The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1878-11-02


WRIGHT's OLD MnL.-The Elysville cores
pendent of the Elicott City Times furnishes that
paper with some interesting "reminiscences Of
Wrights mill, located at Alberton in this county,
the property having been purchased last week
by Mr.. A. f. Cav, ST., son-in-law of the late
Mr.. Wright. The writer says:
GAS Wright's mill is one of the oldest settle
ments in the section of the country where it is
situated, and is so well known, a few words re-
lating to its early history, which is not without
interest, may be appropriately mentioned in con-
nection with its change ofprOprietorship. twas
bought in 1924 oy Mr.. Joseph II. Wright from
the Evans family, presumably Ann Evans, who
owned great deal of land in that section. The
old store house and mill was built about 1900.
Their romantic situation in the centre of valley
surrounded by four towering hills, through which
Bryee's Run, an excellent stream of water, finds
its way and furnishes the motive power, makes it
an object of admiration for all visitors. The mill
has two pair of burs. Mr.. Wright did a thriv-
ing business during slavery, it being principally
patronized by the Worthingtons for their army
of slaves. At that time it was celebrated for its
superior beat hominy, run night and day, and
then with difficulty filled the orders on hand. The
introduction of pearl homny eventually killed
the sale of the Former. The war breaking out
and the subsequent freedom of the blacks, cur
tailed the revenues of this ancient MILL and ever
since it has eked out its daily toll without the
same substantial return to its owner.
During the food of 1868 the mill and property
adjoining suffered severely the water being fit
teen feet higher on Bryces Run than ever known
before. In 1875 Mr.. Wright died, leaving his
property to his children. He was a man univer-
sally honored for integrity and probity and his
demise was generally regretted in the section
where he had spent life of honest labor.
"a Renaissance of the late war is connected
with Wright's mill, which at the time of its oc-
currence was mentioned by the metropolitan press.
During one of the raids into Maryland by the
confederate forces, an officer strayed from his
command and reaching the above place he ex-
changed his jaded animal for bay horse named
Barney, the property of Mr.. Wright He at once
started for Elysvile, nearly mile distant, little
dreaming that his fresh steed was swiftly bearing
him to death. Reaching that portion of the road
parallel with the railroad, where the watchman's
house now stands, he was confronted with voley
of bullets from block house on a neighboring ell
ovation, until then unperceived on account of the
high banks along which the road passes. He
bravely faced the danger and tried to save him
self by hanging to the neck of the animal the
side not exposed to the fire, but without success.
A bullet sent by an experienced marksman, did
its duty, and he fell to the ground dead. Old
Barney relieved of his new master, wheeled and
glided back to his stall in the stable bearing to
Mr. Wright in mute words the cause of his re-
turn. The confederate was buried near the
block -house, which was situated to the west of
Elysville commanding it, and all the approaches
from the westward. His remains were removed
after the war by his friends.
"Last but not least to be mentioned, while re-
ferring to the ancient mill, is old Nose Rogers, a
venerable colored miller, whose crispy locks,
whtened with the snow of eighty winters, during
which time his life has been almost wholly spent
within hearing of the music of the splash of water
and the mill machinery. He has been considered
a miller whose equal was seldom found, but with
the decline of life his ability has decreased, and
which his venerable experience makes valuable"