History of Bel Alton Maryland

[blueeyedtyrant]

Hello,
I was wondering if anyone knows the history of Bel alton.My grandfather really want to know and I cannot find anything online.Thanks.

 

[Ken King]

It was Cox's Station before it became Bel Alton. Found the following from the 1878 Charles County Directory;

COX'S STATION

Is on the Pope's Creek branch of the B. & P. R. R., 70 miles from Baltimore. Climate healthy; busineqi fair; crops generally good; land is medium, easily improved, mostly cleared, but plenty of timber for all purposes yet standing. Land can be bought at from $5 to $15 per acre. Produces 15 to 80 bus. wheat, 15 to 40 oats, 25 to 50 corn, and 500 to 1,200 lbs. tobacco; potatoes and hay not raised as a crop, but the land is well adapted to the growth of each. Churches near; Public School, Miss Lizzie Semmes, teacher. Population 25. Samuel Cox, Postmaster.

Attorneys at Law
Cox, Samuel Jr
Matthews, J F
Blacksmith.
Hayden, C F
Carpeaater.
Taylor, Joseph
General Merchandise.
Tennison, B Z
Hotel
Schmidt, John
Miller.
Ammon, Col J S
Painter.
Milton, Chas H.
Physician.
Jamison, B A

 

[blueeyedtyrant]

Thanks for the info

I'm grateful thank you,I'm also looking for more info on why it was changed to Bel alton and when.Thanks again!

 

[Aa3rt]

I checked the booklet "Baltimore & Potomac" by Charles County historian John Wearmouth. The only thing I could find was that the name was changed from Cox's Station to Bel Alton sometime around the turn of the last century 1899-1900 with no mention as to why.

I also checked the Tricenterary History of Charles County (printed in 1958) and it has no mention of Bel Alton OR Cox's Station.

Here's a link to "Visit Charles County" with some additional links at the bottom for Charles County Historic Resources.

Visit Charles County

 

[Bustem' Down]

I checked the booklet "Baltimore & Potomac" by Charles County historian John Wearmouth. The only thing I could find was that the name was changed from Cox's Station to Bel Alton sometime around the turn of the last century 1899-1900 with no mention as to why.

I also checked the Tricenterary History of Charles County (printed in 1958) and it has no mention of Bel Alton OR Cox's Station.

Here's a link to "Visit Charles County" with some additional links at the bottom for Charles County Historic Resources.

Visit Charles County

Probably the same reason why Tomball, TX changed it's name. It used to be called Peck, TX but the story says that the people didn't want to be a bunch of Peckers.

On a side note, I read an article in a military history magazine about a civil war battle. They included a rare photo of Southern Troops in action. They were marching through Frederick, MD.

 

[blueeyedtyrant]

Thanks and happy holidays

I really am grateful for the info thanks alot! It's nearly impossible to find this info online.I'm in Va Beach so its not possible for me to do local library searches or anything.Happy Holidays!Thanks again!

 

[tikipirate]

Bel Alton should mean 'beautiful source of the river' if one doesn't mind bastardizing latin.

Yet Bel Alton is pretty far inland from the nearest water which would lend it's name credence... the Port Tobacco River.

 

[Aa3rt]

An answer-I hope.

I stopped by to visit Charles County historian John Wearmouth this evening. While I was there, I asked him about this little "mystery". John informs me that Samuel Cox owned a lot of land in the area of Cox's Station. In concert with some real estate types, and wanting to draw prospective citizens to the area, the name was changed to "Bel Alton" around 1892.

There was (is) no historical or geographical significance to the name Bel Alton, simply a grandiose sounding name to draw new homeowners, purchasing land from Mr. Cox, to the area. Apparently, thinking up silly names for new housing developments is not a new phenomenon.