German History in Maryland

Just this week I was re-shelving a book at the York County Heritage Trust, when I noticed that the book was about German church records in Baltimore, Maryland. So I went to the index and found who I have been searching for over the past few years! It was just by chance that I took the time to check the index.

This morning, I spent some time researching places in the Baltimore, Maryland area where I can visit and hopefully learn more about my dad's ancestors. While on the German Marylanders' website, I skimmed the timeline and learned the following:

In 1940, Gustav Brunn, a Frankfurt Germany native developed a spice used for crabs.  He had arrived a year earlier in Baltimore from Germany.  His spice was sold many years later to McCormick.  Brunn invented 'Old Bay'. (courtesy of German Marylanders).

I suppose good old Gustav and I have something in common...he created a blend of spices that today is used widely on our favorite seafood, and I accidentally stumbled on relevant data that I considered to be a treasure into my family's past. 

P.S.  If you are interested in learning where the name 'Old Bay' came from, read more here.