The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-06-29
HARTFORD SIXTY YEARS AGO,
RecoIleciions Of an Old Inhabitant
THE ROAD FROM BEL AIR TO ABERDEEN.

THE ROAD FROM BEL AIR TO ABERDEEN
"fes, sir, Hartford county is improving in
every respect" said one of our oldest citizens
81 took drive from Bel Air to Aberdeen, few
days ago said he, "and was struck with the great
" improved appearance of the country as re-
member it looked fifty or sixty years ago Then
there was not single house from Smiths Chapel,
near Churchville, TO what was then known as 'Bak-
ers Corner, below Bull Run. Unsightly Commons
on which blackberry and thorn bushes struggled
for existence, lined each side of the road. Those
commons have been converted into beautiful
fields of grass wheat and tomatoes. Comforla-
be-looking houses and barns meet the eye in
every direction, and number of handsome resi-
dences have been erected by enterprising and sue
cessful farmers Of the neighborhood, such as
George " BAKER VIM. q. Jewens Nicholas Baker
and the late VIM. Carsins.
Aberdeen had no existence in those days and
lhe spot IL now occupies was dreary and barren
haii oross Roads consisted of only two or three
Old frame houses Nowthe country around Aber-
deem blossoms like the rose Il town has sprung M.
and the roads leading to it, particularly in the
canning season, are thronged with wagons and
carriages, reminding one of Baltimore street, in
the city of Baltimore.
THE section Of country between Bel Air and
Aberdeen raised very little wheat and only about
TWO BARRELS OF CORN TO THE ACRE,
In the Necks the land was richer and the yield
were such crops raised as now rejoice the heart
of the farmer. There was not enough grain rails
ed In the county to feed its population.
CORN HAULED FROM BALTIMORE.
u nave hauled many load of corn from Balt-
more to Moores' and Smiths Mills, where it was
retailed to the people ofthe neigh borhood by the
bushel.
WHAT THE PEOPLE LIVED ON
Torn bread, hominy bacon and poultry were
the staple articles of food In almost every family
Wheat flour was rarity and was used in max =
ing biscuit only on Sundays and feast days, or
when the good wife had her friends to take tea
with her.
IMPROVEMENT IN THE ROADS.
"Ihe road from Bel Air to Aberdeen has also
improved beyond recognition. 1t used to be
rough, Astounding in gulleys and man-traps
that made Il DANGEROUS even in broad daylight
very OFTEN 1t was impossible and would have been
so at all times if ii had had to sustain the heavy
and continuous travel which now passes over it,
by little turnpiking here and there and judi
cious mendlng 1t has become smooth and com
Portable to drive over. In fact, the roads all over
Hartford have been wonderfully improved since
the time of which speak.
IMPROVEMENT IN MORALS AND MANNERs
contrasting the present with that past day
can also see marked Improvement for good in
the morals and manners of the people. Then
nearly every sideboard was ornamental with a
decanter or often jug OF whisky, and the
morning teddy, the nGontile dram and a min or
TWO between times were 100 common to excite re-
mark, Whisky was sold at all the stores, and a
lumber stood on the top of the barrel for the
| ceased, and there are very few houses where the
| chance visitor is asked to take d,ink before
meals Horse racing, betting and gambling were
common sports and very little regard was paid to
| the Lord day.
Churches were scarce and school houses few
and far between. Now nearly every hilltop is
| crowned with temple, where deyout Worship
| ers gather every Sunday to hear the message of
| salvation, and scores of school-houses, with ac-
| complished teachers and bright and happy schol-
airs adorn and bless our good old county
think. too, there is more heartfelt religion now
| than there was half a century ago. True, there
were then, as now, many good and pous men and
women, who feared God and worked righteous
ness, but there is now less open soothing at rei-
| gion and many more noble works of charity done
| for love of the Saviour than were seen In those
| days.
Indeed, when contrast the blessings of to-day
with the poverty AID Inconvenience of former
days thank God that have lived to see so great
an Improvement m the moral social and intellec-
| tual condition of the people of Hartford.
since the last nifty years have wrought SC
great change for the better, who can foresee
what the M Xt half century will bring forth -
| with the building of new railroads and the gen.
| tral Improvement in all things, the next genera
lloi may see change that will exceed the bright.
| est visions OF the most sanguine as much as the
brliliancy of the electric light exceeds the flare OF
the tallow dip"