With its optimal location just north of Baltimore and south of Frederick, it isn’t any secret that Carroll County, Maryland, is home to a vast array of unique communities. What isn’t always apparent, however, is just how fascinating its quaint collective truly is.
Many of the small towns that comprise Carroll County today boast a bountiful, albeit surprisingly underrated, storied history. One such example can be found in the small town of Sykesville. Despite having been named “Coolest Small Town in America” by Budget Travel in 2016 as well as being home to the “Best Main Street in America” according to Independent We Stand in 2020, Sykesville remains modestly out of the spotlight. But this only heightens our thrill to explore more of this hidden gem—Carroll County’s best-kept secret, which even packs a profuse display of esoteric attractions that don’t call out for attention yet remain treasured finds nevertheless. So, without further ado, in this Flashback Friday Feature, let’s stroll through Sykesville’s storied history.
Precolonial Background
Like many locations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, the area now comprising Sykesville was largely inhabited by Native American tribes, primarily those of the Susquehannock and Lenape nations. Permanent European colonization didn’t come to the area until the late 1800s. Most of the early settlers hailed from Germany and Scotland. Their primary objective was to live off the land by farming, a common practice.
Famous Names and Associations
The surrounding land that would eventually come to make up Sykesville was originally part of a 3,000-acre property known as Springfield Estate. It operated as a slave plantation throughout the early 1800s and was owned by none other than William Patterson. A wealthy and renowned shipbuilder of acclaim, Patterson, who was originally from Ireland, emigrated to Baltimore. He was also a founder of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
Patterson’s daughter Elizabeth would garner celebrity status in her own way when she married Jérôme Bonaparte, brother to the one and only Napoléon Bonaparte in 1803. Yet upon their return voyage to Europe, Napoléon himself personally forbade Betsy Patterson Bonaparte from setting foot on French soil. He reasoned that his brother ought to marry into royalty instead. As a result, the marriage did not last. Betsy was sent home to raise her young son alone and never to see her husband again.
George Patterson, son of William, inherited the estate in 1824 upon the death of his father. A year later, he sold 1,000 of his total acreage to a friend and business associate of his. That man was James Sykes, namesake of the town that was to be.
Booming Business and Town Growth
The first matter of business to see to was reconstructing an old saw and grist mill residing on the Howard County side of the Patapsco River. That was accomplished in 1830 along with the addition of a five-story stone hotel. This would serve the needs of tourists and train traffic as the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad extended its main line into the area in 1831. At the time, it was known as “Horse Train Stop,” as Sykesville hadn’t been officially named yet.
Following railroad expansions, other businesses soon took root in the immediate area. The list included two general stores, churches, mills, and even a post office. Things were off to a thriving start, and in 1832 the small town even gained temporary control of a barn across the Patapsco River. They were eventually forced to return the barn via threat of federal troops.
Springfield Presbyterian was established in 1836, a year that even predates the official founding of Carroll County (it was still considered part of Baltimore). Constructed on land that had been donated by George Patterson, Springfield’s lower level served as Springfield Institute, which would become the first organized school in Sykesville.
Sykes enlarged his mill to become “The Howard Cotton Factory” in 1845. In addition, he constructed homes for his employed factory workers and their families. The factory operated until a depression hit in 1857.
Sentiments throughout Sykesville during the Civil War era were essentially divided, with at least one significant townwide event taking place on June 29, 1863. That was when a detachment officer of the Confederate Army under J.E.B. Stuart came to town, wreaking havoc by tearing up some of the existing railroad track and burning the Patapsco bridge and destroying telegraph lines.
Further devastation came to town a few years later when, in 1868, a large sector of town was destroyed by a flood. The unfortunate event ended a preexisting water rights dispute between the Sykesville mill and the Elba Furnace, as both were essentially damaged. Yet, owing to the steady flow of the B&O traffic, the town was rebuilt on the Carroll County side of the river.
Springfield Estate eventually passed to Governor Frank Brown after Patterson’s death. Under his governorship, Brown established the Springfield State Hospital in 1896. It would go on to be the largest mental hospital on the eastern seaboard at one time.
Further developments continued to emerge on the scene following the death of Sykes in 1881 (who had been living in Elysville, Howard County since 1876). In 1883, a new B&O station was erected, with more edifices and structures to follow. The town was officially incorporated in 1904 with Edwin M. Mellor as its first Mayor.
Visiting Today
A stroll down Downtown Sykesville today yields many unique sights, sounds, and well-preserved historical markers from the town’s enduring past. The one-time Gate House leading to Springfield now serves as the town’s official history museum—the Sykesville Gate House Museum of History.
For those seeking the ultimate history stroll, this should be your very first stop. It’s full of so many unique artifacts, maps, timelines, documents, and even interactive exhibits.
Other can’t-miss markers and buildings throughout town include the Historic Colored Schoolhouse, the Town House (now acting as Town Hall), and Little Sykes Railway Park, among many others.
In addition to town history, Sykesville remains a thriving hotspot of modern-day makings and repurposed buildings that now serve as newer businesses. From weekly farmer’s markets during the warmer months to special engagements at select times throughout the year, you just have to visit Main Street in Downtown Sykesville for yourself to truly experience what it’s all about!