TIMELINE of HISTORICAL EVENTS

in the area of

ABERDEEN, MARYLAND

If you know of other historic events that ought to be included in this timeline or if you believe that information here needs correction, please submit your information in the Contact form at the bottom of the webpage.

1608 Captain John Smith’s 2nd voyage throughout the Chesapeake Bay, going as far as today “Smiths Falls” in the Susquehanna River near Port
Deposit, and exploring in the area of today’s Perryman. This exploration is celebrated in Perryman every August.

1632 Charles I, King of Great Britain and Ireland, granted Charter to Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Lord Baltimore, who named Maryland after Charles's
wife, Henrietta Maria

1634 Maryland’s Founding – Ark & Dove, led by Leonard Calvert, son of George Calvert, 1st Lord Baltimore, landed on St. Clement’s Island. Father Andrew White celebrated Feast of Annunciation with the colonists on March 25, 1634. Two days later, they all settled on the mainland, calling their settlement, “St. Mary’s City.”

1652 Susquehannocks signed a peace treaty with the colony, ceding some land.

1658 Lord Baltimore’s 2300-acre land grant to Nathaniel Utie included a 1500-acre island which Utie named “Spesutie,” meaning “Utie’s Hope.” It became part of Aberdeen Proving Ground.

1661 Treaty signed on Spesutie Island by Governor Philip Calvert and his council with the Susquehannocks, to get the Susquehannocks’ support against the Dutch in the area

1664 Slavery was legalized in Maryland, though slavery had existed in Maryland before then.

1666 Old trails became the Philadelphia Post Road, for mail transport from Philadelphia, PA to Alexandria, VA until 1687.

1670 Old trails became Bush Neck Road. The Halls Cross Roads community grew at the intersection.

1670s Susquehannock population began to decline due to disease and warfare.

1674-1712 (Perhaps earlier) Baltimore Town (Old Baltimore) on the Bush River was made the county seat of Baltimore County. In addition to including a courthouse and jail, it was established as a key tobacco port. It was in the Perryman area, now on APG.

1678 The Iroquois Confederacy was strong in the area, having overwhelmed the Susquehannocks who had been weakened through disease and warfare.

1720 Charles Calvert, 5th Lord Baltimore, granted 1.140 acres to Edward Hall along Old Post Road. This area became Halls Cross Road where Bush River Neck Road intersected Old Post Road.

1773 Harford County was established, taken from eastern Baltimore County. It was named for Henry Harford, illegitimate son of 6th Lord Baltimore, Frederick Calvert. Henry Harford was the 5th Proprietor of Maryland from Sept. 4, 1771 to July 4, 1776, being the last proprietary owner of Maryland as a the British colony. Being born out of wedlock, Harford was not entitled to ascend to the title and position, and pursued his position in British court. Meanwhile the people of Maryland welcomed him as their new Lord Proprietor, and named Harford County, Maryland after him. By 1781, after the American Revolution, the British court granted Harford his claim to his father's inheritance.

1775 Bush Declaration – On March 22, elected representatives pledged their agreement with the “Resolves” and “Articles of Association” of the First Continental Congress, which objected to Britain’s Intolerable Acts, and described grievances and a colonial bill of rights.

1781 Washington and Rochambeau led the American and French troops from Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virgina, traveling along the Old Post Road near today’s Aberdeen. Probably September.

1793 Washington resigned his commission as Commander-in- Chief of the Continental Army. He traveled to Annapolis, which was the capital of the united States from November 26, 1783, to August 13, 1784.

1835 A school was founded in the Aberdeen area near today’s Beards Hill Road at Paradise Road.

1852 Railroad tracks were laid directly on the 2-3 foot-thick ice on the Susquehanna River, for a temporary crossing. Usually passengers and freight were transported across the river to the next train by ferries crossing the water or by horse-pulled sleighs over ice. In this year, a total of 1,378 cars crossed the tracks on ice over a period of 41 days, moving approximately 10,000 tons of mail, baggage, and goods.

1852-1855 Edmund Law Rogers scouted the area for the Philadelphia Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad (PWB) water station. He drew a plat and called the area, "Village of Aberdeen." Rogers enlisted three partners from Baltimore to buy 600 acres of Hall’s Park (formerly known as Hall’s Cross Roads).

1858 The Jennings & Herrick Map of 1858 shows Aberdeen, Hall’s + Roads, and Mechanicsville in Harford County‘s Second District, the wider area being called “Halls Roads.”

1866 First Philadelphia Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad bridge across the Susquehanna River.

1867 Introduction of local canning by the Baker Family

1873 First public school in the Town of Aberdeen

1878 Martenet's 1878 Map of Harford County

1885 The B & O Railroad was completed through Aberdeen.

1886 The Susquehanna Railroad Bridge on the B&O line was completed. Trains to and from New York to Baltimore and points west carried passengers and freight.

1889 The Aberdeen Fire Department Inc was organized by J.A. Swingley and William B. Richardson, made up of a group of men to serve as volunteer firemen. Mr. Richardson served as the first fire chief.

1891 The First National Bank of Aberdeen was established.

1892 Aberdeen became an incorporated town, combining Halls Cross Roads, Mechanicsville, and The Village of Aberdeen - Maryland Chapter 136, Acts of 1892 - AN ACT to incorporate the town of Aberdeen, in Harford County. This provided for the election of Commissioners to enact ordinances for governing the Town.

1895 A fire bell was to be placed in the tower of town hall. J.A. Swingley was elected Fire Marshal, to exercise full authority over the department. A fire apparatus was purchased. George E. Pritchard was “Keeper of Fire Apparatus.”

1896 The Fire Department engine house was planned and bids were accepted for lumber.

1907 Aberdeen High School was established.

1917 APG – After entering WWI, the Army needed a larger location for testing artillery and munitions. By an act of Congress and two proclamations by President Woodrow Wilson, the government exerted eminent domain near Aberdeen and Perryman, on 35,000 acres of upland and 34,000 acres of swamp and tidal lands, providing financial compensation to the owners. The rich farm land had supported much of Aberdeen’s economy--the extensive production of corn, peaches, and tomatoes, the canning industry that preserved the produce for shipping, and the Railroad that transported the products to Baltimore and other areas. (Remember the Introduction of Canning by the Baker Family in 1867.)

1918 The “Great Fire of 1918” destroyed buildings and businesses from today’s Route 40 to the post office.

1919 The Harford Democrat and the Aberdeen Enterprise newspapers became one, owned by J. Wilmer Cronin for 63 years.

1920 The Seal of Aberdeen was adopted. Its message was “Agriculture and Armaments.”

1936 The early records of the fire department were destroyed in a fire.

1937 Route 40 was constructed.

1954 Passenger service ended on the B&O Railroad line, and the station was no longer used.

1963 Interstate 95 opened west of Aberdeen.

1967 75th Anniversary of the Town of Aberdeen (Diamond Jubilee)

1982 Pedestrian Bridge over the Amtrack rail line

1987 Aberdeen Room Archives and Museum, Inc. was founded.

1992 Aberdeen became the City of Aberdeen by amending its charter. The Centennial of Aberdeen was celebrated. A new Seal of Aberdeen was adopted. Its message was “1892 - 100 - 1992” and “Transportation – Technology.”

1995 Ripken Museum was founded in downtown Aberdeen, opening in 1996 and closing at that location years later. Now found at Ripken Stadium. Do you know what 2131 and 2632 mean?

1997 Aberdeen won the ‘All-American City” Award from the National Civic League

2000 City of Aberdeen Municipal Center

2002 Opening season of Ripken Stadium & Baseball Academy

2003 CSX Corporation donated the old B & O Railroad Station and land to the Historical Society of Harford County.

2004 Both the new Aberdeen High School and the Mathematics and Science Academy opened to students.

2005 John Reynolds, Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Scotland, visited the City of Aberdeen.

2015 The B & O station was moved 50 feet to a new foundation as required by Federal Railroad Safety Regulations.

2020 The Friends of the Aberdeen B&O Train Station, Inc. was founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

2021 The extensive renovation and construction of Aberdeen Volunteer Fire Department – House #1 was completed.

2024 Phase II exterior restoration of the B & O station was completed.