Updated 15-Sep-2021 CKT
Thanks to Thomas Long for finding this photo at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Medical_Department_-First_Aid–Miscellaneous–In_Service_of_the_Interior–Ambulance_given_John_Hopkins_unit–NARA–45494054(page_2).jpg#/media/File:Medical_Department_-First_Aid–Miscellaneous–In_Service_of_the_Interior–Ambulance_given_John_Hopkins_unit–NARA–45494054(page_1).jpg
Thank you to the many people people who joined me for the discussion about Texas Maryland that was held at the Hereford Branch of the Baltimore County Public Library on October 16, 2014. I wish I could have recorded the many stories that were told by descendants and former Texas residents. Some of you have promised to bring documents and photos to the Historical Society so that they can be scanned in high resolution to be added to the Texas collection.
Several of you asked about the World War I munitions plant that was located in Texas. I am hoping that I can someday produce an historic map showing the locations of former structures in Texas, but in the meantime, I though I would share what I have found so far. Americas Munitions is just one of the many documents where I see the Texas Maryland munitions plant mentioned. I have also uploaded a few others, such as Poole war munitions 1915 and Poole Engineering Iron Age. I also found an article in the 1920 Towson Jeffersonian (see 1920 Texas Md Poole) that describe the purchase of the property by Mr. Bosley, to include the Padian mansion (Taylor’s Hall, the former Cockey Estate), other buildings and land, with the intent to start a quarrying operation as well as farming. Note that the same newspaper column mentions a Miss Kathryn McGuire and the funeral of Miss Loretta Tull.
For more about Taylor’s Hall, see http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/stagsere/se1/se5/003000/003500/003500/pdf/msa_se5_3500.pdf
If any of you have more information to share, please let me know. ~~Cassie
Hello,
My grandfather, Orris John Opdyke, recorded on his 1918 Draft Registration that he was an Ammunition Worker employed by “Poole & (unreadable)” in Texas, MD. The unreadable word looks like four or five letters long and clearly ends in a “t,” but I can’t read the rest. I am completely baffled by the first letter, but the others may be eunt or ount. Do you have any idea what the full name of this Poole company may be?
Thanks,
Mike Opdyke
I believe it is Poole and Hunt.
Right after I posted my query about “Poole &…” I found Poole and HUnt, which fits very well. Oddly, it looks like this name had changed to Poole Engineering around 1903, which was 15 years before my grandfather said he worked for Poole and Hunt.
Anyway, now that that’s more or less resolved, are there any employee records still in existence?
Thanks
Mike Opdyke
Here’s an article from Baltimore Heritage that might give some clues about employment records: https://explore.baltimoreheritage.org/items/show/29
Hi Cassie K.Thompson Found a photo at NARA on Pool Enginering company . https:commons wikimedia.org In service of the Interrior Ambulance given to John Hopkins unit. Nara Photo 45494054 . Hope you can use.
Thanks as always to Thomas Long for this find – The photo (circa 1917-1918) linked below is of the Woodberry/Baltimore plant of Poole Engineering and Manufacturing Company. Many residents of Texas traveled on the NCR train into Baltimore to work at this plant. Photo of Poole Engineering Shift 2 and Ambulance given to JH Hospital
Original Caption: Ambulance given John Hopkins unit. Members of the 3″ gun department of the Poole Engineering and Machine Company, at Woodberry, Maryland presented the John Hopkins Unit, through the American Red Cross, with a regulation ambulance. The presentation ceremonies were part of the Flag Day celebration. The men who contributed to the fund to buy the ambulance were all members of the night shift. The ambulance and members of Shift Number 2 are shown in the photograph. Photographer: Rec’d from Baltimore Sun.
It is strange how “circular” history can be. While researching the stamped lettering on a WWI artillery shell; I ran across “Poole Engineering and Machine”. Their 100+ year old history listed an ammunition plant in Texas, MD. that made shells for WWI. A inquiry above about an employee at said plant dovetailed perfectly into the possibly of me owning one of his products = a 37mm artillery shell (deactivated). It has a small note inside the fusing area and all else that I know about it is it probably came from my Grandfather W S Barnes Marine WWI. Thanks for your site !
Sincerely R Moszner living in a160+
year old farm house- GlenArm, MD