Oella, Maryland
Encyclopedia
Oella is a small, historic mill town on the Patapsco River
in western Baltimore County, Maryland
, located between Catonsville and Ellicott City
. It is a 19th century village of millworkers' homes.
The Oella Historic District includes the village that consists of 19th century workers housing and one late 19th century church. The only known 20th century building is the W.J. Dickey Company Mill constructed in 1919. A drawing from 1812 by Maximilian Godefroy
shows most of the stone buildings. The brick houses date from the mid-19th century, while the frame buildings were constructed at the end of the century. The Oella Methodist Church is a simple frame building with a tower on the northeast corner, which has been converted for offices. The Patapsco River
continued to provide power to generate electricity until 1972 when hurricane Agnes flooded the power plant. The same year the Dickey Company ceased manufacturing.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1976. Also listed on the National Register at Oella are the Ellicott's Mills Historic District
and Mt. Gilboa Chapel
.
Oella is along the route of the Trolley Line Number 9 Trail
Patapsco River
The Patapsco River is a river in central Maryland which flows into Chesapeake Bay. The river's tidal portion forms the harbor for the city of Baltimore...
in western Baltimore County, Maryland
Baltimore County, Maryland
Baltimore County is a county located in the northern part of the US state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 805,029. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Towson. The name of the county was derived from the barony of the Proprietor of the Maryland...
, located between Catonsville and Ellicott City
Ellicott City, Maryland
Ellicott City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It is part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area. The population was 65,834 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Howard County...
. It is a 19th century village of millworkers' homes.
History
Oella was founded in 1808 by the Union Manufacturing Company as a working class community for the company's mill workers. It was one of the earliest and most extensive cotton factories in the United States and used water-powered looms as early as 1819.The Oella Historic District includes the village that consists of 19th century workers housing and one late 19th century church. The only known 20th century building is the W.J. Dickey Company Mill constructed in 1919. A drawing from 1812 by Maximilian Godefroy
Maximilian Godefroy
Maximilian Godefroy was an architect born about 1770 in France. During the French Revolution he fought on the Royalist side, was imprisoned in the fortress of Bellegarde, then released about 1805 and allowed to come to the United States. He later relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, where became an...
shows most of the stone buildings. The brick houses date from the mid-19th century, while the frame buildings were constructed at the end of the century. The Oella Methodist Church is a simple frame building with a tower on the northeast corner, which has been converted for offices. The Patapsco River
Patapsco River
The Patapsco River is a river in central Maryland which flows into Chesapeake Bay. The river's tidal portion forms the harbor for the city of Baltimore...
continued to provide power to generate electricity until 1972 when hurricane Agnes flooded the power plant. The same year the Dickey Company ceased manufacturing.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1976. Also listed on the National Register at Oella are the Ellicott's Mills Historic District
Ellicott's Mills Historic District
Ellicott's Mills Historic District is a national historic district at Oella, Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is on the east bank of the Patapsco River, opposite Ellicott City. It relates to the industrial operations of the Ellicott family from the 1770s through the mid-19th century...
and Mt. Gilboa Chapel
Mt. Gilboa Chapel
Mt. Gilboa Chapel is a historic African Methodist Episcopal Church located at Oella, Baltimore County, Maryland. It is a small stone church measuring 28 feet by 42 feet, built about 1859 by free African Americans. The front façade is ashlar masonry, but the sides and rear are of rubble...
.
Oella is along the route of the Trolley Line Number 9 Trail
Persons of note
- Benjamin BannekerBenjamin BannekerBenjamin Banneker was a free African American astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, almanac author and farmer.-Family history and early life:It is difficult to verify much of Benjamin Banneker's family history...
was an African-American astronomer, mathematician, clockmaker, almanac author and farmer who assisted in surveying the boundaries of the District of Columbia.
External links
- Oella Historic District, Baltimore County, including undated photo, at Maryland Historical Trust
- Boundary Map of Oella Historic District, Baltimore County, at Maryland Historical Trust
- Oella Homeowners Association
- Greater Oella Community Association
