Yesterday I attended an alumni golf event with a few friends. So today’s photo is an alumnus of the University of Maryland, golfing in Maryland.
One thing that’s spread throughout the countryside of our state is golf courses. Lately what comes along with a golf course is a string of housing that threads its way into and out of as many holes as it can. I can tell you that yesterday a few of those people paid the price for their proximity to the course.
Becasue I know you wanted more of the first EVER courthouse and post office on the register.
As I have mentioned before, I have a mindset that a library should be an old brick building, similar to the Prince George’s library in Upper Marlboro. However, there’s something about this library, The Glenwood Branch of the Howard Co. library system, which I find appealing. The award winning branch, which was partially designed to mimic the lines of a barn, seems to be welcoming and interesting.
Saturday is National Train day. Which is a relatively new Holiday conceived by Amtrak to celebrate an old event: the driving of the final spike in the transcontinental ralroad. (an event that did not take place in Maryland) In the spririt of the holiday, it seemed only appropriate to post a picture of the destination of the first railroad trip ever made in America: Ellicott City, or Ellicot’s Mills as the station sign reads. Today the station serves as a museum; a sister site to the downtown Baltimore station.
A few days ago, one of the frequent commentors on MDP, Jess, started her own daily photo site: http://www.pittsburghdailyphoto.com/ , and despite whatever football related rivalry we might have, MDP wishes her the best in her daily photo persuit. In fact, to celebrate the new site, MDP is fulfilling Jess’s wishlist request from a year ago: posting a picture exemplifying the grand nature of Maryland’s highway onramps.
This is the Stack. The four levels of highway seen here carry 2 (really 1.5) interstates and 8 on/off ramps. To the right, on the top of the stack is I-70, below it is one level of raps, viewable in the bottom left, then in the far left, you can see the ramps that pass one layer below, and finally just above the bush in the bottom center, you can see a piece of I-695.
What’s interesting and unique about this is that these three elevated levels and their seemingly complex intertangling is that they actually make things easier for the driver. Why?? Becasue there are no points in this intersection with a circular 270 degree turnaround. Instead. Every ramp just flows off of the right side of the feeding highway, makes a gradual left turn, goes through the stack, and ends up on the right side of the destination highway.
While it’s great for the driver and for the flow of traffic as it requires less of a speed reduction, it is a bit of a pain to build a four level interchange. Plus it’s visible for a good distance in each direction. So, you want to make sure that you only build it in a location with decent traffic, where it will make a difference.
That’s the unfortunate part. The stack was finished in 1965, according to the markings on the top level. However, protests to the completion of I-70 through baltimore during the 70′s led to the final cancellation of I-70′s route through Baltimore. As a result, I-70 would terminate at the stack. To this day, the upper ramp that carries 70 and the flyover ramps that service it get minimal use. The stub of what’s left of I-70 to the east (like on I-95) became a park and ride with an amazingly effective means of entering and exiting.
It’s almost summertime, which means that very soon people will be flocking to points east and Ocean City’s population will soon exceed Baltimore’s. Many of those people will be dumping quarters into macines along the Boardwalk, like this one, a personal favorite: skeeball.
This is Rockland Mill, part of a complex of historic buildings along Falls Rd, just north of Baltimore, which remain in remarkably good shape thanks to the care of the community and their owners.
For what appears to be a highway, this road is a bit of a mess. There are three trucks on the right shoulder. Then on the left shoulder there appears to be a parking lot.
This strange bit of highway is part of what remains of the original plan for I-95 to go through DC. This is the stub that was left in PG county where 495 meets 95. The plan for 95 to continue south was stopped pretty close to the last minute by concerned citizens.
What’s left of the plan is seen in this picture, which is taken from what would have been northbound I-95, just before it hits the beltway. The stub of road that remains is used as a park and ride facility and off to the left of this picture there is also a truck weigh station, loacted in what would have been the median.
Today’s photo of Ripken stadium comes to use from MDP baseball correspondant, Bryan.
The stadium isn’t quite fulfilling the “if you build it, they will come” philosophy. However, it is interesting that the team was bought by the Ripken family to fill their stadium, rather than the other way around. It is home to the Aberdeen Ironbirds, a single A affiliate of the Orioles.
The stadium is part of a complex of baseball fields, including Cal Sr’s yard, a replica of Camden Yards for youth baseball. From I-95 you can clearly see the red brick hotel which is shaped to resembe the Warehouse from Camden Yards and which is appropriately placed in right field of cal sr’s yard. It is in left field relative to ripken stadium.
