The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-12-26
Correspondence baltimore County Union.
TOWSONTOWN SIXTY YEARS AGO.
Letter from a Former Baltimore Coun
tian, now a Citizen Of Missouri.
OREGON, HOLT COUNTY, Missouri, |

OREGON, HOLT COUNTY, MISSOURI
December 10th, 1885.
Messrs. Editors Il have been thinking for
some time of writing letter to THE UNION, to
tell something of what known of the Towsontown
of sixty years ago. 1t may not be of interest
to your subscribers generally, but I believe that
some of your older readers will find some pleasure
in reading what I have to say, although may
not be exactly correct in every particular.
The first time 1 visited the city of Baltimore,
of which 1 have any recollection, was in August
or September, 1926. On my way to the city
passed through Towsontown, which had then, if
my memory is correct, two houses for the enter
tainment of the public-one hip-roofed build
ing, standing at or near the junction of the
Hampton or old York road with the York turn
pike. This house was kept by very clever old
gentleman named George Shealey, who always
had pleasant word and joke to tell for the en-
tertainment Of his guests. The old sign of this
hosiery swung from a Lombardy poplar tree.
Across the road running east was stone tavern,
kept, if mistake not by man named Yost, at
one time, and at another by a man named Will
helm. Across the turnpike from the latter house
stood the old toll-gate house, but toll was col
lected there in those days. Up the pike few
roads-upon the west side-were some stone
buildings, in which were grocery and liquor
stores, conducted by man named Wallace or
Ware. On the top of the hill feast side) stood
yellow frame house, which was conducted by
man named Brookhart, and after him by another
named Perigo as store.
A short distance in the rear of Shealey's tavern
stood dilapidated old stone building, which was
used as powder magazine during the war of
1Sl2-l4, and perhaps for the same purpose during
the Revolutionary few roods west of
Shealeys, on the opposite side of the pike, stood
some old buildings, in one of which, so I have
been credibly informed, my grandfather Peirce
was born on the Oath of December, 1744, almost
one hundred and forty years ago. There
were five of the Pierce brothers. Joseph and
William resided on Carroll's Manor, near SHADES
old tavern. My grandfather, Thomas Pierce,
settled near Gorsuch's Mills, in the upper end of
the county, and I don't think he ever resided
outside of Baltimore county, in which he was
born. He lived to the age of 1e4 years and
died on the farm where he first settled. 1 remem-
Der having heard it said that he lived on this
property during the time of the Revolutionary
war. Yours, very respectfully,
SILAs PIERCE.
Tour esteemed old friend and subscriber has
our thanks for the above very interesting letter.
We believe that In the main he is correct in all
of his statements, and the accuracy and minute
ness of his description truly wonderful when
we remember that more than half a century has
elapsed since the time of which he speaks. Per-
haps some of our old citizens would find pleasure
in enlightenipg us further upon the points on
which Mr. Pierce has touched. If so, we should
be glad to hear from them.-EDs.