Conclusion County Historical Society, 1978. Hrastar, John. Breaking the Appalachian Barrier: Volume 12, No. 3 Fall 2019 The Baltimore-Reisterstown Turnpike was a as the Gateway to Ohio and the West, 1750-1850. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., 2018. significant infrastructure project that Klein, Frederick Shriver. “Jeffersonians in Local Politics eventually provided a major artery between Along the -Maryland Border,” Baltimore and Pittsburgh. The road and others Pennsylvania History: A Journal of Mid-Atlantic Studies of its era accommodated the needs of 24 (1957). Piedmont merchant millers like the Shrivers Riley, G. Donald, Jr. David Shriver, 1735-1826: Pioneer and Patriot of Piedmont Maryland. Westminster, MD: who were anxious to join a growing industrial- Historical Society of Carroll County, 2003. based economy that required the ready Shriver Family Papers, 1774-1957. MS 2085, Box 1. movement of labor and products across great Baltimore: Maryland Historical Society. Shriver, Samuel S. History of the Shriver Family and their distances. Although some portions of the THE ROAD MOST TRAVELED: THE SHRIVERS AND THE TURNPIKE turnpike have been bypassed with modern Connections. Baltimore: Guggenheimer, Weil & Co., 1888. four-lane highways, other sections continue to Sioussat, St. George Leakin. “Highway Legislation in BY SAMUEL M. RILEY follow the turnpike’s original route, winding Maryland and Its Influence on the Economic through Westminster and Union Mills. As part Development of the State,” 120-21, Part III, Report on ntil recently, almost 26,000 drivers a day of an expanding web of Maryland’s early road the Highways of Maryland by the Maryland Geological Survey. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press, 1899. passed by a lonely milestone perched improvements, the turnpike had a lasting U Sky, Theodore. The National Road and the Difficult Path to along north of impact on Carroll County and helped realize Sustainable National Investment. Newark: University of Westminster. Most were unaware of the stone the dreams of a new nation. Delaware Press, 2011. and the history of the roadway it marked or its direct ties to Carroll County’s Shriver family. Selected Sources: This early 19th-century highway, known originally as the Baltimore-Reisterstown 1822 stock certificate issued to stockholders in the Westminster, Taney-town, and Emmitsburg turnpike Act of January 12, 1805, Chapter LI, 1804 Md. Laws 211. Turnpike, provided an important link between road. Selling stock was a common way to privately fund Brugger, Robert J. Maryland, A Middle Temperament, 1634 rapidly growing settlements along the new roads in the early 19th century. (HSCC collection) -1980. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, About the Author: Maryland-Pennsylvania border and the 1988. Samuel M. Riley is a Maryland attorney practicing in the Dowd, Mary Jane. “The State in the Maryland Economy: expanding port of Baltimore. Its construction improvement to accommodate growing wagon area of civil litigation. A 1985 graduate of Washington not only spurred economic growth for farms, traffic foundered. Early government records 1776-1807.” Maryland Historical Magazine 57 (March and Lee University, he earned his J.D. from the 1962). University of Maryland School of Law. He is active in mills, and businesses along the route but also document petitions to the county courts for Durrenberger, Joseph Austin. Turnpikes: A Study of the historic preservation matters and local nonprofit fostered westward migration and expansion as road projects, but local initiatives to address Toll Road Movement in the Mid-Atlantic States and organizations, serving as President of the Union Mills it connected with other roads to Pittsburgh and such concerns were generally unsuccessful. Maryland. Cos Cob, CT: John E. Edwards, 1931, 1968. Homestead Foundation and as a board member of the Gallatin, Albert. “Report of the Secretary of the Treasury the Ohio River. Maryland Regimental Artillery Association and the on the Subject of Public Roads and Canals” 60. In January 1805, Maryland’s General Assembly Historic Shriver Graveyard, Inc., and maintaining life Washington, DC, 1808. membership in the Historical Society of Carroll County. Building Maryland’s Turnpikes: An passed an act authorizing the incorporation of Hollifield, William. Difficulties Made Easy: History of the Innovative Public-Private Partnership three companies to build turnpikes that later Turnpikes of Baltimore City and County. Cockeysville: became known as the Frederick, York, and Maryland’s roads in the late 18th century were Reisterstown Roads. The Baltimore and © 2019 PUBLICATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS: in poor condition. According to historian Reisterstown Turnpike Company was created The Historical Society of Carroll County, Maryland, Inc. Frank J. Batavick, editor 210 East Main Street Robert Brugger, travelers described them as “for making a turnpike road from Baltimore, Mary Ann Ashcraft Westminster, Maryland 21157 “frightful, miserable, and worst in the union.” Catherine E. Baty through Reister’s-town, to the Pennsylvania Phone: 410-848-6494 Samuel T. Brainerd In many instances, they were little more than line towards Hanover-town, and through Email: [email protected] Website: www.HSCCmd.org Eleanor S. Darcy trails established by Native Americans with Westminster to the Pennsylvania line towards James E. Lightner Sharon B. Schuster notched trees to guide the way. Scholar Joseph Petersburgh, as shall be agreed upon by a Austin Durrenberger wrote, “steep grades, majority of the stockholders.” The road was to deep ruts and seas of mud were the cause of be funded by private capital through the sale Frank J. Batavick, Chair, Board of Trustees chronic complaint.” Initial efforts at of stock. The term “turnpike” meant that it was to be a toll road with a gate mill into the new road near the Shriver’s son William, also prospered. The mill (“turnpike”) used to block travel head of Little Pipe Creek.” was converted into a roller mill in the early Marking the Road until tolls were paid. Would the new turnpike follow 1880s, among the first in Maryland. William this established path? The Shriver’s son, B.F. Shriver, eventually formed a The Act of 1805 required the turnpike companies to “cause milestones to be placed The shift to private capital to Shrivers, namely David and sons business at the site to can local farm produce. at the side of the said road or roads, improve Maryland roads paid Andrew and David, Jr., had The operation grew into the B.F. Shriver beginning at the distance of one mile from the dividends. By early 1808, U.S. another plan in mind. Company, with factories in six locations bounds of the city of Baltimore, and extending Treasury Secretary Albert including Union Mills and Westminster. By thence to the termination of each or either of Gallatin observed that work on A Shriver Family Affair 1921, the company farmed over 5,000 acres and the said respective roads, whereon shall be the turnpikes extending out had an annual production capacity of over a marked, in plain legible characters, the from Baltimore was “rapidly The ultimate route of the million cases of canned goods. respective number of miles which each stone progressing.” They were among turnpike reflects the influence of is distant from the city of Baltimore.” The the first improved U.S. roads to the Shriver family. It exercised a David Shriver, Jr.’s Legacy turnpike companies were also to post similar use modern engineering. The considerable degree of political signage wherever tolls where collected. Portrait of David Shriver, Sr., by legislation had specified an Jacob Maentel, c.1800. power as one of the most The Baltimore-Reisterstown Turnpike Several milestones still exist along the “artificial Road” that was (HSCC collection) prominent German-speaking cemented David Shriver, Jr.’s reputation as a Baltimore-Reisterstown Turnpike’s route. “bedded with wood, stone, or families in Maryland at the respected civil engineer and road construction One is particularly well-preserved and until th manager. In January 1810 he was named a gravel, or any other hard substance, well beginning of the 19 century and was actively recently was visible along Route 97 north of compacted together, a sufficient depth to involved in the state’s affairs—including the commissioner for a turnpike between Westminster, just above Magna Way. The secure a solid foundation. . . and so nearly routing of early roads. Westminster and Hagerstown. The next year, marker, Milestone 31, is clearly marked “31 M level in its progress as that it shall in no place through the intercession of his brother Andrew TO B.” The State Highway Administration rise or fall more than will form an angle of four David Shriver, Sr., (1735-1826) rose from during a trip to Washington, DC, David was (SHA) removed the milestone in May, 2019 as degrees.” Gallatin reported the “Reisters- humble origins to play a leading role in selected as Superintendent of Construction for part of a road-widening project in the area Town” Turnpike “is 24 feet wide, is covered Maryland’s early state government. Born to the National Road, from Cumberland to adjacent to Carroll County Regional Airport. with a stratum 12 inches thick, of pounded German immigrants in the remote Conewago Wheeling—the first federally-funded interstate Once the road project is complete, the SHA stones not more than 3 inches in diameter.” settlement near present-day Hanover, PA, highway in the United States. will re-install Milestone 31 in a safer location east of the original spot. When completed, the new road was one of the Shriver cleared and settled a tract of land at best in the country. the juncture of Little Pipe Creek and Cobb’s Among the notable improvements associated Branch in 1760, in what was then Frederick with Shriver’s work on the National Road At the time it was proposed, the Baltimore- County, MD. He married Rebecca Ferree the was the construction of the Casselman River Reisterstown pike was to start in Baltimore following year, and this property became the Bridge in Grantsville, MD. Built between City and continue northwest to Reisterstown family’s homestead, subsequently known as 1813 and 1815, the bridge spans 80 feet—at where it would fork into two legs, one toward “Farm Content.” The couple had eight the time the largest single-span stone arch Petersburgh (today’s Littlestown) and the children, including five sons: Andrew (1762- bridge in the nation. other toward Hanover. A 1794 map shows that 1847), David, Jr., (1769-1852), Abraham (1771- roads following these two paths already 1848), Isaac (1777-1856), and Jacob (1779- The National Road connected to Baltimore via existed, and the turnpike was to follow their 1841). With their well-regarded father as a series of turnpikes including the Frederick established routes. However, the old road patriarch, the family became a force in the Road, one of the three turnpikes authorized by from Westminster to Littlestown ran west of local community. the 1805 Maryland legislation. They provided the area that became Union Mills, passing yet another significant link between Baltimore Groff’s Mill and Erb’s Tavern, not Banker’s Shriver was one of the most distinguished and the Ohio River. With the addition of the Mill where Andrew and David Shriver, Jr., German-speaking leaders of Revolutionary National Road, the turnpikes built under the would establish Union Mills in 1797. Court War-era Annapolis, overcoming prejudice 1805 state law were a potent factor in the records dating as early as the 1760s reflected directed at those not of English descent. He economic development of the young nation, that residents of the area along Big Pipe Creek was outspoken in supporting the break from providing thoroughfares between Baltimore had petitioned for that road from “Peter Erbs’ England and was elected in 1776 to Maryland’s and the waterways of the Midwest. Milestone 31. (Courtesy of the author)

2 7 traffic flow. Bypasses include Interstate 795 Over 34 years (1776-1810), he held from Interstate 695 (the Baltimore Beltway) to elective office for at least 20 of them, Reisterstown and representing the interests of Frederick between Reisterstown and Westminster. County. This allowed him to achieve Route 140 around Westminster has the positions of power not just for himself but heaviest traffic flow of any road in the county, his children. Among the plum jobs for the with over 55,000 vehicles a day coursing the Shriver family was the federal highway. appointment of Andrew as a local postmaster. The Littlestown Pike portion of the road, between Westminster and Littlestown, has The 1805 legislation authorizing turnpike Above: 1862 Martenet map showing Baltimore- remained a major thoroughfare along the construction directed that “said roads Reisterstown Turnpike’s route through Finksburg. Note shall be made in, over and upon, the beds designations for “19 Mile Stone,” “20 Mile Stone,” and road’s original route. From 1926 to 1979, “Toll Gate.” (HSCC collection) Littlestown Pike was part of U.S. Route 140, of the present roads, as laid out and confirmed by the commissioners of Below: Finksburg’s 20 Mile toll house, c.2009; since which followed the original turnpike route demolished. (Courtesy of Ann Horvath) from Baltimore to Littlestown. Littlestown review, and the several acts of assembly Pike, now Maryland Route 97, remained an relating to the same.” One critical section important connection between Baltimore and of the turnpike was the road from Pittsburgh through the 1930s and 1940s, with Westminster to Littlestown which became Greyhound bus service connecting those two the subject of considerable dispute in the cities and passing Union Mills along the route. years leading up to the turnpike’s authorizing legislation. Communities adjacent to the turnpike’s Detail from the 1794 Map of the State of Maryland showing the original wagon routes from Reisterstown to Westminster to A Controversial Decision original route thrived. Businesses flourished to Petersburgh (Littlestown) to Hanover and from Reisterstown to provide services to travelers. An extensive Hanover. Note the Petersburgh route passed by Groff’s mill and survey of historic sites along the turnpike’s Erb’s tavern. (Library of Congress) As early as 1798, Andrew Shriver was route between Baltimore and Reisterstown, advocating for a postal road from prepared in connection with the construction Constitutional Convention where he served as Littlestown or Hanover through Union Mills of Interstate 795, identified numerous a framer of the state’s first constitution. and on to Westminster and Baltimore. His properties that were once taverns, inns, Eulogized as a “sage of the Revolution,” lobbying in Annapolis continued with stables, and other service providers along Shriver was among those who opposed the entreaties for a state route between the Union link between Baltimore and Pittsburgh and Reisterstown Road. Westminster too expansion of the federal government into state Mills property and Hanover. Subsequently, he are represented today on Carroll County’s experienced rapid growth and was eventually affairs, and later formed the core of also lobbied the Maryland General Assembly seal. The turnpike provided an important selected as the seat of Carroll County Maryland’s Jeffersonian Republican party. to authorize a new road that would in effect overland transportation route, connecting government when it was formed in 1837. connect his grist mill directly to Westminster. Baltimore to the resources of the West, and Innkeepers in Westminster prospered, A farmer, miller, and tanner, Shriver His entreaties fell upon sympathetic ears: his encouraging the region’s economic growth. including David Shriver, Jr.’s father-in-law, represented the interests of other German father’s. Jacob Sherman, and brother Isaac Shriver. farmers whose families comprised the bulk of The Turnpike’s Legacy Frederick County’s population. The cohesion Maryland’s legislative proceedings are replete The Shriver enterprises at Union Mills also of this group, their adherence to religious with the Shriver family’s involvement in laws The Baltimore-Reisterstown Turnpike has thrived. An inn and tavern established by denominations alien to the Anglican majority, relating to roads. For instance, in early continued as a major thoroughfare, with Andrew served travelers along the road. The and their use of the German language made December 1801, Shriver, Sr., was named to Reisterstown to Westminster to Littlestown tannery at Union Mills grew into the A.K. them a strong and distinct political unit. serve on a committee to consider a road to remaining a regional traffic artery. In places, Shriver & Sons Tannery which continued to Carlisle, PA. On December 12, the House of new highway construction has skirted the turn of the 20th century. The farming and Shriver was a member of the Maryland House Delegates appointed him to a committee to portions of the original route because of heavy milling business, inherited by Andrew of Delegates and later the Maryland Senate. consider a petition of residents of Montgomery

6 3 and Anne Arundel Counties for the deceitful, referring to the authorization of a construction of a road from Washington, DC, “certain road” in Frederick County, when it to Taneytown. was obviously one intended to have a specific route, one laid out on the petition of David The surviving documentary record indicates Shriver’s own son. The Herald blasted the road that the road Andrew Shriver advocated as “unjust and iniquitous,” moving a road between Union Mills and Westminster was from Erb’s mill where it had run since fully intended to divert road traffic from his Frederick County was first founded and rival merchant, Peter Erb. In November of destroying private property in the process. By 1801, Andrew wrote his father that he wanted 1809, the Frederick Herald wryly observed that the road legislation “pushed through as quick there was never an election in which a Shriver as possible for fear the Erbs should get wind of was running that did not involve a road. it and oppose me.” He continued, “I am afraid if I do not get it passed this session when we And as if to make the family affair complete, have so many friends in both houses I never Andrew’s brother David, an experienced Tollgate on Littlestown Pike, just south of “Crider’s will.” Later that month, he again wrote his surveyor and civil engineer, subsequently was Church,” c.1900. (HSCC collection) father, “I wish you to use your utmost efforts selected as the Baltimore-Reisterstown to get it passed for I see every day the Turnpike’s Superintendent of Construction. Union Mills. The bridge over the Patapsco, disadvantage I suffer for want of it.” This was Within a few years of Union Mills’ founding, Route of Baltimore-Reisterstown Turnpike as it travels completed in 1807, remained in use until specifically because he was missing out on David withdrew from that enterprise and in up Westminster’s Main Street and forks to the 1947. Now abandoned and partially Littlestown Pike (center), 1877. Note the toll gate below submerged in the , the ruins wagon traffic from Conewago and sales of 1803 married Eve Sherman, the daughter of “Crider’s Church.” (Illustrated Atlas of Carroll County, grain products—both of which were enjoyed Westminster innkeeper Jacob Sherman. HSCC collection) are significant as the oldest stone arch bridge by Peter Erb. Sherman purchased a lot opposite his tavern in in Maryland. The bridge over Big Pipe Creek May 1806 and, after construction of the washed out in a 1933 flood and has been Turnpike Construction In 1801, the Assembly enacted legislation building we know now as the Sherman-Fisher- replaced over the years.

advancing Andrew Shriver’s petition, “to lay Shellman House, sold the property to his son- After the authorizing legislation was enacted, out and open a road, passing by the Union in-law in 1807 for five shillings. That same The turnpike companies constructed small road construction moved quickly. On mills to the Marsh creek road.” That same year, David, Jr., was elected to Maryland’s buildings along the roads where tolls were November 16, 1807, the Baltimore and year, the Assembly also enacted a bill for a House of Delegates, his father having been collected as well as gatekeepers’ houses where Reisterstown Turnpike Company reported to new road connecting the Littlestown Road and elevated to the State Senate in 1804. the gatekeeper lived. Records of the period the Secretary of the Treasury that “Baltimore the Hanover Road. This created an important reflect land acquisitions by the turnpike and a point in the Pennsylvania line towards crossroads at Union Mills, with the roads to companies for their gatekeepers. In Finksburg, Petersburg are united; distance about forty- Littlestown, Hanover, and Westminster all for instance, the Baltimore and Reisterstown five miles. The road forks at Reisterstown, intersecting there. Turnpike Company acquired from William sixteen miles from Baltimore.” The road Wheeler an acre or so in 1821 at the “twentieth maintains much the same route today. The benefit to the Shrivers of the road did not mile stone” for use by “the Gate keeper his

go without notice. The authorizing legislation family and servants.” The company owned The Baltimore-Reisterstown Turnpike was for the turnpike was dubbed “Mr. Shriver’s this lot until 1903, and the tollhouse itself completed on January 8, 1810, when its last road law” by the opposition Federalist paper, survived until 2009. The Baltimore and tollgate became operational. The total cost for the Frederick-Town Herald, even though Reisterstown Turnpike Company managed the the entire 59 miles of the road (both the Shriver seemingly had recused himself from road as a privately-operated enterprise for Littlestown and Hanover branches) was the committee that considered his son’s over a century, finally selling it to the State $638,000. The turnpike included substantial petition. The Herald criticized the “self- Roads Commission in 1915. improvements such as bridges, the largest of serving” David Shriver, claiming he had failed which were two stone arch bridges—one to properly advertise the road, and thus Building, maintaining, and managing the Big Pipe Creek Stone Arch Bridge, c.1890. Photograph over the north branch of the provide sufficient public notice. Moreover, the turnpike created many jobs. Large numbers of by Louis Shriver. (Courtesy of the Union Mills and the other spanning Big Pipe Creek at Herald opined, the title of the road was itself Homestead Foundation, Inc.) Conestoga freight wagons navigated the new 4 5