Stephen G. Brenner, original “Bozo the Clown”
June 16, 1975: Stephen G. Brenner, the original "Bozo the Clown" at Super Sunday in Essex, Maryland ...
The Treasure Lore of Hart Island
Does a fortune in gold bars and coins still lie beneath the shifting sands of the Chesapeake? Explore the 19th-century ...
1979 Flooding at Bay Drive in Bowleys Quarters
Flooding at Bay Drive on Middle River in Bowleys Quarters Baltimore, Maryland Septermber 6th, 1979-0906 WMAR-TV (Television Station: Baltimore, Md.) ...
Fire at the Essex Diner; Maryland 1980 Revitalization Project
Fire at the Essex Diner, Essex 1980 Revitalization Project Excerpted from https://archive.org/details/WMAR-RAW-001-007 News Storage: September 3-6, 1979 by WMAR-TV (Television ...
Serving Our Country
Serving Our Country features the men and women from our own backyards—streets like Marlyn Avenue, Stemmers Run, and Bowleys Quarters—who ...
Baumgartner Collection Book #8 – Essex Middle River Beauty Pageants
Get ready for a glittering look back at the historic Essex and Middle River Beauty Pageants of the 1970s and ...
Baumgartner Collection Book #153: Hart, Miller, Pooles Islands
Dive deep into the fascinating stories of Hart, Miller, and Pooles Islands—from their early days as distinct pieces of Chesapeake ...
Baumgartner Collection Book #13: Citizens of Essex
Step back in time to celebrate the extraordinary individuals who built our community from the ground up and evolved into ...
Police and Auxiliary
Baumgartner Collection Book #73: Police and Auxiliary Download PDF View on archive.org Nov. 14, 1962, Eastern Beacon ...
Kochman Hell Drivers, Baltimore County Fair (1970’s)
Kochman Hell Drivers at the Baltimore County Fair at Martin State Airport in the 1970's ...
Helen Baumgartner’s Beer Can Collecting Hobby (1976)
She Brews Up A Hobby: Collecting Beer Cans By Richard Irwin (News American, 10/24/1976) Some people collect stamps and others ...
Guttenberger General Store
Take a nostalgic stroll down the corner of Eastern and Mace Avenue to uncover the incredible story of the Guttenberger ...
A Guide To Essex & Middle River (1980s)
A Guide To Essex & Middle River, Baltimore County's Finest Community on the Chesapeake Bay. Published by The Essex-Middle River ...
Street Cars and Buses
Hop aboard for a nostalgic journey through the early days of public transit in Essex and Middle River! This spectacular ...
Dosch Family exhibit
We are proud to host the Dosch Family exhibit as a new donation from our Essex community member, Mrs. Susan ...
Sealovers Restaurant
Sealovers Restaurant on Turkey Point Road which later became Turkey Point Inn, Runabouts and is now Laidback Lenny's ...
Essex Fire Station, 1973
"Joan Hensler stands in front of old Essex fire station with Alex Baumgartner, center, president of the Essex Historical group, ...
Essex Historical Marker
This granite marker once stood at the corner of Mace and Franklin Avenues where it was placed in 1798 as ...
October 30th: History and Hauntings: An Evening with the Baltimore Paranormal Society - Step into the shadows of Charm City’s past for an unforgettable night of spine-chilling accounts and supernatural evidence. Join The Baltimore Paranormal Society as their lead investigators pull back the curtain on the region’s most active locations. From the tragic, echoing halls of the historic Lord Baltimore Hotel to active local heritage sites, the team ... Read moreOctober 30th: Shadows in the Cells: Public Ghost Hunt at the Essex Museum - Are you brave enough to investigate one of Maryland’s most active paranormal hotspots in the dead of night? Join The Baltimore Paranormal Society for a hands-on, public paranormal investigation at the Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River Museum. Housed in a historic 1920s police and fire station that once served as the local courthouse, ... Read more
Dec. 5th: Essex Community Tree Lighting - Join us for DJ fun, gifts for kids, fire trucks, photo opportunities with Santa, the Grinch and Cubey! FREE EVENT! It’s the most wonderful night of the year in Essex!
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
Legendary Ronnie Dove - The Essex community mourns the passing of legendary pop and country singer Ronnie Dove, who passed away on September 14, 2026, at the age of 91. A top-charting recording artist who achieved 23 consecutive national hits, Dove maintained a special lifelong bond with the Baltimore area and local fans. He fondly remembered his connection to ... 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