Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River

Essex Museum 50th Anniversary Event – June 14

This year the Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River is celebrating a huge milestone — the 50th anniversary of the Museum! While the Heritage Society was founded in 1968, the organization didn’t move into our building until 1975. To commemorate our golden anniversary, we invite you to join us for a celebration at Buon Appetito in Essex on Saturday, June 14 at 6 p.m. In addition to celebrating 50 years, we will also unveil the brand new Essex-Middle River flag and have a display of the items that will be going into the Essex Cube time capsule. Tickets for this dinner event are only a $50 donation per person or $400 donation for a table of 8. Details on the accompanying flyer. Please reply to this email or contact essexmuseum@gmail.com for tickets.

FEBRUARY

February Membership Meeting
Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 7 PM

Museum Speaker Series: History of Turner Station and Henrietta Lacks
Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 1 PM

Servant Courtney Speed, founder of the Henrietta Lacks Legacy Group, and community leader Sister Muriel Gray, will discuss the history of Turner Station and 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 12:30 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 6, 2025 at 7 PM

Museum Speaker Series: 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.
Visit Mysterious Middle River MD

APRIL

April Membership Meeting
Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 7 PM

Essex Museum Speaker Series: Curator Ernie Dimler of The Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower
Saturday, April 5 at 1 PM
The Bromo Seltzer Tower has been a part of Baltimore’s skyline since 1911 and a beacon for innovation and the arts since 2007. The Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower Collections include everything from the controversial Green Bromo Seltzer Bottles to a book from Woodrow Wilson for use of the Emerson Hotel in 1912 as headquarters for his election. Learn more about these fascinating pieces from Curator Ernie Dimler. Doors open at 12:30 PM. Light refreshments will be served. Visitors may tour the museum after the presentation. Free for all.

MAY

May Membership Meeting
Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 7 PM

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First Responders Day
Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 12 PM. to 2 PM
Join us for a special First Responders’ Appreciation Day! Meet our local First Responders! We’ll have emergency vehicles out front to check out and guests can tour the renovated Museum! First Responders will be treated to lunch. FREE!

Public Paranormal Investigation (Ticketed Event)
Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 7 PM to 11 PM
This public paranormal investigation is presented by The Baltimore Paranormal Society and The Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River on May 10, 2025, 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm. All proceeds will benefit Heritage Society museum exhibits, public events, and operating expenses.

Please join us to explore our historic building and exhibits while learning about the haunted happenings experienced by our guests and local paranormal teams. Your night will begin with a brief overview of ghost hunting equipment before being led on an investigation of the museum where BPS members will attempt to make contact with the spirits that have been reported within our 101-year-old building.

Our building dates back to the early 1920’s where it once served as the town police station, fire station, and courthouse. In the 1970’s, the services relocated to a new station, and this building became a historical museum, which remains today. Many people have experienced unexplainable occurrences within our walls and some even refuse to return due to the spirits who are known to haunt our museum.

Admission is only $45 per person. Space is limited so reserve your tickets today!

Don’t be left out in the dark! Our spirits are eager to meet you!

JUNE

June Membership Meeting
Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 7 PM

Museum Speaker Series: Flag Day with Dale Grimes
Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 1 PM
Local historian and flag enthusiast Dale Grimes will focus on the 80th Anniversary of the end of WWII with Baltimore Newspapers and U.S. Navy flags. Guests may tour the museum after the presentation. Light refreshments will be served. Doors open at 12:30 pm. FREE

Museum 50th Anniversary Celebration at Buon Appetito (Ticketed Event)
Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 6 PM
Join us to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River. This is a ticketed event to include dinner, dessert, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Tickets coming soon! Email essexmuseum@gmail.com to reserve your spot!

JULY

July Membership Meeting
Thursday, July 10, 2025 at 7 PM

Grinchmas in July
Saturday, July 19 from 11 PM to 1 PM

AUGUST

August Membership Meeting
Thursday, August 7, 2025 at 7 PM

Speaker Series: Baltimore Paranormal Society and NEW Paranormal Room unveiling
Saturday, August 23 at 1PM
Doors open at 12:30 PM. Light refreshments will be served. Visitors may tour the museum after the presentation. Free for all.

SEPTEMBER

September Membership Meeting
Thursday, September 4, 2025 at 7 PM

ESSEX DAY FESTIVAL #50
Saturday, September 13, 10 AM – 6 PM

OCTOBER

October Membership Meeting
Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 7 PM

Grave Robbing in Baltimore in the 1800s by Olafur Nelson
Thursday, October 9 at 7 PM
Our October Speaker Series presenter will be Olafur Nelson, the local authority on 1800s medicine and medical procedures. Learn how “Body Snatchers” dug up graves for medical purposes for University of Maryland Hospital and Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1800s. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. light refreshments will be served. Visitors may tour the Museum after the presentation. FREE.

NOVEMBER

November Membership Meeting
Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 7 PM

DECEMBER

December Membership Meeting
Thursday, December 4, 2025 at 7 PM

Essex Community Tree Lighting
Saturday, December 6 at 5 PM

JANUARY

January Membership Meeting
Thursday, January 8, 2025 at 7 PM

2024 Essex Community Tree & Cube Lighting

The most wonderful night of the year in Essex took place on Saturday, December 7, 2024! We hosted our tree lighting, gifts for the kids, DJ, fire trucks and a visit with Santa and Cubey the museum mascot! This special night also featured the lighting of the original Essex Cube, now located in our courtyard.