for all to explore. Purkey’s Party Pumper fire-throwing, bubble blowing fire engine also set up outside the museum. First Responders were treated to lunch.
Speaker Series: “Todd’s Inheritance” Monday, May 15, 2023
We joined the volunteers from Todd’s Inheritance Historic Site to learn about this exciting new museum and interpretive property located at 9000 North Point Rd. Edgemere, Maryland 21219. Visitors enjoyed an introduction to the history of the North Point Peninsula from early Native American presence, Todd family settlement in 1664, the War of 1812-Battle of North Point and more. Information about upcoming events, lectures and openings was shared. Visitors toured the Museum after the event.
June
Monthly Membership Meeting Thursday, June 1, 2023
Open House Saturday, June 10, 2023 Visitors toured the Museum and browsed our gift shop.
Speaker Series: “Flag History” Thursday, June 15, 2023
Local flag collector and historian Dale Grimes shared our history of flags and offered a peek at his collection. Did you know? Someone who studies flags is a called a vexillologist.
July
Monthly Membership Meeting Thursday, July 6, 2023
Christmas in July Saturday, July 22, 2023
We had our special guest The Grinch ready for photo opps, along with craft vendors, special activities for the kids and Museum tours!
August
Monthly Membership Meeting Thursday, August 3, 2023
Back to School Open House Saturday, August 19, 2023 Visitors toured the Museum and browsed our gift shop.
September
Monthly Membership Meeting Thursday, September 7, 2023
Speaker Series: “Up the Line” Thursday, September 14, 2023
Local Author Howard Smith discussed his book “Up the Line,” the history of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore Railroad which was the major transportation in the area in the 1840s.
Doors open at 6:30 pm. Visitors toured the Museum after the talk.
ESSEX DAY Saturday, September 16, 2023 400 & 500 blocks Eastern Blvd.
Visit the Museum on Essex Day! The Heritage Society Museum was one of the busiest locations on Essex Day as visitors toured the Museum and browsed our gift shop.
October
Monthly Membership Meeting Thursday, October 5, 2023
Speaker Series: “Route 40 Then and Now” Thursday, October 12, 2023
Rosedale historian Bob Dean will discussed Route 40 and the importance of this road with the advent of the automobile.
Visitors toured the Museum and browsed our gift shop after the talk.
A Night of Frights Saturday, October 28, 2023 Visitors joined The Baltimore Paranormal Society for an unforgettable night of chills and thrills as they were led through the museum’s rooms, where the spirits of the past are dying to meet you! The night started off with a stroll through the haunted halls where visitors came face to face with the ghouls who still call the museum home. This haunted walking tours sent chills down your spine as you turned each corner wondering what may be waiting for you just ahead.
Ronnie Alder Memorial Sunday, October 29, 2023
Members of the community joined in the courtyard for a Memorial celebrating the life of Ronnie “Daddy Kool” Alder, a Lifetime Member of the Heritage Society and a man who was loved by the community.
November
Monthly Membership Meeting Thursday, November 2, 2023
December
2023 Tree Lighting Saturday, December 2, 2023
The community joined us for the most wonderful night of the year as we hosted the Essex Community Tree Lighting. This fun-filled event included gifts for the kids, fire trucks, a DJ, and of course, photo opportunities with Santa and Mrs. Claus!
Monthly Membership Meeting Thursday, December 7, 2023
Museum Historian Paul M. Blitz
Speaker Series: “Baltimore County’s Role in The Civil War”
Thursday, December 14, 2023 Heritage Society Historian Paul M. Blitz shared the little-known and the important facts about our area’s role in The Civil War.
Visitors toured the Museum after the talk.
A friend recently shared with me a tale worth repeating and preserving. This legend, centering on Hart Island (now part of a dredged spoils disposal site) was first told in both daily newspapers, The Baltimore News American and The Evening Sun, in 1913. It was revived in 1971 in a dissertation written by Darryl C. Ruppert, “The Treasure Trove of Hart’s Island,” and shared with the Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River, which was given permission to reproduce it. That is how my friend acquired a copy, which she passed on to me.
Joseph Hart, a wealthy Englishman born of a prominent family, lived on Hart Island in the mid-1800s and it was there, it is said, he buried his fortune. The man, a tavern and livery owner, was described as an eccentric who feared robbers and thus buried his fortune. He died in 1852, leaving a wife and several daughters. The secret of exactly where his treasure was buried seemingly died with him.
The story of Hart’s buried gold was resurrected in 1913 when six men, led by a John Wagner, made an effort to access the island to search for what was described as a treasure trove of buried treasure. The team had assembled information, from unidentified sources, describing Joseph as a miser who hid his gold beneath the ground because he was afraid to keep it in the house and didn’t trust banking institutions. They claimed they had a map indicating treasure buried near a waterfall, the gold contained in two boxes and two tanks, no more than three feet deep. The value, in both bars and coin, was estimated at $15,000, a large sum for the day.
When the treasure seekers went public with their mission, the new owner (the property had passed through several hands) denied them entry onto the island. In newspaper accounts, where two of Hart’s daughters were interviewed, their long held secret of buried gold was revealed. And the survivors immediately laid claim to any treasure that might be found.
Anyone who knew Hart Island was familiar with the flat, marshy terrain with no possibility of a waterfall. Wagner, however, determined waterfall to mean a gully or “a falling away of ground to cause drainage of water.” On the north side of the island were some long neglected irrigation canals that he considered as fitting the description of the treasure’s location.
In news accounts, one of the daughters of Joseph Hart reported seeing her father unearthing a keg of gold coins and moving it to another location. Joseph had been robbed more than once and feared burglars, she said. Only his wife knew where Hart buried his gold for safekeeping. And she went to her grave without revealing the location to her daughters.
The Harts had acquired the island in 1821. At the time it consisted of 264 acres, while Millers Island, which they also owned, was 124 acres. There was a large “rough hewn timber house with walnut window frames” built on the island before the Harts owned it. “Luxuriant trumpet vines” covered one side of the house, which was leased to hunters during ducking season. A grove of sweet gum trees was nearby. The family evidently lived in Baltimore City near Hart’s Tavern on Front St. and spent summer months on the island.
Mr. Hart died in 1852, leaving the children to search relentlessly for his buried gold. They finally gave up in 1858 and sold the land to Frederick Schumaker, it was reported by Mr. Ruppert. At the turn of the century the isle was the home of the Millers Island Ducking Club.
The Baltimore Atlas of 1877 shows Miller Island (or Little Island as it was labeled) to the north, with the larger Hart Island in the center, and to the south and closest to the mainland, Pleasure Island. A narrow channel separated Hart and Miller. The land eroded drastically over the decades as tides and storms took their toll. By 1933, Hart Island was down to 180 acres and Miller to 70. A bridge which had connected the islands to the mainland was destroyed by the Hurricane of 1933. It was not replaced until 1937.
Muskrat hunters took up residence at the old Hart house in 1938, trapping nine a day and receiving at least 70¢ for each pelt sold to furriers. By 1943, the 100-year-old clubhouse had collapsed and its foundation was washing away. In 1947, Baltimore political figure George P. Mahoney purchased the property with plans for building new homes and recreational areas. His project never got off the ground, although New Bay Shore Park was established.
By the late 40s, Hart had eroded more and by 1959 it had shrunk to 150 acres while Miller was just 52. Mahoney sold the isles to Bethlehem Steel in 1965.
Only one treasure seeker was reported to have found any gold on the beach of Hart Island over the years: One gold coin, possibly English.
When Ruppert penned the tale of buried treasure over 30 years ago, the threat of Hart and Miller Islands being converted into a dike to hold dredged spoils was looming. Beth Steel had sold the land to the Langenfelder sand and gravel company, which was negotiating with the state government. He surmised any trove buried near the mid-1800s shoreline was already under water. Today it would be under tens of thousands of tons of material dredged from harbor channels and bay tributaries.
First Responders Appreciation Day took place on Saturday, May 21, 2022 from 11 am – 1 pm. Museum visitors stopped by for a tour of the Essex Museum and met some of our favorite First Responders and their vehicles: Baltimore County Police Department, Maryland Transportation Authority Police with armored vehicle and K-9 unit, Essex Volunteer Fire Department, and special guest Purkey’s Party Pumper fire-throwing, bubble blowing fire engine. The events was free for all ages!
Please join us for our FREE Purple Saturday Open House featuring a special appearance by Baltimore Ravens Super Fan CAPTAIN DEE-FENSE!! He will meet fans and take pictures! Also we will have Museum tours, kids’ activities and more! Our gift shop will be open and we are now accepting credit and debit cards. Don’t forget to wear your purple! 💜
Please join us for this fun family event featuring a fire truck parade for Santa’s arrival, special gifts for the kids, photos with Santa, a DJ, snacks and more. This event is always FREE for the community, and last year we had more than 400 guests! It’s a great way to kick off the holidays!
Thank you to our 2022 Sponsors
SANTA:
Cliff’s Hi-Tech
Cliff’s Direct Effect
Essex Day Festival
Albright’s Mechanical
Frostee Tree Farm
Medstar Health
Power Factor
Sullivan’s Garage
Walmart Carroll Island
Delegate Ric Metzgar
FROSTY:
Alice’s Restaurant
Tradepoint Atlantic
Connelly Funeral Home of Essex
Jeff’s Automotive
East Coast Autos
Essex Car Wash
County Councilman Todd Crandell
Buon Appetito Essex
Senator Johnny Ray Salling
ELF:
Cogar Printing
Two Guys Grill
Zips Cleaners
Bafitis & Associates
Kelly Coleman-Slocum, Century 21
Baltimore Boating Center
Charly’s Sue Creek
Upper Bay Boating
Doug Kottraba State Farm
Delegate Robin Grammer
Domino’s Essex
Chick-fil-a Martin Plaza
Rick’s Sports Bar and Grill
MEDIA SPONSORS:
Avenue News
Dundalk Eagle
2022 Holiday Open House and Evening with our Historian
Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, 7 – 9 pm
Paul M. Blitz has served as the Heritage Society Historian for over 30 years and shares a lifetime of Essex historical knowledge at our Museum lectures.
Please join us for a holiday open house which will include a presentation by Heritage Society Historian Paul M. Blitz. Mr. Blitz has been the Historian for more than three decades, and he offers a wealth of knowledge about our area’s rich history. This educational and entertaining discussion will highlight Maryland’s important role in the Civil War. Visitors will also have the unique opportunity to see the Museum decorated for the holidays! The event is free and open to the public.
A look inside the museum decorated for Christmas.
2022 Christmas Tree Decorating
Thanks to everyone who came out to decorate at the museum today, especially George and the Power Factor crew! Can’t wait to see our 2,000 new lights at night!
The Essex community joined us on Saturday, December 4, 2021 for some holiday cheer as we lit our 25-foot Norway Spruce! We had appearances by Santa and fire trucks with gifts for the kids, Museum tours and more!
Santa Sponsors:
Cliffs Hi-Tech
Cliffs Direct Effect
Essex Day Festival
Frostee Tree Farm/Paul Stiffler
Medstar Health
Del. Ric Metzgar
Power Factor/George Lang
Sullivan’s Garage
Walmart Carroll Island
Frosty Sponsors:
Alice’s – A Family Restaurant
East Coast Autos
Jeff’s Automotive
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Tradepoint Atlantic
Elf Sponsors:
Connelly Funeral Home of Essex
Councilman Todd Crandell
Cox’s Properties
Delegate Robin Grammer
LaBrands Florist
PatRick’s
Senator Johnny Ray Salling
Kelly Coleman-Slocum
Two Guys Grill
Zips Dry Cleaners
Media Sponsor:
The Avenue News
Special thanks to: Essex Volunteer Fire Company, DJ Russell Slocum, MC Karie May
