Ground Breaking for the Bowie Race Track

June 24, 1914 (99 years ago today):  The Southern Maryland Agricultural Association broke ground on Prince George's Park - the horse racing venue that would eventually be known as the Bowie Race Track. According to the Baltimore Sun, the land used by the course was previously part of a tobacco farm.

This photograph was taken for the Baltimore Sun on October 6, 1914 during the track's first week in operation.  It can be purchased on-line at http://www.tribunephotos.com.

Grand Stand at Bowie, October 6, 1914

Bowie Baysox Play their First Game at Prince George's Stadium

June 16, 1994 (19 years ago today):  The Bowie Baysox played their first game at Prince George's Stadium.  Memorial Stadium in Baltimore was the home field for the Baysox during their 1993 inaugural season.  Due to construction delays at Prince George's Stadium in 1994, the Baysox played early season home games in Frederick, College Park and other locations.

Automated Telephone Exchange Goes Live in Bowie

May 26, 1938 (75 years ago today):  The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company activated Bowie's first telephone dial system.  The switching equipment was housed in this building at 13108 11th Street in Old Bowie - the current home of the Bowie Lions.  For the first time in Bowie, a telephone call could be made without the assistance of an operator.

Levitt Transfers Title to Belair Bath & Tennis

May 23, 1963 (50 years ago today): The title to a seven-acre property near the Belair Mansion was transferred from Levitt & Sons to the Belair Bath & Tennis Club.  Property transferred included a brick club house, a Z-shaped swimming pool, a kiddy pool, six tennis courts, a tennis house and a recreational building (the green house).  The estimated value at the time of transfer was $250,000.  The club was built by Levitt & Sons, and it opened a year earlier under the management of Levitt with the promise that title would be transferred to the club once membership reached the capacity of 750 families. The title was transferred to club president Douglas C. Hansen.  Annual family memberships at the time were $42.

Earlier that same month, Levitt gifted nearly 50 acres of land to the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission for a park that would eventually come to be known as Foxhill Park.

Collington Station Burglary Alert

The City of Bowie issued the following burglary alert for the Collington Station neighborhood in Bowie.

John K. Nesky
Chief of Police


April 2013

The Bowie Police Department recently had three burglaries reported in your community. We have put together some safety tips to help you protect your home against break ins.

• During the day, leave drapes and shades in a normal position - the way you have them when at home. Don’t leave easily movable valuables in sight close to windows.
• At night, leave on some inside lights - bathrooms and hallways, for example.
• Consider buying automatic timers that turn lamps on after dark, then off a few hours later or at dawn.
• Never leave garage doors open - especially with no car in sight. This is a WELCOME sign to burglars.
• Install deadbolt locks. Make sure locks are firmly screwed in solid wood - not just into a light door jamb. The longer the screws and the longer the lock bolt, the safer your home will be.
• Burglars often try to find out if anyone is home by phoning. Warn family members, especially children, not to give out information over the phone.
• Avoid putting your name on mailboxes or on doors.
• Don’t open your door to anyone you don’t know and trust.
• Never keep large sums of cash around the house. Keep valuable jewelry that you don’t often wear in a safe deposit box.
• Don’t advertise your vacation plans. Let a trusted neighbor know you’re going on vacation and ask them to keep an eye on your house and pick up any mail or newspapers left at your doorstep.
• If you’ll be away from your home for an extended time, tell the Bowie Police Department 301-575-2480.
• Be a good neighbor. Keep an eye on your neighbors’ homes and ask them to do the same for you.
• The Bowie Police Department offers free home security surveys. Please contact Sgt. Henderson at bhenderson@cityofbowie.org to set up an appointment.

 

REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY TO THE BOWIE POLICE DEPARTMENT

Sgt. Bennie Henderson
Community Service Supervisor

James T. Woodward, Belair Mansion Owner, Dies after a Short Illness

April 10, 1910 (103 years ago today): James T. Woodward, owner of the Belair Mansion, died after a short illness.  He left the majority of his estate, including the Belair property, to his nephew, William Woodward.

Much of Belair had been sold in pieces during the nineteenth century, and the property had been largely neglected in the years leading up to 1898 when James Woodward purchased the estate.

Despite only owning Belair for twelve years, James Woodward is responsible for transforming the mansion and property, and creating the iconic images of Belair that we have today.  It was during this time that the east and west wings were added onto the Belair Mansion.  Four dormers, two in the front and two in the back, were cut into the roof line.  New stairs and a porch (pictured here) were added to the north side of the mansion.  Woodward also had the sandstone stable building constructed (the present day Belair Stable Museum).  It is believed that the bridge over Foxhill Lake was built at this time as well, although the pond was not known as Foxhill Lake until some time after Levitt & Sons purchased the property.

The size of the Belair estate changed frequently over the years.  The mansion sat on nearly 400 acres at the time James Woodward purchased Belair, and he added approximately 1,000 more acres before his death by buying adjacent properties.  Belair would grow to be 2,300 acres by the time it was sold to Levitt in 1957.

James Woodward's Belair estate was valued at $63,568.54, and the $3,200 inheritance tax paid by his nephew was the largest inheritance tax levied in the history of Prince George's County at the time.

City of Bowie Press Release on Change in Fireworks Venue

For more information:

Matt Corley, Special Events Coordinator

301-809-3078 or email mcorley@cityofbowie.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 8, 2013

Bowie’s Fourth of July Celebration will be at Prince George’s Stadium this Year.

The Fabulous Hubcaps will Provide the Entertainment.

The City of Bowie is teaming up with the Bowie Baysox to establish a new Fourth of July tradition in Bowie. Rather than fireworks at Allen Pond Park, this year’s celebration will take place at Prince George’s Stadium on Thursday, July 4^th.

The Fabulous Hubcaps Band will kick off the event with a show beginning at 7 p.m. and fireworks will begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. The Fabulous Hubcaps are a popular oldies band, with a large local following. They have performed throughout the US and are known for their fun and entertaining performances. The celebration will be free and tickets will not be required.

“We’re excited about this change and think it will be a great experience for all who attend. In many ways we had outgrown Allen Pond as a venue,” said City of Bowie Special Events Coordinator Matt Corley. The stadium provides more comfort for attendees with seating, more restrooms, and a variety of concessions. Being at the stadium also makes it an easier event to manage. The stadium was built for large crowds and has ample parking and good lighting. “Last year we had some safety concerns with people setting off their own fireworks in the crowd. The setup at the ballpark allows us to better control access, and hopefully eliminate those types of concerns; while at the same time, we expect to spend less money on staffing. I think it’s a ‘win-win’ for everyone,” said Mayor G. Frederick Robinson. “We are very grateful to the Baysox organization for working with us to organize this event.”

This Fourth of July celebration is organized by the City of Bowie and the Bowie Baysox. The Baysox organization will provide ushers, parking assistance, concessions, and other event support. There is no baseball game at the stadium on this date. Parking and admission to the event are free. The main gate to the stadium will open at 6 p.m.

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