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Saturday, May 9: 50th Anniversary of Bigfoot Sightings in Essex - 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. Museum Speaker Series: Mysterious Middle River Live: 50th Anniversary of Bigfoot Sightings in Essex Saturday, May 9, 2026. Museum opens at 11 AM with talks at 12 ... Read more
Find the Perfect Gift for Mom at the Heritage Society - Come visit our newly updated gift shop! We have a beautiful selection of jewelry and unique items that Mom would truly love. While you’re here, take a moment to tour the museum and see the wonderful changes we’ve made to our local history exhibits. Join us this Saturday, April 11: Museum Opens: 11:00 AM Speaker ... 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
Saturday, May 30: Museum Open House - Come explore our museum collections and be the first to see our newly updated “Toy Shop” exhibit! After your tour, stop by the gift shop to browse our exclusive local treasures, including: 🚩 Our newly-designed Essex/Middle River flag 🎄 Beautiful Essex Christmas ornaments 📚 Fascinating local history books 🗓 Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026 🕚 ... Read more
2026 Museum Events Calendar - We take pride in our ongoing achievements at The Heritage Society and present to you our yearly events calendar. Our mission: To investigate, collect and preserve the history of the Essex and Middle River areas for ourselves and future generations; to support and promote programs and projects for the good of the people of these ... 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 - Sue Creek’s famous Pottery Farm By Jackie Nickel (2019) Perhaps the most famous resident of the Back River Neck Peninsula in the 1800s was Peter Hermann, a potter. An immigrant from Germany, he arrived in the United States in 1847 and became a U.S. citizen in 1851, according to research by Ballestone Preservation Society members. ... Read more
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 husband’s national trap shooting titles, offering a rare, personal glimpse into a bygone era of Eastern Baltimore County. Mae Beck: Matriarch of Back River Neck Peninsula Looks Back on 100 Years By Jackie Nickel (Avenue ... Read more
2025 Holiday Gift Shop - Still Available! Order before they’re gone! STOCKING STUFFERS $5! Heritage Society ornaments and mini flags are just $5! Check our Facebook page for upcoming Saturday gift shop hours. Our two-sided 2025 Essex Christmas ornament features a historical sketch of the Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River on one side and a whimsical portrait of ... Read more
Stephen G. Brenner, original “Bozo the Clown” - June 16, 1975: Stephen G. Brenner, the original “Bozo the Clown” at Super Sunday in Essex, Maryland.Heritage Society of Essex & Middle River 2025 Year in Review - 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 ... Read more