Historical Society of Carroll Co to celebrate Carroll County’s 175 birthday Jan. 19

Historical Society of Carroll Co to celebrate Carroll County’s 175  birthday Jan. 19

The Historical Society of Carroll County Invites You to the County's 175th Birthday on January 19, 2012 at 7:00p.m. Holy Cross Hall at the Church of the Ascension - Westminster

Holy Cross Hall in the Church of the Ascension will be the site of the annual Carroll County birthday party on January 19 at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy cake and punch with fellow Carroll Countians as we celebrate the 175th anniversary of the County's founding in 1837.

"Meet Dr. Beanes."

Through a first-person living history presentation by Paul E. Plamann, a senior staff member at Fort McHenry National Monument, we will discover a lesser known, but very important, figure in the story behind the 1814 British attack on Baltimore and the writing of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

After the Battle of Bladensburg in August 1814, as the British forces were withdrawing from Upper Marlboro, two drunken stragglers were arrested by Dr. William Beanes, and thrown into jail.

One escaped, caught up to his unit and reported what had happened. A detachment of British soldiers returned to Upper Marlboro to free the imprisoned soldier and to arrest Dr. Beanes.

In order to obtain the release of Dr. Beanes, the townspeople of Upper Marlboro enlisted the help of Francis Scott Key of Georgetown.

Beanes, Key and an American army colonel (Skinner) were taken into custody by the British and detained eight miles off-shore from the shelling of Ft. McHenry. "By dawn's early light," they saw the American flag still flying over Ft. McHenry which led to Key's penning what became our national anthem.

Location:

The Church of the Ascension - Holy Cross Hall

23 N. Court St. Westminster, MD 21157

Free parking is available in the lot on Ralph Street. Free admission.

For more information, call the HSCC at 410-848-6494