Out and About in Odenton

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History

In 1978, Catherine L. O'Malley published the now out of print book, "Odenton, The Town a Railroad Built." She begins with the dinosaur remains found in nearby Jessup.

She then explores the Native American tribes who inhabited the area, the Piscataway, Patuxent, and Susquehannock tribes. Picture Spring, once located where the Odenton Shopping Center now stands, "was located in a clump of Sycamore and Willow trees on which Indians had carved pictures, totem pole style." The WBA railroad bed, now being converted to a walking and biking trail, is believed to be substantially built on the original Indian Trail. A large campground was locate south of Odenton in what is called the Great Fork of the Patuxent.  It is in this area that in the 1830s the last resident Native American died and was buried. 

The Hammond Manor House, now part of the Naval Academy Farm, was the "great house" of the estate begun in this area by Charles Hammond in about 1700. His son was Senator Philip Hammond. His grandson built the Hammond Harwood House in Annapolis.

The area was torn by differing beliefs and loyalties during the time of the Civil War like much of Maryland. The "ownership" and "sale" of slaves took place here. Likewise, the Underground Railroad is "traditionally believed but not proven" to have used Rogue Harbor Branch of the Patuxent in an area now part of Fort Meade. Union Troops camped nearby. Southern sympathizers sabotaged the rail lines to interfere with Union troop transport. Mrs O'Malley has quite an interesting section on this time.

It was in 1860 that Oden Bowie  became president of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad. He oversaw the building of railways between Baltimore, Washington, and Annapolis. The WBA Railroad is responsible for much of the growth in the Odenton area by the early 1900s. The MARC train now operating through Odenton uses the original station, built circa 1867. Many other buildings from that time remain in and around Odenton and are the focus of preservation efforts by the Odenton Heritage Society.

The planning for acquisition of land to build what was to become Fort Meade began  after the Civil War but was not achieved until 1920, although construction of facilities began as early as 1917. Many farms were consumed by this process and many families dispersed from land they had lived on for years. 20 family burial grounds remain on the Fort Meade property from these earlier times.

For more of Mrs O'Malley's book, look for it in the local library--or:

News Flash! Mrs O'Malley's book, Odenton, The Town a Railroad Built, is now for sale again. Get a copy at the UPS Store, Odenton Shopping Center, 1121 Annapolis Road, Odenton, MD 21113, 410-674-2800. The cost is $10.50 and benefits the Odenton Heritage Society.

 

Anne Arundel County Government

Anne Arundel County Council, District 4

Anne Arundel County Police Department, Western District
8273 Telegraph Road, Odenton, MD 21113, (410) 222-6155

Anne Arundel County Schools:
Arundel High School; Arundel Middle School; Four Seasons, Odenton, Piney Orchard, and Waugh Chapel Elementary Schools serve the east and south Odenton area.

Meade High School; Meade Middle School; Harmon, Meade Heights at Seven Oaks, Van Bokkelen, and West Meade Elementary Schools serve the west Odenton area.

Catherine O'Malley Senior Center and Other Senior Services
1275 Odenton Road, Odenton, MD 21113
410-222-6227 / 301-621-9515 
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday

Services, US Government

Congressional Representatives

United States Federal Government

Odenton Post Office  1177 Annapolis Rd, Odenton, MD 21113; 410-672-0193; Open Week Days 08:00AM-05:00PM and Saturday 08:00AM-12:00PM; Last Collection Week Days 04:45PM and Saturday 02:15PM.

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Services, Medical