Historic Significance: The original site of the town of Sykesville. These industrial buildings, built between 1870 and 1936, which stand along the Patapsco River, represent the industrial heritage of this area.

Threat: The County has entered into an innovative arrangement with the Town of Sykesville for the stewardship and adaptive use of this site, but the buildings are quickly deteriorating and time is of the essence if they are to be preserved as a part of Howard County’s early industrial heritage.

T he Maryland Historic Trust’s Inventory of Historic Sites summarizes this area: "Six buildings and structures occupy the 7.369 acre South Branch Recreational Area Survey District. They include a brick warehouse, a wood water tank and its concrete block pump house, a stone dwelling, a truck scale house and a metal warehouse."