Windsor Mill Road

Windsor Mill Road is a road that runs through parts of Baltimore, Maryland and its western suburb Woodlawn. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Windsor Hills |url=http://www.windsorhillsneighbors.org/history.html |quote=Windsor Hills derives its name from the Windsor Mill, an 18th century grist mill that was located on the Gwynns Falls, probably at the Windsor Mill Road bridge. The site of this bridge was described in 1757 as "William Miller's Ford", implying the existence of a homestead that may have included a mill. The date of construction of this long-vanished mill is unknown, but first appeared in documents, as being for sale, in 1784. At about that time the Windsor Mill was described as a three story structure with three waterwheels. The mill was last mentioned in documents in 1818, and soon thereafter a mill downstream, in today's Rosemont area, took the Windsor Mill name. Windsor Mill Road obviously also derives its name for this mill, although it existed as a nameless local thoroughfare connecting farms west of today's Dickeyville area with the Garrison Road, as early as 1730. |publisher= |date= |accessdate=2007-08-21 ] cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Windsor Mill Road: A Bizarre case of survival amidst the Urban Grids |url=http://www.monumentalcity.net/streets/windsormill/ |quote=Among the many interesting and old thoroughfares still jutting across the Baltimore Metropolitan area is Windsor Mill Road, an ancient artery dating to the mid-19th Century. Despite its existence for many decades, the road is not too much changed from its earlier days, an especially remarkable feat when one considers the many examples of development and sprawl that have sprung up around the roadway. |publisher=Monumental City |date= |accessdate=2007-08-21 ] The road, which is approximately 7½ miles in length, runs parallel to nearby Liberty Road and Security Boulevard, and is often used as an alternative to these routes. Though Windsor Mill Road has no interchange with the Baltimore Beltway, it crosses over the highway, and this point is frequently mentioned in traffic reports.

Windsor Mill Road once continued east to near the intersection of Pennsylvania and Fremont Avenues; a short piece survives as School Street. The road is an old one, existing prior to the founding of Baltimore in 1729. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Maryland Historical Magazine, v. 16 (1921), p. 246 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=GsI1AAAAIAAJ&q |quote=The road thus described was undoubtedly that which is now called the Windsor Mill Road. The ford called William Miller's ford evidently owed its ... |publisher=Maryland Historical Society |date=1921 |accessdate=2007-08-21 ]

Currently, Windsor Mill Road begins near Walbrook Junction in West Baltimore as a one-way street for several blocks, but becomes a larger two-way road at Gwynns Falls Parkway. It then proceeds as a winding road, passing two city parks: Gwynns Falls Park and Leakin Park.

After passing the two parks, Windsor Mill Road runs mostly straight with few curves. The road is lined mostly with single-family houses, apartments, and small shops and shopping centers throughout its duration.

The main part of Windsor Mill Road ends at Old Court Road. There is no traffic light at this intersection. However, Windsor Mill Road continues for two more blocks beyond Old Court as a side street that is Inwood Road.

Major intersections

*Forest Park Avenue and Ingleside Avenue
*Woodlawn Drive/Gwynn Oaks Avenue
*Essex Road
*Rolling Road
*Old Court Road (after Old Court Road, Windsor Mill Road as a side street, to the name Inwood Road)

Landmarks

Parks

Two well-known parks, Gwynns Falls and Leakin Parks, are located along Windsor Mill Road in Baltimore City. The parks have more than 1000 acres of land combined [http://leakinpark.com/newsite/] . Leakin Park is home to the Gwynns Falls Trail runs through Leakin Park [http://www.gwynnsfallstrail.org/] and the annual Baltimore Herb Festival [http://www.baltimoreherbfestival.com/] .

Other

*Kernan Hospital
*Winsdor Mill Middle School

Gwynns Falls Parkway

When traveling eastbound on Windsor Mill Road, after passing the parks, Windsor Mill Road becomes one way facing in the other direction. At this point, a right turn would bring the motorist onto Lyndhurst Avenue. A left turn, which is more common, and is permitted without stopping, will bring the motorist onto Gwynns Falls Parkway, a major road the continues west-east for about two miles up until the entrance to Druid Hill Park and the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore after City home comminuties. Gwynns Falls Parkway is a multi-lane divided road that is mostly lined with residential development. Major landmarks on Gwynns Falls Parkway include:

*Mondawmin Mall
* [http://www.bcps.k12.md.us/ Frederick Douglass High School]

References