T
he Bel Air Independence Day Committee, Inc., once again gives its deepest thanks to the Jones
Junction Automotive Group, the Premier Sponsor of the 4th of July celebration in Bel Air.
According to David Williams, President of the Bel Air Independence Day Committee, “We are
extremely pleased to have Jones Junction
back again in 2024 as our Premier
Sponsor, and their donation makes them
the power behind the fireworks this year!
Jones has a history of generous giving to
the Bel Air community, and we welcome
this commitment from them,” Williams
adds.
“We believe in our community, and salute
the teachers, school staff and all the edu-
cators who have been so important to the
health and well-being of our community,”
says Bryan Kilby, Co-Owner of Jones
Junction. “Our support of the Bel Air July
4 activities is a big part of how we give
back to all the people who helped us get
back on the way to normal times,” Kilby
adds.
Michael Blum, Vice President of the Bel Air Independence Day Committee, agrees. “We are very
pleased and happy to be bringing the events, parade and fireworks back to Bel Air this year. We
cannot produce the event without the generous support of local businesses and Jones leads the way
as FIREWORKS SPONSOR and Premier Sponsor,” he adds.
Jones Junction now celebrates its 107 th consecutive year as a family-run automotive business, serv-
ing Harford County and the surrounding area. Since its founding by patriarch C. M. Jones, the
1
Left to right: Jheury Moran, Sales Director, Jones Junction; Danny
Jones, Owner, Jones Junction; Mary Chance, Community Liaison,
Jones Junction; Bryan Kilby, President, Jones Junction; David
Williams, President, Bel Air Independence Day Committee; Debra
McCollum, Chief Financial Officer, Jones Junction.
Bel Air, Maryland
July 4, 2024
Bel Air – the
Next 150 Years!
T
he Town of Bel Air's identity has gone through great changes since 1780, when Aquilla
Scott, who had inherited land known as “Scott's Improvement Enlarged,” planned the town
on a portion that he called “Scott’s Old Fields.” A town soon existed, after politicians, mer-
chants and innkeepers purchased lots from Scott.
In 1784, the Harford County commissioners decided to change the Town's name to the more
appealing “Belle Aire.” In his deeds, Scott dropped one letter, renaming the town, “Bell Aire.”
Around 1798, court records dropped two more letters, and “Bel Air” it became and remains!
Bel Air, however it was spelled, achieved immediate prominence. In 1782 it became Harford’s coun-
ty seat, and Aquilla Scott’s son Daniel started building a court house on Main Street. Although the
town limits in the late 18th century encompassed nothing more than the two sides of Main Street,
and the Town had only about 200 residents as late as 1865 (and fewer than 2,000 residents until
World War II), the days following the Civil War began a building and land-development boom that
has continued to this day. The introduction of the canning industry, the stop on the Ma & Pa rail-
road line, and related financial businesses jump-started this growth. The County Fairgrounds (where
the Harford Mall is located today) hosted a huge fair and horse racing at Bel Air Race Track until
the 1960s. Steadily, the population climbed, passing 8,000 by 1990 and 10,000 in the 2000 census.
The Town's incorporation as an independent entity, with its own government, police, zoning and
financial control, finally occurred in 1874, and Bel Air’s role as the center of government and com-
merce continued to expand over the next 150 years. Today, Bel Air is the center for governmental,
legal, judicial, educational, cultural, medical, and commercial institutions in Harford County.
Of course, the past 150 years have not been without turmoil. In the early 20th century, several fires
swept through the downtown area, notably in 1900 and 1942. During the H. Rap Brown trial in
1970, an explosion at the intersection of Tollgate Road and Baltimore Pike left a crater in the road
and partially destroyed the Toll House at the Town border. In 1972, another fire struck, decimating
the east side of Main Street and causing millions of dollars in damage.
A Time Capsule was buried in Shamrock Park in 1974 to commemorate Bel Air’s centennial. It
included commemorative jewelry, copies of the August 1, 1974 issue of The Aegis newspaper with
photos of a cow-milking contest, and letters from people living in Bel Air. At a ceremony in
Shamrock on July 4, a new Time Capsule will be buried. This led us to think, "We know what the
past 150 years has seen — what will the NEXT 150 Years reveal? Flying cars? Total communication
integration? Commercial or residential development higher than the current 3-story limit?
Whatever happens, we, the Bel Air Independence Day Committee, are confident that the NEXT
150 Years will be just as interesting, community-focused and vibrant as the decades since 1874.
So we thank Bel Air, “Our Home Town,” for its efficient and effective non-partisan government, led
by Commissioners Paula Etting (Chairperson of the Board & Mayor of Bel Air), Steve Chizmar
(Vice-Chair), Mary Chance, Jim Rutledge and Jake Taylor.
U See “Thank you, Jones Junction,” continuing on page 2.
We Thank Our Premier
Sponsor, Jones Junction!
The Town Administration is managed by Edward Hopkins, whose effective department heads
include Angela Robertson, Director of Economic Development; Michael Krantz, Director of HR &
Administration; Charles Moore, Bel Air Police Chief, Kevin Small, Director of Planning; Stephen
Kline, Director of Public Works; Lisa Moody, Director of Finance, and many others. We on the
Committee (see the inside back cover!) run the July 4 activities, but these terrific people and their
hard-working staff members (many of whom we’ve known, appreciated and worked with for
decades!) run the Town of Bel Air, and we couldn’t pull it off without them.
So, please come and enjoy yourself in Bel Air on Thursday, July 4. While you do, please think of all
the people behind the scenes who work that day and the 364 others, to make it happen.
The Bel Air Independence Day Committee, Inc., the all-volunteer organization which produces and
stages the activities held in and around the Town of Bel Air on July 4, has a vision of what this
annual celebration should be. The committee works hard to realize that vision, and we are grateful
for the contributions we receive from businesses and individuals, the help we receive from scores of
volunteers the day of the event, and the support of thousands of spectators and participants.
We hope that the events we present to our community on July 4th also help realize our vision: that,
thanks to the sacrifices and hard work of many, on this day we can freely assemble, and without ran-
cor celebrate what is beautiful and harmonious about our country and our Town.