Author Works: Hidden History of Howard County

Howard County has a rich and fascinating past. It was first settled in the seventeenth century, when the area was part of Anne Arundel County, and early towns formed around gristmills. Nearby quarries and mills shaped Ellicott City before the more well-known impact of the B&O Railroad in the 1830s. Cotton mills flourished, and mill towns like Savage grew. In the twentieth century, Savage briefly became the Christmas capital of the country. It was also a well-known sundown town. Historically Black communities dealt with battles over education as the state emerged from segregation. Development brought suburban neighborhoods and change to rural areas, and planned communities like Columbia affected Guilford and other surrounding towns.

Join local authors Nathan Davis and Wayne Davis as they explore myths and uncover erased histories. This father and son team will share what it was like to work together, motivation for putting together this book, their favorite stories and what research they plan next.

Books will be available for purchase and signing after the presentation. 

Nathan S. Davis is the on-site manager of the Baltimore and Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum, operated by the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks. A resident of Columbia, Maryland for most of his life, Nathan has a history degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, only ten minutes from his museum. He has devoted countless hours researching Howard County history for professional and personal interest.

Wayne S. Davis is a retired federal government scientist and researcher who began his career writing about environmental history before developing a more recent interest in local history. He promotes research and access to accurate local history which he has been doing by hosting a FB group, website, and publishing local articles.