Oella, Maryland

Oella Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Long Brick Row in the center of Oella, Maryland
Location:	Oella Ave., Glen Rd., Hollow Rd., Oella, Maryland
Coordinates:	39°16′32″N 76°47′14″W
Built:	1812
Governing body:	Local
NRHP Reference#:	76000979
Added to NRHP:	November 07, 1976

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.

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 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

Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum

A park commemorating Benjamin Banneker is located at the former site of Banneker's farm and residence at the eastern edge of the Oella community. The Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks manages the park, which was dedicated on June 9, 1998. The park encompasses 138 acres (0.56 km2) and contains extensive nature trails. The primary focus of the park is a museum highlighting Banneker's contributions to early American life. The museum contains a visitors center that features a collection of Banneker's works, a community gallery, a gift shop and a patio garden.

On November 12, 2009, officials opened a 224 square feet (20.8 m2) replica of Banneker's log cabin on the park grounds, reportedly two days before the 278th anniversary of Banneker's birth.

The Maryland Historical Society erected a historical marker on the grounds of the park to commemorate Banneker.

Persons of note

• Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806) was an African-American astronomer, mathematician, clockmaker, almanac author, and farmer who work with Andrew Ellicott on the District of Columbia boundary survey.

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