The Bowie-Vansville Association (BVA) was begun in 1921 as part of a special University of Maryland project through a grant to disabled WWI veterans. The original coordinator was Agricultural Extension Agent Eugene Jenkins, who did extensive work with various types of clubs and who became a prominent state 4-H agent. In the days immediately following WWI, the Department of Agriculture recognized a need to disseminate knowledge, especially about such things as food conservatio

A great reference book was written in 1991 by Lt. Dennis Campbell entitled Journey Through Time: A Pictorial History of the Prince George's Police Department. If you like history and lots of pictures, a copy is available for reference at the Beltsville Library. (A circulation copy is no longer available at the Hyattsville Branch.) To quote page 24 of the book: "A Maryland State Police Force was created in 1914 to enforce motor vehicle laws…under the control of the Commissione

Beltsville and the Civil War Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States on November 6, 1860. In all of Prince George’s County, Lincoln received just one vote. Even before he moved into the White House, his election prompted seven southern states to form the Confederate States of America. Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4, 1861. The Civil War was about to begin. On April 12, 1861, Confederate armed forces shelled Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolin

The Taverns of Beltsville The main route between Baltimore and Washington starting about 1730 was the Post Road, later to become Route 1. In the early days, the 40-mile route was crude, meandered through farmland and forests, but made stagecoach travel possible. The trip between the two cities could take over one day to complete, and this set of circumstances opened the door for a few entrepreneurs to open taverns where travelers could dine and stay overnight. The first taver

Muirkirk Iron Works The Muirkirk Iron Works was established in 1847 when Andrew and Elias Ellicott purchased property next to the B&O Railroad tracks in Beltsville from the Snowden family and erected a furnace that was 38 feet high and 8 and ½ feet in diameter at the base. Iron ore was noticed in the area as early as 1800, but it was not mined until 1847. Pig iron produced at the Muirkirk Iron Works was used in the manufacture of guns, shot, and shell supplied to Union forces

At the September monthly meeting of the GBBA (Greater Beltsville Business Association), Ted Ladd gave a talk about some interesting aspects of the history of Beltsville. Here is the first part of a four-part series that Mr. Ladd has graciously agreed to present in The Beltsville News. Some of what he will include in this series may be expanded more in depth than in his presentation at the GBBA. To introduce you to, and to know more about, Ted Ladd, go to www.jwdc.com/ladd. He