The Baltimore to Frederick-Town Turnpike and Milestones
The Baltimore to Frederick-Town Turnpike was largely responsible for the early development of Catonsville, as hotels, taverns, stables and blacksmith’s shops opened to accommodate the travel to and from Baltimore and Frederick, and towns further west. This Turnpike Road went from Baltimore to Frederick, MD, a distance of 45 miles.
There were 45-mile markers along the way, of which 37 still exist today. Each stone was chiseled with the “7 M to B” for “7 Miles to Baltimore”. Construction of the road began in 1805 and was managed by Johnathan Ellicott, one of the sons of the Ellicott brothers that founded Ellicott City.
The number 7 milestone is currently in front of the Catonsville library (see picture #1), however this was not the original location of the stone, as it was moved here in the 1960s. The original location of the number 7 stone is shown in picture #2, behind the orange car. Today, this is where the driveway for the Presbyterian Church is located. In the background of this picture is the ornate Beechwood mansion, which was built in the 1870s; the house was demolished in 1963 for an extension of the church’s parking lot.
Mile marker #7 in its original location
There are several milestones in the Catonsville area:
The number 5 stone is in front of the National Cemetery on Frederick Rd (South side) .
The number six stone is in front of the Quick Mart gas station in the 400 block of Catonsville
The number 7 stone is in front of the library
The number 8 stone is no longer in existence, however it was located where there is a County pump station today. In fact, the Atlantic restaurant (former Dimitris) was previously called the Eight mile house
The number 9 sign is on Frederick Rd. as you descend into Oella and Ellicott City, however this is not the original location as it previously was in the “switch back” portion of 2700 block of Frederick Road.
The number ten stone is under the railroad bridge as you enter the Ellicott City