The Baltimore County union, the Towson news. (Towson, Md.) 1909-1912, 1909-10-23
BY-eoNE SCENES RECALLED.

BY-GoNE SCENES RECALLED.
How the Country Between Towson and
Jockeys Tavern Looked
As Years Ago.
There is peculiar charm attached to relics of
bygone day which appeals to those who are
fond of delving into the past. This is equally
SO with places and communities and incidents
which are closely linked with the early history
of the county. Upon request of The Union
News, the following interesting sketch has been
furnished by gentleman who was born in the
vicinity of which he writes, but who now re-
sides in Lower Long Green Valley and is fully
qualified to relate his "reminiscences. He made
his observations upon a recent walking trip
from Towson to Jockeys old tavern. Baltimore
county is rich in just such history, and The
Union-News will appreciate greatly other
sketches of similar nature.
Starting from Towson, in the days gone by
called Towsontown, via old Joppa road going
westward, the first old landmark ones eye falls
upon is the old-time house on what was then the
outskirts of the town and in which resided the
late Nathan r. Ware, who was justice of the
peace and served the county several times in
the Legislature. The appearance of the house
and grounds are about the same as ever, except
some minor improvements and the total disap-
pearance of what was once known as wares
old duck pond" large and frequently stagnant
pool of water located a little to the west of the
residence. The pond became menace to the
health of the vicinity, and was. many years ago.
driven from existence by order of the health
authorities. How many of Towson's residents
today remember the old duck pond and the large
flock of ducks that could nearly always be seen
foo finO tlnnn 70 curfaoo Around the vicinity
have since grown many large and modern homes,
and within hailing distance Towsons handsome
new Catholic church.
A little farther on the first reminder of the
old landmarks is the old residence of the late
DIR. Josiah Marsh, afterward the property of his
nephew, the late DIR. Grafton M. Bosley. and
still later the home of the late Judge Richard
Grason, where he reared his family. Opposite
the Marsh property, surrounded by suOstan-
tial stone wall, was the old Marsh graveyard.
The walls have been leveled by the ravages of
time, and all semblance of graves gone. their
occupants having been removed to other resting
places, or their graves leveled down to be
trodden over by the living. This clearly proves
the folly of trying to preserve forever bury
ing ground. This fact is again demonstrated
mile further on, near the residence of Mr.. B. F.
Deford. formerly the home of the late James
Boyce, where an old family graveyard, known
to the people then as the Alther or ALTER
graveyard, was located in one corner of the
farm and was itself little forest. 1t, too, has
disappeared with the march of time.
The next change of note is in front of the
residence of Mr.. Deford. The old Joppa road,
which then ran in straight line through Mr..
Defords yard and was, in my boyhood days, an
awful mud hole, has been changed little to the
north. What was then an old rough hillside has
been nicely graded and is now macadamized
road, and where the old Joppa or Court road
was located has been transformed into beau
tiful lawn.
Just a little beyond this point il an open field.
now included in the Deford property, which was
the home of the late Philip Debaugh. 1t was
in my young days thrifty German garden,
where grew in abundance all kind of fruit. ber-
ries and herbs. The tract comprised about Is
acres of land, and here Mr.. and Mrs. Debaugh
reared large family, and by observing the
old saying. take care of the pennies and the
dollars will take care of themselves" were en-
abled to lay by something for rainy day. Mrs.
Debaugh was an excellent nurse, and in case OF
sickness her services were sought by people for
many miles around. The two dwelling houses
and the little outbuildings suggestive of Ger
man thrift and scenery have disappeared, and
all that remains of a once well-tilled garden
spot is an open field.
Next, down the line, is the old Colt property,
owned afterward by Richard Colt Woods, de-
ceased, who inherited it from his uncle, Richard
Colt. 1t was a large tract of 400 acres, and
much of it that could not be bought at fabulous
prices was sold as low as $40 an acre. Here is
located another burying ground which was in
its day almost a cemetery. Many families for
miles around used it as a resting place for their
dead. 1t is fast being encroached upon and in
short time must disappear. One peculiar feat
ure about this old spot is group of pear
trees which were there beginning with my
earliest recollection. They are as thriving and
healthy looking as ever, and do not seem to have
grown much. How it Is they thrive when all
others of their time have long since disappeared
is something of a mystery. The old stone house
on the property still stands and is now owned
and occupied by Mr.. William P. Creaghn, who
also purchased a portion of the land. While
seated in one of the wide-silled windows CT this
house the writer saw the smoke rise from the
home of Governor Augustus W. Bradford when
it was destroyed by the Confederate raiders,
and afterward viewed the blazing ruins from
the high hill at the home of Mr.. George H.
Carman, now the site of the handsome residence
of Mrs. w. Bernard Duke. Wonderful changes
have been wrought here. The handsome cot
tage of former Clerk of the Court Carman has
been replaced by the substantial and more
modern mansion, erected by the late George W..
| Abel. The writer, in company with cousin
and Miss Sallie, a pretty little daughter of Mr..
| Carman, frequently tramped the surround
| ing wilds in search of huckleberries and chin
| Quapins. From the summit of this hill, which
| has been converted into a beautiful park. one
| had beautiful view of the surrounding
| country. AS the writer entered the park-like
| grounds the only living thing to greet him was
| a savage looking dog that, in the plainest dog
| language. told him to move on.
Next in turn comes Burns Row. Here, as
| older persons will remember, resided on nve
acres of ground Tommy" Burns. man whom
| everybody loved. He reared a family of six
| children and to each he gave a-half acre OF
| ground when they became of age. 1t was fire.
| quently said that if ever there was an honest
| man. "Tommy' Burns one. This old prop
| erty has not changed much. One of the small
| houses has disappeared, and the old spring
| house along the roadside, upon the inside wall
| of which always hung gourd to enable
| the traveller to quench his thirst, has been
| remodeled and the once free-howing spring
| has been graded over and disappeared from
| view. Why the nand OF HAL Woulu uCeNOJ
! such a spring of sparkling crystal and good
| water such a scarce article, judging from what
| got on my journey, can't imagine. played
| around there during war times, and there was
| no stauncher Union man than Uncle Tommy"
He planted a flag pole and flung to the breeze
| the Stars and Stripes at a time when it took
| courage. The writer helped him to raise his
| standard-that is, 1 pulled the rope that hauled
the flag to the top of the pole. So, early in life
| 1 showed my loyalty to the Union along with
that of "Uncle Tommy" Mr.. Burns died ABOUT
| 1873 at an advanced age.
| A little farther on, where the present nano-
| some school house stands, was the site OF
quaint, little old stone building with aloft over
head This building was located on lot between
] two old fashioned houses, one of them tavern
| kept by Mr. Henry S. Fitch, and the other
small tenement house. Both are standing. IL
was here the writer first attended school, which
| was taught by Mr.. William B. KrOut, for many
| wears afterward connected with the Baltimore
| Sun. Afterward it was taught by Mr.. Charles
W. wisner, son of the late Jacob Wisner. ano
another, whose name / forget, VINO KEEP
bachelors hall and cooked and slept in the little
| loft over the school room. Here my standing al
| Union boy came into play again. The mrs
| day went to school l was taken in hand by
! number of Union boys who thought my sym
pathies were with the Confederate cause. wa
- E@rn int