Images of the buildings that were demolished as part of the flood mitigation plan. The event Memories of Lower Main was held at the Museum of Howard County History in historic Ellicott City. Business owners and community members shared photos and stories remembering the section of historic Main Street. (Nate Pesce/Freelance)
Dozens of people came together Thursday night to share fond memories of the buildings that used to populate Ellicott City’s Lower Main Street.
One met his wife while enjoying a night out with friends at The Phoenix Emporium. Another reminisced about enjoying a cup of coffee on a snowy day at Bean Hollow.
Joan Eve Shea-Cohen, 81, of Baltimore County, shared memories of her business, Joan Eve Classics and Collectibles.
“My heart is here, and I knew that the people who were going to be here felt the way I do,” she said. “We weren’t going to share the flood stories. We didn’t talk about what happened. We just wanted to talk about how we felt about the people here and our business and how much fun we had.”
As a part of Howard County’s Ellicott City Safe and Sound flood mitigation plan, adopted after devastating floods in 2011, 2016 and 2018, four buildings that once housed the businesses Bean Hollow, Discoveries, Great Panes and The Phoenix Emporium on lower Main Street were demolished.
Mark Stout, executive director of the Howard County Historical Society, introduces the speakers. The event Memories of Lower Main was held at the Museum of Howard County History in historic Ellicott City. Business owners and community members shared photos and stories remembering the section of historic Main Street that was demolished as part of the flood mitigation plan. (Nate Pesce/Freelance)
Gary Weltner, 69, of Frederick, said that even though the buildings are gone, memories created there will live on.
“[Those buildings] weren’t the greatest architectural gems as far as design and aesthetic. However, the history behind them is so much more important than the façade,” he said. “If we can remember the stories of those buildings, then those buildings will never really be gone, at least not in our memories.”
Thursday night’s memory-sharing event also included members of the Howard County Historical Society who recorded the memories to be used in the society’s oral history collections. Rose Cohen also attended and plans to stitch together memories for a quilt depicting the area.
Connie Siegel, president of Historic Ellicott City Inc., said the meeting was held as a way to preserve the buildings’ history.
“[We want] to remember the buildings because they are now gone forever,” she said.
Demolition is nearly completed on Main Street and Maryland Avenue in Historic Ellicott City. Black protective netting is utilized to keep debris from falling into the river, can be seen running over the Tiber River and under the demolition site. Update of the controlled demolition of four buildings in Old Ellicott City at what once was 8049-8069 Main Street. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Update of the controlled demolition of four buildings at Main Street and Maryland Avenue in Old Ellicott City at what once was 8049-8069 Main Street. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Demolition is nearly completed on Main Street and Maryland Avenue in Historic Ellicott City. Black protective netting that is utilized to keep debris from falling into the river, can be seen running over the Tiber River and under the demolition site. Update of the controlled demolition of four buildings at Main Street and Maryland Avenue in Old Ellicott City at what once was 8049-8069 Main Street. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Demolition is nearly completed on Main Street and Maryland Avenue in Historic Ellicott City. Update of the controlled demolition of four buildings at Main Street and Maryland Avenue in Old Ellicott City at what once was 8049-8069 Main Street. Frederick Road is at left, Maryland Avenue is at left-center and Main Street at bottom. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Demolition is nearly completed on Main Street and Maryland Avenue in Historic Ellicott City. Update of the controlled demolition of four buildings at Main Street and Maryland Avenue in Old Ellicott City at what once was 8049-8069 Main Street. Main Street is at bottom, Maryland Avenue is at left and St. Paul Street at top. Street at bottom. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Demolition is nearly completed on Main Street and Maryland Avenue in Historic Ellicott City. Update of the controlled demolition of four buildings at Main Street and Maryland Avenue in Old Ellicott City at what once was 8049-8069 Main Street. Main Street is at bottom, Maryland Avenue is at left and St. Paul Street at top. Street at bottom. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Demolition is nearly completed on Main Street and Maryland Avenue in Historic Ellicott City. Update of the controlled demolition of four buildings at Main Street and Maryland Avenue in Old Ellicott City at what once was 8049-8069 Main Street. Main Street is at bottom, Maryland Avenue is at left. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Looking towards Maryland Avenue from Tiber Alley, The Tiber River can been seen where it once ran under the buildings at 8049-8069 Main Street in Old Ellicott City. Update of the controlled demolition of four buildings at Main Street and Maryland Avenue in Old Ellicott City at what once was 8049-8069 Main Street. Main Street is at left. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Looking towards Maryland Avenue from what once was "Tiber Park." Main Street is at left. The Tiber River can been seen where it once ran under the buildings at 8049-8069 Main Street in Old Ellicott City. Protective netting can be seen running over the river and under the building to catch any debris that might fall from demolition site. Update of the controlled demolition of four buildings at Main Street and Maryland Avenue in Old Ellicott City at what once was 8049-8069 Main Street. Main Street is at left. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Looking towards Maryland Avenue from Main Street and what once was "Tiber Park." The Tiber River can been seen where it once ran under the buildings at 8049-8069 Main Street in Old Ellicott City. Protective netting can be seen running over the river and under the building to catch any debris that might fall from demolition site. Update of the controlled demolition of four buildings at Main Street and Maryland Avenue in Old Ellicott City at what once was 8049-8069 Main Street. Main Street is at left. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
At the corner of Main Street and Maryland Avenue, where The Phoenix Emporium restaurant once was, crews continue the controlled demolition of four buildings in Old Ellicott City at what once was 8049-8069 Main Street. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Looking towards Main Street, at the corner of Tiber Alley and Maryland Avenue, where The Phoenix Emporium restaurant once was, crews continue the controlled demolition of four buildings in Old Ellicott City at what once was 8049-8069 Main Street. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
At the corner of Tiber Alley and Maryland Avenue, where The Phoenix Emporium restaurant once was, crews continue the controlled demolition of four buildings in Old Ellicott City at what once was 8049-8069 Main Street. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
Looking down Main Street towards Maryland Avenue. Update of the controlled demolition of four buildings in Old Ellicott City at what once was 8049-8069 Main Street. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
The controlled demolition at 8049-8069 Main Street in Ellicott City that are being demolished are pictured pictured on Dececember 29, 2023, from Maryland Avenue to Tiber Alley. The former Phoenix Emporium is on the corner of Maryland Avenue and Main Street. At right an updated photo April 18, 2024. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
The controlled demolition at 8049-8069 Main Street in Ellicott City that are being demolished are pictured pictured on Dececember 29, 2023, from Maryland Avenue to Tiber Alley. The former Phoenix Emporium is on the corner of Maryland Avenue and Main Street. At right an updated photo April 18, 2024. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
