Alberton, Maryland facts for kids

Alberton is a small, historic community in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It's an unincorporated community, which means it's not officially a city or town with its own local government. Instead, it's part of the larger county. A post office served the community for many years, from 1854 until 1943.

The Story of Alberton

Alberton's history is closely tied to a large cotton mill built along the Patapsco River. This mill was started by James S. Gary in 1839. He had moved to Maryland from Connecticut to begin his business.

Building a Mill Town

Around the factory, James S. Gary built a store and about seventy homes for his workers. These buildings were spread across 820 acres of land. The mill was a busy place, employing both adults and children, including Gary's own son, James Albert Gary. At that time, it was common for children to work in factories.

Facing Challenges and New Leadership

The mill faced challenges, including severe floods in 1866 and 1868. James S. Gary himself survived one flood by floating on a log with his daughter! In 1870, his son, James Albert Gary, took over the mill. The town was then named "Alberton" in his honor. Later, in 1885, James Albert Gary's son, E. Stanley Gary, became the mill's owner. Under his leadership, the mill was very productive, using 228 looms and between 8,000 and 9,000 spindles to make cotton products.

Community Life and a New Name

As the mill town grew, community buildings were added. The beautiful stone Victorian Gary Memorial church was built in 1879. Later, in 1893, St. Alban's chapel was constructed as an Episcopal church for the people living in Alberton. The mill and the town remained in the Gary family for many years. However, in 1938, the entire mill and town were sold to the C.R. Daniels company. After this sale, the community was renamed Daniels.