Dream City: The ‘Veil of Secrecy’ Behind Columbia’s Beginnings

Perhaps many people around town already know about the super-secret, mysterious beginnings of Columbia--the way some nameless person or entity was buying a huge chunk of Howard County land, and everyone was wondering what the heck was happening.

One of the first stories about this change bubbling up in a rural part of Howard County came from the March 25, 1963 Baltimore Post, with the headline “Secret ‘Land Grab’ On in Howard.”

According to the story, not even the sellers knew the name of the true buyer.

“A veil of secrecy has surrounded the various sales with sellers cautioned by the buyers not to reveal any details of the sales which are conducted through ‘straw men’ holding companies or individuals not publicly known,” reads the news copy.

What we know now – according to the Columbia Archives -- is that Columbia was developed by Howard Research and Development, led by its founder, .

“On Oct. 30, 1963 Rouse announced to Howard County officials and residents that his company had acquired 14,000 acres and planned to build a city,” according to the Columbia Archives’s history of Columbia.

How did the rest of Howard County feel in the 1960s about this “secret land grab?” I’d love to hear thoughts/reactions below – or send me an e-mail at lisa.rossi@patch.com

About this series: Associate Local Editor Lisa Rossi, with the help of Columbia Archives Manager Barbara Kellner, is writing a series of short posts about how early ideas about Columbia’s past can spur conversations today about its future. Do you have a historical aspect of Columbia you think should be explored? Email Lisa at lisa.rossi@patch.com

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