Union Mills, Maryland facts for kids

Union Mills is a small, quiet community located in Carroll County, Maryland, in the United States. It's known as an "unincorporated community," which means it's a place where people live and work, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town does. Instead, it's part of the larger county government.

Welcome to Union Mills!

Union Mills is a special place with a lot of history. It's home to several important historical sites that tell stories about the past. These sites help us understand what life was like long ago in this part of Maryland.

A Look at History

One of the most famous places in Union Mills is the Union Mills Homestead Historic District. A "historic district" is an area that has many old buildings and places that are important to history. This homestead was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The National Register is like a special list kept by the U.S. government that names places important enough to be preserved for future generations.

Historic Homes and Places

Besides the homestead, two other historic homes in Union Mills are also on the National Register. The Solomon Arter House was added in 1987, and the Philip and Uriah Arter Farm joined the list in 2006. These homes and the farm show us how people lived and worked in Union Mills many years ago.

Water for the Future

For a long time, local government leaders in Carroll County have thought about building a large water storage area, like a dam or a reservoir, near Union Mills. A reservoir is a big, artificial lake used to store water for people to drink and use.

The Reservoir Idea

The idea for a Union Mills Reservoir first came up in the 1970s, but it didn't happen then. Later, in the 2000s, the idea was brought up again. Building a reservoir is a big project that involves many decisions about land, water, and the needs of the community.

Union Mills in Books

Union Mills has even appeared in a book! It plays an important part in Gettysburg: A Novel of the Civil War. This book was written in 2003 by Newt Gingrich, a well-known politician, and William R. Forstchen.

A Story of the Civil War

The book is an "alternate history novel." This means it's a story that takes real historical events, like the American Civil War, and imagines what might have happened if one or two things had changed. In this novel, Union Mills is a key location in the story about the Civil War.