Baltimore's Halcyon Days chronicles Baltimore's social elite, their homes, and their lifestyle from the dawn of the Republic to the demise of the fingerbowl. Long and widely renowned as an enclave of good taste and culture, Baltimore has from its inception offered a good life to those who could afford it. From hunt cups to hatpins and terrapins to tophats, Baltimoreans were connoisseurs of the best. When life was their oyster, they knew the best way to have it served.

Before there were beltways and byways, there were fields and farms. Towson was situated on an increasingly busy route used by farmers, travelers, and merchants heading to the port of Baltimore. The communitys idyllic setting began to change when, in 1854, the local populace voted Towson the new seat of Baltimore County. The neighboring communities of Ruxton and Lutherville once consisted mainly of farmland but also became popular summer retreats. Both areas have since made the shift from vacation spot to suburb, but many of the charming, historic houses found there capture the spirit of an...