Eldersburg Gets New Sign, Reminder of Community’s Age

Residents and visitors might notice something a little different at the southwest corner of routes 32 and 26 this weekend.

A new sign now stands in front of the empty gap left by the demolished Korner Karry Out and Milt’s Liquor Store, vacant for more than 10 years.

The sign, erected Friday, is a cooperative effort between the Carroll County Government, the Freedom Area Citizens Council and the Carroll County Office of Economic Development.

“This is about getting Eldersburg recognized as a distinct place. We’re not Sykesville, we’re Eldersburg and people should be proud of that,” said Ross Dangel, standing alongside District 5 Commissioner Doug Howard, Director of Economic Development for Carroll County Larry Twele, and the President of the South Carroll Business Association Tom Alessi in front of the new addition Friday.

“It’s a very attractive sign that the Freedom Area Citizen’s Council has put together and so I think it’s going to be a real improvement to this area,” said Alessi. “I think it’s going to help solidify the community’s identity in the area.” 

The FACC presented the concept and design to the South Carroll Business Association and the Department of Economic Development who partnered with the council to make the plan a reality.

The FACC completed a permit application with the State Highway Administration, whose property the sign is located on.

The sign in January was delayed because of frozen ground conditions. 

Costs for the project total roughly $4,000 with the winning bid going to local firm Shannon Baum Signs.

District 5 Commissioner Doug Howard believes that the sign will give the Eldersburg a sense of place as one of Carroll County’s largest unincorporated areas alongside Finksburg.

“When you have eight cities and towns that can develop and have a mayor and a town council that really helps with a sense of direction. I think part of our charge is to make sure that the other areas, the open areas such as Eldersburg are being looked after and the effort’s being put to develop them and making sure that they’re you know good communities and have what they need,” said Howard.

“It coincides with the county’s identity, and branding. I think it’s great.”

Director of Economic Development for Carroll County, Larry Twele said that he thinks the sign will have a positive effect on area businesses. “Ross came to us with the idea we wanted to help him because it absolutely does help the community image which helps with business attraction. Business attraction means job growth for the residents so that’s what economic development is and can support the community efforts and help make it a good place for business,” said Twele.

Ross Dangel, member of the Freedom Area Recreational Council and head of the project believes that the sign will educate the community on the history of Eldersburg saying, “I hope it will give people the sense that they should learn a little bit about our history and have a pride in knowing that this is a community that has been here since the early 1700s. There have continuously been people here from 1750. Not too many places can say that and I think it’s something we should be proud of.”