What is the history of Mount Airy, Maryland?
The town of Mt. Airy, Maryland, was established in 1830 and continued to develop throughout the decade as a settlement of houses along Parr’s Ridge was constructed. The first house was built by a man named Henry Bussard. The town was known for its station on the B&O Railroad at Parr’s Ridge and did not receive an official name until a later date when an Irish man who worked for the B&O Railroad suggested the name due to his freezing cold ears at work one day. The railroad ran from Baltimore to Frederick, two popular towns to the east and west of Mt. Airy. Milling, canning and sewing industries helped support Mt. Airy’s economy. The town’s proximity to the National Pike contributed to its growth. The National Pike was a road that ran from Baltimore out west. Three great fires (1903, 1914, and 1925) caused setbacks in growth when they occurred, but the town rebuilt every time. From the 1860’s forward, Mt. Airy continued to grow as it became involved in the Civil War. Although part of the
