Wishing Rock

Everyone knows about Anne Arundel County's great rivers and Bay frontage, but there are many other sites of interest that many people, including quite a few who have lived here for decades, aren't aware of.

This is the first in an occasional series of pieces that I will write about these special places.

In Pasadena, in the ever shrinking swath of green space between Route 100 and Ritchie Highway, lies one of the few, true stone outcroppings in the County. At the top of a hill, behind a small industrial park, off Wishing Rock Road, lies the Magothy Quartzite Quarry, also known as "Wishing Rock."

All of Anne Arundel County lies in what is known as the western coastal plain, basically, the last bit of land sloping down from the piedmont (literally, the "feet of the mountains") into the Bay. Almost all of the soils here are made up of sand and gravel, washed down from the mountains, and clay. Sandstone, a sedimentary rock formed by concretized sand and pebbles, and heavy in iron, occurs in the soil, particularly in the vicinity of the Magothy River. But, these hulking masses of quartzite above the ground are unique.

Now listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the site is believed to have been a quarry site for Native Americans (around 5000 BC), looking to fashion spear or cutting blades, as stone sufficient to hold an edge was very scarce locally. In more recent times, a previous owner of the site actually quarried some of the sand and gravel from the site, but that appears to have desisted.

As well as having been disturbed by mining, the site has apparently been a popular hang out for teens as many of the stones have been tagged with spray paint and beer cans litter some of the site. The stones have even gathered something of a cult following.

Nonetheless, the monoliths, situated in a dense sylvan setting can also be a place for reflection and quiet thought. The site is located on private property, and is not currently accessible to the public.


There are actually several stones at the site.


Many of the stones are now covered with graffiti

Our Favorite Places

An article in yesterday's Capital on the Back Creek Nature Park restoration in Annapolis made me think about how all of us likely have our own little hideaways in Anne Arundel County where we like to go, soak in nature, and reflect upon our lives and the world around us. Certainly, parks like Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary, the Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Downs Park, and Quiet Waters Park are all great getaways. I am thinking of something a bit more off the beaten path, however.

In Annapolis, wandering the streets and alleys, and peering into secret gardens, nestled between homes is one of the most serene experiences in the spring time. In summer, spending time on the Bay, sailing or kayaking, absorbing the sun and watching the seabirds is the essence of Chesapeake country. In the autumn, finding a dense forest to explore, and getting lost in among the beech and tulip populars at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center can renew a child-like fascination in the world. The shortened days of winter present a good time watch the songbirds, observe the wonderful forms of deciduous trees gone naked, and begin drafting an outdoor itinerary for the year.

I would like to invite readers to submit their favorite secret places in the County (and its waters), to be sampled in an upcoming column. You can submit them to blogarundel@hotmail.com.