Saturday, August 29th Indoor Flea Market
Join us rain or shine for an indoor flea market at the Museum. All proceeds benefit the Heritage Society. We ...
Safety Town at Eastpoint Shopping Center
Located right behind Eastpoint Shopping Center, Safety Town utilized the classic, nationwide "Safety Town" concept—a miniature village layout complete with ...
Dinosaurs at Eastpoint Shopping Center
As Eastpoint Mall prepares to close its doors, we take a look back to a time when you could find ...
Middle River Train Station History
The history of Middle River Station, and its evolution from a quiet railroad junction into a localized community hub, is ...
Cox’s Point Boat Races
During the 1970s, Cox’s Point on the Back River served as the thrilling backdrop for the annual Governor’s Cup Regatta, ...
A History of Wartime Middle River
Before it was a quiet suburb, Middle River, Maryland, was the beating heart of America’s industrial war machine. During World ...
July 4th Parades and Celebrations Through the Years
These historic snapshots showcase the generations of families, marching bands, and parade floats that made the July 4th Parade along ...
Memories Of “Old” Middle River by Jackie Nickel
Long before it became the shoreline showplace of the 21st century, the Essex-Middle River area was a legendary destination for ...
It’s Baseball Season!
Batter Up! Batter up! It’s springtime in Essex, and the spirit of Opening Day is in the air once again ...
Essex Celebrates 100 Years – 2009 East County Times Special Issue
In 2009, the East County Times published a special commemorative issue filled with incredible historical photos from the archives of ...
The Essex Candle Company
Did you know that for nearly 40 years, a booming candle factory operated right in the heart of Essex? From ...
Pospisil Family History and Photos
Picnic beach. The Pospisils purchased four waterfront lots on Bay Drive in Bowleys Quarters in 1923, clearing trees and opening ...
Pottery Farm
From everyday stoneware jugs used for whiskey and sauerkraut to prized collector's items displayed in our nation's capital, the pottery ...
Baumgartner Collection Book #45: Fire Department
Baumgartner Collection Book #45: Fire Department Download PDF View on archive.org ...
Mae Beck: Matriarch of Back River Neck Peninsula Looks Back on 100 Years
This two-part feature chronicles Mae’s journey from a childhood on the White House Farm in the early 1900s to her ...
Stephen G. Brenner, original “Bozo the Clown”
June 16, 1975: Stephen G. Brenner, the original "Bozo the Clown" at Super Sunday in Essex, Maryland ...
Saturday, August 29th Indoor Flea Market - Join us rain or shine for an indoor flea market at the Museum. All proceeds benefit the Heritage Society. We will have lots of great items for sale, including: Halloween decor, Fall decor, Christmas decorations, knickknacks, vintage books and more! While you’re here, visit our gift shop to pick up unique local treasures, from our ... Read more
2026 Museum Events Calendar - From local legends and ghost hunts to historic milestones and family open houses, there is always something happening at the Heritage Society. We invite you to explore our upcoming year of events, discover our rich local roots, and join us in celebrating the history that binds our community together. Our mission: To investigate, collect and preserve ... Read more Safety Town at Eastpoint Shopping Center - Located right behind Eastpoint Shopping Center, Safety Town utilized the classic, nationwide “Safety Town” concept—a miniature village layout complete with pint-sized streets, sidewalks, and traffic signs—to give young local children hands-on education about traffic laws, pedestrian safety, and bicycle safety. Dinosaurs at Eastpoint Shopping Center - As Eastpoint Mall prepares to close its doors, we take a look back to a time when you could find everything for spring and summer at the shopping center—even a Stegosaurus. In April 1967, life-sized dinosaur reproductions took over the parking lot as part of Sinclair Oil’s famous “Dinoland” exhibit, traveling the country fresh off ... Read more Middle River Train Station History - The history of Middle River Station, and its evolution from a quiet railroad junction into a localized community hub, is grounded in the lifelong research of Baltimore County historian John McGrain. His work preserved the personal stories of the families who lived and worked near the rail lines. This is the story of how a ... Read more Cox’s Point Boat Races - During the 1970s, Cox’s Point on the Back River served as the thrilling backdrop for the annual Governor’s Cup Regatta, a highly anticipated Labor Day weekend event where dozens of high-powered cigarette boats competed at full throttle for the coveted silver cup. This exciting era of local maritime history is preserved in a dedicated binder ... Read more A History of Wartime Middle River - Before it was a quiet suburb, Middle River, Maryland, was the beating heart of America’s industrial war machine. During World War II, a quiet stretch of land was transformed overnight into a bustling, 24-hour boomtown dominated by the iconic Glenn L. Martin Company. In this fascinating historical retrospective, “A History of Wartime Middle River” by ... Read more
America 250 Celebration at the Museum - The Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River’s America 250 Celebration welcomed our community for a memorable, patriotic program honoring local history. The event, which featured a new flagpole installation and a living history presentation, was made possible through a generous grant from the Baltimore Community Foundation. Our program featured an inspiring Honor Guard ceremony ... Read more July 4th Parades and Celebrations Through the Years - These historic snapshots showcase the generations of families, marching bands, and parade floats that made the July 4th Parade along Eastern Blvd. a summer tradition in the 60s and 70s. Families lined up to watch a classic lineup of local fire trucks, youth sports teams, and kids who clearly spent all morning decorating their bikes. ... Read more Memories Of “Old” Middle River by Jackie Nickel - Long before it became the shoreline showplace of the 21st century, the Essex-Middle River area was a legendary destination for waterfront recreation. Often called “the rising suburb of the east,” Essex stood proud with Middle River as its absolute shining star. Local historian Jackie Nickel offers an affectionate, nostalgic journey through the town’s vibrant history, ... Read more
Remembering the May 1976 Baltimore County Sasquatch Sightings - Joshua Bell, amateur researcher and author of Mysterious Middle River, visited the museum to discuss the sudden wave of Sasquatch reports that swept through Baltimore County in May 1976. Though intense and short-lived, the sightings captured national attention and have since been chronicled across various books, magazines, and television programs. Squatchy, the official mascot of ... Read more
2026 Antiques Appraisal Day - Todd Peenstra, Owner/President of Peenstra Antique Appraisals visited the museum to offer appraisals, consultations, and advice on jewelry, silver, coins, timepieces, furniture, glass, porcelain, paintings, bronzes, toys, and more! Antiques Appraisal Day Saturday, April 25 at 1 pm The Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River hosted its first-ever Antiques Appraisal Day on Saturday, April ... Read more It’s Baseball Season! - Batter Up! Batter up! It’s springtime in Essex, and the spirit of Opening Day is in the air once again. From the championship runs of the Essex Moose to the days when Orioles stars like Brooks Robinson visited Essex, the museum’s Baumgartner Collection Book #74: Baseball captures it all. Take a look at Essex baseball ... Read more Essex Celebrates 100 Years – 2009 East County Times Special Issue - In 2009, the East County Times published a special commemorative issue filled with incredible historical photos from the archives of the Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River. Want to dive deeper into our local history? Download the full Essex 100 Years Commemorative PDF. Explore vintage photos, historical timelines, and stories spanning a century of ... Read more The Essex Candle Company - Did you know that for nearly 40 years, a booming candle factory operated right in the heart of Essex? From 1931 to 1969, Frank and Hazel Spaeth ran the Essex Candle Company, supplying handmade tapers to some of the most famous department stores and hotels in Baltimore and D.C. Baumgartner Collection Book #291: Essex Candle ... Read more
50th Anniversary Gala a Success, Essex-Middle River Flag Unveiled - The Essex-Middle River flag was officially unveiled during a gala celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Heritage Society Museum. Designed by a local student, the flag symbolizes the community’s rich aviation and waterfront traditions through its colors and a white compass of unity. Local officials and Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River members gather ... Read more
Fruitland - “I drove by the Fruitland produce stand on Eastern Boulevard in Essex today and saw that they were going up for auction. I decided to turn around and take some photos of this colorful landmark.” Photographer Kevin Moore Fruitland 2025 Photo Gallery by Kevin Moore Fruitland sketch, Herb Schwartz (Maryland Sketchbook, Baltimore Sun, 1995) Fruitland ... Read more Pospisil Family History and Photos - Picnic beach. The Pospisils purchased four waterfront lots on Bay Drive in Bowleys Quarters in 1923, clearing trees and opening 200 feet of shoreline to the public as a swimming beach and picnic grounds. Mary Pospisil recalls the family closing up the nightclub late Saturday night, attending 2:30 a.m. Mass at St. Vincent’s church downtown ... Read more Pottery Farm - From everyday stoneware jugs used for whiskey and sauerkraut to prized collector’s items displayed in our nation’s capital, the pottery born from Baltimore County’s rich white clay remains legendary. Local historian Jackie Nickel takes us back to the 19th-century shores of Sue Creek on the Back River Neck Peninsula. Here, we uncover the story of ... Read more Baumgartner Collection Book #45: Fire Department - Baumgartner Collection Book #45: Fire Department Download PDF View on archive.org