Fun Facts About Perry Hall

Captain John Smith was an early explorer.A Visit from Captain John Smith.  One of the most famous explorers in history was Captain John Smith.   The National Park Service and the states of Maryland and Virginia are developing a "water trail" that will trace an expedition made by Smith in 1608, when he and 15 scientists, soldiers, and navigators left Jamestown, Virginia, to explore the Chesapeake Bay.  This was the first comprehensive study of the Chesapeake Bay.  It is believed that Smith's company sailed up the Gunpowder River, stopping when rocks impeded its progress.  Smith also encountered hostile Indians during his expedition.  The explorer named the Gunpowder "Willowby's River," although that name would soon be forgotten by all but the historians.   Today, the Gunpowder River is much tamer than in the past, but it is still an important part of Perry Hall's geography.

The Legend of the Gunpowder River.   It was not James Smith, but a little-known man named James Denton who may have given the Gunpowder River its current moniker.  According to legend, Denton roamed the banks of the Great Gunpowder Falls in 1665, discovering saltpeter along its banks.  Saltpeter is an ingredient for gunpowder.  Legend has it that when local Indians witnessed the power of gunpowder, they planted it along the river banks, hoping this manmade chemical would grow.  This is supposedly how the Gunpowder River acquired its identity.

Perry Hall's English Cousins.   Perry Hall was named by Harry Dorsey Gough for his family's estate in Perry Barr, a ward of Birmingham.  Recently, there have been efforts to bridge the gap between Perry Hall, Maryland, and Perry Barr, England.

Many roads in Perry Hall are named for longtime families.

Road Names.   Many of the roads in Perry Hall are named for families.  When Baltimore Gas & Electric installed power lines, they needed a way to designate the roads, so they often named them for the families who lived nearby--people like the Kahls, the Walters, and Schroeders.   Other roads are named for historical features.  Forge Road, for example, refers to the furnaces that once lined the Great Gunpowder Falls.  Joppa Road, named because it once connected with the town of Joppa, began as a Susquehannock Indian trail.

Baltimore Orioles in Perry Hall.   Perry Hall's famous residents have included Orioles Sammy Stewart and Earl Weaver.  Weaver coached the team to a World Series championship, and Belair Road was temporarily renamed in his honor.

"Hairspray" was filmed in Perry Hall.

Perry Hall's Hollywood Connection.  Scenes from the 1988 movie "Hairspray" were filmed at Perry Hall High School.  In fact, during one scene filmed in the principal's office, the old Harry Dorsey Gough coat-of-arms that once hung in the main lobby can be seen through the doorway.  Another scene occurred in one of the English classrooms on the first floor.  The movie was shot during the summer of 1987 and spawned a popular Broadway musical of the same name.   Several low-budget horror flicks, filmed by the late Don Dohler, were also shot in Perry Hall, and the 2006 film "Borat" featured the Perry Hall Driving School. 

Perry Hall's Millennium Celebration.  In 2000, Perry Hall marked its 225th birthday.  As part of a yearlong celebration, community leaders buried a time capsule in the courtyard of Perry Hall Middle School.  They also restarted the community concert series, hosting an unforgettable performance by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra on the grounds of the middle school, and announced plans for Baltimore County to buy the historic Perry Hall Mansion.