Welcome to summer in northeast Maryland! I have lived in Maryland a grand total of 3 months now. Wow, huh? Such a long time. And what is the first thing we do when we move to a new place?
Unpack boxes!!!
And what is the 2nd thing we do???
Explore the new place!!
I have barely put a chip into my goals of exploring our new state. I haven’t even made it to the actual Chesapeake Bay yet! Don’t worry. I will, and when I do, there will be even more photos.
But for today, we have the lovely, serene side of Maryland. I used to think of this area as a traffic-locked I-95 metropolis, and some of it is, but there is so much more to this lovely state than just the urban areas.
In fact, to get to our new house from the interstate, you have to drive pass three different farms, complete with cows and fields of corn, making for the happiest most peaceful of drives. So today I give you photos of the wilderness side of northeast Maryland, your own drive through the almost-countryside.
In 1632, King Charles I of England granted a charter to George Calvert, the first Lord Baltimore, yielding him proprietary rights to a region east of the Potomac River in exchange for a share of the income derived from the land.
History Channel website, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-settlement-of-maryland
Maryland is named after Henrietta Maria, the queen consort of King Charles I, of England.
Cecilius Calvert, also known as Lord Baltimore, wanted to establish Maryland as a community of Roman Catholics, fleeing persecution in England. Therefore, in 1634, a carefully selected group of Catholics and Protestants landed on St. Clement’s Island, via the Ark and the Dove.
I don’t know about you, but now I want to visit St. Clement’s Island. I’ll check into it, and we’ll save that for a future post. Apparently, it is a state park now.
The Puritans
As more Puritans arrived in the mid-1600s, conflict rose up between Marylanders over religious liberty. Even in the colonies, Roman Catholics were still under persecution. 1649 brought the Toleration Act, to protect everyone, but the Puritans took over the colony in 1654 causing a short lived, all out Civil War, resulting in Lord Baltimore losing his rights over the colony.
The Calvert family did eventually regain control of Maryland, but persecution of Catholics continued into the 1800s. During the 19th century, more Catholics arrived and religious protections were put in place.
I refer to this post as “northeast Maryland” because it’s only 15 photos, and there is so much more to explore. All of Maryland has this very green and beautiful feel, once you get outside the city, but there are so many other things to explore here. Maybe next time we can go to Antietam or the bay!
I hope you enjoyed the photos and the quick mini-history lesson. This will be the first of many in this series over the next year. As a newbie up here there is an endless list of places in which to go adventuring!
“The road goes ever on and on, down from the door where it began. Now far ahead the road has gone, and I must follow if I can.”
J.R.R. Tolkien
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I love living in Maryland. I took my kids to that park when my carpet cleaners in Westminster came. It was kindof a drive, but worth while.
April, I know so little about Maryland. But your pictures are absolutely gorgeous. The covered bridges, Susquehanna State Park and learning about the religious history was quite fascinating.
Hope you are all settling in. So much awe and respect how you "roll with the punches" your many moves and relocations. I've lost count how many moves since I have connected with as a blogger friend. All the best to you and your beautiful family! :)
You, my friend, are the ultimate example of someone who chooses again and again and again to bloom where they’re planted.
Haha! Thank you. Yes, that is definitely a major theme of my life. I don’t do a good job of it everyday, but God is with us.
Oh, I want to see Jerusalem Village, Quaker, and Puritan stuff! Not this October visit, but when Janet and I visit later.
You got it!
So many beautiful places to explore! There is just something about those old covered bridges that I just LOVE.