Historical Marker
Dowdens Ordinary
Historical marker location:
23214 Frederick Road, Clarksburg, Maryland
( Marker is on North Frederick Road (Maryland Route 355) just south of Stringtown Road.)
Marker installed: 1915
Maryland was founded as a Catholic colony: Maryland was founded by the English nobleman George Calvert, also known as Lord Baltimore, in 1632. He envisioned Maryland as a haven for Catholics who faced persecution in England at the time. The colony's first settlement, St. Mary's City, was established in 1634.