Fun Fact: This is Halloween

Explore some chilling county history with these Conduit Street Fun Facts from the archives. Fun Fact: What Famous Actor Is Buried in an Unmarked Grave in Carroll County?Fun Fact: Which County Hosts a Spooky Singing Ghost?Fun Fact: Did You Know that the Largest Ship Graveyard in the Western Hemisphere is in Charles County?Fun Fact: Did You Know that Johns Hopkins Hospital Was Built On An Old Insane Asylum?Fun Fact: The Ouija Board Capital of MarylandFun…

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Fun Fact: Falling for Fall Foliage

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources features a weekly fall foliage report every year starting in September. The department highlights the trees’ transition each week with reports from experts with Maryland state forests and parks. The reports also include photos from various counties submitted by outdoor enthusiasts who capture the changing colors. The colors of the foliage, the length of time it lasts, and how soon the leaves will change all depend on the weather, primarily rainfall…

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Fun Fact: Oh Shucks! Time for the U.S. Oyster Festival

St. Mary's County is home to the 56th Annual U.S. Oyster Festival October 15-16, 2022. Home of the U.S. National Oyster Shucking Championship and the National Oyster Cook Off, the 56th Annual U.S. Oyster Festival is a wonderful tradition in Southern Maryland. Fresh, local oysters, artists, music, family fun, and live entertainment abound October 15-16 at the St. Mary's County Fairgrounds in Leonardtown, Maryland. Tickets are $15 for one day or $20 for a two-day…

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Fun Fact: Autumn is for Apples

Apple orchards are located in most areas of Maryland with a concentration of orchards in Washington, Frederick, and adjoining counties. Baugher's Orchards and Farm in Westminster, MD Autumn is for apples, and there are 205 apple orchards in Maryland, with many that offer pick-your-own. There are over 15 varieties grown in the state, and they are harvested between August and November each year. However, growing apples is a year-round process. Growers plant the trees in…

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Fun Fact: The Oldest Winery in Maryland

Bonded in 1945, Boordy Vineyards in Baltimore County is Maryland's oldest winery. Courtesy Boordy Vineyards Boordy Vineyard was originally owned and operated by Philip and Jocelyn Wagner of Baltimore. The first legal vintage of Boordy wine was bottled by Jocelyn in 1945, and it was the first vineyard to import Vidal Blank grapes into the U.S. Their Landmark Series wines are made in limited quantities and are sourced from 100% Maryland grown grapes, principally from…

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Fun Fact: A Beacon of Hope

The new Harriet Tubman sculpture "Beacon of Hope" was dedicated in Dorchester County this month. Image courtesy I Love Dorchester County Harriet Tubman was known as the Moses of her people. As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, she led nearly 70 slaves to freedom, making 13 separate trips to Maryland. Tubman also served as a scout, spy, guerrilla soldier, and nurse for the Union Army during the Civil War. Artist Wesley Wofford wanted to…

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Fun Fact: What’s the Story Autumn Glory?

Celebrate autumn at the 55th annual Autumn Glory Festival in Oakland, Garrett County. The five-day Autumn Glory Festival celebrates the beauty of local fall foliage and will take place October 12-16, 2022. The festival was listed as one of the top fall festivals in the world, and the Town of Oakland is one of the best small towns in the U.S. to see fall foliage. The festival has transformed over 55 years, with its beginnings…

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Fun Fact for Beer Lovers: Tap and Pour Tour

In case you missed it, National Beer Lovers Day was Thursday, September 7. But do not fret, Allegany County has a Tap and Pour Tour good for any day of the week. Named the “Best Beer/Wine/Spirits Trail” by Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine’s 2021 “Best of” awards, the Tap and Pour Tour features stops at six breweries, distilleries, and wineries in Mountain Maryland. Stops include Allegany County’s first farm brewery (1812 Brewery), first winery and distillery…

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Fun Fact: Find the World’s Oldest Crab Company Here

Founded in 1890, The J.M. Clayton Company in Dorchester County is the oldest working crab processing plant in the world. Image courtesy J.M. Clayton website The J.M. Clayton Company began as a small oyster shucking and packing operation in Hoopersville, Maryland, packing seafood and fresh vegetables for delivery by steamboat to Baltimore. In search of better access to supplies, telephone service, and transportation, Captain John Morgan Clayton “Captain Johnnie” moved the operation and his labor…

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Fun Fact: In Which Counties Will You Find the Highest and Lowest Points in Maryland?

This week, a fun fact from the archives! Bloody Point Bar Light At 3,360 feet above sea level, Hoye-Crest in Garrett County is the highest point in Maryland. The peak is located 12 miles south of Oakland on Backbone Mountain and was named after Capt. Charles E. Hoye, a World War I veteran whose passion for history and genealogy led to his founding of the Garrett County Historical Society. The lowest point in Maryland is…

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