Community Corner
Historic Emmorton Schoolhouse Designated as Harford Historic Landmark
Now in its 104th year, the building has seen the surrounding neighborhood grow from a rural village into a modern suburban community.
Located at the corner of Old Emmorton and Wheel Roads in Bel Air, The Emmorton Schoolhouse has been recognized as a Harford County Historic Landmark. Now in its 104th year, the historic building has seen the surrounding neighborhood grow from a rural village into a modern suburban community. The designation, at the request of owner Dr. Linda Freilich, will help ensure that the building sees what the next 100 years will bring.
Built in 1920 during the era of school segregation, the two-room schoolhouse replaced an overcrowded one-room school for white students. Over the years the location has served as a community center, hosting meetings for local groups like Merry Maidens 4H Club, Emmorton Grange, Harford County Farm Bureau, and Mt. Carmel Methodist Church. Following its closure as a general education school in 1958, the building became home to the Emmorton Special School and an annex of the Harford Center, supporting students in need of additional educational support until 1976. After decades of housing various offices, including Dr. Freilich’s medical practice, it has again become a place of learning as the home of Autism Connection.
In Harford County, historic sites like the Emmorton Schoolhouse help contribute to the unique character of the county while playing different roles in our daily lives. Collaborative efforts of the Harford County Historic Preservation Commission and the Harford County Department of Planning and Zoning, help ensure these historic places are cared for and celebrated.
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“We are proud to preserve this special place as a lasting reminder of our history,” County Executive Bob Cassilly said. “Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Historic Preservation Commission, Department of Planning and Zoning and others, we have established over 70 county
landmarks and two historic districts, ensuring these connections to our past endure for generations to come.”
The Harford County Historic Landmarks and Districts Program offers protections and tax credit opportunities to owners of historic properties to help preserve these valuable parts of our history. For more information on how you can help protect the places that make our county special, visit www.harfordcountymd.gov/historicpres.
