CENTENNIAL HISTORY

1149 SY 1949 THEKLA FUNOENBERG WEEKS ~

.., .....

GARRETT COUNTY, MARYLAND CENTENNIAL HISTORY

1849 - 1949

BY

THEKLA FUNDENBERG WEEKS

Publishe:i By The OAKLAND CENTENNIAL COMMISSION, INC. Franklin E. Rathbun, Chairman Joseph Hinebaugh Dr. E. I. Baumgartner N. A. Coplin Mrs. George H. Hanst Bernard I. Gonder Sr.

PRINTED BY THE SINCELL PRINTING COMPANY OAKLAND. MARYLAND 1~49

CONTENTS

INTR1ODUCTION ...... :...... 5 MAP OF OAKLAND, 1949 ...... _...... ,...... 6 CENTENNIAL COMMISSION ...... ,...... 7 ORIGINAL PLAT OF OAKLAND, 1849 ...... ,... . 8 MAYOR AND TOWN C·OUNCIL OF OAKLAND, MARYLAND ...... ,...... 9 VIEW OF OAKLAND ...... •'; ...... ~ ...... 10 CHAPTER I-GARRETT COUNTY ...... 11-31 Mayo and Lewis Surveys, Gist's First Explorations, Trails and Roads, Early Settlers, Early Land Surveys, The Military Lots Surveyed, Journeys of Washington, County Census of 1800, F'irst Property Assessment, Towns and Villages, The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, Deep· Creek Lake, Civil War Days, Garrett, a New County, 1872; B-0undaries of Garrett County, John W. Garrett, Patrick J. Garrett and -Deer Park; Agriculture, Industry and Commerce; Forestry and Lumbering, Recreation. CHAPTE·R II-THE_B. & 0. RAILROAD THROUGH GARRE_;_T CO·UNT'Y .... 32-35 The Railroad at Cumberlanq, Surveys Across the· Mountains, The West Virginia Central Railroad, The Confluence and Oakland Railroad. CHAPTER III-EARLY SETTLERS ...... 36-40 Y-0ugh Glades, "The Wilderness Shall Smile," Ingman's Place, Thayer, 1819; T-0tten and Tower, 1855. _ · _ CHAPTER IV-OAKLAND ...... ,...... ,.. 41-45 Town Lots for Sale, Oakland Incorporated, Electricity and Natural Gas, Garrett County Telephone Company. . CHAPTER V-WARS AND VETERANS' ORGANIZATIONS ...... 46-48 General Jones' Raid, General Kelly and General Crook, G.A.R., National Guard, Spanish­ Anierican War, ·world War I, American Legion, World War II, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Amvets. CHAPTER VI-HOTELS~Horse and Buggy Days ...... 49-53 CHAPTER VII-MILLS AND TANNE1RIES ...... 54-56 Grist Mills, The Tannery, W-0olen Mills. CHAPTE·R VIII-MERCHANTS ...... 57-63 Brant-Townshend, John M. Davis, John Harned, M. L. Scott; Offutt's Store, Owen Hart and Son, Yankee Notion Store, Cheap John Michaels, Oakland Bakery; A. D. Nayl-0r and Company, Shirer and Son, Bolden, Brown, Etc.; H. C. Sincell, Treacy's Store, Miscel­ laneous, Note, The W ebers. CHAPTER IX-DOCTORS, DENTISTS, DRUGGISTS ...... 64-69 Oakland's First Doctors, The McComases, Dr. Bartlett and Dr. Colardeau, Dr. Keller, Dr. Hinebaugh, Dr. N. I. Broadwater, Dr. J-ohn D. Dar.by, Dr. Baumgartner, Clinics, · Doctors Sollars, Mance, Gannon; Doctors Lusby, Williams, Feaster and Wenzel; Our Doctors Away From Home, Dentists, Drug Stores. CHAPTER X-HOSPITALS AND THE LO·ARS ...... 70-72 Garrett County Memorial Hospital, Rinehart-Loar, The Washington Elm. CHAPTER XI-CHURCHES AND CE'.METERIES ...... · · · · 73-76 CHAPTE-R XII~SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, POSTOFFICE ...... 77-80 Schools, 1823-1948; Ruth Enlow and Free Public Libraries, Postoffices. C-HAPTER XIII-NEWSPAPERS, LAWYERS, BANKS ...... 81-85 Newspapers, Lawyers and Associates, Oakland Banks. CHAPTER XIV-ORGANIZATIONS ...... ,...... 86-89 Lodge-s, Oakland Club, 1900; Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Mt. Lake Park-Oakland Lions Club, Boy Scouts, Garrett County Historical Society, Oakland Volunteer Fire Department, . The Oakland Band, Oakland Civic club, Miscellaneous. CHAPTER XV-FARM AND DAIRY ...... 90-91 CHAPTER XVI-"THE· PARK" AND ITS ENVIRONS ...... 92-95 MAP OF GARRETT COUNTY, MARYLAND ...... 96 BUSINESS GUIDE, 1860 ...... ;...... 97 BUSINE.SS DIRECTO,RY, 1872 ...... •: ...... 97 ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TQ, OAKLAND, 1900-1926 ...... •;• ...... 98-99 QOUNTY COMMISSIONERS, 1949 ...... ·...... ,...... 99 BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY, 194_9 ...... ,...... 100-102 SOME SEVENTY YEARS AGO-:-Poom by J. W. Kimmell ...., ...... 103

THEKLA FUNDE:NBERG WEEKS

INTRODUCTION

Oakland, in the Highlands of Maryland, celebrates this year the centennial of its founding, the survey of the first town lots in October, 1849.

The town owes its location at the old ford of the Little Youghiogheny to routes of travel and trade, east and west, north and south; McCullough's Pack Horse Path passed just south of the town, and the old Glades Path became the Virginia-Maryland Inter-State Road-the first wagon road built for commerce across the mountains­ from Westernport through Yough Gla<;les (Oakland) to Clarksburg, Virginia.

Our centennial also corresponds to the one hundredth anniversary of the con­ struction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad across the mountains ; in fact it was the location of the railroad which gave birth to the town. For this reason we have in­ cluded in this history a chapter on the building of that great artery of traffic through this area.

We are indebted for the material in this book to articles published in the local news­ papers and in The Glades Star, bulletin of the County Historical Society; to The Story of the Steam Horse, by Ele Bowen, and The History of the B. and 0. Railroad, by Edward Hungerford; to Scharf's History of Western Maryland; to data collected by Miss Elizabeth J. West, and to conversations with older residents.

This story of Oakland was written at the request of former Mayor Lawrence M. Fraley and Captain Charles E. Hoye. It is not a complete history. Members of families mentioned will be able to .make additions and corrections. But it may inspire others to carry on research, and to increased interest in preserving old documents, letters and photographs of. historical value. THEKLA FUNDENBE-RG WEE-KS

February, 1949.

5 (\ GARllnTCOU~l't' \)MIMOll.l"'\. HOtiPiTl'IL

/i'.eHrY"la 0 0 ■· 1 LEGION HOME

..... PENNl/'f(;TON : L------,1 I jr.ellr '. .) I I I I I I I

[ILfMfJfAR.Y -- -- I - -- ... NEW w,D I I i I 0') □·:: ; ceNrEl I I I I t I Oakland Ccmetcu•y I A~MOR.'11 ' I I I '!'J~ I III I I CJ ...__ /. UJE41'.,Y,,,---_J DI --- -...... § ~ --,.. ~ HIGH SCHOOL ~ NEW HIGH SCHOOL 51TC -. I~ ,o, ..

~

CITY HALL■ SITE OP ~~n : /ILD£R :: I c1 ...HZJI+ , • 111 ■ :a: C.T,HOUH JI\IL ••

OAKLAND MARYLAND GAR.R.ETT COUNTY 1849- 1949 DR.AWN 6Y R.OAT. J, R.UCK.E~T FOR, THE GAR.R.ETT COUNTY HISTOR.ICAL SOCIET'(

~ "'" 4 y, N. A. COPLIN MRS. GEO. HANST F. E. RATHBUN JOS. HINEBAUGH B. I. GONDER DR. BAUMGARTNER

...~ WORD OF GREETING FROM THE GENERAL CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF OAKLAND'S' CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

To the Celebrants of Oakland's Centennial: The members of Oakland's Centennial Commission join me in extending to you a hearty welcome to the events prepared for your enjoyment and profit. They have all enjoyed the work of ar­ ranging them for you. Your interest in our Centennial is appreciated by our townsfolk. May the program for this celebration meet with your approval and serve to draw you closer to our com­ munity and leave such plea~ant memories that you will want to come back as your opportunities per­ mit. These are among the purposes of the celebration of the 100th birthday of our mountain town. The mem!bers of the Commission feel especially pleased with the efforts of the Historical Committee. They had little to draw upon in writing of the early days of Oakland. The sources of ma­ terials were meager. There was no precedent. And the folks of those early days had somewhat the same handicaps to which Napoleon referred when h;e said in his days of greatest activity: "I'm too busy making history to take time out for writing it!" So it was with our early residents. They were too busy in those pioneering days in keeping not only the .wolf 1bu~_ likewise the Indian from the door. Their perils were too close for them to sit down anci write about them. One of the purposes of this message of introduction and welcome is t :> pay tribute to the i accomplishments of the Historical Committee for its work in completing this Centennial History of O~and. The Committee was made up of the following parties: Captain Charles E. Hoye, ·chairman; Mrs. Thekla Fundenberg Weeks; Frederick A. Thayer; Mrs. Edward F. Smouse; Miss Elizabeth West. Oakland has made no outstanding efforts t~ be a big city. It has been free of those complex problems of large centers of population. AEsop's fable of the Frog and the Ox seems to have set up a guiding principle for its people. It appears to have been content to be a small town by the side of the road. Its problems have likewise be-en comparatively small; but it has striven to solve _them in a big way. This attitude has given rise to that phrase o.ften used: '!Oakland is the ,biggest small town in the United States!" No pretensions are made to the contrary. With this a~titude have come cooper­ ation, peace, health and happiness in a big way. May the future for Oakland continue on an equally high level! One of the major aims of this Centennial History is that it may serve to continue the sub­ stantial growth of Oakland; that its ~ast may prove the wisdom of its proven policies for the finest conditions for its boys and girls, men and women. May its publication inspire Oakland residents to work for still greater accomplishments in those things that make for higher standards of living in both material and spiritual values. May Oakland continue to strive to make its contribution to the National Welfare. From these efforts will come pr~gress and growth of our section of America. As­ surances of a greater· democracy for our land of freed om will bless their efforts. A program such as this will make for· a Greater America! May Oaklanders of the future place these goals as the o:bject of their endeavors! A~d may we set them a commendable example through our Centennial that will be wise to follow throughout the years to come! And may that goal ·be the main purpose of this Centennial!

July 5, 1949. - President, Oakland Centennial Commission, Inc. h !b b H .s.m,1~· ~ ~ ~ ,. ~• UI (,f .-. ~ ,. ... -.()) N ~ 0 ,t, -c,--1-'---IPl>. ~ ~ ~ 0 "' • I t~ t: r~ ,.. tt w

~ ~ ~ ~. ~. ~ ~ ~ ~ ..., ... .. ~ "I ..w ... 9"'4 .... ~ ~ ~~ t • • = 1~ t ~ t~ !II,, r~ t· • '

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~· JI> ~ t ... ~-~ -- ~ ,. ~ ~ 'r ~ ijt I; ~ ~ 3.P1 .. ~ " ~ ~ I {" t ': ~: -i: t~ [ ~ ,~ t ... ,to ~(-, ~~ .. + ~ .... ~~ i-c I~-• f ...' "' "'...... -0 _,...... ,~ it "' "' "' l

Tracrd b)' PLAT OF .I.A. Gronf Ooldand. Marylond OAKLAND. MARYLAND 7- 7-49 SURVEYED BY JAS. ARMSrRONG FOR EDWARD Mc CARTY OCTOBER 10, 11149 :[~!i;:~lt ~~~W'.~ :

Left to Right-Councilmen Earl Shartzer, Prentice DeBerry; Dr. E. I. Baum-gartner, President of Council; Councilmen Harry L. Stemple, Emeric G. Dusic and Ralph Pritts; Mayor Joseph Hinebaugh

THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL Oakland, Maryland.

To AH of You: The Mayor and Council trust that you will enjoy reading our Centennial History, and that you and your friends will join us in the cele­ bration, August 8-14,· 1949.

You will note the progress we have made, the improvements under way, and the high hopes we have for-the growth and well-being of the community. Our town is one of the best in America in which to live and labor.

The tide is set toward Oakland. We welcome visitors and new resi­ dents.

Joseph Hinebaugh, Mayor

Dr. E. I. Baumgartner, President of the Council

Prentice DeBerry Earl W. Shartzer

Harry L. Stemple Ralph Pritts

Emerie Dusie OAKLAND-F'rom Upper Pennington Street, Looking South. CHAPTE,R I GARRETT COUNTY Maryland---Her Feet in the Ocean, .. Her Head in the Sky

Oakland is the county seat and chief com:.. the mountain paths, but they left no records mercial center of ·Garrett County, which of their early travels thru our area. occupies the northwestern corner of - our MAYO AND LEWIS SURVEYS State. The area is a plateau-or tableland, cut in the northwest by the deep valley of the In 1736 Lord Fairfax employed a party of Youghiogheny River and by the Potomac in surveyors under Major William Mayo to ex­ the southeast; traversed by ranges of the plore and survey the upper Potomac River, Allegheny Mountains, whose peaks rise to the northern boundary of his "Northern over 3,000 feet in Backbone Mountain. N eek" land grant in Virginia. Mayo selected the Cohongaruton (North Branch) as- the main stream of the Potomac and surveyed it to its "farthest westward fountain," which was also Lord Baltimore's western limit. of Maryland. The Mayo party marked the trees at the head spring and mapped the river, naming its branches, including the North

. ·. ··, •.: .. :Ji.-:•:: :·

:: : ·. ·... ::-::-·>.·:····· ,· •.•• ,1 x~zt, . VIEW F·ROM HOOPPOLE RIDGE : '><: Thousands of acres of this tableland are the beds of ancient lakes, known as "the glades," in pioneer days covered with a growth of a succulent wild grass, which in summer attracted the buffaloes from the lowlands, and later provided grazing for herds of cattle. The glades are now fine farms, but two-thirds of the county is still forested. To its elevated situation and to the pe­ culiar character of the glades, Garrett County owes .i~s pleasant and healthful climate. It is the Highland of Maryland. This area was a favorite. hunting ground of the Shawnee, Delaware and Mingo In­ dians, who followed the buffalo trails into the mountains, and in summer camped in the glades and valleys. The Shawnees oc­ cupied the upper Potomac valley until 1730's, when they moved across the mountains to the Ohio country, on the invitation of the THE FAIRFAX STONE French, who claimed the territory drained Notes: (1) YOUGHIOGHENY-From Indian by. that river, including two-thirds of what words meaning "flowing in the contrary direction." is now Garrett County. (2) THE GLADES vary in elevation from 2,378 feet at the railroad station at Oakland to 2,600 feet English traders ~ollowed the Indians over at Altamont. GENERAL EDWARD BRADDOCK NEMACOLIN'S PATH Fork, which they named "Savage River" for November 8th Gist camped at the Little John Savage, one of the surveyors. On his Meadows, two miles east of Grantsville. He map of the river, Mayo noted some "Indian wrote there : old fields" and "stone cole." We hunted all the ground for 10 m. or Ten years later Fairfax sent Thomas more and killed several Der & Bears and one Lewis to survey the western boundary of large Elk. The Bottoms upon the branches his Virginia grant. The Lewis party sur­ are but narrow with some Indian Fields . . . veyed a line from the source of the Rappa­ We were employed in searching the Lands hanock River to _the "head spring" of the and discovering the Branches, Creeks. &. Potomac. They found the trees marked by November 20-21 the explorers passed on, the Mayo party and set up a stone at the cutting their way through some "great spring-the "Fairfax Stone," which was re­ laurel thickets" to Turkeyfoot (Confluence, placed by the present concrete marker in Pa.,) where they found a small "hunting 1910, when the western boundary of Mary~ town of the Delawares," from whom Gist land was finally established and surveyed by bought some Indian corn. order of the U. S. Supreme Court. TRAILS AND ROADS Members of the Lewis party crossed Back­ bone Mountain and explored the country as The Garrett County area, since earliest far as the Youghiogheny River. historical times, has been ,fortunate in the possession of access to important east - west GISTS FIRST EXPLORATIONS routes of travel and trade. · The Ohio Company in 1751 sent Christo­ Nemacolin's Path thru the northern part pher Gist to find "the nearest and most con­ of the county was the most noted of these venient road . . . from the Company's Store trails. The path took its name from Nema- at Will's Creek (Cumberland) to a landing on Note: Lewis describes the Country about the the Monongahela." Gist's party set out on Fairfax Stone as follows: Camped on River Styx horseback from the Company's Store on No­ (now Stoney River), 14th October, 1746. "This River was called Styx from the Dismal appearance vember 4th. They found the old Indian trail of the place Being sufficien to strike terror in any "very full of trees and stones." Next day human creature Ye Lorals Ivey & Spruce pine so they stopped at a point about three miles extremely thick in ye Swamp through which this River Runs that one Cannot have the Least pros­ west of where Frostburg is now located. On pect Except they look upwards." 12 INN ON NATIONAL ROAD colin, a Dela\\ra.te Indian, who helped Col. Maryland. Until the railroads reached the Thomas Cresap locate and improve the trail. Ohio in 1852, the Cumberland Road ,vas the In 1753 Cresap was employed by the Ohio greatest highway between the East and Company to open a way for pack horses from West, over which passed the bulk of travel, Will's Creek to the Monogahela River. trade and the mails. The Golden Age of the The following year Col. George Washing- old Pike was the decade after 1842, when ton led his little Virginia army over Nema- passengers transferred from trains at Cum- colin's Path against ·the French, and re- , berland to stage coaches and freight was turned to Will's Creek the same way after loaded on Conestoga wagons, bound for the his capitulation at Ft. Necessity. West. Braddock's Road followed the general Then the proud old road declined until, course of Nemacolin's Path from Fort Cum- thru Allegany County, it became just a· berland to the Great Meado\\rs near Union- country road in bad repair. town. It was built in 1755 by Gen. Brad- We hear no more of the clanging hoQf, dock's army in an abortive attempt to drive And the stage coach, rattling by; the French from the Ohio valley, and over For the steam king rules the traveled world, it the remnant of his army retreated after And the old pike's left to die. the disastrous defeat near the present city But it did not die! Came the automobile. of Pittsburgh. This road served the country In 1916 Congress passed the Federal-Aid as a wagon road-never well kept-until the Road Act; the old National Road was resur- construction of its successor. faced, and in 1925 was designated TJnited The Cumberland Road was authorized by States Route 40. Congress in 1806. It was built by the Feder- Casselman River Bridge on the Cumber- al Government from Cumberland to Wheel- land Road was built in 1813 and used until ing, crossing and parallel to the Braddock 1933, when the present iron and concrete Road as far west as the great Meadows. It bridge was built. was · originally proposed that the new road At the time of its construction the Cassel- thru Maryland should use much of the road man River bridge was the longest single bed of Braddock's Road; fortunately this stone arch in the United States-80 feet- plan was abandoned, and most of it was cut built to permit the possible passage of thru virgin forest, increasing the cost, but canal boats. People who saw it under con- the road was so well laid out that, to the struction predicted that, when supporting present day, few changes of location have timbers were removed, the structure would been necessary. collapse. However :elaborate preparations Construction began at Cumberland in 1811 were made in Grantsville to celebrate the and was completed in 1818 to ihe Ohio at .opening of the bridge for· traffic. To avoid Wheeling, 132 miles, 34 of ,vhich were in having- an audience· in case of failure, David 13 CASSELMAN RIVER BRIDGE Shriver, Jr., engineer, and later superin­ an earlier wagon road. This section was t~ndent of the Cumberland Road, had the -built by the North-western Turnpike Com­ contractor loosen the -supports the night be­ pany, which opened its books for subscrip­ fore the celebration. The great arch stood tions on March 26, 1833, at Slicer's Hotel in the test as it stands today after 135 years. Cumberland. John Hoye of Cumberland and The old stone bridge is preserved-a monu­ Alexander Smith near Gormania were two of ment to the builders of the old Cumberland the commissioners of this company. The road Road. was supported by tolls collected at toll gates The Virginia - Maryland Inter - State placed about twenty miles apart. Road followed the Glades Path thru Mary- The Turnpike was built under the super­ -land from Bloomington on the Potomac to vision of Col. Claude Crozet, noted French the state line, via the site of Oakland, thence Engineer, who had been engaged in road thru Dunkard Bottom to Clarksburg. Laid building over the Alps in Italy. The Covered out in 1786 by Col. Francis Deakins and bridge over Cheat River was built in 1835 of Joseph Nevill, Commissioners for Maryland hand hewn timbers. After more than one and Virginia, this was the first wagon road hundred years of service, it is preserved as across the mountains, built for commercial a relic and can be seen from the fine modern .purposes. It served as the outlet for the bridge recently built. central portion of the Garrett County area Until the advent of railroads the North­ until the construction of the B. and 0. Rail­ western Turnpike rivaled the National Road road. The Oakland - Bloomington road and to the north in carrying commerce over the State Road 7 to Cheat River now f ollow1 mountains. generally the route of the old State Road. · The Morgantown Road was referred to by McCullough's Pack Horse Path, th-e Great Washington in 1784 as "the New Road." It Warrior Path of the Indians, crossed our followed an Indian trail from the Bear Camp county from Gormania on the Potomac, on Braddock's Road, thru Selby's Port to thru Ryan's Glade to the Pine Swamp east Morgantown. of Cranesville. It was an important trader Other Wagon Roads in use prior to 1823 and settler trail. were the Glades Road from Selby's Port The Northwestern Turnpike was author­ thru the Deep Creek Glades to the State ized by the Legislature of Virginia in 1827, Road at Ingman's tavern, the Road to the when it approved the incorporation of the North - Western Road Company to build a Note: The Casselman River takes its name from Jacob Casselman, a settler on the stream in Pennsyl­ highway from Winchester to Parkersburg. vania. In 1813 it was known as the "Little Y oughio­ Nine miles of this road passed thru Mary­ gheny," and in the earliest records as "Old Town Creek", doubtless referring to an Indian village land from Gormania to Brookside, following on its banks. · 14 German Settlement from Capt. George tional Road east of Grantsville. It is now a Calmes' on the State Road to Aurora, and farm house. the Boiling Spring Road from 1~omlinson's William Wilton Ashby (d. 1803) and his on the National Road to McHenry's at the wife Sarah Williams built Ashby's Fort on Big Boiling Spring. ''Ashby's Discovery," 1,000 acres, near The East - West roads of this area are Gortner. They settled here prior to 1776. In connected by a modern paved highway, now 1795 Ashby bought "Piney Bottom," 270 known as U. S. 219, which passes over Hoop acres, for £175, and made this property his Pole · Ridge thru Oakland. The section _from home. It is a few miles south of Oakland. Oakland to Deep Creek Lake is now (1948- His son, William Williams Ashby (1783- 49) being straightened and widened. 1877), succeeded him at Piney Bottom. Our early roads usually followed old buf­ Other settlers before the Revolution in­ falo or Indian trails, which generally passed clude Richard Hall on Blooming Rose; Jacob on the higher ground thru the open forest, Froman, who patented "Bad Is the Best of avoiding so far as possible the swamps and It," 120 acres, on. Mill Run, where he built, laurel thickets of the valleys. prior to 1774, the first grist mill; Aaron Parker at the Bear Camp and John McKane EARLY SETTLERS on Shade Run, both on Braddock's Road. The John Friend, Sr., ( 1732-1803) , first perma­ Frazees-Thurman, Jeremiah and Johnathen nent settler in the Garrett County area, 'and were early settlers on Buffalo Run. his brothers, came from their home on the In Revolutionary War Years there were Potomac in Virginia to an Indian camp or probably less than twenty families settled in village on the Youghiogheny in 1764, soon our county area, some of whom moved away after Pontiac's War. They liked the country because of hostile Indians. and agreed to buy the red men's claim to the A company of "Rangers" was organized in land. The following year they returned with ' 1775 by the settlers of the "Sandy Creek their families, paid the Indians in trade Settlement" between the Youghiogheny and goods and took possession of the wigwams. Cheat Rivers. Its headquarters were in Fort Their settlement is now known as Friends­ Morris, which had been built in 1774 at ville. Glade Farms. The officers of the Rangers were: Captain, Augustine Friend; Lieuten­ ant, Gabriel Friend; Sergeant, Abijah Her­ rington. This Company protected the settle­ ment from the Indians until the close of the war.. At this time Allegany and Garrett Coun­ ties formed the Skipton (Oldtown) Hundred (District) of Frederick County, and in Au­ gust, 1776, sixty-four men of the district enlisted in a Maryland militia company at Oldtown, among whom were the following from the Garrett County area: John Friend, Sr., Augustine Friend, Jacob Froman, Wil­ liam Ashby, Jesse Tomlinson, Aaron Parker. There is no further record of war service of this company. STONE HOUSE INN, ROUTE 40 After the . war the following veterans Joseph Tomlinson surveyed in 1760 and settled in the Garrett County ar~a: Captain patented in 1761 "Good Will," 100 acres, the John Lynn, Lieutenant James Drane, Ensign first land patented in Garrett County. This William Armstrong, Benjamin Duvall, Dud­ tract included the historic Little Meadows on ley Lee, Richard Tasker, Michael Paugh, the Braddock Road ; here Tomlinson built of John Jones, John Simkins, Thomas Casteel, logs the Red House Inn. His son, Jesse Tom­ John Irons, David Sibert, William Codding­ linson (1754 - 1840), in 1816, built nearby ton, Benjamin Coddington, George Rine­ the famous Stone IIouse Inn on the Na- hart. 15 There is no record of Indian attacks in our after the ,var the State issued patents for county area, but there is a reliable tradition these .. tracts. of the murder of a Malott family prior to· THE MILITARY LOTS SURVEYED the Revolution· on Lord Baltimore's Manor To encourage service in the Revolutionary near Oakland. Also, in April, 1778, James Army, in 1777, Maryland offered a bounty of Brain and a son of Richard Powell were fifty acres of land to each-of its soldiers who ~illed and two other boys ,vere captured by would serve at least three years in the Con­ Indians while the Brains and Powells were tinental Army. In 1780 the Genei:al As­ making a new settlement where the Glades sembly confiscated the property of British Path crossed Snowy Creek, near Corinth, W. citizens, including all of Baltimore's lands. Va. The next year the Assembly reserved all un­ EARLY LAND SURVEYS patented lands, "westward from Fort Cum­ berland," for its soldiers. Lord Baltimore delayed opening for set­ Col. Francis Deakins, with ten assistant tlement his lands in the Garrett County area surveyors, in 1787, surveyed for the State until he had reserved for himself certain 4161 lots of 50 acres each, two-thirds of large tracts called Manors. In May, 1768, them in Garrett County. He reported 323 Francis Deakins surveyed for his Lordship "squatters" located on lots surveyed, who the Great Glades Manor, _17,500 acres, in­ claimed 636 lots. Of these illegal settlers, 246 cluding the site of Oakland, and the Green were permitted to buy the lots, on which Glades Manor, 4,740 acres, on Green Glades they had made some improvements, at from Creek, now called Deep Creek. 5 to 20 shillings per lot. Remaining lots Prior to 1774 the Proprietor granted were offered for sale at 12½ cents per acre patents for only six tracts in our area, but or· $6.25 per lot. in the spring of that year he opened his In 1788 a commission, sitting in Cumber­ lands "westward from Fort Cumberland," land, appointed by the General Assembly, as­ except the manors, for settlement ; some signed land to the veterans (four lots to of­ twenty land speculators hastened westward ficers and one to each soldier), and fixed and surveyed sixty-five tracts, averaging prices of lots to settlers. It is of interest to about 1,000 acres each. Only one tract was note that no soldier settled upon his bounty lot; most of them were sold to speculators for $12 to $15 each. · · JOURNEYS OF WASHINGTON George Washington was a great traveler for his day, and all of his five trips to "the west" were thru· our County. · Upon his return from his mission to the French in 1754 he passed over Nemacolin's Path, and later in the year, led his little army over the same trail against the French. The following year Col. Washington accom­ panied Gen. Braddock's expedition against ·Fort Duquesne; at Little Meadows he be­ COL. FRANCIS DEAKINS came ill, and -was left behind at the Bear surveyed for an actual settler: "Friend's Camp, but overtook -the Army in time to Choice," for Augustine Friend. The Revolu­ take part, and to distinguish himself, in the tion came on before patents were issued, but ha ttle near Pittsburgh. · 16 Washington's next trip west was in 1770 son's was "intolerably bad/' Rising early over the Braddock Road with Dr. Craik and the General rode five miles and breakfasted two servants. His object was the inspection at Joseph Mountain's on the east slope of of lands in Virginia granted to him and to Negro Mountain. other soldiers of -the late war. Returning the Desiring to see more of the mountain same road in November he noted in his country, especially in relation to a possible journal that "we met several families going canal "between the eastern and western over the mountains to live-some without waters," Washington sent Dr. Craik home any place provided. The snow upon the with the baggage over t~e Braddock Road, Allegheny Mountains was near knee deep." while he and Bushrod Washington returned General Washington's journey of most in­ via McCullough's Path. His party came into terest to us was his trip west in 1784 over Maryland east of Cranesville, and crossing the Braddock Road, r'eturning via McCul­ Mud<;ly Creek entered the Youghiogheny · lough's Path. This was a land business trip Glades. In his journal he wrote: "At the into western Pennsylvania; a party of four entrance to the above glades I lodged that white men, mounted, with negro servants, night (Sept. 25), with no shelter or cover and three loaded pack horses. On September than my cloak and was unlucky enough to 10 they lodged at Little Meadows with Tom­ have a heavy shower of rain." linson. The road from Gwynn's to Tomlin- The General's party arrived at Charles

.,,,,. \ . ;f ·: ,,·) ,- ;_• .

. - .

. .. . ··--·--- . -.. . , -.. ~:····-~-::. -·· -· . . .,. - ,.•_.. _ ... _.. ~-,-~·--::~:

---~-- .... E;~E~- -.· ~-~-...~ .. :~. - : - ...... ~ - .,. ::.. 'r•-•. -~

~-- r-

GEN. WASHINGTON AT CHARLES FRIEND'S -Sketch hy Miss Elizabeth Pattersonll High School Faculty. 17 Friend's cabin;·. where the Glades Path settlers brought their slaves with them; crossed McCullough's Path south of Oakland, these servants contributed to the develop­ in the early foienoon of. September 26th. ment of the country, but when_ freed, most Washington had a long conversation with of the negroes left the plantations to live in the ,cities, or \\"here the winters were not Friend. about the watercourses' and· trails of the neighborhood, and· after dining on so cold. Two of the colored families who re­ "boiled corn" the . pa_rty continued its mained here were the Davis family, freed by journey over McCullough's Path to Joseph I~aac McCarty, and the Dorseys-Black Jim, Logsden's in Ryan's Glade; thence across a Hoye slave, whose wife was Susan, a Mc­ the Potomac and eastward. At that time - Henry freed servant, who- was preparing to Friend and lj>gsden · were the only settlers QUY her husba~d when Maryland slaves were on the . Path between the Potomac and freed. · Bruceton, (W~) Virginia. · · - No colored people live in Garrett County _ In his journal Washington ,vrote : · I am . now. well pleased with my journey, as it has been There were comparatively few people in the means of my obtaining a knowledge of the glades in 1800; early settlers preferred facts~oming at the temper and disposition land l~ss subject to frosts. The northwestern •• , cl' . of the western inhabitants-·and making re- s·eetion of our county was the first to con­ flections thereon . : .· no route ( across the tain any considerable number of inhabitants. mountains) is so convenient as that which Meshach Browning, writing of his boyhood · offers itself through Yohiogany or Cheat residence at the Buffalo Marsh (McHenry) River. says: c:OUNTY CENSUS OF 1800 Things went on well enough until the news came to us that General St. Clair's whole The report of the first Federal Census army had been defeated and cut to pieces. (1790) for Allegany County has been des­ This was such frightening news, that aunt troyed, but we know that the decade from was almost ready to leave all, and seek some 1790 to 1800 was a period of rapid settle­ better place of safety ; and indeed I believe ment in what is now Garrett County. The in­ uncle too was a little frightened. Be that as crease in population was due to the opening it may, he continued but a short time until of the State lands for veterans and settlers, he took up his march again for the "Bloom­ the construction of the Inter-State Road, ing Rose." In that neighborhood there were and to the general westward movement- fol­ some thirty or forty families, who were not lowing the close of the Revolutionary War. so easily frightened. Here ",,.e continued until the next spring, being 1792. The census report for 1800 for Allegany County is on file in Washington. The enumer­ FIRST PROPERTY ASSESSMENT ator was Aquilla A. Brown. A~ that time the northwestern half of our county was known The first property assessment of Allegany as Sandy Creek Hundred (District), voting County on record was made in 1798. In the place at Selby's Port; the southeastern half Garrett County ar~ much of the· real estate was Glades Hundred, voting · at Ingman's was already owned . by non-resident land T~vern near Swanton; also sm~ll parts of speculators. General John Swan owned 35,- two adjoining districts were included in Gar- 000 acres ; Governor Thomas Johnson had · , ' rett County. The report gives the names of 404 military lots, etc.-·.25,000 acres. Land heads of families, number in each family, w·as a.,ssessed at from 25·- ~ents to $1.50 per . and slaves owned, if any. · acre; Daniel Grant's "Cornucopia" (site of Gr.antsville) at $1.00 per- acre. Personal 'The total number of .-inhabitants in the .property included slaves-_average valuation Sandy Creek and Glades Hundreds was : $80; horses, $35; and · ''"black" cattle, $8. white, 898; colored, 87; total, 985. Including Generally property appears to have been as- . a few families in adjoining_ districts., the sessed much below· its real value._ total population of the Garrett ·county area In 1791 the valuation of all taxable prop­ ip. 1800 w_as a little over· 1;000.. · -erty ·in ··Allegany ·County: ·was £78,978 · (about Note that in the -year 1800 we had a con­ -$200,000) and the tax rate was 36 cents per siderable negrq 1>9pµla_tioi;i._- · Slave owning ·t_ioo.· - -- · , .. · - 18. TOWNS AND VILLAGES Grantsville grew up on the new highway. · Selbysport, oldest town in Garrett County, The postoffice was established in 1822, under was laid out prior to 1798 by Peter Devec­ the name "Tomlinsons," at Little Meadows, mon. The place was ·named for Captain Evan Thomas Endsley first postmaster ; the name Shelby,-*- the "port" indicating that it was was changed to "Little Crossings" in 1834, hoped the Youghiogheny would be navi­ and, finally, to "Grantsville" in 1846. gable up to that point. Among early settlers Some of the early settlers in the northern of the neighborhood were: Jacob Froman, on part of our county were: John Simkins, Ben­ Mill Run; the Frazees, John Rutan, the Cod­ jamin Coddington, Abraham Shocky, Mich­ dingtons, John Fike, John Enlow, Jacob ael Beeghly, Casper Durst, Philip Hare, Welsh, Aza Beall, planter and merchant ; George Newman, John Sloan, Emanuel Cus­ David Hoffman, miller; Joseph Frantz, tan­ ter, Christian ·Garlitz, Henry Brown, Eli ner; ·George Mathews, Peter and John Stuck. Ridgely, John Wiley, the Johnsons, the Mc­ When the Youghiogheny Flood Control Kenzies, William Weitzell, at New Germany. project was completed in 1947 _most of the Grantsville, on U. S. 40 and U. S. 219, is town houses were removed and the lower now the agricultural, commercial and trans­ area :flooded. portation center of ·the northern part of our

DEEP CREEK LAKE SCENE

Friendsville was the site of our first county. The town was incorporated in 1864 settlement. Among the earliest settlers were and re-chartered in 1878. the Friends, Thomas Casteel, James McMul­ Accident was so named from the "Acci­ len, Robinson Savage, Sylvester Ryland, dent" tract of 682 acres, surveyed in 177 4 Jacob Markley, VanSickles and Sislers. for Brooke Beall and patented in 1786 to The post off ice was established in 1830 ; William Deakins. The tract was named "Ac­ Gabriel Friend as first postmaster. The cident" because Beall and Deakins both acci­ "Youghogany Iron Company," incorporated dentally claimed it. Thi~ land was bought by in 1828, operated the Bear Creek Iron Works Col. William Lamar, whose sister Priscilla, until about 1836. When the C. and 0. Rail­ was the wife of James Drane (1755 - 1828); road was built, in 1890, Friendsville became about the year 1800 the Dranes settled on an important shipping point for lumber Notes: ( 1) * On the return of the Maryland troops products. It is now. the commercial center from the expedition against the Indians, under for the Blooming Rose farming area and Braddock and, Washington, Ca pt. Evan Shelby, who commanded a Company of Frederick County Ran­ other nearby neighborhoods. gers, was received with every demonstration of Joy Grantsville was named for Daniel Grant -Scharf's History. (2) By Act of the Maryland of the noted Fountain· Inn, of Baltimore. In Legislature, Captain Evan Shelby -was awarded the sum of-· fifty pounds for the scalp. of Captain 1785 he patented "Cornucopia," 1,100 acres, -Charles, brother to Custoga, a Delaware Indian, and moved to his property on the Braddock : commanding a party of warriors, who was killed in a skirmish near Loyal Hanning, (Pa.)~ on the 12th Road. When the- Cumberland Road was built of November, 1758, by Captain Shelby, who com- the- old villag_e site was abandoned and "New" manded ·a company of Maryland· volunteers. · 19 "Accident." Their log house; built about neighborhood, generally known as the 1800, is the oldest residence in this county ; "Sanging Ground," but the post off ice­ it is now the property of Adam J. Richter. opened in 1837, Elijah Friend, postmaster -was .caJ}ed Sang Run.

THE DRANE HOUSE Accident became a German settlement, composed of Pennsylvania "Dutch" families, including Hinebaughs, Speichers and Johna­ than Frantz in The Cove, and immigrants from Germany in the 1840's-50's; Englehart, Miller, Richter, Spoerline, Gehringer, Georg, Fratz and others. Bittinger was settled by Henry Bedinger, ancestor of the numerous Bittinger family of this county. In 1814 he purchased, for WILLIAM WALLER HOYE·, 1768-1836 $200, four Military Lots of Benjamin Duvall, heir of his brother, Lieut. Isaac Duvall, who Meshack Browning (1781-1859) settled at died in service during the Revolution. the Sanging Ground in 1807. He was Mary- Holmes Wiley, the hunter, John Beachy and Peter Lohr also settled in this neighborhood. Sang Run was the settlement of John Friend, Jr., ( 17 64-1849) in 1795, on part of "Friend's Delight" at the mouth of Ginseng Run. Other early settlers were: William W. Hoye, Henry De Witt, Andrew House, Henry Sines, J. Enlow, Henry McCabe, John and Dominick Mattingly.

·BROWNING CABIN AT SANG RUN "Sang" is a corruption of the word gin­ seng, name of a forest plant, the root of which was a chief article of trade of our · MESACH BROWNING pioneer settlers. It grew abundantly in this land's most noted hunter, and author of a 20 popular autobiography, "Forty-four Years hood · include Col. John Lynn, Dr. James of the Life of A Hunter." Brooke, James Cunningham, William Camp­ bell and William Glotfelty, who bought the Brooke plantation in 1848. Hoyes, formerly "Johnstown." Singleton Townshend settled here in 1830. Other settlers were John DeWitt, Truman West and Robert Ferguson. Daniel Smith, and his son, William A. Smith were th~ storekeepers at the Cross Roads here for many years. Bloomington is celebrating its centennial this year. Under date of June 17, 1849, James D. Armstrong, surveyor, reported that at the request of William Combs and P. Hamilt, he had laid off a town called "Bloom­ ington" of 39 lots near the mouth of Savage River. This place was formerly called Llan­ gollen. The present name was doubtless DR. JAMES McHENRY given it because of the abundant and early McHenry, on the Buffalo Marsh inlet of wild flowers on its hillside. In 1854 the Deep Creek Lake, was named for the Mc­ Llangollen Mining Company had 168 addi­ Henry family, of Baltimore. Dr. James Mc­ tional lots surveyed. John Brant operated a Henry (1753-1816) served as Secertary of gun factory a few miles up the Potomac and War in Washington's Cabinet. After resign­ supplied muskets for the army during the ing he spent some summers at the home of war of 1812. Bloomington is a coal mining his friend, Col. John Lynn, at Wild Cherry town. '- Tree Meadows, and in 1810 purchased 444 , Early settlers in the neighborhood were acres of "Locust Tree Bottom," including the Charles Queen, John Stackpole, the Gainors, Buffalo Marsh, site of McHenry. He located Joseph Warnick, Michael Wilt, John Mich­ his son, Daniel W. McHenry, and eieven . aels ; Charles, Guy and William Broadwater; slaves on this property. Daniel was thrown Moses Titchenell, the Barnards, Thomas from his horse and killed. Dr. McHenry then P•ritchard, John Ryan, Patrick Burnes. · put his nephew, John McHenry, in charge of Swanton is noted on the map of 1823 as Buffalo Marsh. John employed Major Henry "Swan's Mill." After the construction of the .Sines to build a large log house opposite the B. and 0. Railroad large lumber mills were

DEEP CREEK LAKE AT McHE1NRY Big. Boiling Spring. He later built a frame operated by Capt. Truman West and sons, house near the present Glotfelty house, and by Alex Fairall. The town was an im- where he and his wife died and are buried in portant shipping point for lumber. In 1873 the old orchard. Charles Mc I. Miller located at Swanton as Early settlers in the McHenry neighbor- representative of. Gen. Joseph Anderson, . 21 who owned .large tracts of land there. Early -was the sit-e of a large tannery, destroyed by settlers were Patrick Hamill, Henry Ingm.an, fire and not rebuilt. .James Fitzwater, th:e Sharpless and Beck­ Crellin. was.an important lumber center of man families, and Abraha~ Wilson at Wil­ the Preston Lumber Company, which oper­ son's station. ated a narrow gauge railroad up the Youg­ Altamont was a village of some import­ hiogheny valley. It later became a coal min­ ance during the early years of the B. and 0. ing town, the mines operated by the Stanley Railroad. Mining Company, of which the late Charles Ream was president~ Gortner, at "Swan's Meadow," originally the property of Gen. John Swan, was a post offic;!e from 1898, with Peter Gortner as first postmaster, until . small post offices were closed with the advent of rural mail delivery. Gortner has a successful Community church, organized fifty years ago. Kitzmiller took its name from Ebenezer Kitzmiller, who married Emily, daughter of Thomas Wilson III, and operated the Wilson DEER PARK HOTEL, 1887 grist mill and saw mill. Thomas Wilson II, in · 1796 bought Military Lot 300, site of Kitz­ · Deer Park, on the· "Deer Park'' survey of . ·miller, from Frederick Bray, who had 1774, owes much of its former importance patented it in 1795, Wilson settled his son, to Henry G. Davis, who resided there during Thomas III, there prior to 1798. the summer months, and built a tramway ·Other early settlers in the neighborhood from the railroad to his saw mills on Deep were Philip Bray, at the wolf dens; Reason Creek. The lumber cars were pulled by Harvey, John and Michael Paugh, Joseph mules. Davis was also an extensive operator Davis, Richard Tasker. Kitzmiller is the in the lumber business in the North Branch center of the chief mining district of Ga1:9- valley. Patrick J. Garrett was superin­ rett County. tendent of buildings and grounds of the Shallmar, West and East Vindex are Deer Park and Oakland Hotel properties for nearby mining towns. many years. Ryan's Glade, District No. 8, occupies the Mt. Lake Park was founded in 1881 by the southern part of Garrett County. Mt. Lake Park Association on an 800 acre Kempton, a coal mining town, is near the tract, part of "Western Canal Convention," Fairfax. . Stone. I ts postoffice is in West Vir- purchased by J. C. Anderson for the associ­ g1n1a. ation. The town was laid out by H. C. Faul, a noted engineer, assisted by Henry Artus, J. Lee Phillips and James A. Enlow. In the spring of 1882 the Tabernacle and Assembly Hall, and the store of Davis and Towns­ hend were built. In May, ;I. M. Jarboe began the erection of the Mt. Lake Hotel. The town was organized under a special charter as a religious center and cultural community. Chautauqua sessions provided noted speakers and artists. Finally the as- · BROWN HOME AT CORUNNA sociation property was sold, and the town Ryan's Glade proper, ;first called Warner's now operates under the usual mayor and Glade, was an early settlement on McCul­ council. lough's Path. George _Dixon patented Loch Lynn, named for Captain David "Flowery Vale," 400 acres, in 1777, and sold Lynn, who owned "Lynn Pasture" nearby, it to Normand Bruce in 1795, whose son, was promoted by J. C. Alderson, on the south Upton, operated The Bruce plantation until side of the railroad opposite Mt. Lake Park. he in turn sold it to Israel Thompson, the Hutton, first known as "Hutton Switch," cattle man, in 18'"49. James Chisholm, Sr., 22 huilt the old grist mill at the falls of Glade about 3,000 acres, for· the ·storage ·of ·wate:rr a,un.: Other early settlers included Henry to lift and lower the boats thru locks over W}:tite, John Irons_, Dudley Lee. Alx. Smith's the mountains. plantation, later owned ·by Col. Phillip Pe:r;i.dleton, was . at -Gorman. James Goff DEEP CREEK LAKE s·ettled early on the 'Turnpike west of· Red . The-- C. and 0. Canal was never built, but a· century after the canal survey a dam was constructed near the proposed canal reser­ voir- dam on Deep Creek to impound the waters of the Green Glades for a hydro­ electric plant.

GAUER CABIN, SUN:NYSIDE ·House. Frederick A. Carsten was the mer­ chant at Red House until 1841, when he sold out to Peter Shirer. George Rinehart was a noted pioneer at Sunnyside. John Waltz, Nicholas Gower, the Moons, Benjamin Shaf­ fer, Conrad Nine and Adam Houser were early settlers in the District. DEEP CRE-EK LAKE The entire Youghiogheny hydro-electric THE CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL project contemplated the building of four Construction of the C. and O. Canal began dams and three power houses-one dam on officially on July 4, 1828, when President Deep Creek and three on the river: at Gap Adams formally turned the first spadeful of Falls, above Swallow Falls and at Crellin. earth at Georgetown; actual construction Only the Deep Creek dam was built. ~egan the following September, and after many delays, the canal was completed and opened for traffic to Cumberland in 1850. As the name indicates the canal was de­ signed to provide a waterway from Chesa­ peake Bay to the Ohio River, by way of the Potomac. The great engineering problem was how to float canal boats across the mountains. The first "scientific view" of this ground was made by Thos. Moore in 1820. Two years later a Maryland-Virginia Com~ mission "viewed" the proposed routes west DE,EP CREEK BRIDGE of Cumberland. · For the lake created by this dam nearly _. The favored route passed thru what is 7,000 acres of land were acquired, including now Garrett County. 'In 1823 James Shriver some 140 farms, altho only 4,500 acres were and a party of Maryland engineers made a inundated. Relocation of ne~rly 15 miles of careful survey and submitted a detailed re­ highway was necessary, and two steel port. The route surveyed passed from the bridges over the lake were relocated and Potomac, up Savage River and Crab Tree built. Twelve miles of railway was con­ Run; thence thru Little Backbone by a pro­ structed from- the B. and 0. at Oakland to posed tunnel ; thence dpwn Deep Creek and the dam and power house sites for the up· Bµffalo Marsh Run by the site of Mc- transportation of materials and equipment. .ij:enry; thence thru a deep cut to the waters The Deep Creek· dam and power house of.· Bear Creek and down that Creek to the were built · by the Y oughiogheny Hydro­ Yoqg;hiogheny. Plans provided for build­ Electric Corporation. Actual construction of ing a. dam and · lake on Deep Creek to cover the dam . began in the winter of 1923 and 23:.· was completed in March,, 1925. It is an earth and 0. Railroad was important to the Feder­ embankment with a concrete . core, 86 feet al army for the transportation of troops and high from bed rock. Impounded water is supplies. It was raided twice in our county carried by a tunnel thru Marsh Mountain to by the Confederates. the penstocks which feed two turbines in the In April, 1863, Gen. W. E. Jones marched power house. The crest of water at the dam his cavalry command from Virginia thru is approximately 2,470 feet above sea level Maryland ·and West Virginia, his ol;>ject be­ and the turbines are some 440 feet below the ing the cutting of the railroad and securing intake tunnel mouth, giving a head of water horses for his army. After a spirited fight, equaled by few power plants in the East. F , ... :·•· .• .. :-:::::-:~ ~-- .. ,...... _. . · the Confederates_ captured th~ Federal gar­ r . . . . 1. t '. .•. ·•: rison at Greenland Gap near Petersburg, & W. Va., and marched west on the Northwest­ ern Turnpike. They crossed the Potomac at Gormania, burned the bridge, and proceeded thru our county into West Virginia. Col. A. W. Harman was sent from Gor­ mania thru Ryan's Glade to attack Oakland, which was garrisoned by a company of West Virginia troops. On April 26, the Confeder­ ates surprised an~ captured the garrison of

.. ~-- fifty-seven men and two officers ; they POWER HOUSE AT HOYES destroyed the railroad bridge east of town, Deep Cr~k Lake is 12 miles in length and and the highway bridge and railroad bridge has a shore line of 65 miles, which is being across the Youghiogheny River. rapidly improved by cabins, cottages and In the meantime two companies of Con­ camps. In 1942 the Pennsylvania Electric federates passed thru Kitzmiller and struck Company purchased the property, and the the railroad at Wilson's Station, from which lake was leased to the Maryland Inland Fish point they proceeded west, damaging the and Game Commission, which controls its railroad, and rejoined their · comrades at use for recreation. Oakland. After refreshing his troops and Hail Mountain Stream that glides along, horses, and paroling his prisoners at Oak­ Slow, pensive, silent, dark and deep. land, Col. Harman passed on into West Vir­ Awake, and hear a stranger's song; ginia over the Terra Alta road. Awake-arouse thee from thy sleep, The B. and 0. Railroad bridge at Bloom­ For thou hast slept for ages past, ington, built in 1851, was captured by sixty­ one of McNeill's Confederate Rangers 'at In secret solitary shades; daybreak on May 6, 1864. Leaving eleven Thy day of glory's come at last. men to guard the bridge and stop all trains, A wake ! and view these lovely glades. Capt. McNeill hurried to Piedmont with the remainder of his command, where they CIVIL WAR DAYS destroyed the engines in the round house During the War between the States the and fired the railroad shops. majority of the people of the Garrett County In the meantime the guard in Blooming­ area were loyal to the Union and furnished ton at the bridge captured two freight their quota of soldiers for the Federal Army, trains. A passenger train from the west had most of whom served in the 3rd Maryland two cars of Federal soldiers ; this train was Regiment, Potomac Home Brigade; but some stopped at the Bloomington station by the sympathized with the South and a few en­ bridge guard; its hundred soldiers sur­ listed in the Confederate army. rendered and were marched across the The National Road and the Northwestern bridge to Piedmont. After burning the Turnpike were at times used for military trains and paroling his prisoners, Capt. Mc­ purposes; Fort Pendleton was built in Au­ Neill began wrecking the railroad bridge, gust, 1861, to protect the turnpike. It was but forces from the New Creek (Keyser) garrisoned for a few months by the 4th Ohio garrison arrived and the Rangers hastily regiment, and was then abandoned. The B. rode away into the West Virigina hills. 24 GARRETT, A NEW COUNTY, 1872 tation · in the General Assembly; the claim that, of $28,000 collected in taxes only $18,- Garrett county is the great great grand­ 400 were spent in the area. Doubtless local daughter of· Prince George's, which when pride and ambition played a part. organized in 1696, -included all of western Petitions were duly presented to the Gen­ Maryland. Our ·area was then an unknown eral A-ssembly, which passed, and on April 1, wilderness, hunting ground of Indian tribes. 1872, Governor Whyte approved "An Act to Frederick was organized in 1748, and Wash­ provide for taking the vote of the people for ington County was carved from it in l 776~ or against a new County in certain Election Districts of Allegany County-to be called the County of Garrett." Among the provisions of the enabling act, the boundary between the new county and Allegany was to be a straight line from the summit of Savage Mountain where said sum­ mit is crossed by l\Iason' s and Dixon's Line to the middle of Savage River where it emp­ ties into the Potomac River. The act also appointed the following per­ sons to take a census of the inhabitants of COURT HOUSE the districts and parts of districts to be in­ Our first land surveys were made and the cluded in the new county: District No. 1, first settlers appeared while we were part James Z. Browning; No. 2, Elijah M. Friend; of Frederick ·County. Ailegany county ,vas No. 3, Charles Bell; No. 10, J. McClure organized in 1789, and for eighty three years Mason; No. 11, William Heinbaugh; No. 14, our area was part of that county-the period D. Harrison Friend ; No. 15, Ralph Thayer ; of settlement and early development. Alle­ No. 4, William H. Barnard; No. 16, James gany is the mother of Garrett ; our official Poland; No. 5, George W. Blocker. history up to the time of separation is in the During the summer and autumn of 1872 a Court House files at Cumberland. · vigorous campaign was carried on in favor of In 1871 an active campaign for the organi- the new county and for the location of its ,zation of a new county, to be composed of county seat. Grantsville, McHenry and Oak­ the seven western districts of Allegany, was land competed for the county seat. McHenry under way. Accorrd-ing to the census of 1870 was a small village but was centrally lo­ the population of thes,3 districts was as fol­ cated. Deer Park also proposed to enter the lows: contest, but was induced to withdraw, as in­ No. I-Altamont, 1,133. dicated by the following letter from Patrick No. 2-Selbysport, 1,419. Hamill to John W. Garrett. No. 3-Grantsville, 1,786. Oakland, Md., Sept. 15, 1872. No. IO-Ryan's Glade, 854. Personal No. II-Accident, 1,006. Mr. Garrett After a fair canvas in each Election District in No. 14-Sang Run, 673. the proposed .new county I am quite hopeful that No. 15-Oakland, 1,396. - the division will carry. Am much surprised to hear however that Deer Park -has determined to contend A total population of 8,267, of whom 76 for the county seat. This if presisted in will certain­ were colored. By including small parts of ly locate the county seat at Grantsville or Aecident three adjoining districts the constitutional in the Northern part or section of the proposed new county and away from the Railroad :and this will requir€ment of 10,000 population would be be so much to our disappointment. met. The Winchester Presbytery has just closed its fall session in the memorial church. This was a most In August, 1871, The Glade Star, edited pleasant meeting and resulted we hope in much by E. S. Zevely, began publication in Oak­ good. by E. S. Zevely, began publication in Oak­ Yours Res-pectfuUy land. Its slogan was "Wo-rk for the New P. Hamill County." Meetings were held and several barbacues Among the reasons advanced for separ­ given to the ·public. The following account of ation from Allegany _were: distance from the the Oakland meeting was published in the County seat; desire for a larger represen- Cumberland Daily News of July 6th: 25 July 4 the new county barbecue and At the general election on November 4, Mass Meeting were held in Oakland. 1872, the vote on the new county proposition At 12 o'clock some 500 people gathered in was: For 1297: against 405; majority in a shady grove on the west side of the Little favor 892. The vote on the location of the Youghiogheny. A speaker's stand had been new county seat was: Grantsville, 590; Mc­ erected under two large oaks. Directly in Henry, 461; Oakland, 653; plurality in .favor front of the stand and flag was a table 80 ft. of Oakland 63 votes. long loaded with edibles, flanked by tubs of On December 4, 1872, Governor Whyte is­ lemonade and ice water. su~d a pr-0clamation declaring the territory Judge Hamill then addressed at length the named in the enabling Act "constituted as a people, favoring the new Garrett County. new county to be called Garrett County," _the At the close of his address the s·peaker in­ inhabitants to ~av~ and enjoy all such rights vited any opponent of the New County to and privileges as are held and enjoyed by speak. None came. · the oth,er counties of this State. Col. James M. Schley ,then addressed the T·he next step in organizing the new coun­ meeting, favoring the new County, and say­ ty was election of public officials. On Decem­ ing in regard to the name "Garrett." ber 14, 1872, a bipartisan county convention "About the name of the new County. Other met in the Glades Hotel in Oakland. William names have been suggested, but I give you a reason A. Brydon was chairman of this meeting; for calling it 'Garrett' and no good reasons have been advanced for other names. When in Baltimore Ralph Thayer and G. S~ Hamill were its sec­ I met Mr. Garrett and he told me to say to the citi­ retaries. County officers were nominateq, zens of this section that he appreciated the great but the Grantsville delegation was dissatis­ compliment of ,the new county being named after him. That he would take it into his care and keep­ iied and withdrew. Seven days later another ing. That he held himself in readiness to do anything non-partisan convention met at Accident and .he e.ould for its prosperity. He would make Oakland nominated a county ticket. a first class station, erect new and commodious buildings here and do everything in his power to as­ sist the new county and seat. "Therefore it would be ,best to call it 'Garrett'." Calls were made·for John M. Davis, who spoke briefly, urging all present to work and vote for the new county. Dinner was then in order, after which there ~as dancing on a large platform near the speaker's stand until a heavy rain began to fall. In the evening fire crackers, and rockets were set off. There was some whiskey drink­ ing and some men were "rattle snake bitten," but there was only one important fight. The crowning event of the day was a ball in the evening to the "new countyites" by Mr. John Dailey, proprietor of the "Glades FIRST COUNTY COURT1 HOUSE Hotel," in the splendid ball room attached to the hotel. Miss Fannie Dailey, daughter of At the special election on ,anuary 7, 1873, the proprietor, was a gracious hostess. the following were elected first officers of The grounds of the Glades Hotel had been Garrett County: converted the previous summer into a park, Clerk of the Court, William H. Tower; and sown with grass. Trees had been planted Register of Wills, William L. Rawlings ; a rustic arbor built, and an artistic bridge Sheriff, William Coddington; States Attor- thrown across Wilson Creek, which passes N ote: Oakland, Garrett Co., Md., Nov. 8, 1872. thru the middle of the park, altogether A "ratification" -meeting was ,held last night at forming as pretty a picture as could be the Glades Hotel by a happy -crowd from town and 20 .miles around~ Speeches by Hon. P. Hamill, Col. wished for at a summer resort. Schley and Dr. Bartlett. Also a grand illumination; The entire town was bright and clean and a torch light procession under Capt. Jarboe; guns presented every evidence of increasing pros­ . and pistols firing; bonfires. "It was a grand time, a happy time, a glorious perity. (End of quotation). time." 26 COURT HOUSE COMMISSION, 1907 Left to Right: Foreman Roderick, W. A. Liller, Contractor; C. M. Miller, Capt. J. M. Jar.hoe, Judge Robert R Henderson, Senator W. McCulloh Brown, Judge A. Hunter Boyd, D. E. Offutt, Architect J. Riley Gordon, Otho S. Fike, A. G. Smith. ney, Gilmor S. Hamill; County Commission­ provided in Lord Baltimore's Maryland ers, William Casteel, H. M. Frazee, A. Bon­ Charter, from the mouth of -Savage to the ing; Orphans Court, William Harvey, Joseph head spring at the Fairfax Stone is our De Witt, D. H. Friend; State Senator (187 4), southeastern boundary. William R. Getty; House of Delegates (1874) The western boundary was long in dispute Richard J. West, E. H. Glotfelty. between Maryland and (West) Virginia. The first session -of the Circuit Court for Finally the U. S. Supreme C-0urt ordered a the new county was held in the Glades Hotel, new survey, which was completed in 1912. Oakland, on May 19, 1873. This survey followed in general the line The County was divided into nine election established in 1787 by Col. Francis Deakins districts, numbered from 1 to 9. There are in his survey of the Military Lots-the now 16 election districts in Garrett County. "Deakins Line" from the Fairfax Stone to After a long period of disputes and delays the Mason and Dixon Line. the first court house was built in 1877 by Our northern boundary is the Mason and Burton and Burk, contractors. Part of this Dixon Line, surveyed in 1763 by these two structure is included·-in the present Oakland eminent English engineers, in the settlement High School. The new court house was built of the boundary dispute between the Penns on a more convenient site in 1907; contract and Baltimores. price, $60,962, W. H. Liller, contractor. JOHN W. GARRETT BOUNDARIES OF GARRETT COUNTY Only two names f.or the new county were In 1872 Daniel Chisholm, and again in 1878 seriously considered, "Glade County" and John Harned, surveyed the boundary line be­ "Garrett County." Historically Glade Coun­ .tween Allegany and Garrett Counties. Neith­ ty would have been an appropriate name, er survey was satisfactory. In 1898 the Gen­ since from early times this area was known eral Assembly provided for "the definite as "the glade country" and "Glade Hundred," establishment and location" of the boundary. later called Election District No. 1, included Dr. L. A. Bauer, of the State Geological Sur­ almost half of the presentI county. But the vey, did the work, which was completed in Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was such an July of that year. The "Bauer Line" followed important factor ·in the development of_ the the provisions of the enabling act, and is the county, and John W. Garrett personally and eastern boundary of our county. officially as president of the railroad com­ The south shore ·of the Potomac River, as pany, did so much to foster the growth of the 27 area, the naming of the new c-ounty in his picturesque and attractive region for sum­ h-onor was most appropriate. And this county mer resort. A considerable increase of local was organized during a period of history travel may be anticipated from this source. when ca,ptains of industry and commerce The Civil War delayed Mr. Garrett's plans were admired and in high favor, as kings, for building hotels, but in 1873 the Deer Park princes and the Baltimores had been admired Hotel was built, and in 1876 another com­ in earlier times. John W. Garrett was one of pany summer hotel was opened in Oakland. the greatest of these captains. As noted elsewhere -in this volume the Gar­ retts, before the county bore their name, built a beautiful stone church in Oakland as a memorial to. Mr. Garrett's brother, Henry S. Garrett.

JOHN W. GARRETT Mr. Garrett was born in Baltimore, July GARRETT COTTAGE, DEER PARK 31, 1820. He was a son of Robert Garrett, a President Garrett wa8 a frequent guest at Scotch-Irish immigrant. In 1849 the Gar­ Deer Park, where he died on September 26, retts established the firm of Robert Garrett 1884, in his cottage. His son, Thomas Har­ & Sons, wholesale grocers and commission r-ison Garrett, built and resided during the merchants, in Baltimore. The firm is still in summer months in a second Garrett cottage business as Robert Garrett & Sons, invest- at Deer Park. A grandson, Robert Garrett, ment securities. . of Baltimore, this centennial year gave the John W. Garrett became a member of the County Library a fine marble bust of John Board of Directors of the B & 0, and from W. Garrett, whom we honor in the name our 1858 until his death he was president of the county bears. company. He was closely connected with the manage:r;nent of the company soon after the PATRICK J. GARRETT AND DEER PARK road was built across the mountains, and We are indebted to Margaret T. Stevens during a period of rapid development of our for a copy of the Baltimore and Ohio Maga­ county.. zine of October, 1927, which contains an The rail:r-oad company. not only provided interview with Patrick J. Garrett, and convenient transportation for the products photos of the Deer Park Hotel and Garrett of our farms, fores ts and mines, but, thru fam1ly. Mr. Garrett's influence, it promoted the area Mr. Garrett was superintendent of build­ as a summer resort. In his annual report for ings and grounds of the Deer Park and Oak­ 1860 he wrote: land Hotel properties for many years. Under The salubrious climate and beautiful his management the east and west annexes country among the highlands of Western of the Deer Park Hotel were built in 1887. Maryland have elicited much attention dur­ The hotel property covered about 4,000 ing the past season; but the absence of ade­ acres, including the Boiling Spring. He also quate hotel accommodations has materially was in charge of the Deer Park Improve­ checked the tendency to seek these Glades ment Company farm, and the Garrett and Jor summer homes. Arrangements are being Frick cottages. made for additional hotels ; and a large popu­ When the hotel property was sold Patrick .lation from the South, East and West will Garrett bought the Hosmer cottage, and _probably hereafter select this singularly made It his home. _His · wife was Anna A. 28 Browning, a great granddaughter of Mesh­ are manufactured in season, chiefly in the ach. Bittinger-Grantsville area. In the interview Mr. Garrett recalled some Fifty years ago the county was noted for of the famous people who had visited the its excellent mutton. Tobacco was grown for Deer Park Hotel: RiGhard P. Hobson, Span­ the markets up to the time of the Civil War; ish War hero; President Cleveland and his the big log tobacco barns for curing and bride, who occupied N-o. 2 cottage for fifteen storing the leaves are remembered by old days; William McKinley during his campaign residents. Gen. Washington as early as 1784 for president, W. W. Corcoran in 1892, and wrote of the cattle grazed on the glade grass. Henry G. Davis, whose cottage was later Raising stock and dairying are today im­ owned ·by John T. McGraw. portant farm occupations. Mr. Garrett remembered well the familiar figure of John W. Garrett, who spent much time at Deer Park and died in one of the hotel's cottages. "Mr. Garrett, Pat tells us. was, as he remembers him, a heavy set man of five feet ten· or eleven inches. During the last years he wore long white whiskers al­ though most of his photographs show him with the popular 'side boards.' His private car was named 'Maryland,' and it was drawn by engine 630. At his death the engine was draped in mourning, and bore across its front a metal plate marked 'At Rest.' Presi­ dent Garrett was a kind man and easily ap­ BUCKWHEAT FIELD proached." Mining. The first coal mine in the Garrett County area was just north of Little AGRICULTIJRE, INDUSTRY AND Meadows, where Philip Hare mined coal as COMMERCE early as 1800. The Thistle mine, two miles The estimated population of Garrett west of Grantsville, was in operation prior County for the year 1949 is 24,600. The to 1810. These mines supplied fuel for the people are engaged in agriculture, lumber­ numerous blacksmith shops on the Braddock ing, mining, and in the commerce relating to and National Roads. these industries. The increasing tourist and summer resort business is also important.

MINING SCE:NE AT SHALLMAR Coal is mined commercially in various sections of our county, but the most im­ portant coal field is in the North Branch valley, developed fallowing the construction MAPLE SUGAR TREE~ FARM OF MILO WILSON of the West Virginia Central Railroad. Kitz­ Agriculture._ Th_e farms produce the usual miller is the chief mining center of this area. The first commercial company operating in vegetables and- ~ains,-...... including~ buckwheat, of this latitude. _The pot~to crop is large and this region was the Blaine Coal Company, noted for its q11al~ty. __ Maple sugar and syrup which opened its mine in 1898. The Hamill 29 mine and the Three Forks Mine at Vindex · forest. F. W. Besley was appointed State were opened in 1908. The Wolf Den Coal Forester in June, 1906, and continu~ to Company mine is at Shallmar. Other mines head the department until his retirement in up the valley are operated by the Davis Coal 1942. and Coke Company. The State Bureau of Mines reported for 1947 total production of Coal in this county 1,145,861 tons, and number of persons em­ ployed in the industry 1,022. FORES'_fRY AND LUMBERING A traveler in 1797 over the Braddock Road wrote: These mountains in Western Maryland have an abundance of good chestnut rail timber, a great deal of white oak land, with grand old white oak trees on the same, and white and spruce pines in abundance. The Alleghany, as well as the surrounding moun- -tains, are ruined by the practice of setting fire to them. The destruction of the vast Al- ·leghany fores ts done by fire is not to be de­ scribed by a pen. If these fores ts had never been fired, they would have been a dark, in­ tensive, timbered country of incalculable W. McCULLOH BROWN value, and the outlook would never have as­ Sixty three percent of the county is forest sumed the horrid aspect that now prevails land, including 70,705 acres of State For­ over the region. ests in three areas-the Savage River, Poto­ mac and Swallow Falls Forests. Our seven CCC camps, during the depression years of the 1930's, did good work in improving the State Forests. The original forest trees have been cut for farms and lumber, but second and third growth timber provide material for an im­ portant lumbering industry. RECREATION Due to its wonderful ciimate and splendid scenery this mountain tableland is -an ideal resort in summer and autumn for the people residing east and west. The era of great summer resort hotels, catering to the wealthy, ended here with the WHITE OAK FOREST AT HERRINGTON closing of the Deer Park and Oakland hotels: But for more than a century forest fires But the old "glades country" as a resort for raged unchecked and destructive lumbering common people began in 1925 with the build­ depleted the virgin fores ts of our county. ing of the Deep Creek dam and lake. Cot­ Finally in 1906 Senator W. McCullough tages, cabins, modest homes and camps now Brown introduced, and the General Assem­ dot the shores of Deep Creek Lake. The state· bly passed, an act providing for a State Forests provide trails, forest roads, and Forestry Department. This action was in camp sites. Herrington Manor, on a small response to an off er of the. Garrett family to lake, has stone cottages for rent. New Ger­ give 1,917 acres of land southwest of Oak­ many includes winter sports in its attrac­ land to be administered as part of a state tions. The Pleasant Valley Center is oper- 30 ated by the State University. Swallow Falls forcement of protective laws wild life in the is a beautiful picnic and camping area. forests has increased in recent years. In 1934 only 49 deer were killed in this county, but in 1948, 484 were reported killed legally. The Youghiogheny and Potomac Rivers were ·once famous trout streams, but are now polluted by minerals from the coal mines. However the lakes and smaller streams are well stocked with fish.

HUNTING PARTY This was a favorite hunting ground of the Indians and early settlers. With the en- FISH FROM DEEP CREEK LAKE

SECOND STREET, PRIOR TO 1900, LOOKING NORTH.

31 CHAPTER II THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD ---THROUGH GARRETT COUNTY ' The B. and 0. Railroad was the most im- - Georgetown on the Potomac, President Ad­ portant single agency in the development of ams officiated at the ceremony beginning our county. It was built across the moun­ the construction of the C. and 0. Canal. The tains from the Potomac to Cheat River in race to the Ohio was on ! 1850-51, parallel to the old Inter-State Road of the 1780's. THE RAILROAD AT CUMBER-LAND . On November 5, 1842, the first train ar­ rived at Cumberland, end of the line for al­ most a decade. Here passengers transferred to stage coaches to continue their journey westward over the National Road, and freight was hauled on strong covered wagons to the Ohio and beyond. This was the golden age of the National Road. The first surveys to locate the B. and 0. Railroad from Cumberlandr to the Ohio were made by Benj. H. Latrobe in 1836-37, when the line ended at Harper's Ferry. Two possible routes were surveyed. OAKLAND STATION WITH GLADES HOTEL, 1858 SURVEYS ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS (1) 'l,he Northern, from ·Cumberland up Before 1849 there was neither village nor Will's Creek, passing the Summit thru a town in· the south or center of what is now tunnel at Sand Patch, thence down the Cas­ Garrett county, but following the "iron selman River to Turkey Foot (Confluence), horse" came development of timber and coal thence to Pittsburgh or Wheeling. This route mining resources ; farms were cleared ; towns was favored by the engineers, being shorter, and villages appeared on the line of the rail­ less expensive for construction and oper­ road. Bloomington was laid out in 1849. ation. It would p:r-obably have become the Swan's Mill (Swanton) manufactured and main line of the railroad had not various in­ shipped lumber. Altamont, at the summit of terests favored the Pennsylvania Railroad the 17-mile grad~, became a railroad village, as opposed to the Baltimore •Company. Many and Deer Park a noted summer resort. "John years later, in 1871, this northern route was Hoye' s Big Pasture" was the site of Mt. Lake followed by the Pittsburgh Division of the Park and Loch· Lynn. Hutton Switch got a B. and 0. large tannery. Yough Glades (Oakland) grew (2) The Southern route passed from Cum­ rapidly into a thriving commercial center, berland thru Westernport; ~rossed Savage and in 1872 was chosen as the county seat of River; thence up Great Backbone to Crab­ the new county, named in honor of the then tree Creek, to the summit of Little Backbone president of the railroad company, John W. at Hinche's Spring, where it passed thru a Garrett. proposed cut 80 feet deep into the Glades; The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, as indi­ do~7Il Green Glades Run and Deep Creek to cated by its name, was planned by the found­ the mouth of Cherry Tree Meadow Creek, ers of its company to be the great transpor­ where a survey station was established. tation route between the seaboard at Balti­ From this station the proposed route con­ more and the Ohio River. Construction began tinued down Deep C1'eek, crossed the Yough­ officially on July 4, 1828, at Gwynn' s Falls iogheny just above Swallow Falls thence up near Baltimore, when the venerable Charles Muddy Creek into (West) Virginia; passed Carroll turned the sod and a Masonic Lodge near the village of Bra~donville, thence to laid the "First Stone." On the same day, at Cheat and finally to Wheeling. 32 The report of these surveys, published in "Fardowns" from the north. Due to differ­ 1838, includes the following comment: ences of racial origin and religion, and to The part of Allegany county through whiskey, fights between these groups were which the Southern route would pass is one frequent and often fatal. of much beauty· and interest- especially Grading the road bed was pick and shovel that which lies west of the Little Backbone, work. ··Drilling was done by hand and black where are found those elevated natural powder was used to blast out the rock. Ma­ meadows, so well knov.711 under the name of terials were loaded on carts by hand and the Glades, and upon which vast herds of drawn to places of dispQsal by horse power. cattle are annually pastured upon a wild Construction camps dotted the line across grass of peculiarly nutritious properties. the mountains and glades. Supply for the The mineral ,vealth of this region is also un­ camps was a problem. Fortunately cattle doubtedly great, though as yet undeveloped. were numerous in the glades. Israel Thomp­ The few roads in this district and the sparse­ son, of Ryans Glade, contracted to provide ness of the population make it an especially beef. He drove fat cattle to the camps and favorable subject for the improving in­ slaughtered them there. fluence of a great thoroughfare. The transmountain section of the railroad An intermediate route was also surveyed. began with the "17-mile grade"-11 miles It i;assed from station 320 at the mouth of of ,vhich had a grade of 116 feet per mile­ Cherry Creek up Buffalo Marsh Run, "near and passed the summit at Altamont thru a the residence of John McHenry, Esq.," and cut 30 feet in depth and 2626 feet above sea "near Yaldwin's farm," down Bear .Creek to level. Construction thru the Glades was com­ 6 'the Y oughiogheny Iron Works," thence paratively easy. The Youghiogheny River do"\\'ll the river thru Selbysport to Turkey was crossed by a bridge of timber and iron­ Foot. This route had been surveyed in 1824 a single arch of 185 feet span, resting on for the C. and 0. Canal. stone abutments. It will be noted that none of these early From Cranberry Summit (Terra Alta) the surveys passed thru the Yough Glades and road descended to Cheat River by a heavy across the Cheat River Valley-the route grade, for four miles clinging high to the finally chosen for the road. side of a precipitous chasm. In two places In 1843 a reconnaisance was made from solid walls of masonary support the track, the Potomac to the Ohio, which proved the so ,vell builded in the 'fifties that they con­ practicability of· constructing the railroad to tinue to carry the heaviest engines of the Wheeling ,vithout passing thru Pennsyl­ present day. In October, 1851, President vania. Four years later the chief engineer, Note: Latrobe's Report, dated Oct. 1, 1847: In June Benj. H. Latrobe, with three parties of engj­ last, I recd. your instructions to locate the line of the neers started to lay out the final route across road as far westward as the Md. & Va. state line .•• three parties of engineers were organized . . . The the mountains, and before the close of that second party has been employed in the location be-; year Latrobe had sixty miles of the line sur­ tween Westernport and the Backbone or main veyed and ready for contract, including the summit, and has had a very difficult time to run upon the mountain slopes of the very rugged section thru our county. ravines of Crabtree Creek and Savage river. The The route surveyed is the present loca­ progress of this party has been, consequently, very slaw and it has .been further retarded by the preva­ 'tion of the main stem of the railroad, which lence of the almost perpetual rains -of that humid passes thru Oakland and Terra Alta, and region. The chief difficulties of this section of the crosses Cheat River a few miles above Dunk­ route, are, however, now overcome, and it is hoped that its preparation for contract may also be com­ ard Bottom at Rowlesburg. pleted early in the winter. In June, 1851, the road was ready for The third party has been engaged upon the traffic to Piedmont, where--an engine house easy and beautiful part of the route lying westward and other facilities provided for trains, from the summit, -thru the glades, and has com­ pleted its location, for a distance qf upwards of 15 which there would begin the ascent of the ·miles, to the State line, and is now extending it in mountains. By the autumn of 1851 5000 men Va. to the head of Snowy Creek, whence the descent and 1250 horses were at work on the con­ to the valley of Cheat river commences. The rigor­ ous winter which prevails in that elevated district struction. between the Potomac and Cheat will not permit the advantageous prosecution of the r1ve1·s. surveys later in the season than the end of the -Laborers were chiefly Irish immigrants­ present year, at which time it is believed that about 65 miles of the route from Cumberland west, will "Corkonians" from the south of Ireland and be prepared for contract ... 33 Swann reported that the 2nd division of the Cumberland and Baltimore was begun im­ road from Piedmont to beyond Oakland "had mediately. On Christmas Eve of that same been passed" and that Cheat River would be year, the last rail was placed, the last spike reached about the 1st of December. Only a driven at Rosby Rock that connected the single track was laid across the mountains Ohio at Wheeling with tidewater at Balti­ until 1872, when the road was double tracked more. some miles west of Piedmont; double track­ I-Iarness me down with your iron bands ing was completed to Oakland the following And be sure of your curb and rein: year. For I scorn the strength of your puny hands, The line reached Fairmont, June 22, 1852, As the tempest scorns the rain! and regular operation of trains to and from -The Steam Horse.

Note: The THAYER TAVERN was one of the first numerous or serious, altho the party f~uds among houses erected in Oakland, and was built for John the greater part of the foreign laborers render the maintenance of peace among them insecure, ... M. Thayer, of Grafton, who had the contract for were it practicable to enforce the prohibition of the grading that portion of the B. and 0. :running use of ardent spirits ( made a clause in all contracts) through the Glades. The workmen were immigrants upon or near the line, the chief cause of all broils fresh from Ireland, some called "Corkonians" and which happen would be removed. Every effort is others "Fardowners;" a deadly feud existed between made to effect this object, but 'with only partial the two classes, and when opposing gangs met, success as harbors for those who vend the poison bloody fights ensued, and many a fill hides a dead are so readily found in that wild country; and our body placed there half a centruy ago. -Martha A. own citizens in the vicinity of the work are, un­ -Yost, Sept. 8, 1902. happily, too ready to engage in a business, the large profits of which appear sufficient to render Note: LATROBE'S REPORT for 1849 states: them indifferent to the evils which it brings not · Supply of labor on the line has been abundant, and only upon the consumers b11t often, indeed, directly disturbances among the workmen have not been upon their own persons and property.

THE WEST VIRGINIA CENTRAL RAILROAD This railroad was of prime importance in the history and· development of the valley of the North Branch of the Potomac. It was built by the West Virginia and Pittsburg Railway Company, organized June 25, 1881, under a special charter from the State of West Virginia. The officers of the Company were: Henry G. Davis, President; Stephen B. Elkins, Vice-President; W._ E. Parker, Super­ intendent; Board of Directors: Alexander Shaw, James G. Blaine, S. B. Elkins, William Keyser. Thomas B. Davis, Augustus Schell, W. H. Barnum, J. N. Camden, John A. Ham­ bleton, T. E. Sickels. The road was built up the North Branch, on either side of that stream, thence across the divide near the Fairfax Stone, and to STATUE OF HENRY G. DAVIS, IN ELKINS Elkins, \V. Va. Construction began immedi­ In July of that year there was an unpre­ ately after organization of the Company, cedented flood, when the waters of the upper and on October 19, 1881, the line from Pied­ Potomac were said to be four feet higher mont to Shaw was opened for operation. that they were ever known to have been be­ During the ye~r 1882 the line was extended fore. The flood caused suspension of traffic to Mineville, where the Big Vein Coal Com­ for ten days; repairs cost $30,000. Also in pany began shipping coal in July. In August, 1888 the Elk Garden branch was completed, 1883, the line was continued from Harrison which did away with the tram road, and en­ to Gormania, and on November 1, 1884, track abled the coal company to dump coal directly laying was completed to Davis. In 1888 the from the mines into railroad cars. The road was completed from Davis to Parsons. Kempton branch was built in 1913-14. 34 C. & 0. R. R. STATION, FRIENDSVILLE. 1941 The road was completed to Elkins in 1889, Line railroad companies; in 1890 these and trains began running regularly to that merged to form the Confluence and Oakland town on August 8th. Negro labor was used Railroad Company, which leased the proper- largely in the building of this railroad. The ty to the B & 0 for 999 years. The B & 0 ac- new stations on the line were generally quired all the stock of the C & 0 and oper- named for officers and stockholders of the ated the line until it was abandoned in 1942. company. At Manor Land A. Knabb & Company oper- The Western Maryland Rail Road Com- ated a large stave mill. The Kendall Lumber pany acquired the W. Va., C. & P. R. R. C. Company also operated a big sawmill at that on November 1, 1905. place, whi~h become known as Kendall, with club house, post office, store and a group of THE CONFLUENCE AND OAKLAND residences. From Kendall narrow gauge RAILROAD roads were built up Laurel Run and up the Y oughiogheny River to Muddy Creek, over The C & 0 ~ilroad was presumably in­ which timber was hauled to mills in Kendall. tended to connect the B & 0 at Confluence The Meadow Mountain Lumber Company with the main line at Oakland, as well as to had t\venty-five miles -of narrow gauge road develop the lumber and mining industries operating from Friendsville in the Bear of the Youghiogheny Valley. One of its chief Creek Valley. The McCullough Coal Corpor­ sponsors was the Y ough Manor Land Com­ ation became the chief shipper from Friends­ pany, '\\"hich o,vned extensive tracts of tim­ ville over the road in its later years. ber land in the valley. '\Vhen the virgin fores ts of the valley were Construction began at Confluence on Ap­ cut, traffic on the C & Q, RR declined. Final­ ril 1, 1889, and was completed to Manor Land ly the Federal Governn1ent bought the prop­ about November 1, 1890. The road was erty for $306,000, and incorporated most of standard gauge, 19.78 miles in length, 7.27 the old road bed in the Youghiogheny Flood being in Maryland. It was built by the State Control project. Operations of the C & ·O R R Line & Oakland and the Confluence & State ceased on April 1, 1942.

35 CHAPTER III EARLY SETTLERS

1. YOUGH GLADES ,vith six Military Lots and the tract _of land called ustewart's Delight" which had been 1806 1848 ratented to Thomas Stewart in 1806. The The surveyor's certificate accompanying the plat of the new town of Oakland reads as follows: At the request of Edward McCarty I have laid off a Town according to the annexed table and plat also hereto ap­ pended to be called Oakland. Surveyed the 10th day of October, 1849. ·./,ff (Signed) J ....4... Armstrong. '=.~ ,,·~:-. .;.;,. We are celebrating the one-hundredth an­ ~ niversary of this survey but will revert to ·-i. the earlier history of Oakland, which dates to the year 1806, when William Armstrong established his home here, and on April 1st, 1812, was appointed the first postmaster of the post office known officially as Yox or Y ough Glades. The Armstrong home had been a central point for over forty years when this survey was made. William Armstrong was born near Car­ lisle, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1763. When JAMES DEVECMON ARMSTRONG only fourteen years of age he was com­ census of 1810 lists Willi-am Armstrong as missioned Ensign in the Continental Army. head of a family of nine, including slaves. After the \Var, he went first to Newton, Three sons were born to William Armstrong Virginia, and from there to Clarksburg, Vir­ and his wife--James, Thomas and John. ginia, where he was employed by Peter James Devecmon Armstrong was Collector Devecmon, who had established stores both there and in Westernport, Maryland. Mr. Devecmon was born in France; in 1786 he married Hannah Sinnex, of Swedish descent, in Wilmington, Delaware. He died in 1803, leaving his widow with four chil­ dren, George, Anne, Maria and Ingaba. In 1806 William Armstrong and Mrs. Devecmon were married and brought their family to the first permanent settlement on the site of Oakland. Their home was at the end of Liberty Street, near the railroad and the Standard Oil tanks west of Oakland. Several trails converged at Y ough Glades. One crossed the Little Y oughiogheny River to join McCullough's Path, a se(!Ond followed the river to Sang Run, and a third continued east to the Maryland State Road. Mail was carried by pack horse over these roads, post­ age being paid the recipient. In 1809 William Armstrong was assessed MRS. JAMES DEVECMON ARM.STRONG 36 of Taxes in 1832, and County Commissioner 1811: now the First :National Bank of Cum­ of Allegany c·ounty in 1837. berland. He made his . home at "Black Oak Thomas fladdon Armstrong married Ma­ Bottom" where he ·died in 1824. O,ne son, riah Hoye in 1844. · They lived at "The Edward, married twice; Sarah CrEj~sap in Glades," the farm· now owned by the Mitchell 1810, and Ruth Cresap in 1827. Elizabeth family. In 1857 they moved to Iowa. McCarty married William Armstrong, of John Maxwell Armstrong married Annie Romney, Virginia, her sister, Mary, married Marie Townshend, and moved to Mounds­ James Mosely, and in 1815 Isaac McCarty ville, Virginia. married Anne Devecmon of Yough Glades. William Armstrong died April 5, 1848. His They lived in Cumberland until 1827, when wife, Hannah Sinnex Armstrong, preceded they came with their family to live near him in death. It is probable both are buried William Armstrong and his wife at Yough in the old McCarty graveyard south of, Oak­ Glades. land. This plot of ground was reserved when the land was sold in 1855. The Armstrong motto, "Deo robur meus," "In God is My Strength," should be recalled when one thinks of this pioneer. 2. "THE WILDERNESS SHALL SMILE" 1811-1867 Surveys for building the railroad from Baltimore were made in 1827. Isaac McCarty was a member of a commttee to aid in secur­ ing the route of the railroad by way of Cum­ berland. In 1849 the line of the railroad passed directly through mountain land, patented to Edward McCarty in 1826. The original name of this tract of land is "The vVilderness Shall Smile,'' which was al­ most a prophecy, as one sees what a trans­ formation has been made. Patrick McCarty, of County Tyrone, Ireland, came to Patter­ son's Creek, Virginia, in 1730. His son, Ed­ ,vard McCarty was born 1757, and was mar­ ried to Elizabeth Miller in 1775. Patrick Mc­ Carty and the father of Elizabeth Miller had been killed in an Indian Massacre in 1761 at MR. AND MRS .. ISAAC Mc.CARTY Patterson's Creek. Edward McCarty joined Captain Abel Westfall's Company, 8th Vir­ In 1831, Isaac McCarty bought from ginia Regiment and was at Valley Forge. He David Lynn, seven Military Lots, where a took part in twelve battles up to and in­ large log house was built, with cabins for cluding Yorktown. After peace was declared, eight slaves, and two log barns for storing he was made colonel of Virginia troops oper­ and curing tobacco. Eleven children grew up a ting against the Indians. in this home. The remnants of this old set­ In 1797 Colonel Edward McCarty moved tlement, wit~ two graveyards, can be found with his family from Virginia to Cumber­ on the Ben_ Bi.~tinger._farm south of Oakland. land. He purchased land from Joseph Ma­ In 1828 the Methodist Sunday School was gruder, a part of Indian "Old Fields" shown organized by Issac McCarty in the home of on the first map of Western Maryland. This his neighbor, George Loar. property, known as ''Black -Oak Bottom," is located on the Potomac River about twelve In 1830, with the assistance of Murray miles west of Cumberland and extends along Thayer, a grist mill was built. A saw mill the river toward Keyser. must have been in operation too, as some :colonel McCarty was one of the directors houses were built of slabs and Murray of. the Bank of_ Allegany, incorporated in Thayer named the settlement "Slab Town". 37 In the Baltimore and Ohio records the name 3. INGMAN'S PLACE "Mc·Carty's Mill" was used, before the name The Maryland State Road was the only Oakland, land of the oaks, was chosen by direct way to travel over the mountains to Ingaba McCarty, when the first survey was Yough Glades. A traveler in 1796 told of be­ made October 10th, 1849. Part of Military ing entertained in good style and comfort, Lots 864 and 865 were laid off to form the of choice venison, a bit of Indian bread and first sixty-four lots, and the streets of Oak­ milk for breakfast, of the oats, and rich land. meadows where cattle grazed knee-deep in The railroad was open for trains through wild grass. to Fairmont in 1851. A home was built for In 1809 John Hays built a large two-story Edward McCarty near the railroad, which log house to be used as a tavern, at Green was used for the first railroad station and Glades. The source of Deep Creek is located postoffice. Isaac McCarty was appointed on this land. On old maps, Deep Creek is postmaster in 1854, and the name was of­ called Green Glades Creek. John Hays sold ficially changed fronlj Yough Glades to Oak­ his property to James Morrison of Wes~er~­ land. This was an office Isaac McCarty had port, and returned to Harrison County 1n held before, for in the records. at Keyser, Virginia. ,James Morrison's daughter Jane West Virginia, he is listed as the postmaster had married Henry Ingman, and the tavern at Paddytown, Hampshire County, in 1811. and farm were managed by Henry Ingman Paddytown was the original name of Keyser. and his wife, and the tavern was called Ing­ In 1855, Isaac McCarty granted freedom man's Place. to his slaves. He had a memorial stone erected at Patterson's Creek to honor his Virginia ancestors who had been killed in .. the Indian Massacre. In 1855 he sold his property to Ezekiel Totten, and ~igrated to Iowa. A description of his life in Fairview, Iowa, was related in a letter written in April 1948 by his ·grand- . daughter, Miss Rosa McCarty. In the Isaac McCarty family there were eleven children, four sons and seven daughters. When mov­ ing to Iowa in 1855; Mr. McCarty and his wife were accompanied by their son David, two daughters, Ingaba and Mary Ellen, and their aunt, Nellie Devecmon. After settling on the farm Mr. McCarty's great interest was in teaching and study of the Bible. He interested his neighbors in at­ tending a Bible Class, and a cabin was built for a Sunday School on a corner of his farm. He was Superintendent of this school until his health failed. Mr. McCarty died in 1867 and his wife died in 1885. It is known that his son, Ed­ wa;rd, was a preacher, and that the children of Peter, another son, were Rosa, Paul and HON. PATRICK HAMILL Isaac Max McCarty, of California. Two Through . the Morriso:n family a second grandchildrei:i, Lloyd McCarty and Lida Mc­ home was established at Green Glades · by Carty Thompson, live in Iowa. A great Patrick Hamill who came from County An­ grandson, Frank M. Wallcer, lives in Wash­ trim, Ireland, to America, in 1798. He mar­ ington, D. C. A grandson, Morgan McCarty, ried, in 1805, Mary Morrison, of Western­ lived on the farm at Fairview for many· port. Mr. Hamill was a large landowner and years. He was not married. merchant, but did not live long to enjoy his 38 home in America.. He died in March, 1818, their own vehicles, drawn by oxen, laden when only 37 years of age, leaving his with the members of the family, household widow with three children, Henry 0 .. , Nancy goods and furniture. After leaving Cumber­ and Patrick, Jr.. He was buried at Green land, they stopped at Cresaptown and West­ Glades in a family burial lot, beside mem­ ernport, thence over the Maryland State bers of the Morrison family. Road, ..stopping at the home of Captain Mary Morrison Hamill lived until 1862. George Calmes, east of Yough Glades, reach­ Her son, Patrick, Jr., was appointed Tax ing there February 22, 1819, after a long Collector for Allegany County. He was hard journey of nearly two months. They elected to the Legislature and re-elected for traveled on to George Rinehart's home near a second term. In 1868 he was elected to Red House, where Stephen and his wife Congress to succeed ex-Governor Thomas. were persuaded to ren1ain. The two brothers, He was elected to serve on t~e Orphans' Murray and Job, journeyed on to Lewis Court, and from that office acquired the County, Virginia. Stephen Thayer patented title of Judge. · two military lots· under the tract name, Mr. Hamill married Isabella Kight, daugh­ "Dairy Farm," now the Spiker farm, about ter of Enoch Kight of Allegany County. two miles south of Yough Glades. A com­ Their children were Gilmor S., James, Hen­ fortable log house was build for his family. ry, Kansas, Sydney, Susan and Mary Ann. Ther~ were eleven children, Franklin, Ralph, In 1867 Mr. Hamill brought his family to Stephen, Abel, Hannah, Jane, _Ann, Eliza, Oakland. They made their home on the Sophronia, Helen and Maria. corner of Second and Pennington Streets in One daughter,- Ann, nicknamed Nancy, a well-built house which was destroyed by taught school near George Rinehart's in fire in December 1944, while owned by Mrs. 1823. Stephen Thayer lived in the Glades un­ Edward H. Smouse. til 1843. His son, Ralph Thayer; was married to A nephew of Patrick Hamill, of the Ham­ Miss Mary Mitchell, of Addison; Pa. They ill family from Antrim County, Ireland, made their home in S~lbysport in 1838. Mr. came to America in 1817. This young man Thayer was elected to the Rouse of Dele­ was Henry Hamill. He came to Ingman's gates from Allegany County in 1840, and in Place, where he met and married his cousin, 1863 the family moved to Oakland, and lived Nancy. One child, Archibald Chisholm Ham­ in the Corrigan house which was located on ill, was born, and the young wife died. Hen­ the site of the present Court House. His ry Hamill later married Julia Ann Fazen­ son, Frederick A. Thayer, purchased the baker, whose parents owned the land on large house on the corner of Third and Oak which Fort Necessity is located. He and his Streets, known as the Tavern. This house wife established their home in Oakland. was built by John M. Thayer of Grafton,' Seven children were born of this union, An­ who had the contract for grading the line of nie, Nancy, Moses Rawlings, Lewis Cass, the B. & 0. R.R. when it passed through Evaline, Rebecca Rawlings, and Edward Oakland in 1849. Jackson. Mr. Ralph Thayer was elected Register of Henry Hamill died in 1880 and his wife in Wills; he was appointed postmaster in 1875 1900. One son, Moses R. Hamill, lived in and 1882. Oakland, was County Surveyor, served as The children of Ralph and Mary Mitchell ~ Sheriff, and filled an appointment in the Thayer were Charles, Walter, Frederick, Sub-Treasury in Baltimore. · Richard, Virginia and Lucretia. Many per­ 4. THAYER, 1819 sons remember the teacher, Miss Lou Thay­ er, afterward Mrs. Geor.g-e Waters, and her STEPHEN ~ YER, with his wife Mar­ sister, "Jennie," Mrs. Bowie Johnson, who tha Washburn Packard Thayer,_ and their made their home in the house at the corner children, along with his. two brothers, Mur­ of Third and Oak Streets. ray and Job Thayer, descendants of Captain Job Thayer did not return to Maryland, Abel Thayer, of Braintree, Massachusetts, but Murray Thayer, with his wife, Zekiah left their home in Williamsburg, Massachu­ Barrows, of Amherst, Massachusetts, re­ setts, in December, 1818. They traveled in turned to live near ·his brother Stephen. 39 There were twelve children in his· family. About 1830 Murray Thayer assisted Isaac McC~rty to build and operate a grist and saw mill. · · Murray Thayer bought land on Deep Creek and built a large house of white pine logs, where his family ·was established. The neighborhood is known by his name, Thay­ erville. A great part of Deep Creek Lake is on this property. 5. TOTTEN TOWER, 1855 Among the early residents of Oakland was Ezekiel Totten, from the George's Creek coal region. _Hi~_ ancestors came first to New Jersey and Vi:rginia in 1782, and in EZEKIEL TOTTE-N 1787 came to Maryland. lVlr. Totten was last person to be laid to rest in the Totten born in 1799. He came with his family to Oakland in 1855. Purchasing the Isaac Mc­ Graveyard. Carty farm, he est~blished a home there, In recal_ling old days in Oakland in con­ later moving to ·town, where he bought the nection with the "Totten Graveyard" we Daniel R. Brant house on the present site find recorded, "and a child of the Tower of Teets' Garage, on Oak Street. He retained family," as mentioned above. Three gener­ the farm, operating ;it' l:>y· tenants, one of ations lie there: Ezekiel Totten, his son Wil­ whom was David Gower. liam and "the child of the Tower family" and This farm has changed owners frequently. his daughter Rebecca, who was married to At one time it was c;>wned: by Hiram Hesen, William H. Tower. and was purchased-from him by George and The ancestors of the Tower family came Edward Helbig. n.e. pre~ent owner is Benja- from England to Hingham Center, Massa­ min Bittinger. · ·· · chusetts. The family moved first to Vir­ Other property was bought by Mr. Totten, ginia then to Allegany County, Maryland, on Second and Alder Streets. Part of it is where William H. Tower was born in 1832. still in possession of members of the family. In 1864, he accepted a position with Henry The first deed recorded in Garrett County G. Davis Lumber Company at Deer Park, from Ezekiel Totten to Adelia M. Merrill remaining there three years. In 1869, he was was for a lot in Oakland on March 4, 1872, elected to the Board of School Commission­ consideration $125. · ers, and was chosen for Clerk of the Alle­ On the crest of Totten's Hill in a grove of gany County Commissioners. He was princi­ trees is located the "Totten Grave Yard," pal of the Oakland public school in 1872. with markers on the graves, from which the He and his wife made their home on the following information is obtained: Mr. Tot­ corner of Wilson and Pennington Streets, a ten's wife, Ann P., died 1862, aged 60 years; large house with a double lot at the side. Ezekiel died 1881, aged 82 years ; their son, When Garrett County was established in William P., lived from 1830 to 1887; his 1872, Mr. Tower was elected Clerk of the wife, Della Brown's dates are 1834-1915. Circuit Court and held that office until his Israel Totten, aged 24, lies buried there; al­ death in 1887. so a child of the Tower family. Other descendants of Ezekiel Totten, liv­ Mrs. William P. Totten is recalled with af­ ing in Oakland are: Asa Totten Matthews, fection -by the older residents of Oakland. lawyer; Cecil Smith, Cashier of the First Her home is standing on the corner of National Bank, and Mrs. Edward West and Liberty and Wilson Streets. She was the her daughter, Elizabeth West. ·

40 CHAPTER IV OAKLAND

" TOWN LOTS FOR SALE 51; Roman Catholic Church and Rectory, 52 ; Roman Catholic School, 55 ; Mrs. S. H. The land near McCarty's mill, along the Jackson's, 54; Goldsborough House, present Y oughiogheny River seemed the best place owner George Fulk, 60; House built by for a village, and it was a great advantage John Felty, present owner, Bernard Gon­ to be near the line of the new railroad. der, 64. James A. Armstrong laid out part of Mili­ tary Lots 864 and 865, the new town of Oak­ It will be noted that Daniel Reese Brant land, beginning near the mill. Streets were bought six lots at the original sale. A store named: Water, Oak and Alder, running East and residence was built on his property, and West, and numbers from First to Fifth, which is recorded as the second building to running North and South. be erected in the village. Mr. Brant was a Sixty-four lots were· surveyed, with young man at that time, having been born streets of equal width and alleys for access near Westernport in 1821. to the rear. Some of the original purchasers _ The third building to be erected was a were: Daniel Hoye, lots 1 and 2; W. D. Bur­ store anq. residence owned by Jeremiah ton, 3; James Armstrong, 4; George Deeke, Leonard Townshend. 5; N. Devecmon, 6; Edward McCarty, 9 & In 1854 D. R. Brant bought Military Lot 10; George Stoyer, 13; James Taggart, 14; 863, located on the tract, "The Wilderness Dr. Conn, 15; George Stoyer, 17; John and Shall Smile," and in 1860, as the .. need arose Isaac McCarty, 18; D. R. Brant, 19 & 20; , for more building lots, this land was cut in­ Edward McCarty, 21; D. R. Brant, 23 & 24; to 101 lots, called Brant's Addition to Oak­ Dan Stamp, 25; Eisfeldt, 26; D. R. Brant, land. 27 & 28; Smithman, 29; Eisfeldt, 30; D. R. Brant's Addition includes all lots beyond Brant, 32; Latrobe, 33; McConnell, 34; Fifth Street, extending to Green and Church Browning, 35; Murphy, 36; E. L. Baker, 38; Streets. Oakland was growing and it was Mrs. Root, 39; Tucker, 40; A. Weringer, 46; incorporated under the Act of Assembly at Lutheran Church, 50. the January session in 1862. A burgess and Som\e of the owners of the sixty-four lots commissioners were elected. The Armstrong at a later date were: E-rnest Townshend, 1 ; land, containing over a thousand acres, was W. E. Shirer Store, 10; Scott Shirer, 6; sold in July, 1865, to William Schley. The Howard Stuck, 14; D. E. Bolden, 15; Harry tract of land called "Stewart's Delight," Davis, 18; Teets _Garage, 23-27; Nally containing 563 acres, was sold to Josias Building, 20; Giess,man Hotel, 29; Brown's Pennington. Store, 24; Reckard & Glotfelty, 26-30; A. T. Matthews Office, 28 ; Corner Oak & Third, 31 ; Corner Alder and Third, Lutheran Church, 32; (burned in 1905), now McIntire Building. An old house, dating back to the building of Company houses by the Rail­ road Co., 30, now owned by Leighton Broth­ ers. Court House, Sheriff's Residence and Jail, 36-45. Thayer House, corner of Oak & Third, 35. Home built by D. M. Dixon, now owned by Mrs. C. N. McIntire, 46; Methodist Church, property presented to Church by SECOND STREET, ABOUT 1920 Isaac McCarty, 43-47; the John Hart Home, Nove~ber 10, 1865, the third survey for present owner. J. M. Tasker, 49; Mrs. Oakland was made, and thirty-seven lots Archibald Moore's, 50. House built by Fred were laid out, extending Second Street, and Martin, present owner, Frederick Thayer, - opening Liberty Street as far as Wilson 41 Street. A sale of lots was held November 27, rebuilt in brick, by Mr. Offutt. Later it was 1865. Dr. J. Lee McComas purchased lots purchased by G. A. Fraley, and is now owned numbered 11 and 12, which extended from by I. R. Rudy. John Legge had a store next Liberty to Second Streets. This property on door, now owned by A. R. Gortner. A Liberty St. is owned now by James B. Bell. grocery store owned by Charles Cropp was Mr. D. E. Offutt was out of town the day of sold to James and Annie Treacy. The first the sale. Returning, he found that all of the agency for the Ford car was established in lots had been sold except three, Lots ·28, 29, this store by Mr. Treacy about 1909. The and 30, on Second Street. One of these in­ present owner is the W. A. Gonder estate. cluded Wilson Creek. He purchased all three The Oakland Pharmacy was located in this at a cost of $300, and had his home built. block, where Joseph Harned had his first This home was occupied by Mr. Offutt and busines_s experience, moving later to the members of the family until 1938, when it Mccomas Building. was sold to D. E. Bolden, Jr. John Dailey, The Garrett National Bank was built in host of "The Glades" hotel, and his wife 1888. A high boardwalk with railings on bought lots and some, acreage at this· sale. either side, extended along the bank build­ ·The following year, June 20, 1866, forty­ ing at the side, and crossed Wilson Creek to five lots were surveyed for Mr. Pennington, Railroad Street. extending Second, Third and F o u r t h Dixon and Kelso built a large feed store Streets. This was all on the tract called and warehouse on Liberty Street, which is "Stewart's Delight." Mr. Pennington built now a part of A. D. Naylor & Company's an attractive home near the north end. of hardware store.. ~econd Street, which has changed very little Chisholm's Drug Store on Railroad Street in appearance, although it has been owned was taken over by the railroad in 1881, when and occupied by a number of families: Ed­ the station was built. win Mitchell, Mr. Painter, J. L. Pollock, The Frantz Hotel, a restaurant, and Fel­ James C. Willison, Stuart Hamill and others. ty's Grocery Store made up. a block of busi­ On December 13, 1867, James Armstrong, ness buildings there. deputy County Surveyor, laid out sixty-one At the North end of Second Street was an lots for Thomas Wilson, -covering land west estate of several acres, belonging to the of · Wilson Street, from Liberty to Center Walker family. A high fence surrounded it. and Pennington Streets, forming Wilson's There was a stile with steps, by means of Addition. which one could climb over the fence to a It was in the same year that the site for path leading to the old-time house. The the Garrett Memorial Church was selected driveway was on the road, now Third Street. at the junction of Second and Liberty About 1910, this property was bought by Streets. (Liberty Street was popular as a D. M. Dix-on and A. D. Naylor, and surveyed residence street for many years. It over­ for building lots, extending Second and looked the countryside, the Oakland Hotel, Third Streets to the corporation line. Charles and was the main road for traffic to Crellin, F. Hammond built a red brick house on the Terra Alta, K;ingwood, and Sang Run). A site of the Walker house. Dr. N. I. Broad­ second Wilson Addition was surveyed in ,vater owned this house for several years, 1869, when forty-one more lots were added. and sold it to D. E. Offutt; Jr., in 1928. The Wilson Additions are on property origi­ In 1914 a sale of lots was held at Highland nally owned by the first real pioneer of Oak­ F·ark on land owned by Dr. Edmund Golds­ land, William Armstrong, and it is interest­ borough, a summer resident from Washing­ ing to note that the survey of these lots was ton, D. C. The sale was well advertised. An made by his son, James. , airplane flight was one of the drawing cards. On the west side of Second Street Glades This may have been the first airplane to land Hotel Park, owned by Mr. Dailey, was sur­ in Oakland. Development was slow, but a veyed for building lots. The Offutt Store number of new homes have been built re­ was built there about 1866. The wooden cently on the land bordering Eighth Street. frame building extended through to Rail­ Recently, popular growth has been along road Street, with entrances at each end. A the Monte Vista Road, which extends Third fire destroyed this building in 1898. It was _Street to the South. An extension of Third 42 Street to the North has been planned which will connect with the new location of U. S. Route 219. This will make Third Street Oak­ land's longest street. A later sub-division of Oakland was made, - when the Bradley Farm was offered at an a"'.lction sale. Building lots were laid off and sold along the River Road beyond Liberty · Street. A large part of the farm with the house was sold to the Garrett County Fair Association. Later this land was taken over by the town of Oakland in connection with the water supply from Bradley Spring. The Municipal Golf Course is located here. OAKLAND., 1870 The Bradley house was a spacious well lowe'en pranks were discouraged. It was al­ built home, with porches on three sides, and so ordered to keep streets free from mud, a couple from which a fine view could be dirt, weeds and snow. obtained. It was used for display of farm In 1875 the purchase of town scales was products for several years and eventually ordered. In 1876 when D. M. Mason was destroyed by fire. Thus another landmark Burgess a motion was before the Council to can be only a memory. prohibit hogs from running at large. The Lots in Totten's Addition, south of Oak­ vote was a tie, but later was carried and en­ land on Monte Vista Road, are popular as forced. the ground is high with an extended view. In 1877, John M. Read was Burgess, fol­ OAKLAND INCORPORATED lowed in 1878 by D. E. Offutt. Councilmen ,vere allowed $9.00 a year for their services. Enough homes had been established in Town scales were in use and all coal and hay Oakland from 1849 to 1862 to consider its were to be sold by weight. Ten cents for coal incorporation with a Mayor and Council. The and t,venty-five cents for hay was collected. first Burgess or Mayor. chosen was Dr. St. By ordinance horses were prohibited from Felix Colardeau, who was born in France, running at large. _ and came to Oakland as a friend of Dr. E. In 1878 on motion of Rev. John M .. Davis H. Bartlett, marrying Dr. Bartlett's sister. all church properties were exempt from pay­ When Garrett County was organized in ment of town taxes. 1872, and Oakland was selected as the In 1879 it was made unlawful for horned County Seat, town officials were elected or black cattle to be at large at night. each year. The Mayor was called the Bur­ In 1880 a census listed the population as gess until 1886. The· second Burgess was J. 910. M. Jarboe in 1872. In 1873 John Daily was - Upon complaint of sum.mer visitors on elected. Receipts reported, $203., with ex­ June 29, 1881, that their sleep was being penditures of $181. A fine of $2.00 was disturbed, an ordinance was passed, "To in­ ordered for anyone throwing balls on the sure more peaceful repose and to make the streets. In 1875, when Richard T. Browning town more charming as a summer resort," was Burgess, the value of real estate and which made it unlawful for the owners of personal property was assessed at $307,800. cows to have bells on them from 8 p. m. un­ Sept. 5, 1875, one hundred dollars was ap­ til 7 a. m. propriated to aid in securing ground for the 1885-A reward of $5.00 was offered for erection of the Oakland Hotel, then contem­ information leading to the arrest and con­ viction of persons in the habit of breaking plated by the B. and 0. Railroad. ./ In 1875 an ordinance made it unlawful to and stealing street lamps. This reward was damage any lamp post, awning, spouting, raised to $50.00 in 1887. door, window, railing, bridge, fence or orna­ Burgesses from 1879 to 1884 were G. W. mental or other tree. This shows that the Delawder, Alexander Osborne, Andrew B. streets were lighted, and indicates that Hal- Gonder, Owen Hart, 0. W. Heiskell, D. E. 43 Offutt. D. E. Offutt had served in 1878 and home at Red House. Major Best and Charles again in 1884. He was the last .Burgess for Nethken were on the first vestry of the in 1886 it was decided to change the name Episcopal Church, in 1874, and the Nethken from Burgess to Mayor, and Owen Hart, home was established ·on Bartlett Street, who had served as Burgess in 1882,. was Oakland, in 1874. elected. Mr. Hart was Mayor for three Other members of the police force, from terms. time to time, were: William Newman, Pat- Mayors from 1886 to 1924 were changed . rick R. Maroney, William D. Casteel, Lee R. frequently, each serving for a period of two Mason, John J. Sweeney, William W. Sheets. years. Their names follow: D. M. Mason, A. Mr. Sweeney is now Chief, and Mr. Sheets G. Sturgiss, G. M. Mason, Dr. Henry W. Mc­ is night policeman.. Comas, (who was elected for four terms of All streets of the town are paved or hard­ two years each), R. S. Jamison, John W. surfaced. Hart, ( who held the position for two terms), The water system has been owned and H. J. Frear, Truman West, A. T. Matthews, operated by the town since 1910. Water is George Giessman, W. R. Offutt, and Thomas ·pumped by electricity from deep wells into A. Gonder. In 1924, Lawrence M. Fraley was two large reservioirs located on Crook Crest, elected and re-elected for six years ; then creating sufficient pressure to insure proper Grover C. Stemple was elected and re­ fire protection as well as domestic service. elected for six years, followed again by Sewage is carried by a three-foot main pipe­ Lawrence M. Fraley, who held the position line for a distance of two miles to the ~rQm year to year for ten years. In 1946, Youghiogheny River. Alexander G. Hesen was elected Mayor, and Fire-fighting has developed from the old died in office in 1948. Joseph Hinebaugh, days of bucket brigades to the present fine­ the present Mayor, was elected to succeed ly-equipped Volunteer Fire Department, him. housed in the City Hall. In June, 1887, during the administration ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS of Owen Hart, an ordinance was passed pro­ hibiting locomotives from whistling within Electricity was first introduced to the the town limits. This ordinance was the out­ hotels at Deer Park and Oakland. Soon growth of a petition of a number of citizens. afterward, D. E. Offutt purchased ma­ When one considers that the railroad tracks chinery for an electric light plant suitable cross the main street, as well as the end of for use in the town. The plant was installed Liberty Street on the now abandoned road and operated by Samuel and Abraham Law­ to Crellin, and that at that time there was ton. Street lights were put up, business no flagman at either crossing, and also that houses and some of the homes were wired. there was a signal tower at the Oakland The power house, located on Wilson Street station, it was impracticable for the rail­ near the railroad, was operated at night road company to obey this ordinance. Even only. \ now, with a flagman on duty at the main About 1920, Mr. Offutt sold the power crossing, and the signal tower moved to house to the Town of Oakland, and a large Mountain Lake Park, locomotives still plant was built on the side of the hill below whistle in the town limits. Liberty Street. Modern machinery was in­ The Oakland Police Department has stalled, and gave excellent service. Hardly grown from the early days when Aleck had this imJprovement been made when the Fleckenstein made the rounds to light the West Penn Power Company surveyors in­ street lamps. Mr. A. D. Naylor vividly re­ cluded Oakland i_n their new territory. calls this happening in 1884. Bartlett Best The West Maryland Power Company, a Nethken held the office of Chief of Police, subsidiary of the West Penn, was incorpor­ though not with unbroken continuity, from ated under the laws of the State of Mary­ 1912 until his retirement in 1947. Mr. Neth­ land, and on September 1, 1922, the Oakland ken is an Oakland man. His parents were electric plant was sold to this new corpor- Charles 0. Nethken, and Ada Best, the . ation, and a fifty year franchise was granted daughter of Major Charles Best, who came by the Mayor and Council for furnishing with his wife from England to make their light, heat, and power to the community. 44 At that time, Dr. Henry Mccomas was GARRETT COUNTY TELEPHONE CO. Mayor, Gilmor S. Hamill, President of the The Garrett County Telephone Company Council, and Albert G. Ross, Clerk. Abraham was organized about 1900 by the following: Lawton was employed as engineer and W. li.. Smith and M. Mattingly, of Hoyes, supervisor by the company. Md.; .Joseph H. McCrobie, Oakland; C. V. On July 1, 1925, the Monongahela Po,ver Guard, Friendsville ; William Miller, Acci­ Company, with general offices in Fairmont, dent, and J. M. Durst, New Germany. West Virginia, purchased all capital stock of the West Maryland Power Company, and W. A. Smith was President and General took over all development of electricity in Manager, main office, Hoyes. All of the Oakland. Their lines extend to all parts of towns in the county were co~nected by tele­ the county, and are in continuous operation. phones and lines extended to many farm Power is generated at Lake Lynn, on the homes. Many subscribers bought stock in Cheat River. the company and all owned their own tele­ The Northern Natural Gas Company was phones. Switchboards were located in coun­ organized to bring natural gas from West try stores. Virginia into Maryland. The first pipes were Connections were made in Pennsylvania, laid in the summer of 1909, and service has West Virginia and Western Maryland. The been uninterrupted since then. Oakland last directory of the company, published in managers of the Gas Company have been 1911, contains names of 925 subscribers. S. H. Jackson, R. R~ Gilbert and Carl Stone. Soon after, the lines were sold to the Chesa­ The company is now known as the Cumber­ peake and Potomac Company and service land and Allegheny Gas Company. was extended to long distance.

Picture taken about 1892 of the Townshend house, the oldest house in town, at the corner of First and Water streets. The town was laid off from the cornerstone of the lot. A "new part" of the house was ·built in 1872. In the picture, not too clearly seen are Mrs. S. L. Townshend, Mr. S. L. Townshend, Mrs. C. D. Smith, of Parsons, W. Va., (formerly Miss Edith Townshend) R. C. Townshend, Ernest Townshend, Wellington Crane, and Miss Gertrude Armstrong. ·

45 CHAPTER V WARS AND VETERANS' ORGANIZATIONS

GENERAL JONES' RAID but the Block house was not, as he sold eggs there after the raid.'' Puring the War between the States Com­ The people in this area, being near the pany D was organized locally in August, border-line, between North and South, were 1862, by Capt.. Michael Fallon, with John divided in their sympathies, but carried on Arm.strong and Joseph Forsyth as Lieu­ their normal work throughout the war: tenants. This company was disbanded in When peace was established soldiers re­ January, 1863. On Sunday, April 26, 1863, turned from both armies to resume their a Confederate unit raided Oakland upon every-day duties without rancor. As far as _order of Gen. William E. Jones. Col. A. W. they were concerned the country was united. Harman's forces advanced from Gormania GENERAL KELLY & GENERAL CROOK and surprised . the garrison at Oakland, under command of Capt. Joseph Godwin, of King- Two officers of the U. S. Army who were wood. No battles were fought in this area, interested in Oakland in 1863, were ·Gen. B. but the recently completed B. & O. Railroad F. Kelly and Col. George B. Crook. General line was the object of attack. As recalled by Kelly married a Miss Goshorn of Wheeling, Frederick A. Thayer, Sr. : "The Rebels came and purchased Swan Meadows, a large farm in·town from the South, a half-simple fellow near Sunnyside, for use as a summer home. was on guard. When he halted the column He later married Miss Mary Clare Bruce, of they joshed him, and put him on a hors; Cumberland. They were living at Swan and brought him to town with them. Rowan Meadows at the time of General Kelly's White gave the alarm at Oakland but too death in 1892. late to stop the raid. Federal Headquarters Major Gen. George B. Crook was his close were at Th~yer Hotel, corner of 'Oak and associate. Both, Generals were in the Revere Third Streets. Henry Tasker was killed ; he House in Cumberland, when they were cap­ was not a soldier, but was taken prisoner tured by a group of Confederate soldiers, for some minor offense, and shot by a sen­ and taken through the lines of the Union try, a very young soldier. The Rebels seized Army to Winchester. Their exchange was forage for their horses and food for them­ made promptly, but the McNeill Rangers selves. Rowan White kept the Hotel at the accomplished a historic mission on that c?rner of_ Second and Alder Streets; quanti­ fateful night. ties of his food and provisions of all kinds were seized. After signing a pledge not to serve again during the War, their muskets w~re destroyed and prisoners paroled. The raiders went as far as Deep Creek; they commandeered horses from the saw mill owned by Samuel Specht, arid from Patrick Hamill's and John L. Browning's farms. "The :ailroad station and telegraph office were seized. Telegraph wires were cut and the railroad bridge over the Youghio;heny was burned. After this damage the raiders CROOK CREST2 1936 went on to Morgantown and Fairmont.· All · Their association in the Army, along­ bridges were repaired." with their homes in Oakland, promoted the William Kildow was a boy of nine at the friendship of these two m·en. Oakland was time of General Jones' raid. He recalled the home of General Crook's wife, Miss Mary "the picket house on the road south of Oak~· Dailey, daughter of Mr. John Dailey, pro­ land, also th.e large log block house guarding prietor of the Glades Hotel. General Crook the railroad bridge. The bridge was burned, was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1828,. and was 46 graduated from West Point in 1852. He re­ man and Robert Townshend. Some of the ceived the rank of Major General in 1865 lieutenants were R. S. Jamison, John F. and was transferred to Wilmington, N. C., White, D. M. Mason, Edward Spedden, and where he remained in command until 1872, Alexander L. Osborne. Other members of when he was sent to the Arizona District to the company included: John W. Veitch, Ed­ quell disturbances caused by the Nez Peices ward .. H. Sincell, King Delawder, Fred A. Indians. Thayer, Richard H. Thayer, John Yelloly, Mrs. Crook inherited land in Oakland Patrick Hamill, A. C. Mason, Truman West,. from her father. General and Mrs. Crook E. Z. Tower. planned to build a home on a hill overlook­ One of the company's outstanding groups ing the country side. Plans were completed was an expert rifle-team known as the when Gen. Crook died suddenly during a "Haymakers"~rack shots who won every visit to Chicago on the 25th of March, 1890, contest they entered. when he ·was sixty-two years of age. He was In 1881, the Garrett Guards attended the buried with honor in Arlington Cemetery. centennial celebration of Cornwallis' sur­ Mrs. Crook carried out their plans for a render at Yorktown, and in 1883, when John home on the hill, which· was finished in Smith, a Negro convicted of murder, escaped 1891, by Bolden and Spedden, contractors, from the Oakland jail, they were ordered and given the name "Crook Crest." Mrs. out to capture him. (Smith was finally Crook and her sister, Mrs. Read, made it caught and hanged--the only criminal ever their home until 1904, when it was· sold to executed in Oakland.) A. D. Naylor, who maintained his home Quite recently (October, 1947,) a new there until 1909, when ownership again National Guard company has been organized ch:anged and Mrs. Eliza Fundenberg and her here, with 2nd Lieut. Frederick C. Kisner daughter, the author of this book, purchased in command. It is Co. C, 121 Combat Engi­ the property. neers, and the members use the Episcopal Parish House as a temporary armory. Plans G. A. R. have been made for a permanent armory After the Civil War sixty-four Union building. soldiers in Oakland and the surrounding SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR towns joined the Grand Army of the Re­ public, and formed "Crook Post," naming it When war broke out with Spain in 1898, in honor of General George B. Crook. Colonel Garrett County had no sort of military or­ A. G. Sturgiss was Commander of the Post, ganization~ A meeting was held in Offutt's • which carried on . patriotic work, and held Hall, Oakland, on April 16th, to reorganize memorial services at the graves of their the former National Guard company for ,var comrades on Decoration Day. ~ service. Dr. E. H. Bartlett presided, and called for volunteers. Forty men responded, Camp-fire meetings were held for many including Dr. Bartlett himself, and Edward years by the G. A. R. Post and members of Taggart, who was 79 years of age. Volun­ the Confederate Army, jointly, at Mountain teers drilled in Oakland for some weeks, but Lake Park, du!.ing the Chautauqua summer were not accepted for service as a company; season. consequently, when a recruiting office was NATIONAL GUARD opened at the Glades Hotel, on July 1st, those enrolling joined a company in Cum­ In 1879, Captain E. H. Wardwell, a Civil berland. Information is not available to War veteran, organized Co. B, 2nd Battalion, show which of the volunteers were Oakland Maryland National Guard, here in Oakland. men, and which came from other parts of This company was given the name of the the County. "Garrett Guards," in honor of Mr. John W. Garrett. Captain Wardwell, who afterward WORLD WAR I was made a lieutenant colonel, and placed in Oakland sent many men to World War No. command of the battalion, was the first 1, but the author has not been able to secure captain of the Garrett Guards, and was later exact figures to include all branches of th·e followed by Peter A. Chisholm, James New- service. A record kept by Mr. A. G. Ross, 47 who was clerk to the Draft Board, shows the names of 6939 persons as having passed 541 Garrett Countains inducted into the through his office, including 1830 who were Army alone, and 26 into the Selective Army beyond the age limit. Including voluntary Training Corps. There were also numerous enlistments there were about 2300 men and volunteers. Procter Kildow, son of the late women in active service from this area. Mr. and Mrs. William Kildow, was killed in More than 50 Garrett Countians lost their action, and John D. Little, son of George lives. Little, died of pneumonia. Both were Oak­ VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS land boys. Many from other parts of the County were killed, or died of disease. In January, 1946, the Heriry- Luther Schmidt Post of the Veterans of Foreign AMERICAN LEGION Wars of the United States (Post No. 5282) Proctor Kildow Post (No. 71) of the was organized in Oakland. The 45 members .American Legion was organized in Oakland meet twice a month, and are active in vari­ in 1920. At the present time it numbers 200 ous campaigns and drives for the control of members, including veterans of both World illness, and in aiding disabled veterans.* Wars. Regular meetings are held bi-monthly AM VETS in the Legion Home (purchased from Mrs. Ellwood Offutt) , and the members partici­ The Oakland Post of the American Veter­ pate in community service in various ways, ans of World War II (Post No. 3) was or­ support child welfare work, and carry on a ganized in 1946 ..There are 50 members. The rehabilitation programme for former service Am Vets participate in community projects, men. The Legion also sponsors several local and support the Oakland Baseball Team, boys each year at "Boys' State," the annual which plays about 35 games a season. summer encampment at Fort Meade which Note: Many Oaklanders will remember Capt. James is designed to train youths in the technic Brock, the venerable Englishman, who for many and ideals of self-government, and to. foster years was the town's merchant tailor; and it is al­ together fitting that he be mentioned here. Captain democratic principles. Brock believed himself to be the last survivor of the famous Charge of the Light Brigade at Bala­ WORLD WAR II klava, in 1854. He was awarded the Victoria Cross -the highest honor that can be bestowed by the British Empire-for conspicuous gallantry, and World War No. 2 drew heavily upon Oak­ used to tell, with tears streaming down his cheeks, land and the County. Harland L. Jones, who how Victoria herself pinned the decoration on his was Chief Clerk of the Garrett County Se­ uniform, and said: "Your Queen is proud of you." He died here in 1921, and lies buried in the Episco­ lective Service Board for six years, reported pal chn rchyard.

48 CHAPTER VI HOTELS

In 1806 William Armstrong kept open needed, the new Commercial Hotel was built, house at "Yough Glades" on the long road nearer the business section. This was owned from Westernport to Clarksburg. When Oak- · and managed by Mrs. Miller and her daugh­ land was established in 1849 a large building ters. Moving was accomplished from one was erected by John Thayer of Grafton, Vir­ hotel to the other without interruption of ginia, on the corner of Third and Oak service. The same day a supper was served ~treets, to be used as a hotel while the rail­ for a sleighing party from Aurora, and two road was under construction. It was known couples were married in the hotel parlor. The as the Thayer Tavern, and prior to the new hotel was modern, with electric lights, Civil War, when he was United States Sena­ and running water, obtained from a well in tor from Mississippi, Jefferson Davis stayed the yard. there for a while during the Summer. Miss Good help was abundant and they em­ Rebecca Thayer, and Ralph T. Thayer, re­ ployed two maids, two laundr~sses, and a call having been shown the "Jeff Davis man to meet the trains. Three colored men room" in the old building, and many other held the position successively, James Truly, Oakland people remember it quite well. This John Banks and William Jones. house was occupied by the elder Ralph Thay­ William Jones came to Oakland with the er and his family soon after they came to Howard family from Baltimore. His way of Oakland from Selbysport, in 1863, and re­ meeting guests was very clever. "Foist I mained in continuous possession of members takes notice, second I takes interest, and of the family until It was torn down early in , last thing I takes charge." the present century. The present structure A letter written at the New Commercial was then erected by Mr. Thayer's daughter, Hotel, December 25, 1911, gives an idea of Mrs. Lucretia Thayer Waters, and she and its hospitality. "I was a wakened by a rising her sister, Mrs. Bowie Johnson, entertained bell; when tbe breakfast bell sounded I had selected guests there, as they had done in a fine breakfast of chicken and waffles. I the latter years of the old John Thayer Tav­ walked all around town after breakfast. Din­ ern, until about 1916. It was owned by Mrs. ner was served after twelv,e o'clock: clear Waters until her death, in 1925, and is now soup, tur:key with lots of stuffing, cranber­ "Carrie's Restaurant," owned by Mr. and ries, celery, olives, six vegetables, fried ap­ Mrs. William Shaffer. ples and delicious frujt salad, plum pudding The quaint house on Oak Street near with sauce, a frozen custand whose flavor­ First, owned and occupied by Scott Shirer's ing was not bought in a grocery store, two family was at one time a hotel. Dr. J. Lee kinds of cake, coffee, nuts and candy. The McComas lived there when he came to Oak­ table was trimmed with scarlet bells and land in 1858. The Davis House, corner of ropes of tinsel, and a great bunch of roses; at Second and Oak Streets, was one of the my place was a long stemmed pink rose. At early hotels. three o'clock I started out and climbed a high The Central hotel was' located on the corner mountain just behind the hotel. From this of Second and Alder Streets. S. L. Boyer was mountain I had an extensive view-it is too owner and manager.. The hotel was taken steep to go often. When I finished dinner I down to give space for the building of the felt as if it would last me a week, but after First National Bank in 1903. being out so long in this fine air, I was able The first Commercial Hotel was opened by to enjoy a light supper of cream toast, cold Mrs. S. M. Miller in the large double family turkey, hot beeksteak, fried potatoes, apple home, on Second Street, now owned and oc­ sauce, cherry gelatine and hickory nut cake. cupied by Mrs. Harland Jones and Miss So on the whole I have had a most delight­ Grace Jones. The house, having been built ful Christmas." fo_r a hotel, was comfortable and well lo­ After the death of Mrs. Miller in 1924, the cated. New Commercial Hotel was sold to her As Oakland grew and a larger hotel was grandson, William :O. Davis, and James A. 49 Towler. The lobby and dining room were resorts, Monte Vista was found to be the changed, and a new name, "William-James · last summer hotel of the original five popu­ Hotel," was selected. Later the property was lar hotels-in Oakland. Monte Vista was built taken over entirely by Mr. Towler; the lobby for a summer hotel by Dr. King, of Washing­ was enlarged with a tier of-well-appointed ton, D. C. Its location makes it unusually at­ bedrooms added to the two upper floors. Mr. tractive, not only to guests in the house, but Towler's guests were graciously entertained for many persons who enjoy the extensive and busjness prospered. Guests returned and view, North, South, and East. From the long brought their friends. The hotel was sold in porch at Monte Vista, one's eye may'-follow 1945 to Thomas Sheehe, who maintained line of the railroad along the valley of Big open house atmosphere and generous hos­ Backbone Mt.,. to Weber's, then ro Mt.· Lake pitality which had surrounded it since 1910. Park, on to Deer Park and Altamont in the Mr._ Sheehe also owned and managed the East. Looking South toward the Mountain Manhattan Hotel which was bought from top one locates Table Rock on the North­ Mrs. Charles Bosley in 1945. The Manhattan western Turnpike, Route 50. Looking North Hotel had been under the management of the Hoop Pole Ridge Road, 219, winds to Charles Bosley, the son of Mr. George Bos­ Oakland, which is located in the valley less ley, who owned the Bosley House on Oak than a mile distant. Dr. King's hotel was Street. By inheritance Mr. Charles Bosley kept open under good management until his was a generous host; assisted by his wife death when his brother in Chicago offered he made the hotel a popular one. The Wil­ it :£or sale._ It was purchased by Col. Nelson liam-James Hotel was sold by Mr. Sheehe to Thomasson, of Chicago, to be used as a sum­ Mrs. Victoria Ingram in October, 1948. Mrs. mer home for his family. Until 1947, the Ingram has been identified with the Green family of Col. Thomasson owned Monte Palm Restaurant and the Mt. Lake Hotel Vista and in later years his son, Nelson and is a delightful hostess. Thomasson came each year with his family. The most recently established hotel is Here his daughter, Nanniene, was married Pickwick Inn, which was opened in 1945 by in 1905 to Mr. Elwood Offutt of Oakland. In Mrs. William Grimes and Mrs. Lillian Davis, 1944 Mrs. Offutt gave up her home in Oak­ who also own and manage the Mt. Lake land and took over the lovely old mountain Hotel. Pickwick Inn is located beyond Sev­ heme, Monte Vista, which after forty years enth Street on Alder, in a large Colonial as a summer home for the family, was house, built by G. Semmes Hamill, Jr., in opened again as an Inn. Many persons have 1908. .enjoyed the delightful hospitality of Monte Several other homes are open for guests·; Vista, and rested in the delight of living on Mrs. Harry White on Oak Street has fol­ "top of the world.'! In October, 1947, Monte lowed Mrs. Lowenstein and Miss Bert White Vista was sold to Floyd Custer. in the same pleasant house, which has been Of English descent, Richard Best Jamison open for nearly fifty years. Misses Margaret came from Washington County in 1832, to and Annie Miller have kept their home Bliooming Rose, the community named by ready for guests since 1925. Friends of many Jonathan Boucher, a clergyman of the years are their patrons. Church of England, from the verses in A popular home on High Street was kept Isaiah, Chapter 35. "The w~lderness and the by Mrs. Fike. This house was built by Wil­ solemn places shall be glad for them, and the liam 0. Stull who came to Oakland from desert shall bloom as a rose. It shall blossom Pennsylvania, and operated saw mills near abundantly and rejoice even with joy and Aurora, W. Va. The house was built of se­ singing." Mr. Jamison lived there until 1868, lected slabs, still retaining the bark. It was when he moved to Oakland. In the family called "The Bark House." When Mr. Stull were two sons, Richard D., and Edmund, moved away, Gilmor S. Hamill, Sr., bought and one daughter, Florence. Richard Jami­ it and established his home on the hill. Re­ son served as Mayor in 1898, E\dmund Jami­ cently the exterior has been entirely changed son was elected Sheriff, Florence Jamison by application of asbestos shingles. It is now married John T. Browning. They lived in the a white house, -instead of being the familiar Jamison home and established the Browning brown of the bark. House as a popular hotel.- Browning house is In reviewing the history of our mountain managed now as an apartment hotel by 50 members of the family, William Browning· actress; Mrs. Leslie Carter, and her still and· Miss Zaidee Browning. more famous producer, David Belasco, when Near the railroad station ·a very popular they were worlcing on her play, "The Heart hotel 'was owned and operated by the Frantz of Maryland"; General Palmer, who wrote family. It was· -previously known as the "Stonewall Jackson's Way," and also built "Schley Hotel." · the house on High Street adjoining the new Hotels of the past are of interest: The cemetery, now used as an apartment house; C-lades Hotel, The Oakland Hotel, Bosley's, William F. Cody, generally known as "Buf­ 'I'he Rest and Surmont all have contributed falo Bill," and Gen. B. F. Kelly, of Wheeling. to the growth of Oakland. The first resort After the death of Mrs. Dailey in 1878, and hotel to be built in Oakland was "The of Mr. Dailey in 1881, the hotel was man­ Glades." It was located on the South side of aged by John B. Brant, who had been associ­ the railroad sufficiently near to be a meal­ ated with Mr. Dailey since 1858. Mrs. Crook time stop for trains in the early days, be­ and Mrs. Read retained possession of the fore dining cars were in use. Twenty min­ hotel and were personally interested in its utes gave time for a quickly served meal. In success. Befiore the Hotel was closed about 1858, The Glades Hotel was purchased from 1908 Dr. E. H. Bartlett was the host for a Perry Lyle by John Dailey: For over twenty time, also Mr. and Mrs. Body and Mr. and years, Mr. Dailey dispensed hospitality in Mrs. Edward West. Oakland. He was born near Romney, Vir­ _The resort hotel at Deer Park, built in ginia, in 1850. He came to Cumberland from 1873, was well patronized. The B & 0 Rail­ · Baltimore and became the manager of the road company built a second large hotel in Revere House. He moved to Oakland with Oakland in 1875. The Oakland Hotel was al­ his wife, the former Rebecca Turley, of most identical with the Deer Park Hotel, a Moorefield, Virginia. His daughters were three-storied building, with long porches. It Mary, who married Gen. George B. Crook, of was built against the wooded background of the Union Army, and Fannie, who married Totten's Hill. A broad bridge crossed the John M. Read, a lawyer in Allegany County. Little Youghiogheny River, at the end of His son, Charles James Dailey, joined Mc­ Wilson Street, near the Railroad Station. Neill's Rangers -in the .Southern Army. For The roadway ended in a large circular drive­ sixteen years The Glades Hotel was the cen­ way. The grounds surrounding the hotel tral meeting place in Oakland. The first were Park-like, following along the river. A Court Sessions in Garrett County were held patli through the maple, oak and pine trees here. Famous guests were entertained, led to a spring, which was called ''Washing­ among them were the ,officials of the B & 0 ton Spring," · from the legend that General Railroad, members of the Garrett family, Washington stopped there for a drink, when Jefferson Davis, and Lieut. William McKin­ he made his journey on horseback over the ley. mountains '.in 1784. Washington Spring can In 187 4 the Glades Hotel was destroyed still be found, overgrown and neglected near by fire and rebuilt in the same year. The. lo­ the river below the road to Crellin. cation of the new Glades Hotel was on the Oakland and Deer Park were well-adver­ large lot, south of the Railroad, away from tised each season, and patrons returned year the track. Giant oak trees shaded the after year. But as travel became easier, and grounds, and a path led to the broad veranda automobiles made it pos~ible to see new which extended across the entire front of places, interest in resort hotel life was lost. the three story frame building. There were The Oakland Hotel was sold to a group of fifty guest rooms, spacious parlors and lob­ medical men. It was fitted up as a sanatari­ by, and a large dining room, which could be um in 1900. This was an expensive experi­ cleared for dancing. Fireplaces furnished ment which failed and the property was re­ heat. Two small cottages were built as an­ turned to the Railroad Company. In the same nexes. The grounds of the hotel made an at­ way patronage at the New Glades Hotel tractive park, as they crossed the railroad dwindled and it was closed. The New Glades to Second Street, where small summer Hotel was sold to the Railroad Company in houses were built and a rustic bridge 1909. The buildings and furnishings were spanned Wilson Creek. Other noteworthy bought by a group of Oakland men, and D. guests· at the Glades were the famous E. Bolden and Austin Brown arranged 51 auction sales of the furnishings, and had the · accommodated fifty guests. Long porches buildings taken down, selling. the lumber. extended the full length of the house on Many homes in and around Oakland are built both the first and second floors. of part of the lumber, and contain pieces of His wife, Miss Sarah Wheeler Ridenour, furniture from the hotels. of Aurora, West Virginia, and young mem­ A new road was opened to Crellin in 1921, bers of his family assisted in the manage­ changing the location from Liberty Street ment of the hotel. It was a distinet loss to to Oak Street, where a new bridge was built, Oakland when the Bosley House was closed. and the road followed the valley, through in 1920. the Oakland Hotel site. These grounds had It was later used for apartments by sev­ been neglected from 1909 to 1930, when per­ eral families. Finally it was taken down and mission was given to the Oakland Civic club, the best material used for other buildings. Miss Lottie Loar, President, to use the land At present a part of the site is occupied by of both hotels for a recreation park. At that the new hoarding-house of Mr. and Mrs. E. time disfiguring stumps and brush were re­ R. Fike. The new home near Seventh Street, moved and trees were planted by various or­ built by Dr. T. E. Bullard and now owned by ganizations. For several years the Park was C. E. Sharps, is on the site of the Bosley used as an athletic field by the High School House tennis oourt. and through the summer scheduled baseball Summer hotels were popular in the years games were played with teams from nearby from 1870 to 1910. Besides the Glades Hotel, towns. In 1932, pine trees, reforesting the the Oakland Hotel and Bosley's, there was hillside, were planted by the Boy Scouts, "The Rest," which was located on Seventh u.nder the direction of Miss Loar. The Glades Street, corner of Alder, a large three-story Hotel grounds were plowed level and sown house, built for Mr. John Swan, of Balti­ in grass. Trees were planted along the prop­ more. It was popular under the management erty line by the Civic Club. The land is still of Mrs. Lily Morgan Hoff, of Pittsburgh. in use in various ways for outdoor meetings. After Mr. Swan's death, the management In 1939, the Carnation Milk Company pur­ and patronage changed. The Hotel was chased part of the Oakland Hotel grounds. . rented for several years, then sold to Mr. Near the site of the once gay hotel, a large Somerville, of Grafton, and managed by milk depot was built. The company gathers Miss Nellie Turley. In 1934, the property milk from three states~ for world-wide dis­ was bought by Mr. George Warnick, and tribution. remodeled into an apartment house. Among the first summer resort hotels to "Surmont," the home of Mr. and Mrs. be established in Oakland was the Bosley Percy Procter of Cincinnati, located on the House, on Oak Street, between 6th and 7th hill adjoining Crook Crest, was built in 1895. Streets. The proprietor was George L. Bos­ After the death of_ their only child, Percy ley, whose father, Thomas Bosley, of Eng­ Procter, Jr., by drowning in Lake Cayuga, lish and Irish ancestry had come to· the Al­ New York, Mr. Procter sold his home in 1908 leghenies from the Baltimore area. He was to Mr. and Mrs. Louis E. Bush of Eglon, married in 1834 to Catherine Rinehart, a West Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Bush trans­ daughter of George Rinehart, of Sunnyside. ferred their interests to Oakland from their Thomas Bosley and his wife lived near Sun­ small hotel on their farm n~ar Eglon, and nyside until 1860, when they moved to Oak­ opened "Surmont" to their established pa­ land and built their home. Their son, George, trons, from Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Wash­ went as a pioneer to Iowa, but returned home ington, Wheeling and Clarksburg. to enlist in the Union army. During the "Surmont" was destroyed by fire in 1926. war, when he marched by Oakland with his After the fire, Mr. and Mrs. Bush and company, he watched for a light in the their daughter Ora moved to their bunga­ window to signal that all was well. Mr. Bos­ low on Pennington Street. This house was ley was taken prisoner in 1862, but was soon sold in 1944, with part of the Surmont land, released. He was in active service until 1865. to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hoffman. The prop­ Soon after Mr. Bosley's return from the erty extending from Pennington . Street to Army, he opened a small hotel, which be­ the top of the hill on which the old f ounda­ came so popular that additions were made tion is located, was sold in 1927 to Mrs. until the hotel included forty rooms which Thornton Stringfellow, of Gainesville, Fla. 52 HORSE AND BUGGY DAYS at· Mt. Lake Park, three-seated spring· wagons were on the road continually. Along with the development of Oakland, Deer Park and Mt. · Lake Park as summer The starting point in Oakland was on resorts, came the great need for recreation. Second Street near the Ravenseroft building, Stables with riding and driving horses, car­ where the Germaine Taxi Stand is now lo­ riages, buggies, and three-seated mountain cated.· When a prominent person spoke at wagons with springs, were as active as Mt. Lake Park, every team in town was in present day taxi stands and• garages. use. Teams of horses owned by families from One of the first persons to operate a Ford the cities were brought when their owners car for hire was Mr. J. Albert Kelly. He gave came for the summer, and had to be cared many persons in this area their first auto­ for, as well as the horses owned by the livery mobile ride. The drive out to the end of the men. new road U. S. 219, just nine miles from The Maroneys had two stables in Oakland, town, was quite a ride in 1912. one on Green Street down town, and one near Through employment on the B. & 0. Rail­ their home on High Street. In summer, mem­ road, Mr. Thomas Martin came to Oakland bers of the Maroney family took charge of in 1858, when there were about thirty the stables connected with the Deer Park houses in the town. In 1862, he began in­ Hotel, from which a bus and baggage-wagon dependent trucking, which later developed drawn by horses met every passenger train. into a general livery business. He purchased Other stables in Oakland were those of land on Oak Street, later buying the house Thomas Martin on Oak Street ; Charles on the corner of Third Street. His parents, Sweeney on Center Street; and Albert Kel­ Joseph and Betty Jamison Martin, came ley on Liberty Street. Others who had teams with their three children fro;m Ireland, in and carriages were Hiram Hesen, Edward 1856. They were members of the Episcopal

Helbig, George D. White, Horace DeWitt and J Church, (to them the Church of England). Alpha Hinebaugh. The house on Oak Street now owned by Miss During the Camp Meeting and the Chau­ Dora Martin, was the home of the lawyer, tauqua seasons, from July to September, J. R. Veitch.

53 CHAPTER VII MILLS AND TANNERIES

GRIST MILLS happily married for over twenty years, his wife died in 1875. Beyond the Armstrong home an old grist mill was located, water for the wheel being ' fi~~~t\D;;~il0~~~{)iEW supplied by the large spring which is used ~ ~ in connection with the present water supply \%.<~L·<·-x./ }_;: for Oakland. In 1830 a grist mill was built on the Little Youghiogheny river. An abrupt .turn in the river, against a ledge of rock, h~lps to form a natural dam. Murray Thayer in 1818 went to Virginia; when he ,returned he planned and built the mill for Isaac McCarty. The millstones, which have ibeen in use from that time, were imported from France. They were out on the floor of the mill, to .. be "sharpened", in September, 1949, and Mr. KILDOW MILL,. 1949 Michael Kildow, present owner of the mill, ·Mr. Rasche purchased the mill in 1878, told us they are the original millstones. Isaac and in 1879 he was married -to Miss Kate McCarty and Murray Thayer operated . the Rowan. Mr. Rasche loved music from his new mill. According to Mr. J. W. Kimmell, youth ; in his second marriage music came his grandfather, Hector Sinclair; was the into his home. Miss Rowan was born in Ot­ miller about the year 1832. The only build­ tawa, Canada, and was educated there in ings in Oakland then were the grist mill and music and art. She came with her father to the house in which Hector Sinclair .lived. Westernport. Her father, a builder and con­ William Chambers ran the mill for a while, tractor, had helped to build the fine Parlia­ after the woolen mill below town had been ment Buildings in Ottawa. In Westernport, destroyed by fire. he was the designer and builder of St. About 1877 Peter Martin bought the Mill Peter's Roman Catholic Church. In 1878 a and brought in a steam engine to· give added parochial school was opened in Oakland power. In 1878 the mill was purchased and under the Rev. Fr. Joseph Gallen, and Miss rebuilt by Henry A. Rasche who had emi­ Rowan came as the teacher. Th~ school was grated from Germany in 1851. He came first given up and Miss Rowan was transferred to Cumberland where he was married to to the public school. She continued teaching Miss Ellen Cullen in 1853. music after her marriage, and was organist ~ Henry August Rasche was born in Niesen, in the Roman Catholic Church, of which Mr. in the Kingdom of Prussia, Germany. His Rasche and his wife were devoted members. two brothers were taken by the Prussians During the time they made their home in for compulsory military training. ·· To~. save the west, Mrs. Rasche longed for Maryland. her younger son, his mother planned for his She composed the words and music of a song, emigration. She knew she was giving him up "My Maryland Home." In 1886 when Presi­ at home, hut wanted him to develop his life dent and Mrs. Cleveland came to Deer Park in a free country. He came to America with on their wedding trip, Mrs. Rasche composed a number of boys whose parents realized the the "Cleveland Grand March," and when it value of freedom,in the United States. Here was published a copy was sent to the Presi­ he was free to develop, and he became an dent. In appreciation, a red velvet-bound honored citizen of his adopted home. Among autograph album, inscribed with the names his interests were gold and silver mining in of ·Grover Cleveland and Frances Folsom the early days in Colorado and California. Cleveland, was presented to her. Special He was successful in this venture, but re­ friends have added their names and the al­ turned to his Oakland home. After being bum is a family treasure. 54 . He:rµ-y, Rasche and Kate Rowan Rasche m.anaged by John Baker. Unfortunately this had seven children. In Oakland we have their tannery was destroyed by fire, about 1919, daughter Estelle, Mrs. James Treacy, who and _was never _rebuilt. inherits her mother's· musical talent and has John and Marie Helbig were devoted mem­ been most helpful in promoting music in her bers of the Roman Catholic Church; their home and in the town; Veronica, the widow children have established homes in Oakland, of Mr. William H. Robertson; and Dennis, and with their family connections have been who are also musical; Mrs. Robertson having helpful in developing the town. Mr. Helbig been a professional musician, and "Denny" died in 1913. Their chilqren were John, An­ a member of the Oakland Municipal Band. na, Joseph, Andr~w, :Teresa, Harry, Agnes, After Mr. Rasche's death, which was George, Edward ~nd. Bertha. caused by an accident at the mill, the mill One ~on, Andrew 1Helbig, purchased the was operated by Mr. John Felty; Mr. W. Z. City Rolling Mill from George Mason about Hendrickson followed him. It is owned now 1910. With his sons a progressive business by Michael Kildow. The Kildow home on has developed. He bought land near the tan­ Water Street, not far from the Mill, was nery, south of Oakland, and had a handsome built nearly one hundred years ago for home built with a commanding view. Recent­ Michael Kildow, the Elder, and his wife, ly part of his property has been surveyed for Mary Root. Four sons were born there, building lots, and a number of homes have George, William, Edward and ·Hopwood. been built along Monte Vista Road, which is Four generations h~ve lived in this home. an extension of Third Street. Harry Helbig about 1910 bought the Per­ THE TANNERY ry Pl~ce including nine acres of land. The Great herds of cattle grazed through the spacious old house made Mr. Helbig and his Glades and many were butchered locally; family _a delightful home. The home has the hides must be saved; a tannery was , been a landmark, as the house was planned needed. John Helbig, recently from Germany, by Dr. St. Felix Colardeau when he was the with his wife, Marie Brinkman, and baby, first Burgess of Oakland. After his death, John, then living in Cumberland, decided to which occurred while the house was still un­ build a:·tannery in the new tq;wn-Oakland­ finished, the Perry family lived there and just fifty miles away. Mr. Helbig was born Judge Jeremiah Wilson, vVashington, owned in 1830. He came to America to avoid mili­ and used it as a summer home. Mr. Helbig tary conscription. He had learned the art of held the property longer than former owners. tanning in Germany. His wife had also come An oak grove located along the highway has from Germany, in a sailing vessel, making been used for many years for annual picnics, a six weeks' voyage. They were married jn July Fourth and Labor Day celebrations. It Cumberland in 1858. Land was bought carries the name, "Helbig's Grove." The south of the Little Youghiogheny River, a property was sold after Mr. Helbig's death, home and the tannery ,vere built. There was to the town of Oakland, to be used for a also an outside brick oven. They were estab­ Community House and Park. lished in their home just bef.ore the Civil In 1946 part of the property was given by War. In 1863 the Rebels came in and raided the Town as the site for the Garrett County the town. "Peter Helbig, a brother of John, Memorial Hospital. threw a handful of gravel in the trooper's George and Edward Helbig at one time face and ran and hid in the _bake oven." owned the Isaac McCarty farm. They bought The tannery had a .hundred vats each five it fr,o,m Hiram Hesen, who had a livery feet deep. Water for these vats had to be stable in town. He raised grain and hay, and pumped. When the well was exhausted, used the farm for pasture for horses. water was carried from the river. It is in­ WOOLEN MILLS teresting to discover that the original deed to this property is from the "Devecmon Oakland has had two woolen mills. The Estate/' The original house and adjoining Chambers family came to Y ough Glades in land are now owned by Mr. Ernest Shirer. 1830 and established a woolen mill on the The tannery was in active business for over Little Youghiogheny River, beyond the forty years, until 1905, when a large com­ Armstrong farm. This mill was destroyed mercial tannery was established at Hutton, by fire. 55 About 1870 Dr. Colardeau ·built a woolen the first electricial engineers in Oakland. l\tlr. mill, on Wilson Creek, on the old Maryland Lawton died in 1882. Mrs. Lawton lived un­ State Road leading East from Oakland to til 1918, to see members of her family Swanton. This was taken over by a company established in homes in Oakland and her de­ formed by Rev. John M. Davis, D. E. Offutt scendants among its best citizens. and Singleton S. Townshend. Employees in the Oakland Woolen Mill Mr. Samuel Lawton, a fine mechanical were: Annie, Sarah and Sammy Lawton, engineer, was manager and superintendent. Mary Hoops, Mary Browning, Emma Fred­ In 1870 Mr. Lawton and his wife, Margaret lock, Samuel Lees, Dan Cliff, Leonard Wil­ Lees Lawton · moved to Oakland from moth, Arthur and Arnold Nethkin, Joe.Has­ Manayunk, near Philadelphia, where Mr. lin, Daniel Pifer, Lincoln and John Trenton Lawton's parents had located. They had and Mr. Cheatham. come from England to America, in a sailing vessel. In Oakland they established their The management of the woolen mill was ·home in a large house at the top of the hill taken over by Arnold and Julius Scheer, of near the mill. Still in good repair, the four­ Maysville, West Virginia. After operating teen room house is now owned by Mr. Rus­ four or five years, the machh;ery of the Oak­ sell Smith. land Woolen Mill and of the Maysville, West Virginia mill was moved to Keyser, West The Woolen Mill, in a large, three story Virginia, and formed the nucleus of the Key­ frame building, was a factory center for ser Woolen Mill, which is still in operation. Oakland. Blankets, flannel, yarn for knit­ The large frame building was taken down by ting, batts for wool quilts were made, and D. E. Bolden. The lumber was used to build wool was carded to be spun and woven at Shartzer's Opera House, corner of Second home. There were five carding machines and and Green Streets: a large auditorium, with a "jack" to spin the yarn. Power was pro­ stage, dressing rooms and room to seat vided by a big coal engine and boiler. Hours three hundred people. Many entertainments of work were from seven to six, with a short were staged there. In 1949 Hinebaugh's lunch period. As many as sixteen persons Restaurant occupied the large rooms on the were employed. first floor with apartments in the space In 1946 Mr. Lawton's daughter, Miss Julia above. Lawton, gave the above data. She also gave the following information about the Lawton family: . The three sons and eight daughters were as follows: Annie, Sarah, Samuel, Mary, Julia, Margaretta, Laura, Abraham, Alice, John and Eleanor. "All who were old enough, helped in the mill and in the winter were dressed in wool from the skin out." No doubt this early training started the sons as engi­ neers, as Samuel and Abraham Lawton were

56 CHAPTE.R VIII MERCHANTS

BRANT-TOWNSHEND family, on the corner of First and Water Streets. Think back one hundred years to the days when there were no trains, no automobiles, After the death of Singleton Townshend, no telephones, no electricity ! Cooking was his son, Arthur, carried· on a general mer­ done in fire-places and on primitive stoves. cantile business, at first in the name of S. Supplies were brought to Yough ·Glades by L. Townshend and Son, and then in his own wagon and sled from the nearest shopping name. He was located in the Townshend centers at Romney, Cumberland and West­ Building on the South side of Alder Street, ernport~ The opening of the railroad brought near Third for many years, and then in the a market to the new town; a country store First National Bank Building; again return­ was needed. Country produce was the means ing to the Townshend Building, where he re­ of exchange; meat, butter, eggs and grain mained until his retirement. He was one of were brought to be traded for coffee, tea, the most active and familiar figures in the calico, muslin, needles and thread. business life of Oakland. Mr. Townshend married Miss Susie Hamill, and built the Going shopping in Oakland in 1850, one home on Alder Street, near Sixth, now owned would find the first merchant, Daniel R. by Bruce Jenkins. Brant, putting in a stock of goods in his new store on Oak street. The second merchant JOHN M. DAVIS JOHN HARNED was Jeremiah Leonard Townshend. His residence and store were on the corner of M. L. SCOTT Second and Alder Streets. The Townshend family came to the Glades in 1831 ; the first members of the family came to Maryland in 1790; in 1812 Singleton Townshend was married to Cath­ erine Belt, of Frederick County, and with their children they came to the Glades. Their daughter, Anne Marie, married James Arm­ strong, of Yough Glades, in 1844. Their son, Jeremiah Leonard Townshend, married Ta­ bitha Hoye and came with his family to the new town on the railroad. Mr. Townshend was elected Magistra:te. He was soon joined in business by James R. Bishop; later he entered into partnership with John M. Davis to sell general merchan­ dise. His son, Singleton L. Townshend, pur­ chased from Daniel J. Hoye on July 30, 1853~ Lot No. 1 of the first survey of Oakland. A home was built there and · occupied by the r· family. Their children were Arthur, Ernest, REV. JOHN M. DAVIS Robert, Mary, Kate and Edith. For fifty-eight years, from 1858 to 1916, Mr. Singleton Townshend was Tax Col­ one of the fin est citizens Garrett County has lector for Allegany County in 1865. This po­ ever known, lived among us and blessed us sition involved travel by horseback all over by his presence. This man was the Reverend Allegany County, and reporting to Cumber­ John M. Davis, who with his father, Joseph land. In later years he was a partner in the Barker Davis, purchased a farm of 600 acres hardware business with John M. Davis until from David Freeland in 1858. This farm, 1890. The house built in 1853 is now owned part of a tract formerly owned by Governor and .occupied by Ernest Townshend and his Thomas Johnson, was called "The Promised 57 Land." Mr. Davis' ancestors came from farm, he became a licensed local preacher. Wales, to Baltimore, where Benjamin Davis After he moved to Oakland in 1867 he was was born in 1770. He was married to Eliza­ ordained a Deacon, and in 1876 an Elder in beth Barker, whose father, Joseph Barker, the Methodist church. He was superintend­ was a -Captain in the Revolutionary War. ent of the Sunday School for forty-one year3. Their son Joseph Barker Davis, married During his long ministry he baptized~ mar­ Sarah McMillan and came with their son ried, and officiated at many church services John and daughters Sarah and Annie to and funerals. In 1882 he assisted in estab_. their mountain home. Their· farm was lo­ lishing the Mountain Lake Park Association, cated near Hutton on the route of McCul­ and gave it his support through the rest of lough's Path where two buffalo and Indian his life. He was elected a Director of- the trails met. Traces of Indian camps and Garrett National Bank when it was estab­ graves have been discovered on this prop­ lished in 1888. At the time of his death the erty. Reverend Dr. Archibald Moore paid a tribute - In recollections written by Mr. Davis we to his memory as follows: find this data : "He was a noble citizen of Oakland, and "During the summer of 1859 I herded 600 his influence will extend through many head of cattle on what is known· as Herring­ generations- His memory will be cherished ton Manor. At that time 1000 to 2000 cattl~ as one who was a fine citizen, a representa­ were annually pastured within a radius of tive business man as well as a highly re-· ten miles. Oakland was a small village, hav­ ligious man, ever fa_ithf ul to the work of the ing two stores and a depot. A blacksmith Church." On his monument in the Oakland shop stood where our store now stands (site cemetery are inscribed· these words: ."A Man of Jackson's store, Second Street.) Tne of God." ground between this and the depot was an In the family of Joseph Barker Davis were alder thicket. There were no buildings north two daughters, Sarah, who married M. L. of this point. The Glades Hotel was in its Scott, and established with him a millinery palmy days-hundreds of visitors spent the and notion store on Second Street, present summer in that historic place. The Glades site of the Post Office. Their adopted son, Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1874. The de­ William, made his home in Cleveland. The pot which stood at the end of Second street second daughter, Annie, was married in 1870 was also burned." · to John Harned of Ursina, Pennsylvania. Mr. In 1866 Mr. Davis came to Oakland and Harned's ancestors came from Kent County, was associated in a business with Messrs. England, to Salem, Massachusetts in 1635. James R. Bishop and Singleton L. Town­ A town named Harnedsville, and the name of shend. Their store was on the corner of the his father on a Revolutionary War Memorial present location of the First National Bank. locate the family in Pennsylvania. Mr. Har­ In 1870 the firm changed hands with Mr. ned purchased a one-half interest in the Bishop continuing on the corner. Mr. Davis Davis farm, ''The Promised Land," and es­ and Mr. Townshend went into business to­ tablished his home with his wife's parents gether and continued until 1890. This busi­ about 1870. Beside assisting with the man­ ness was carried on from 1890 until after agement of the farm, Mr. Harned, was a sur- Mr. Davis' death in 1916, in the name of J. veyor. He was elected County Surveyor for M. Davis and Sons. The business was event­ the newly established Garrett County, and ually sold to Charles N. Mclntire. The held that office for sixteen years. His only building now houses the J. W. Jackson store. ·son is Joseph E .. Harned, the pharmacist. In 1858 Mr. Davis married Eleanor J. OFFUTI"S STORE Philson and they built their home adjoining the store. The home property is now occu­ In our records we find that the heavy pied by Warnick's grocery store. One son, ti·mbers from Offutt's mill on the Youghio­ William C. Davis, entered the ministry of gheny River were used to repair the rail­ the Methodist Church, and the others, John road bridge which was burned during Jones' and Charles, were associated with their Raid in 1862. That mill was owned and oper­ father in the hardware business. ated by a young man from Frostburg, Mary­ As a boy, Mr. Davis joined the Methodist land, Daniel Edward Offutt. Church, and in 1864, while living on the Along with the saw mill Mr. Offutt owned 58 a general merchandise store located on Oak Mr.· Offutt was married in 1871 to Miss .Street. Later a two-story frame building was Arabella Seymour, of Moorefield, West Vir­ built on Second Street. It extended to Rail- ginia ; their children were Edward, Elwood, road street. The store was a thoroughfare, William, Nelle and Elizabeth. Their home on to and from the·railroad station and to the Second Street, built about 1870, was occupied Glades Hotel. by the family until 1934. In 1882 when the Mountain Lake Park Association was formed. Mr. Offutt was among the promoters, · and in 1888 when the· Garrett County Bank was incorporated he was one of the officers in the Bank which position he held until his death. After Mr. Offutt's death his sons carried on the business until 1915, when t~e store was sold to G. A. Fraley, whose sons Neil and Lawrence were managers. Later it was sold to the Coffman and Fisher Stores, under the management of I. R. Rudy, of Romney, vV. Va. In a short time the business and the Offutt Building were sold to Mr. Rudy, whose business is firmly established. In 1947 the second and third floors of the big brick building were transformed by Mr. Rudy in­ to modern residence appartments.

OWEN HART AND SON From 1878 until 1928 the firm of Owen Hart and Son conducted a popular dry goods store on Alder Street, next door to the Ham­ ill Book Store. The name "Hart" can be seen on the metal front of the store. Many other firms have occupied the sto:r:e since the business was liquidated after the death of Mr. John W. Hart in 1924-

DANIEL E. OFFUTT O·wen Hart came to the United States from Granard, County Longford, Ireland in 1842. On July 12, 1898, seven buildings were de­ For a short time he was employed as over­ stroyed by fire, including Offutt's store, seer on the farm of. the Washington family Harned's Pharmacy and the Mt. Democrat near Romney, Virginia. Building. Loss was estimated at $30,000. Mr. Offutt at once purchased the general store In 1853 he married Miss Ellen Kearns and business of his nephew, George 0. Miller, lo­ moved to Oakland, where he was employed cated in the Sincell Building across the by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com­ street. All goods salvaged from the fire were pany; through steady promotions he became on the shelves the following morning ready Supervisor of this area. In connection with for sale. the mercantile business Owen Hart and Son The store was rebuilt on the same site established a coal business. All coal was and the D. E. Offutt and Sons Store was de­ brought to :Oakland by rail ; a siding was scribed in 1900 as "not only the largest built along the hillside by the river, and the store in Western Maryland but a better coal was sold direct from the cars. store than can be found in cities much The Hart home was on Fourth Street near larger than Oakland. It would be easier to his business; later the handsome brick enumerate the articles not sol(! than to list house, corner of Fifth and Alder Streets, those that are, so the readers of the Guide was built and occupied by the family. It is should go and see for themselves." now owned by Howard Naylor. 59 YANKEE NOTION STORE- CHEAP lots. A banner year recorded the sale of one hundred and twelve McCormick binders, JOHN MICHAELS-OAKI,AND BAKERY mowers and rakes. These implements were Many Oakland residents remember the sold .on the installment plan of three yearly Yankee Notion Store, kept by Mr. Joseph payments; binders $115, mowers $45; rakes Robinson, of Paw Paw, West Virginia, and $18, two-horse plow $8, and wood frame har­ located in the present A. G. Gortner Build­ row $7.50. ing on Second Street. "Cheap John"· Mich­ Price for shoeing a horse with new shoes, aels' toy and candy store, at first located on all toed-up, was 90 cents. A set of new .steel Alder Street, and afterward in the store now tires on four buggy wheels with 70 holes occupied. by Glotfelty's Restaurant, is also a drilled and bolts· to hold the tires was $6.00. fond memory. The building adjoining this Labor was 50 cents to $1.00 a day, mechanics latter site was owned by Henry Lauer, who pay was $1.75 to $2.00 a day. came to the United States from Germany, Prices for produce were correspondingly and established the Oakland Bakery in it. low. Dressed pork was $4.00 a hundred, a This business and building are now owned hind quarter of beef 5 cents a- pound, butter and occupied by Ira J. Bosley and family. 8 and 10 cents, and eggs the same price. Many people now past their youth will also Chickens could be bought for $2.50 and recall with p~easure "Grand-daddy" Mason's $3.00 a dozen. Oats and corn brought by rail toy store, kept by the late George M. Mason were sold for 20 cents and 30 cents a bushel. and his son, Lee. In 1884 oil lamps lighted the streets, the A. D. NAYLOR AND COMPANY Bailiff, Aleck Fleckenstein, was responsible for the care of these lights. Second Street It was March 12, 1884 that Alonzo Drake ended at Crook Street, which was only a Naylor came to Oakland and purchased country road. Third Street ended at Green, the wood-working and blacksmith business from that point _the ground was used for a from Mrs. Charles Sincell, after the death vegetable garden for the Glades Hotel. of her husband. Mr. Naylor boarded in Mrs. "Uncle Billy" Banks, a former slave in the Sincell' s home and admired her greatly. Dailey family, was the gardener. Some of In March, 1934, a letter from Mr. Naylor this land was used about 1890 for circus to Mr. B. H. Sincell, the editor of The Repub­ grounds. lican marked the fiftieth year of his entry When the Garrett County Telephone Com­ into business in Oakland. A resume of this pany was organized about 1905, connections letter follows: were made through small switchboards in Mr. Naylor's first work was repairing a stores ; the Oakland switch board was in the three-seated wagon for George D. White, wood-working part of the Naylor Shop. A and fitting handles in three stable forks for list of merchants recalled by Mr. Naylor William P. Totten, brought to the shop by were John M. Davis, S. L. Townshend, D. E. Coleman Dandridge, colored stableman. O:ff utt, W. P. Totten, James R. Bishop, Owen Other customers were Nathan and Truman · Hart and Sons, M. L. Scott, D. H. Loar, and Casteel, William and Rolla White, Jack John Shartzer. Col. A. G. Sturgiss and Bowers, Mahlon, Jesse, Jonas and Adrian Daniel Chisholm, druggists, G. A. Shirer, Glotfelty, Henry, Theodore and Rudolph tinsmith, John Yellowly, blacksmith. The Beckman, Norman Bernard, William Hall, doctors were Dr. J. Lee Mccomas, Dr. E. H. Barney Reynolds, Joseph B. Davis, John Bartlett and Dr. Bayard T. Keller. Harned and scores of others. In Mountain Lake Park, P. T. Garthright Shortly after coming to Oakland, Mr. was the merchant, and C. M. Rathbun oper­ Naylor bought from Henry Weber, a two­ ated a large planing mill. story building on the adjoining lot and ex­ Mr. Naylor was married· soon after he tended the wood-working business to build came to Oakland to Miss Artie Bartlett, of express and delivery wagons. George Rich­ Newburg, W. Va. Very shortly after the ardson, being skilled in that work, was birth of their second child, the mother a valued assistant. Wagons and sleds were died. Later, Mr. Naylor married Miss Mary built, and later, farm machinery and factory­ Townshend, the daughter of the Oakland made wagons, spring wagons, and top bug­ pioneer, Singleton L. Townshend. Mr. Nay­ gies were brought to Oakland in car-load lor bought Crook Crest in 1903 and lived 60 their until 1909, when he moved to the large the building and contracting business for a brick house which was built for William number of years. Mr. Bolden married Miss Ison, on Fourth Street. Sarah J. Roth, - of Eglon, West Virginia. A number of years ago he formed a part­ Their home was on-Second Street, near Oak. nership with his- sons, known as A. D. Mr. Bolden was also a skilled undertaker. Naylor and Company, which does a flourish­ He entered the furniture business with John ing business in Oakland. Shartzer, afterward with Austin Brown, SHIRER AND SON under the firm name of Bolden and Brown, and some time later this firm took in another One of the oldest business firmg in Oak­ partner, Edwin A .. Weimer, at which time land is Shirer Plumbing and Tin Shop which the title of the partnership was changed to was started on Second Street in 1866. Mr. Bolden, Brown and Weimer. Mr. Brown was Peter Shirer came to Grantsville in 1836 and a former sheriff of Garrett County. After established a general merchandise store. He his death his daughter, Dora, (now Mrs. also had a team for wagoning on the Na­ Horace Coddington) conducted a m.ercantile tional Road. In 1838 he sold out and mi­ business under the name of "Brown's Store." grated as far west as Missouri, but in a Mr. E. A. Weimer, before his· ·connection short time he returned to Maryland and with the firm of Bolden and Brown, was a located near Red House on the Northwestern shoe merchant, and was engaged in that Turnpike. His land there was fenced and business first in the First National Bank rented as an overnight pasture for the Building, and afterward in the Gonder droves of cattle passing through to the Building. market in the east. After Mr. Bolden's death his son, Emroy, Mr. Shirer moved to Oakland in 1855, and and daughter, Edith, purchased the M. L. in 1866 opened the tin shop in a building on Scott building on Second Street, and con­ Second Street, he employed a skilled tinner ducted the undertaking business there for to teach his sons Gus and Silas, at that time several years. An exchange was made when all buckets, pans, stove-pipes and spouts their place of business was selected for the were made by hand. --... site of the new postoffice building, and they In 1870 Mr. Shirer bought property on moved next door to the Offutt house, their Oak Street for his home and store. His son, present location, where they conduct the Gus, and his two sisters lived tnere during Bolden Funeral Home. all the rest of their lives. Mr. Silas Shirer's H. C.- SINCELL home was on Alder Street. The Shirer home on Oak Street is ·now oc­ April 1, 1891 was a red-letter day for one cupied by the grandson of the pioneer, Scott of Oakland's young men, H. C. Sincell. In his Shirer and his family. It is among the first recollections of early days in Oakland, Mr. houses to be built in Oakland and was in use Sincell tells how he found great pleasure in as a hotel about 1860. assisting Mrs. Crook and her sister, Mrs. The business has been carried on t'hrough Read, at the New Glades hotel. He was five generations. First, Peter Shirer and his ready at, the desk to receive the guests and sons, Gus and Silas; now we have Ernest assign them to their• rooms, which were en­ Shirer and his son, Scott, and his grandson, gaged from one season to the next. (}rowing William Shirer. up in this atmosphere of well-dressed city folks an urge to sell good suits and nice BOLDEN BROWN, ETC. clothes was developed, and we find Mr. One of Oakland's popular business men for Sincell in 1891 starting a business of his many years was a "native son," Decoursey own. Emroy Bolden, who was born in 1859. His A store was rented on Alder Street, busi­ father was Charles Bolden, and his mother ness grew rapidly. In ·1894 he joined his was Maria Shirer, the daughter of Peter brother, Benjamin Sincell, and built the Shirer. Mr. Charles Bolden and his son, De­ handsome Sincell Building with room for the Coursey, were builders and contractors. clothing store, The Republican, and law­ Many houses in Oakland were built by them. off ices for Edward Sineell and T. J. Peddi­ Later on, DeCoursey Bolden formed a cord. partnership with. Edward M. Spedden, and Since 1891 well chosen merchandise has the firm of. Bolden and Spedden carried on been bought from the best factories in Bal- 61 timore, New York :and lately from Cali­ Green Streets, now the Half-Price Store. Mr. fornia. Mr. Sincell has been fortunate in Dixon was at first associated with his having three members of his family to as­ father-in-law, E. W. Kelso, and later with sist· him in his business: First his sister, his son, Lawrence Dixon, and after his death, Margaret, later a cousin, Miss Cleo Krantz, was succeeded by Lawrence. He was ~t one of Frederick, and sin~e 1915 his daughter, time president· of ·the First National Bank. Leah, (now Mrs. R. C. McComas) has been His brother, Del Dixon, was the owner and assistant. proprietor of Dixon's Meat Market. · Mr. Sincell celebrated his fiftieth year in The Bolden, Brown and Weimer store was business in 1941,-and also had a Golden Wed­ purchased by Lloyd Shaffer and Lewis Bush, ding celebration. He was married to Miss and conducted under the name of Shaffer May Kennedy, of Wheeling, W. Va., in 1896. and Bush, until they sold out to Frank A. Smouse. TREACY'S STORE One of the well-known general stores, In 1900 a popular ·grocery store was some years ago, was that of George Offutt located in the Ravenscroft building on Miller. It was conducted in the Thomas Mar­ Second Street. This store was ov1ned by tin building for a while, and later on, Mr. Mr. Flowers; later the business was pur­ Miller erected a store building at the present chased by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cropp. In site of the Teets Garage, in which he was 1905 James P. Treacy and his sister, Miss engaged in business at the time of his Annie, bought the business and continued in death. that location for some time. Mr. Treacy b~­ Thomas Little was for a long time one of came interested in the'.· sale of automobiles Oakland's me~chants. He was succeeded by and opened the first agency in Oakland for Lantz Brothers. the Ford car. Lewis Gortner conducted a general store At this time he found business expanding in Oakland for many years, and was the and he bought property on Alder street, ex­ owner of the building which houses the tending through the · block to the alley,. present Gortner's Store. where he opened a garage. In the early days Another very familiar figure in the mer­ there was also an entrance on Second street. cantile business here was Owen T. Treacy A small building which had been used as an who owned ·the building at the corner of off ice was enlarged for the store, and · in­ Second and Oak Streets now occupied by cluded a residence for his sister and her hus­ Ward's Restaurant .. band, Edward Pendergast. Other merchants and business people who Automobile repairs were made and sup­ readily come to mind were F. G. Hyde, plies were on sale in a second building on Gideon and Willis Martin, Francis Gonder Alder street. This store had been a very Wellington Yutzy, and Lee Shaffer, all of popular grocery ow11:ed by Mr. Eugene whom were engaged in the jewelry business; Baumgartner. Business continued to grow, Herman Creutzburg, · A. C. Mason and Son, an addition was made to the Baumgartner John W. Davis, Fred Schoch, Andrew Shart­ store now occupied by DeWitt and DeBerry's zer, D. P. Smouse and Harry Miller, meat Appliance Store. and grocery stores; James Leathers and The Treacy store was carried on by Miss Wade Hinebaugh, harness~shop; Edward C. Annie until January· 1, 1947, when the Lawrence, shoe merchant; Harry Davis,, brothers, John and Maurice Treacy, started Miss Ellen Connell, Mrs. Kate Crane and a new cycle to carry on the business estab­ Miss Alice Kepner, milliners ; Ross Y. Stup, lished by their father in 1905. These young fancy groceries and sea-foods; W. Z. Hen­ men are well equipped for their advance­ drickson, and Samuel B. Aronhalt, flour and ment in business. They have been educated feed; John Yelloly, E. G. Naylor, Luther J. in preparation for successful lives ; and were Brown, and Dean Skinner, blacksmiths; officers in the U. S. Navy in WorJltl War II. George Loughridge, Amos Lee, Hampton McCrobie, shoe-repair shops ; Morris Cohen, MISC1ELLANEOUS S. Ottis Swan and John Bergman, tailors. For many years one of the lagrest general The list is necessarily incomplete, because stores in Oakland was: the Darius M. Dixon of the lack of data available to the author. establishment on the corner of Second and Other businesses will be found listed else- 62 where in the book, and many readers will no British Colonial Army he was sent to Asia, doubt be able to supply omissions from me­ Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. His ex­ mory. periences were varied and extremely inter­ NOTE esting. In 1865, he decided to come to America, Many persons are interested in trying to and with his brother,: John Weber, he made locate the oldest house in Oakland. It would· his home at Mt. Savage near Cumberland, probably be either the Townshend or the where they farmed and had a market Kildow house on Water Street. Both of these garden. In 1866 Mr.· Weber married Miss homes are still in use by descendants of the Catherine Schultz in Mt. Savage. Four ·years original owners. later he sold out his ·interest to his brother When the railroad was under construction, and moved to Cumberland, · where he estab­ carpenters were brought in, and the Thayer lished a successful market and florist busi­ Tavern, corner of Third and Oak Streets, ness. the hotel which is now Scott Shirer resi­ In 1879, Mr. Weber ·bought from Samuel dence, and other houses were built. Engle part of the old Hoye tract "Civicus." 11 0 It was glade land neat Oakland, unimproved, The S "'41..&.mrn~-r .& &.&.'-'.L 'honio.LA .&..&..&"""' n-FV~ th.&.'-' Howa,.d.L -FaTV'l-ilui_ J..1..l.1..1.J ' on Alder Street, was built soon after the but in ~ few years -the property was trans­ railroad was completed, and is still in use by formed into a fine florist and market gar­ the family. den. Acres of glass covered the finest roses, Local contractors and builders whose carnations and chrysanthemums. Only the .names can· easily be recalled are J. M. Jar­ best were grown and sold . boe, John Ault, H. W. Kahl, J. M. Falken­ New varieties of roses and carnations stein, S. D. Whipkey, George Kildow, Wil­ were developed by Mr. Weber's son, William liam Kildow, Robert Townshend, Harry Weber. These new plants were in great de­ Hinebaugh, Horace Coddington, Rawl Fra-, mand by the leading florists. Medals and zee. The Boldens and Edward Spedden were prizes were won in.- exhibitions at Chicago, mentioned earlier in this chapter. Of this New York, Atlanta, Cincinnati and other group, Messrs. Falkenstein, Townsehnd, cities. Hinebaugh, Coddington, and Frazee are still The Weber family came to Garrett County active builders here. Local contractors in to establish their home in 1883. Their · first business in Oakland at the present time will home was near the green houses. About be found listed in the business directory. . 1904 a large house , was built on higher Until a few years ago William- C. Hardesty ground. \Vas engaged in the contracting business, William Weber married Miss S. Swann, but now confines his operations to the manu­ and bought a home near the Mountain Lake facture and sale of concrete block and build­ Road, adjoining the. greenhouse property. ers' supplies. Ralph Weber married• Miss Mary Bond, and THE WEB-ERS they built their home south of the family home and the site of the business. HENRY WEBER, bo:t...ll in Hesse-Cassel, Henry Weber's sons, Henry, William, Germany, in 1835 attended government George, John, Frank, and Ralph, and his schools in Germany until fifteen years of daughters, Mary, Elizabeth, Katie, Annie, age, when he was apprenticed to a florist and Edith, have all been interested in the and -was later placed in charge of his em­ cultivation of flowers, and the business, ployer's business. under the name and style of The H. Weber During the· ··Crimean War in 1854 he and Sons Company, is carried on here and in served in ·the British Army. Under the neighboring cities.

63 CHAPTER IX DOCTORS, DENTISTS, DRUGGISTS

OAKLAND'S FIRST DOCTORS ly the father give up his patients and "Doctor Henry" assumed the practice. The first doctor to establish his home and office in Oakland was Dr. J. H. Comi, in 1851. His office was located on the corner of Second and Oak Streets. In 1854, as he stood on the steps of- his office, he was mysterious­ ly shot. The fatal '·bullet was fired from a window across the street. He was carried in­ to the old Thayer Tavern and died there. Dr. Conn's tragic death was a great shock to the village. There was a trial of the accused murderer but since there was not sufficient evidence of guilt he was acquitted. The names of Dr. J. F. Dorsey, Dr. Samuel Mead, Dr. McKee and Dr. E. I. D;. Newman are among the first physicians of early date. THE McCOMASES In 1859 Dr. J. Lee McComas came to Oak­ land from Baltimore. The McComas family came to Maryland from Scotland about 1700. After finishing his medical studies at the University of Maryland in 1858, Dr. Mc­ DR. HENRY W. McCOMAS Comas was appointed resident physician to Dr. Henry Mccomas was married in 1884 Baltimore City. He married Miss Ellen M. to Miss Annie West, daughter of Richard J. Wheeler, a daughter of Major Matt~ew West, of Oakland. Their home was on Second Wheeler of New York City. A serious illness Street, above Center. · compelled him to resign, and with his wife Both father and son were skilled physi­ he moved to Oakland in search of health. cians and are held in affectionate remem­ Their first home in Oakland was in a hotel brance. on Oak Street, the house owned now by the About 1900 Dr. McComas fitted up the Shirer family. In that home their son, Henry house, corner of Second and c·enter Streets, Wheeler McComas, was born. A second son, the former home of Dr. Bayard T. Keller, J. Lee Mccomas, Jr., completed the family. and now owned by the Misses Miller, as a Dr. McComas volunteered for service in the small hospital, with Miss Nellie Browning, Union Army in 1861; he was stationed at the R. N ., in charge. For a few years this hos­ Army hospital in Oakland, when the Method­ pital was of great benefit t~ the community, ist Church was fitted up for use as a hos­ but the patronage did not justify ·the ex­ pital. After the war, Dr. McComas had his pense. home built on Liberty Street, next door to Dr. McComas was a pioneer in motoring. Garrett Memorial Church. His health re­ He bought one of the first Ford cars in Gar­ stored, he developed into one of the most rett County, about 1905. A fine pair of eminent physicians of his time. Guests at horses with a trusted coachman had been the hotels and summer homes depended on part of the McComas professional equipment his skill. Many children were brought to the since 1858. resorts to be under his care. In 1931 Dr. McComas was elected State In 1888 his son, Henry Wheeler McComas, Senator, and re-elected to serve a second completed his medical studies a.nd opened term at Annapolis. his office in Oakland. The two doctors prac­ Lake Minnetoska was built for him, re­ ticed independently and together; gradual- taining ~ater from springs on over four 64 hundred acres. On this property in 1926 he Bartlett, a devoted member of the Episcopal p1·omoted the establishment of Camps Min­ Church, was Senior Warden, and held Sun­ netoska and Whitethorn for girls and boys day School .and services at times when there under. the ·excellent management of Mr. and was no rector. Mrs. Frank Hansen, of Baltimore Polytech­ He later gave up his practice and was in­ nic Institute. terested in the educational field, serving on At Deep Creek Lake Dr. McComas had a the Board of Education. His son, Richard la:tge lodge built to develop a recreation Bartlett, studied dentistry in Baltimore and center. This is well known by the name "Mc­ established his office in Oakland. He was comas Beach." Since Dr. Mccomas' death in very popular and successful in his profession. 1937, McComas Beach has been owned and A:n acute illness caused his death. managed by Mr. and Mrs. Carlton McComas. Dr. St. Felix Colardeau was born in Paris, Cabins have been added to the Lodge, which France. He came to Oakland and was mar­ make an attractive summer camp. ried here to Miss Georgina Bartlett, sister of Dr. E. H. Bartlett. He invested in land near DR. BARTLETT & DR. COLARDEAU Oakland. "7ben Oakland was incori,orated in Dr. Edward H. Bartlett was born in Cuba 1862 Dr. Colardeau was elected the first in 1831. He was educated in Massachusetts, Burgess, as has been mentioned previously later studied at St. Mary's College, Balti­ in this book. more, and Yale University. During the Civil DR.KELLER War he was a surgeon in the Confederate Army. After the war he returned to Cuba, In 1881, Dr. Bayard T. Keller opened an then came back to Baltimore. His mother office in his home, corner of Second and built a home in Oakland on Second Street, Center Streets. He married a daughter of where the Sincell building is now located. Senator William R. Getty, of Grantsville, and While here Dr. Bartlett married Harriet moved from Oakland to Grantsville to carry Fairall, daughter of Richard Fairall, in on his practice. 1867. After living a few years in Arkansas, DR. HINEBAUGH In 1892 Dr. Mahlon Carleton Hinebaugh completed his medical studies at the Uni­ versity of Maryland and opened his office in Oakland. He was born in Accident, where the Hinebaugh family first established their home. While studying in Baltimore, Dr. Hinebaugh met the Robinson family, and in 1893 he was married to Miss Eva Robin­ s•on. In 1898 Dr. Hinebaugh bought the house on the corner of Third and Alder Streets for a home and an office. In 1908, a well­ equipped modern operating room was added and a hospital was opened. Physicians from Cumberland came to assist with surgical cases. This hospital was of great benefit. Mrs. Hinebaugh and her sister, Miss Willie Robinson, superintended the management and nursing, and later on, Miss Elizabeth Stemple, R. N. was head nurse. After eleven years in operation the hos­ pital was closed, and greatly missed. The property was sold to Ilario Fazzalari. DR. E. H. BARTLETT Dr. and Mrs. Hinebaugh took over an old Dr. Bartlett and his family returned to Oak­ house located in a grove of oak trees on land whe·re · he practiced his profession and Fourth Street, and had it remodeled into a held official positions in the County. Dr. delightful home. Older residents recall that 65 the old house was used as a hospital during is actively interested in the National Infan­ the Civil war. They also had a summer home, tile Paralysis Foundation. "R-0binwood," on a farm near town. CLINICS Dr.' Hinebaugh established his office in Clinical work for all cripples has been car­ the Garrett National Bank Building, and ried· on in Garrett County since 1928, being kept in active practice until his death in promoted by the Oakland Civic Club, under 1946, a record of fifty-four years of service the advice of Dr. George E. Bennett, of Bal~ in Oakland. - timore. Clinics have been held twice a year DR. N. I. BROADWATER and work· has been continuous, first under volunteer services of Miss Grace Jones and In 1910 the office and practice of Dr. John Mrs. Milton Sincell. Since 1934, Miss Jones E. Legge, who will be mentioned later, were has been a qualified physiotherapist and has taken over by Dr. Norman I. Broadwater, of treated numerous children at her home. At Grantsville. Dr. Broadwater's ancestors the first clinic in 1928, over 200 patients came from England in 1630, and had a grant were examined; in 1947 only seventy-one of land on the Potomac R.iver just across needed medical care, which shows the bene­ from lVIount Vernon. The family moved to fit of e-ontinued _observation and treatment. the Alleghanies in 1807. Dr. Broadwater was Miss Jones has been cited by Dr. Bennett one of Oakland's best citizens, practicing for her skill and sympathetic care of handi­ _medicine here for nearly thirty years. In capped persons. 1915 Dr. Broadwater and Miss Jessie J. Dr. Bennett's interest in making these -Bowden, of Cumberland, were married and clinics possible, and arranging for the care established' their home in Oakland. He was of handicapped persons in the Baltimore only fifty-seven at the time of his death in hospitals has been inspiring to all. He has 1940. been assisted through the years by Dr. David Weinberg and Dr. George 0. Eaton, with DR. JOHN D. DARBY l\iiiss Jane Oliver, the Orthopedic Nurse. Dr. John Dade Darby, of Poolesville, Md., DOCTORS SOLLARS, MANCE, GANNON came as a young man to Oakland, just after completing his studies. In World War I he Dr. E. E. Sollars is the son of Mr. and volunteered and served in the Medical corps. Mrs. Edward Sollars, who came to Oakland After peace was declared he returned to from Romney. Their home was on the farm Oakland, and was married to Miss Nelle Bos­ now owned by Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Gortner. ley. Dr. Darby was selected by the Associ­ Dr. Sollars studied medicine in Baltimore. ated Gas and Electric Company to serve as He married Miss George, of Deer Park, and company physician at the time it was im­ took over Dr. J. W. Laughlin's home and of­ pounding Deep Creek Lake. This was a very fices at the time of Dr. Laughlin's death. In trying experience, as in that heavy work addition to his practice at Deer Park, he there were constant accidents ·calling for opened an office in the McComas Building medical care. Dr. Darby came through, but in Oakland, and extended his practice, later the strain of war work and the care of many moving to the Joseph Hinebaugh building. persons- affected his own health. He was only Dr. A. E. Mance established his practice thirty years of age at the time of his death. first at Eglon, West Virginia, which he con­ tinued while he built up a practice in Oak­ DR.. BAUMGARTNER land, in a modern brick office building, cor­ Dr. Eugene I. Baumgartner, son of Mr. ner of Third and Center Streets. Dr. Mance and Mrs. Eugene Baumgartner, and nephew was a m~dical officer in World War II, and of Mr. George Little, who came to Oak­ returned to his office in Oakland in October, land about 1860, is one of our popular 1945. physicians~ He has been practicing in his Dr. James A. Gannon, Jr., of Washington, home town since finishing his studies at D. C., came to Oakland just after serving in Maryland University Medical School. He World War II, and was well-established, but married Miss Helen Treacy. As President of returned to Washington in 1947 to take over the Town Council he is on the Board of Man­ the practice of a special friend for an indefi­ agers of the Gan·ett Memorial Hospital. He nite period. Dr. ·Gannon is a grandson of Mr. 66 and Mrs. Wilton J. Lambert, Washington, D. land and established his office in Baltimore. C., who built their summer home at Oak­ He is active now as President of the South­ land, named "Thorncroft.~' This home was ern Medical Association. sold to Mr. Lawson. Loar and renamed "Ethelhurst"· for his daughter Ethel. Dr. M. Carleton Hinebaugh, Jr., the only DOCTORS LUSBY, WILLIAMS, FEASTER son of Dr. M. C. Hinebaugh, o~ Oakland, en­ tered Jefferson Medical School in Phila­ AND WENZEL delphia. After completing his studies he established his medical practice at Swarth­ Dr. Thomas F. Lusby, graduate of Mary­ more, near Philadelphia, and is prominent land University Medical School in 1944, from in medical work in Philadelphia. Prince Frederick, Calvert Co., Md., came to Oakland in 1947 to establish his home. A ma­ In the Veterans' Hospital at Fort Mac­ jor in ~he Medical Corps, World War II, his kenzie, in Sheridan, Wyoming, is another war experience gives him a background of Oakland man, son of Mr. and Mrs. John T. experience. Dr._ Lusby was attracted to Oak- Mitchell. Dr. H. Stanley Mitchell, Lieutenant 1 ...J ,l..h h 1.-. . .i.. • -~"' t"' R , i.anu u roug1 111s connecLIOn wren ne on- Colonel in the U. S. Army, was educated in ert Nethken family. Modern offices on Third Virginia. His specialty is psychiatry and Street, built by Dr. Broadwater and now neurology and rehabilitation work. He has owned by Joseph Hinebaugh, are now occu­ been in the active practice of medicine since pied by him, and by Dr. Sollars. This build­ World War I in 1918. ing was occupied after Dr. Broadwater's death by Dr. Robert W. Williams, who re­ On the staff of instructors at the Johns mained only a few ye~rs. Hopkins Hospital is Dr. Thomas A. Gonder, · Dr. J. H. Feaster, of Piedmont, West Vir­ Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A.. Gonder. ginia, received his medical training at the His father was well-known in Mt. Lake and University of Maryland, and graduated in Oakland as a pharmacist. Dr. Gonder studied 1944. He .practiced in Charleston, West Vir­ at Duke University Medical College. After ginia, was in World War II, and came to experience in the hospital there and in Balti­ Oakland in December, 1948, establishing of­ more he opened an office in Oakland. He was fices in the Mc Comas Building. very successful and it was with sincere re­ gret his patients and friends in Oakland Dr. J. W. Wenzel was for many years a heard of his decision to move to Baltimore. very successful· physician in Meyersdale, Pa. He is not only interested in work at Johns In 1946 he came to Oakland and constructed Hopkins but in the Duke University Hospital a home and office building at the corner of and through the late George Loar's plan will Eighth and Oak Streets, where he continues be interested in the Garrett Memorial Hos­ to practice. pital.

OUR DOCTORS AWAY FROM HOME Two other doctors in Baltimore were Oak­ land boys. Dr. D. McClelland Dixon, son of Several Oakland men have developed suc­ merchant and County Commissioner D .. M. cessful medical practices in other places. Dixon, is listed as an instructor at the Uni­ Dr. John E. Legge, son of George Legge, versity of Maryland, School of Medicine, and merchant, and his wife, Susan Offutt Legge, is very successful in private practice. began practic.e here when he finished his studies, taking over Dr. Henry W. Mc­ Dr. Howard K. Rathbun, son of Mr. and Comas's patients while Dr. McComas was Mrs. Franklin E,. Rathbun, and grandson of absent for several months. Later, he opened Dr. Howard M. Kemp, of Bloomington, Md., his own office in the Garrett National Bank holds a responsible position in the Baltimore Building. When his practice was purchased City Hospital, and is an instructor in the by Dr. N. I. ··Broadwater, Dr. Legge spent Johns Hopkins University School of Medi­ two years studying medicine in Europe. cine. Dr. Rathbun is interested in medical When he returned he opened an office in research, and recently has put into use a Cumberland where he specialized in diag­ new remedy to promote clotting of the nosis. He gave up his practice in Cumber- blood. 67 DENTISTS rison, who married C. Bowie Johnson, and Dr. W. W. Grant, who has kept his home Dr. Singleton Townshend, son of Jeremiah here and been a popular dentist since open­ L. Townshend, was perhaps the first dentist ing his office in 1912. Dr. Grant married to establish an office in Oakland. His wife Miss Patience Williams, of Cumberland.~ was Miss Anna R. Whelan, Baltimore. Their home was at the corner of Fifth and Alder Dr. B. F. Selby came to Oakland from Streets, -no~ the home of Mr. and Mrs. Howard County in 1904, to practice de:Qtist~ Grover Stemple. ry with Dr. William Bixler, who had been in practice here since 1900. In 1905 Dr. Bixler Dr. John G. Robinson practiced dentistry left Oakland, and Dr. Selby took over the in Oakland. He was educated professionally practice individually and has continuously in Baltimore, and was attracted to ,Oakland maintained offices in the First National through the marriage of his sister, Miss Eva Bank Building. He was married a first time Robinson, to Dr. M. C. Hinebaugh. Soon to Miss Anna McQuay. Mrs. Selby -died in after his arrival in Oakland he married Dr. Oakland, and Dr. Selby later married Miss Hinebaugh's sister, Martha. Dr. Robinson Louise Chance, of Mountain Lake Park. was the only dentist in this vicinity for a number of years. He was a musician, and Dr. Ralph Kercheval purchased the Stur­ well known for his work with the church giss home, adjoining the drug store on Alder choirs of Oakland. Two of his sons, Felix and Street, and opened a dental office in the Mc­ Ralph, were educated for the ministry of Intire Building. He had been here only a few the Lutheran Church. years, when a chronic illness caused his death. His home was sold to ·Olin Hardesty. From Scotland, in 1858, an artist, Alex­ ander Mclnness, came to Oakland with his Dr. T. J. Cahill, of Baltimore, first prac­ wife, Ann Morrison Mclnnes, and their two ticed dentistry in Garrett County at Kitz­ daughters, Flora and Julia. His daughter, miller, later coming to Oakland, and estab­ Julia, was widowed by the death of her lishing offices in the Knights of Pythias husband, who died on a voyage from Scot­ Building on Third Street. land to Australia. By his side was the little Dr. R. H. Gibson returned from pro­ grandson, named for his father, John Aiex­ fessional work in World War II to his home ander Grant. Mr. Mclnness bought land in Kingwood, West Virginia, and decided to from Murray Thayer, east of town, and their open dental offices in the Hinebaugh Build­ home was on the corner of 8th and Green ing, on Third Street, where he is now lo­ Streets. They brought with them from Scot­ cated. land paintings which had won fame for Mr. Mclnness at the Royal Academy in London. Oakland thus has four busy dentists. Our mountains and glades reminded him of Patients come from great distances to con­ the Highlands of Scotland. sult them. There is an increased practice The house was moved across the street through the summer months. from the original site and is now the home of Richard Davis. Mr. Mclnness's grandson, DRUG STORES John A. Grant, grew into a popular citizen of Oakland, was employed for many years in Chisholm's Drug Store in· Oakland was the general store of D. E. Offutt. He married located on Railroad Street. The building was Miss Rebecca Marie Bowie, Baltimore. Their taken over by the Baltimore & Ohio as the first home was in the Corrigan House, Third location for its station, in 18~4. Street. Later they built a home on Liberty Col. A. G. Sturgiss was a soldier from Street, corner of Bartlett, owned now by Ohio in the Civil War, and came to Oakland Mrs. Charles E. White. Members of th,~ir as one of its first pharmacists. He built the family, well remembered in Oakland, were Sturgiss drug store, with a large hall over­ Margaret Bowie, a fine musician, Annie Mor- head to be used for meetings of town or­ *Author's footnote: Since the Mclnness and Grant ganizations. This hall has since been re­ families are old residents, and are not dealt with modeled into a pleasant apartment by his son elsewhere in this -record, the Author thinks it not improper to have inserted some account of them William A. Sturgiss, who succeeded his here. father in the store, and has recently com- 68 pounded the millionth prescription to be filled by the Sturgiss Pharmacy.

A. G. STURGISS DR. J·OSEPH E. HARNED The Oakland Pharmacy was originally lo­ In the busy summer months at Mountain cated in the Ravenscroft Building, West side. Lake Park, when hotels and boarding-houses of Second Street. Well-trained pharmacists were filled to capacity, and excursions on the were employed to compound prescriptions railroad were of almost daily occurrence, a for Dr. J. Lee McComas, and later for Dr. drug store was a busy place. Each summer, Henry McComas. One young man who was when the hotels and cottages were opened, assistant to these skilled druggists was the Mountain Lake Park drug store was Joseph E. Harned. He was attracted to the opened too. It was located a short distance profession, and studied pharmacy in Phila­ from the Amphitheatre. Prescriptions were delphia. filled in Oakland, but business was well In 1895 the McComas Building was worth while in Mountain Lake Park. The erected to house the offices of Dr. McComas. store was usually managed by young men The Oakland Pharmacy was trans£erred to home from college; in the early days, J. E. that building-its present location-and Dr. Harned was there. A popular young student Harned was the pharmacist. Time has was Thomas A. Gonder, Sr., who after passed pleasantly in these years for Dr. finishing his studies, opened a drug store in Harned. In addition to his professional work, the Ravenscroft Building (now the Gonder he has written an outstanding book, "Wild­ Building) in Oakland, and was most success­ flowers of the Alleghanies," already in its ful, until his death in 1946. second edition. It has won him nation-wide Since his death, pharmaceutical articles recognition, and the honorary degree of and drug sundries have been sold by Mr. and doctor of science from West Virginia Wes­ Mrs. W. A. Gonder, at Gonder's Cut-Rate. leyan and Western Maryland colleges. In 1947, when the first part of the Nally In addition to his work as pharmacist and Building was rebuilt after the fire, a large botanist, Mr. Harned has taught an adult store-room was ready for use. It attracted a Bible Class in the Methodist Sunday School young pharmacist, who selected Oakland as for thirty years. a business location. This was C. W. Eng­ His son, Harold H. Harned, is his assist­ lander, who now operates the Englander ant in the. drug store. Drug Store.

69 CHAPTER X HOSPITALS AND THE LOARS

GARRETT COUNTY MEMORIAL George Hanst as chairman of the Contri­ bution Committee; a Federal Grant on · a HOSPITAL matching basis through the Hill-Burton act Even before plans were published every­ is expected to total $171,000 when additional one was anxious to accept the generous hos­ local contributions are received, making a pital legacy of Mr. George Loar, February total of around $450,000. Bids for the Me­ 7, 1946. Through several years of invalidism morial hospital have been accepted and he had used his time to perfect the plan for building operations were begun in Septem­ his bequest. He made it a gift to the County. ber, 1948. He also made it a gift to the town through Plans call · for a three-story fireproof his expressed wish that the hospital might brick 40-bed hospital, with two operating be built on the Helbig property, recently rooms, completely equipped. bought by Oakland and used as a Com­ The County Health Center, established in munity Park. the Court House,· will be transferred to a The five persons selected by Mr. Loar to section of the hospital building.* ·carry out his bequest are to act as an ad­ When one recalls that our good. Doctors, visory co·m·mittee: two persons to represent Henry W. McComas and Mahlon C. Hine­ ·the two Oakland banks, the president of the baugh, made every effort to bring needed Town Council, Mrs. Lorilla F. Tower, or, in medical care to our neighborhood by estab­ the event of her failure to act, then the lishing their small hospitals, it is gratifying president of the Red Cross of Garrett to know that under the plan of Mr. George County, and Dr. Thomas A. Gonder, Jr., and Loar we will have a hospital which will be a in the event Dr. Gonder does not act, a per­ permanent institution. son of the medical profession residing in In 1900 the family of Mr. Andrew Nelson Garrett County. · made their home in Oakland. Very few per­ Among Mr. Loar's papers was a plan sons have kept up acquaintance with them, which had been prepared for him by an but Mrs. Arthur Lawton, (formerly Bessie architect, which gives a suggestion to aid in Littman), had exchanged greetings with carrying out his wishes. them from time to time. She sent a news­ The original legacy was $175,000, which paper to one of Mr. Nelson's daughters with has been greatly increased by the generous the report of the legacy from Mr. Loar, and contributions of citizens of Oakland and a picture of the proposed hospital building. vicinity. Through these generous gifts, there This inspired Mrs. Elizabeth Nelson Loft­ will be built a well-planned hospital, fully house to include a bequest. of $10,000 in her equipped. There has been delay in building will, in memory of her parents. The Nelson since details of construction, the difficulty of family built the house on Mason street, oc­ securing proper materials, and complying cupied for many years by the Conneway with laws in connection with a Federal family, and are recalled as p.aving unusual Grant, had to be arranged. musical talent. Mrs. Lofthouse was gradu­ Plans submitted by James J. Baldwin, ated from Cincinnati College of Music, was a architect, of Washington, D. C., were ac­ popular concert singer, and opened a studio cepted in February, 1947, by the following in New York City. After her marriage she persons: The executors of Mr. Loar's Estate, made her home in Nassau in the Bahama E. R. Jones and J.M. Jarboe, of Oakland, and Islands. Merle Watkins, of Grafton, W. Va. and the RINEHART - LOAR County Commissioners, J. Edward Helbig, Jonas W. Sines and Stewart F. Stahl; and George Rinehart came with his parents Mrs. L. F. Tower, Bernard I. Gonder, Dr. E. *Generous contributions have been made by all I. Baumgartner, Dr. A. E. Mance, and Dr. the organizations and interested persons. All equip­ James A. Gannon, Jr. rr..ent will be the best that can be procured. The iream of Mr. George Loar's life will be a blessing In 194 7 $101,303 was raised locally with to our County. 70 from Germany to Frederick, Maryland. They Yough I Glades he met Margaret Rinehart came to the Glades in 1798 when land was and in 1815 they were married. A copy of deeded to them by ex-Governor Thomas the marriage certificate of George Loar and Johnson in 1798 and 1800. George Rinehart Margaret Rinehart is a treasured possesion married Susannah the daughter of A. G. of the Loar family. Wiles, of Aurora, Virginia. In the census of "G-eorge Lore, son of Jacob Lore and his 1800 he is listed as head of a family of seven. wife Sarah, and Margaret, daughter of The nearest neighbors were William Rine­ George Rinehart and his wife Susannah, hart, James Chiles and James Goff. these two persons were_ married on the 14th The Rinehart home was large and served day of March, 1815." for many years as an inn as well ·as their George and Margaret Loar established home. In 1820 Mr. Rinehart deeded a half their home on Military Lot 929, south of acre site for a church to the Dutch Re­ Oakland. At one time their property in­ formed and German Lutheran congre­ cluded the Porter farm and part of Monte grations. A log church, called Susan's Vista. A good log house was built which was Church," was built, which was in use until a center for the neighborhood._ 1864. In 1823 the first school in this neigh­ In Frostburg George Loar's father had borhood was opened in the church. The helped to establish the first Lutheran church teacher, Miss Ann Thayer, had come from in 1780, and in his home in Y ough Glades, Willfamsburg, Massachusetts, in 1819. When with his neighbor Isaac McCarty, the first the church was rebuilt in 1864 the location Sunday School was organized in 1828. was changed to Red House. George and Sus­ After the death of George Loar in 1860, annah Rinehart are buried in the old grave­ his ·wife, Margaret Rinehart Loar, with her yard· connected with Susan's Church at Sun­ daughter Mary came to Oakland to live on nyside. . Oak street opposite the home of Thomas E. Bosley who had married her sister Cather­ ine. Mrs. Loar is remembered by older resi­ dents of Oakland for her kindness, and for gathering the children in her home once a ,veek to tell them stories from the Bible. Their son, David Henry Loar, born in 1836, married Mary C. Wheeler. Mr. Loar was em­ ployed first by the railroad. In 1869 he estab­ lished general stores at Wilson Station and Oakland. Their home was on the corner of Second and Pennington Street. The house was moved to Third street when their SUSAN'S CHURCH, SUNNYSIDE-1820-1869 present home was built. Their sons, Lawson, In the early history of the glades one finds George and Harry were active, successful many references to George Rinehart. His merchants in Grafton ana Clarksburg. The farm home was the community center, the fourth son, Judson, and his sisters Lottie church and school were on his land. His was and Grace, have taken their part in church, the helping hand for his neighbors. One club and social work in Oakland. daughter, Margaret, married George Loar; Miss Lottie was a musician, studied at a secqnd daughter, Catherine, married Peabody Institute in Baltimore, was a teach­ Thomas Bosley. er, and organist for the Methodist church. Other members of the Rinehart family, Miss Grace followed her grandmother's ex­ names recorded in 1834, were Jonathan, ample. For many years she was superin­ David, ·John and Thomas. tendent of the Junior Epworth League of The Loar family has been associated with the Methodist church. After school each life in Western Maryland since 1780. Jacob Wednesday classes were held. Boys and girls Loar's home was at Eckhart near Frost­ from these classes form our best citizens to­ burg, where he was married to the daugh­ day. ter of George and Mary Eckhart. Their son Mr. Judson Loar has done his part in the George was -born in 1791. On a visit to his work of the church, belonging to various Uncle Henry Lower,· or Loar in his home at groups of young and older people. He is 7.1 called upon as a counsellor to go on hikes and lowed the use of the Oakland Hotel grounds picnic parties. for a_ Park, and many trees were planted. Lawson Loar, in Grafton, was superin­ Mrs. Dorsey sent several of the young trees tendent of the Methodist Sunday School. At to Oakland to be used in the Park. Miss Loar one time he owned "Thorncroft" which had was most careful of the tiny trees· and been built as a summer home by Mr. Wilton . planted them in her garde~ to establish J. Lambert, of Washington, D. C. The name their ·growth. In order to te sure of a pro­ was changed to "Ethelhurst" to compliment tected place, one of the trees was- planted in Mr. Loar's daughter Ethel. Mr. George Loar Oakland in the Episcopal Parish House gave Oakland the hospital legacy as has first grounds by Miss Loar, assisted by Mrs. Ed­ been recounted. Unfortunately there are no· ward H. Sincell, Mrs. Milton Sincell and the descendants of this family to carry on the Reverend David C. Trimble. Through Mrs. name, but their kindness and generosity· for Dorsey's untiring interest Job's ancient all good work will memorialize it. prophecy is fulfilled, "the tender branch shall not cease." THE WASHINGTON ELM Because of the erection of a Rectory on Three thousand years ago, the Prophet this land, the Washington Elm was moved Job said "There is hope of a tree, if it be cut to the grounds of the Memorial hospital in down, that it will sprout again, and that the April, 1948, by the Oakland Civic club . tender branch thereof shall not cease." • · In 1642 in Cambridge Town, Massachu­ setts Bay Colony, a tiny elm·. pushed through the ground, while nearby, Governor Brad­ ford formed a Confederation of four colonies, as the first step toward national union. In 1775 the tiny tree had grown into a spread­ ing elm. July 3, Washington, standing under its shade, took command of America's first army, that final step toward national union. From that time, the Washington Elm was a town's and nation's meeting place. In 1875 the centennial anniversary of that great day was celebrated, a fence was built to protect the tree, with a memorial tablet to describe it honorably. In 1888, seeds from this Wash­ ington Elm were planted by an uncle of Mrs. Dorsey, and thirteen young trees were sent to Mount Vernon, and one to Annapolis, where General Washington resigned ~is commission in the army. In 1923 the Wash­ ington Elm, the last living witness of the historic event of 1775, succuml)ed to old age, falling against the protecting fence. Cam­ bridge sent pieces of'tl1E~- tree to every State Capitol, and erected a ·monument on the site as a symbol of liberty. In 1925 the Washington Elm was honored by the Government, on the Lexington and Concord Commemorative Stamp. In 1926 Mrs. Alice Paret · Dorsey (Mrs. James H. Dorsey), a descendant of Governor Brad­ ford, was inspired to carry on the memory of the Washington Elm by growing trees from seeds and root-shoots, the grandchild and great-grandchild of the famous tree. About 1930 when Miss Lottie Loar was president, the Oakland Civic club was al- MUDDY CREEK FALLS, NEAR OAKLAND '12 CHAPTER XI CHURCHES AND CEl\tlETERIES

.. ST. PAUL'S METHODIST CHURCH White, Nicholas Elsy, Edward McCarty, William Ashby, Manuel Pifer and Eli Nine. · Wherever pioneers of our country went A log church was built, which was taken they carried with them an abiding belief in down in 1875 and the- best part used when God. The religion of their choice has led the church was enlarged. many of them across dark waters of un­ known seas, where they hoped to find free­ In 1891 a large frame church was built, do-m for the faith which they cherished. The and the name of St. Paul's Methodist Church early settlers did not wait to build churches, was selected by Mr. Ralph Thayer, he being or for an ordained minister to be present to the oldest member of the Church. Dr. J. Lee hold services. They gathered together in the McComas donated the church bell. homes of members for prayer service and In 1936 this building was moved, and study of the Bible. transformed into a modern brick church, with entrance on Fourth Street. A large . Sunday School room, class and choir rooms, are entered from Oak Street. The brick parsonage was built in perfect harmony with the beautiful Church. The work of the clergy and congregations of this church has been of great benefit to Oakland and vicinity. ST. l\ilARK'S LUTHERAN CHURCH

ST. PAUL'S METHODIST CHURCH ST. MARK'S LUTHERAN CHURCH In 1828 George Loar opened his home for Before 1820, the German Lutheran Re­ the meeting of the first Sunday School and formed congregation built a "house of wor­ Methodist Class Meetings. A log church and ship" at Rinehart's, known as Susan's school house were soon built on the Isaac Church, and in 1860 the first Lutheran McCarty farm, where land had also been set Church and parsonage in Oakland were built aside for a graveyard. on Fifth Street. The remodeled parsonage This church was in use from 1828 until is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Rath­ June 20, 1850,-when lots number 43 and 44 bun. were deeded by Mr.. McCarty to the Method­ A large brick church was built on the ist Episcopal Church and congregation, in corner of Third and Alder Streets. The con­ the newly ·surveyed town of Oakland. The gregation had just completed payments on Trustees were Isaac McCarty, Johnson this building, when it was completely de- 73 stroyed by fire in 1905. The McIntire build­ James E. Connell, and the parochial school ing now occupies this site. and home for the Sisters of Mercy, who con­ When Rev. Edmund Manges was pastor duct the school, were built. about 1909, the Lutheran Church was rebuilt An early baptismal record gives these on Second Street, including a large Sunday names: 1858, Sebastus Helbig, Patricius School Assembly room. The Lutheran par­ Hart, and Martinus . Prendergast. Early sonage on the hill was sold, and a new brick names of parents include S. Helbig, John parsonage was built on Pennington Street. Clark, Michael Gallagher, Henry ·Schafer, Names of families of the early history of William Kennedy, Thomas Ryan, Henry Eg­ the church include Bolden, Cleveland, Ham­ gers, Michael Carney, Henry Rush, and ill, Hinebaugh, Loughridge, Pfeiffer, Sin­ James Schafer. cell, Stemple, Thompson, and Wensel. GARRETT MEM·ORIAL CHURCH ST. PETER'S ROMAN CATHOLIC The Garrett Memorial Church was· built in Oakland in 1869 by members of the Gar­ CHURCH rett family in memory of their brother, Hen­ St. Peter;;s Roman Catholic Church cele­ ry S. Garrett. The following is from a book brated its first mass in Oakland, in the home published in his memory: of Issac McCarty, which was then the sta­ "lt was at Oakland whither he was ac­ tion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. customed to resort to escape the annual This mass was celebrated by Rev. William visitation of- the hay fever, that · he was D .. Parsons. smitten with the disease which laid him low in death, and whilst there, he was planning to build a church at that place; as I stood by his dying bed he referred to his not having been able to carry out that desire of his heart." October 12, 1867. The congregation of the Oakland Presby­ terian· Church was organized in 1869. The first minister in charge, Reverend John Scott, remained for ten years·. The Elders were James R. Bishop, John R. Veitch, Wil­ liam P. Totten, W. H. Tower, David Little; Deacon, John A. Grant. On March 11, 1885, a deed of Trust was given to the Congregation, signed by Martha ST. PETER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH Delawder, Robert Garrett, Gilmor S. Hamill, Harrison Garrett, Samuel Spencer, Mary E. In 1852 a church was built on Oak Street. Garrett. The Parochial School is now on this site. A part of the original church was used in the school building. Mission services were held by priests fron1 Westernport and Cumberland. The first resi­ dent pastor, the Rev. James A. Gallen, came in May 1878. In 1882, the _Rev. Romanus Mattingly arrived. Through his leadership all church debts were paid and the Parish was improved by the building of a comfort­ able rectory on the corner of F_ourth and Alder Streets. In 1900 the Rev. James E. Connell was ap­ pointed to the Oakland parish by Cardinal · Gibbons. During his twenty years in this parish, the present stone church was built. ST. MATTHEW'S EPISCO·PAL CHURCH Rev. John E. Eckenrode succeeded the Rev. (Formerly_ Garrett Memorial Presbyterian) 74 . On May 6, 1907, a deed was given to the The site of the rectory, corner of Sixth Presbyterian Church of Oakland for the and Alder Streets, was given by Mrs. M. S. property. The church held regular services Wheelwright, a summer resident, whose and Sunday School until 1938. For nearly home, "Fair Oaks," on Seventh, Eighth, seventy years. the Garrett Memorial Church · Green, and High Streets is still standing. was used ·by the Presbyterian congregation. Mr. ··Fulcher Smith bought the home from Since 1939, the Garrett Memorial Church Delbert Davis in 1946 and remodeled it. has been in use by the congregation of St. The "Little Church" on the hill was closed Matthew's Episcopal Church. in 1939, and in 1946, it was sold and moved to Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, to be reassem­ ST. MATTHEW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH bled for use. The first services of the Episcopal Church The Episcopal parish house was built in in Oakland were held ·regularly about 1869 1935. The National Guard has been using it in the new Garrett Memorial Church by the temporarily since 1947. The parish house is Rev. J. A. Tongue, assistant to the Rector available for use by town organizations. of Emmanuel Church, Cumberland. Through A new rectory was built in 1948 on the the. enterprise of Miss Mary Tyson, of Balti­ corner of Second and Center Streets, adjoin­ more, funds were subscribed and earned to ing the parish house. build a church. Miss Tyson published a cook Missions at Swanton, Altamont, Deer book, "The Queen of The Kitchen," which Park, and Grantsville are under the direc­ was sold in two editions. The building site, tion of the Rector of St. Matthew's Church. a large lot extending from Fourth to Fifth CEMETERIES Streets, was given by Mr. Josias Pennington, of Baltimore. The corner-stone was laid in The first burial grounds were plots of September, 1871, and the church was built land, fenced off and reserved on large farms. and furnished free of debt, to be consecrated There are a number of these family burial June 11th, 1874. ' grounds near Oakland. When selling his Members of the Episcopal Church electeu farm, Isaac McCarty reserved the land which to the Vestry in 1874 were: Dr. E. H. Bart­ contains the graves of the pioneer settlers lett, Charles Best, Charles M. Miller, C. 0. of Oakland. Another burial ground is lo­ Nethkin, S. E. Shirer, John M. Read, and ca ted on the crest of Totten's Hill in a grove Bowie Johnson. of trees. Members of the Totten family rest Plans were prepared in 1888 in Baltimore there. for building a rectory. It was in use by the On the Cranesville Road, west of town, is Church until 1919, when the house was sold the first burial ground consecrated by the to Mr. J os~eph Helbig and later sold by him to Roman Catholic Church. It is located on land Dr. N. I. Broadwater. given by Charles Shafer, early owner of the

ORIGINAL ST. MATTHEW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH REMOVED FROM OAKLAND IN 1939 75 farm. This cemetery bears the name Shaf­ has been used, as he requested, to improve er's Hill and has been used since 1850. the road and paths. The Oakland Cemetery is on land bought The old Palmer property, adjoining the by the I. 0. 0. F. A. G. Sturgiss, F. A. Thay­ . cemetery, was bought by the late Mrs. Idie er, and Thomas Little were among the acti:ve T. Hayes, and laid off as a new cemetery.· It members of this association. A road and is now owned by Walter W. Dawson, who paths were opened, and lots were surveyed has placed a stone wall in front and built a and sold. Remains of early pioneers were good road. brought from the old burial ground on the Isaac McCarty farm and placed in the Oak­ "\Vhen St. Matthew's Episcopal Church land cemetery. ,vas built in 1874 on a large lot extending In 1911, when the Oakland Civic Club was f .:om Fourth to Fifth Streets, all ground organized, members of the Club raised s:111~t:.21ding the church was surveyed for money by subscription to build a stone wall t urial lots. in front of the cemetery The iron gates were In 1874 members of the Roman Catholic a gift from the Civic Club. For a number of Church became interested in purchasing 'years the Civic Club had general cleaning land for a cemetery in Oakland. They se, .. done throughout the summer seasons. lected a lot adjoining the other two ceme­ Memorial Day is celebrat~d in the ceme­ t2ries. When the stone fence was built along tery through Veterans' Organizations' spon­ the Oakland cemetery, the Rev. James E. sorship with the active co-operation of th~ Connell had a similar stone wall placed on Knights of Pythias. the Fourth Street side of the Roman Catho­ · A legacy of $1500 from Mr. George Loar lic cemetery.

VIEW OF DEEP CREEK LAKE SOUTHEAST OF GLENDALE BRIDGE

76 CHAPTER XII SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, POSTOFFICE

SCHOOLS-1823-1948 distances to school. There were no paved roads or school buses. School was held for Education has been general in our moun­ only a few weeks. Six months was considered tain homes from the earliest days. Govern­ an adequate school year. Children were often esses and tutors in the homes were followed needed at home to help with farm work. by subscription schools, with the teacher's Public schools were established in 1865. board considered as part payment. In 1866, Mr. Ralph Thayer, member of the In 1823, Miss Nancy Thayer was engaged School Board of Allegany County, reported to teach in a subscription school. Each pupil that an effort was being made to have a paid $2.00 per quarter, and the patrons school house built· in· Oakland. Three years promised to board the teacher.· Those who later $2,000 was allotted to complete the signed the agreement were: i\.nn Thayer, building of the school which was ready for William Ashby, Jesse Ashby, Stephen Thay­ use in 1870. William Ferun was the first er, Toliver Chiles, David Sharpless and teacher. John Arnold. A list of the parents' names · In June, 1873, the· School Board, consist- were: \Villiam A·shby, Henry and George ing of William A. Brydon, G. W. Delawder, Lower, Jefferson, Thornton, and Edward and Andrew Arendt, elected the first Secre­ Gilpin, Franklin Chase, Stephen Thayer, tary and Examiner for Garrett . ?ounty John Arnold, Israel Thompson, Benjamin J. Schools. Asa Matthews held the pos1t1on for Gregg, Alexander Chisholm and James four years. There were 57 schools in the Chiles. There were twenty-two scholars. county, 2948 pupils and 76 teachers. Dr. E. This school, which was at Sunnyside, had H. Bartlett ·succeeded to the position in 1877~ the following teachers in later years: Nat. In 1888 William Hinebaugh was elected and G. Campbell, Christian Yutzy, Dalles Miller, held the position until 1896, when U. G. Pal­ Rev. John Phillips, Everett Ross, Thomas mer was elected. Edward A. Browning was Dawson, and Elizabeth Taylor. elected in 1900, and held the position until In 1820, a school was taught by John 1912, when he was succeeded by Franklin E. Yaldwin on the William W. Hoye farm at Rathbun. In 1888 and 1889, E. E. Enlow was Sang Run. In 1830, a one-room log school principal of the Oakland school. His recol­ house at Enlow cross roads was called "The lections of his work and of his assistants are Sang Run Academy." This school was taught of interest. "The teachers were Miss Lou by James Warren; the pupils were from the Thayer, Miss Mattie Porter, Miss Mamie Enlow, Browning, DeWitt, Friend, Hoye, Weber, Miss Julia Stanton, and Nathan Sel­ Mattingly, Townshend, West, Drane, and by. The schoolrooms were in three separate Fairall families. buildings. The main school was in one build­ Yough Glades children attended. a school ing, Miss Thayer's class was in the second taught by Mr. Junkins, in a log house near building, and NathaR Selby taught the the DeBerry farm. colored school." Log houses were in general use for The school term was for five months and schools, with a great stone fireplace used pay for the principal was $60 a month. In for heating. The older boys brought in the 1895 the large brick schoolhouse on the wood for the fire. A bucket of water, with a corner of Center and Wilson Streets was dipper, was at one side of the room. Benches built. Funds which were appropriated for were made of logs, and boards on high legs teaching had to be used to pay for the school served as desks ; smooth-planed boards with building, when a proposed bond issue was pieces of charcoal were used for tablets. Ink voted down. The school term that year lasted was made from poke-berries. When paper just six weeks. could be procured quill pens were made from In 1900, when three hundred pupils were feathers. Lessons of all grades were recited in attendance, the school was open from Oc­ orally, in one room. Books were bought by tober to April. It was customary for Normal the students, who often had to walk long School to be in session for the next two 77 months . .l\. favorite teacher in 1897 was Cap­ In March, 1947, the Legislature authorized tain Ross R. Sanner, -who came to Oakland Garrett County to borrow $1,500,000 for from Somerset, Pennsylvania. building and equipping school buildings. Some of this money will be used for a new high school building in Oakland. Children in Maryland now have twelve grades in every county, through State· aid and supervision. Mr. Rathbun held the office of County Superintendent for over 36 years. In 1948, R. Bowen Hardesty was appointed by the Board of Education as assistant county superintendent of schools. Mr. Rathbun con­ tinued until his retirement in December, 1948, when Mr. Hardesty became county superintendent. Mr. Hardesty is a Maryland man, who, beginning his studies in Calvert OAKLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL County, also attended Randolph Macon Co!­ In 1901, elementary and high school lege, Western Maryland College, Columbia classes were separated, although all con­ University, the University: of Maryland, and tinued to meet in the same building. In 1910, Johns Hopkins. He has taught in Maryland the high school was moved to the old Court schools since 1933. House, which was later remodeled· at a cost of $31,580.00 and is still the home of the Oakland High School. Several other build-. ings are now included in the high school plant. There was gi:adual improvement in the schools under county management, but in 1916 they were taken over by the State De­ partment of Education, headed by a State Superintendent, so as to give each child in the state the- same standard of opportunity. In the early autumn of 1922 the ele­ mentary school building, then known as the grammar school, was badly damaged by fire, a~d it was necessary for the various grades OAKLAND HIGH SCHOOL to be scattered about town: some in the Knights of Pythias Building, some in In 1886, the Rev. William Newman, rector the old Catholic Church, some in the of the Episcopal Church, taught a private City Hall, and some in the Thomas Martin school for boys. Miss Margaret Bowie, of building at the corner of Third and Oak Baltimore, earlier opened a private school Streets. The school building was rebuilt and for the younger children. again occupied as rapidly as possible, and A kindergarten was is session in Oakland was later extensively remodeled, as we see it in 1916, taught by Miss Elizabeth West. today. Some of the pupils were carried along by the Other high schools are located at Accident, Calvert School method, under the patronage Friendsville, Grant8'ville, and Kitzmiller. of Mrs. Ellwood Offutt, to college prepara­ Whenever practicable, schools throughout tory entrance. The kindergarten was con­ the County have been consolidated, and chil­ tinued at intervals for many years. dren brought by bus to central elementary We now have only one private school in and high schools. Oakland-St. Peter's Parochial School, con­ Franklin E. Rathbun was Superintendent ducted by the Sisters of Mercy. In 1870, a of Schools in Garrett County during many paroch~al school was opened by Rev. Fr. O'­ of these changes. Sullivan. In 1878, the Rev. Fr. Gallen pro- 78 cured a teacher, Miss Katie Rowan, but th~ contribution to Garrett County by his gift. school had to be closed. Hardly had the announcement of his do­ In 1924, the Rev. John Eckenrode planned nation been made, when Mr. D. Cal Crim, of the present school._ A fine brick building, -Cincinnati, gave $3,000 to buy land on Sec­ with a residence for the teachers, was built ond Street. suitable for the building site. Mr. on the site of "the first Roman Catholic '.Crim's parents lived in Oakland. The B. & 0. Church, on Oak Street. Eight grades are Railroad leading West attracted him and he taught. 'Ihe school is popular, with good at­ established his home and business in Cin­ tendance. Music and Art are favorite sub­ cinnati, Ohio. His sister also established a jects. .home there. In 1914 he opened the famous RUTH ENLOW AND FREE PUBLIC Cal Crim Detective Agency. The Garrett County Free Public Library LIBRARIES was sponsored in 1915, py the Oakland Civic In September, 1946, a generous gift of Club. It was open only at stated intervals. $10,000 was made by Mr. Ephraim E. En­ The County Commissioners, realizing its .low, of Sebastopol, California, for the con­ benefit, helped with the expense. The struction of a library as a memorial to his Library Board was active for thirty-one :wife, Harriet Beachy Enlow, and his daugh­ years. In 1945, through the interest of Mr. ter, Ruth Christine Enlow. Franklin E. Rathbun, superintendent of ·schools, Garrett County was . one of five counties selected to qualify for state aid. An accredited librarian was sent in 1946 to take over the management of the Library. Rented rooms have been used since 1912 for the library. It was housed at various times in the Ravenscroft' building; K. of P. building; and Garrett National Bank building. Among the early librarians were Miss Cora Weimer, Mrs. Nettie Loughridge Thrasher, Miss Elizabeth Leary, and Mrs. Margaret Berghaus, with members of the Library Board helping frequently. Mrs. H. A. Loraditch was President of the Board in 1946. The library is open every day and needed books can be secured from the Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore. A bookmobile carries books to various stations through the coun­ ty. The house ow:r;ied by James Canty at the corner of Second and Center Streets, will be moved to make room for the erection of the new Ruth Enlow library. This is an excellent location. When the corner lot was under consider­ E. E. ENLOW ation, a second gift was made by Mr. Enlow Mr. Enlow was born near Thayerville in for the library. Capt. Charles E. Hoye con­ 1859; was married in Garrett County, and tributed $1,000, and the County Commis­ he and his wife were teachers in the County sioners appropriated $4,000. schools. He taught in public schools in Ohio, · Miss Eleanor Ray was the first librarian West Virginia, and California for thirteen to serve under the new regulations. In Miss years. He then entered the employment of Ray's report in 1948 621 borrowers were the Treasury Department in the Customs listed and 2,534 books catalogued, with a office of California and retired in 1932. Mr. total circulation of 10,312 books. She re­ Enlow recalls his OW!} young days : "I had signed to take a similar position in North few books in my youth." He has made a fine Dakota, and Mrs. Veronica Rasche Robinson 79 has been librarian in charge since February, April 23, 1875, Mr. Ralph Thayer was ap­ 1948. pointed postmaster; the office was located in the Thayer home, corner Third and Oak POST OFFICES Streets. He was followed by Judge Patrick William Armstrong was officially named Hamill, on the north side of Alder Street_ be­ as Postmaster at Yough Glades, April 1, tween Second and Third Streets ; Fred A. 1812. The name selected, "Yough Glades," is Thayer, Dr. E. H. Martlett, J. M. Jarboe, lo­ found on the old McHenry letters recently cated on Alder Street in newly built First published in The Glades Star. William Arm­ National Bank Building; Clagett Peddicord, strong, who held the position 19 years, was on the Second Street side of the First succeeded by his sons, John and James, for National Bank Building. 12 years, so that the post office was in the Other postmasters were: Charles Deffin­ ,Armstrong home for over thirty years. In baugh, Lawrence Fraley, and Miss Frances .January, 1843, Isaac McCarty was appointed Hamill, in the McIntire Building, corner of :postmaster and held the position until after Third and Alder. :the railroad was built. In some of the records of the B. and 0. R.R. Y ough Glades is referred to as "McCarty's Mill." It is ·probable that a member of the McCarty fam­ . ily had a home near the mill. March 11, 1852, James Taggart was appointed postmaster. 1November 1, 1852, Charles W. White was riained to succeed him. January 31, 1854, the name Oakland was

,officially accepted, although five years had ./,~. -:-;?;r? :elapsed since the survey of the town. May ··;,: .· )•: 2, 1854, John Matthews was appointed post­ i ' master. The first issue of postage stamps _ • . - ,_;:;::'. _,::·::::-:::~0.2s;, .•,=-i·i ::=q was made by the government in 1847; their --··-- . --..- ······-· - ~ • : . -~ -~·· ~ I . · ... •.•·.• . use was restricted to larger post offices and the use of stamps was not compulsory until OAKLAND POSTOFFICE, 1948 1856. Mail had been carried in the Unite·d States for one hundred years before stamps I. R. Rudy was postmaster when the new _were in general use. $80,000 U.S. Federal Building was completed ,v~ich houses special Federal offices as well May 28, 1863, Rowan White became the postmaster, the post office was located on as the post office. .Oak street, across from Shirer's store. An W. E. Spoerlein has held the position since older resident recalls, "the arrival of mail 1947. The post office work requires eight as­ in Oakland by train was the most interesting sistants including the postmen, who have .event of the day. The postmaster met the been delivering mail from door to door for train and carried the small bag of mail to the over thirty years. :post office. Persons· : expecting letters were waiting; names were called out, and one Oakland has a first-class office with could claim his letter as the mail was being Rural Free Delivery routes serving the sur­ ,sorted." rounding area.

80 CHAPTER XIII NEWSPAPERS, LA WYERS, BANKS

NEWSPAPERS standard, which they carry on with credit. The first newspaper in Oakland, The Glades Star, was published in 1871 by a Mr. Zevely, but publication was suspended after a few months. In that short time it gave publicity to the idea of establishing a new county in Western Maryland. In 1941 when the Garrett County Historical Society was organized the name "The Glades Star" was selected as a name for its newspaper, to memorialize the first newspaper published in Oakland. In 1873 W. H. Hagans and Hiram Tasker published The Garrett County Herald which was independent politically. This was fol­ lowed in the same year by The Garrett County Gazette, published by C. ~- Abel and Thomas J. Peddicord, with Democratic af­ filiation. In 187 4 another weekly was pub­ lished under the name, "The Republican En­ sign," by Mr. Hagans. The Ensign, like The' Glades Star, after a few months gave up publication. BENJ. H.· SINCELL Among the assistants to Mr. Hagans in In 1878, Moses R. Hamill and John J. 'the publication of The Garrett County Her­ Smith began the publication of The Moun­ ald was Captain James A. Hayden, who came tain Democrat. Mr. Hamill sold out his inter­ to Oakland in 1873. Captain Hayden was a est, and the news·paper was published by veteran of the Union Army from Pennsyl­ Mr. Smith until his death in 1881. vania. His ancestors had been pioneers in The Mountain Democrat was sold shortly the earliest development of iron mills west after Mr. Smith's death to Rev. C. B. Lud­ of the Allegheny Mountains at Haydentown. wig, of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. J. M. Captain Hayden purchased The Garrett Litsinger was the next owner and publisher County Herald. Political interest w a s until the paper changed owners again about marked, so The Republican came into being 1900, and Charles A. Deffinbaugh became on March 4th, 1877. Captain Hayden con-· the owner and editor. During his term of of­ ducted The Republican very successfuily, f ice as postmaster, he was assisted by Rev. being assisted for several years by Benjamin L. A. Rudisill of Mt. Lake Park. Mr. Deffin­ H. Sincell, who had been employed in news­ baugh continued publication until his death paper publishing in Terra Alta and King­ in 1926, when the Democrat was carried on wood,· West Virginia. Mr. Sincell purchased by his son, Thornton Deffinbaugh, assisted The Republican, publishing his first edition by his cousin William 0. Davis as managing on his twenty-first birthday, July 11th, 1890, editor, until World War II, when Thornton and it carried on under his excellent manage­ Deffinbaugh entered the army. Publication ment until his death, 56 years later. Mr. was suspended until June, 1946 when Thorn­ Sincell's wife was the former Miss Lillian ton Deffinbaugh opened the office of The Morris, of Kingwood. Mountain Democrat for general publishing . Present editors _are members of Mr. Sin­ business. Mr. Wilbur ·Close is the editor, with cell's family-Donald Sincell, and his broth­ Mrs. Thornton Deffinbaugh on the staff. er by marriage, George Hanst. These young Perry Kimmell, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Cris men inherit for The Republican a high Kimmel, of Oakland, published a newspaper, 81 The Weekly Press, for a short time in 1895. School for many years, having succeeded the A copy of the June 5th issue is among old Rev. John M. Davis in that position, and hav­ papers belonging to Asa T. Matthews. ing in .turn been succeeded by E. R. Jones. In 1897 James D. Hamill embarked on the publication of a weekly newspaper in Oak­ land, The Garrett Journal. It was well edited and popular, but after some years was dis­ continued in favor of the stationery and book store which is still under the ownership and management of his daughters, Miss Isa­ bel Hamill, and Mrs. A. T. Matthews. Mr. Hamill had varied business experience. He was assistant postmaster when his father, Jµdge Patrick Hamill, was postmaster. Later he was associated with Thomas Little under the firm name "Hamill and Little" in a general merchandise business, corner of Oak and Third Streets. LAWYERS AND ASSOCIATES The organization· of Garrett County in 1872 opened practice for lawyers, and at­ tracted Thomas J. Peddicord and Colonel FRED.A.THAYER John W. Veitch, who should be recalled as our first established lawyers. In their of­ Mr. Thayer built a home next door to the fices young men of the community read law Thayer house on Third Street, and later and were able to pass the examinations moved into a handsome brick house built by necessary to be admitted to the Bar. Fred T. Martin at the corner of Oak and Thomas J. Peddicord was of Scotch-Irish Fourth Streets. descent. His an_cestors settled originally in In the Hamill family there are three Anne Arundel County. Later the family gsnerations of Garrett County lawyers. Gil­ moved to Howard County. Mr. Peddicord mor S. Hamill was admitted to the practice was admitted to the Bar in 1871, and prac­ of law i!l 1873, and continued until his death ticed law at Rockville, Maryland. He was in 1931, at which time he was the oldest married to Miss Ara Rebecca Clagett, and ' lawyer in the county. Mr. Hamill was as­ they came in 1873 to make their home in sisted in some of his cases by his friend, Oakland. Mr. Peddicord was popular and Richard T. Semmes, of Cumberland. His successful in his profession. He was clever sons, Gilmor Semmes Hamill, Jr., and Stuart with his pen, frequently writing articles for Fairfax Hamill, were both graduates of Oakland and Cumberland newspapers under Princeton Law School and were associated the pen-name "T. Jay." with their father. After the death of the One student who read law with Mr. Peddi­ elder son, Semmes Hamill, Jr., Stuart Hamill cord was Frederick A. Thayer, who was born continued in practice with his father. He has in Selbysport, and in 1866 moved with his filled responsible positions in the county and parents to Oakland, when twelve years of state. His son, Stuart F. Hamill, Jr., edu­ age. Mr. Thayer was admitted to the Bar in cated at Princeton Law School, served in 1883, and was married to Miss Maggie Ped­ World War II; and since returning to Oak­ dicord. Prior to engaging' in the practice of land is associated with his father in the law he taught school, was Clerk to the practice of law. Board of County Commissioners, Deputy Edward Z. Tower studied law under Clerk of the Court, and postmaster. He was Colonel John W. Veitch, and was admitted State's Attorney for twelve· years, and at to the Bar in 1883. He did not enter into the the time of his death, in 19.42, was dean of practice of law, but became assistant to his the Garrett County Bar. In addition to his father, William H. Tower, who was Clerk to business and professional activities he was the County Commissioners of Allegany superintendent of the Methodist Sunday County, and in 1873 was elected as the first 82 Clerk to the Circuit Court of Garrett County. house on the site of Pickwick Inn was bought William H. Tower was married to Rebe~ca, and sold. He was building a new home on daughter of Ezekiel Totten. Other children Second Street at the time of his death in were Cora, Adeline, Margaret and Charles. 1908. This home was finished by Edward H. William H. Tower filled the position of Clerk Sincell, his brother-in-law, Mr. Sincell's wife of the Circuit Court until his death in 1887, being the former Miss _Sallie Button, of An­ and was succeeded by his son, Edward Z. napolis. Tower, who was elected and re-elected to the Edward H. Sincell finished his studies at position until 1932. W. H. Tower built and St. John's College in Annapolis, studied law occupied the large house at the corner of in Oakland, and was admitted to the Bar in Wilson and I Pennington Streets. Garrett County. He was popular and success­ E. Z. Tower, after his marriage to Miss ful in his profession, and at the time of his Lorilla Bullard, of Wheeling, purchased the death was President of the First National house on the corner of Sixth and Oak Bank. Streets and established his home there. The Sincell family .came from Germany in Charles Tower, a brother of E. Z. Tower, 1810. Charles H. Sincell was born in Fred­ was for many years a clerk in Gilmor Ham­ erick, Maryland, where he married Miss ill's office, being in close touch with law Leah Richardson, the daughter of John and cases. Mary Hood Richardson, of Frederick. Upon the death of Edward Z. Tower, his John Richardson and his family moved to unexpired term as Clerk of the Circuit Court Oakland in 1873 and the following year the was filled by his deputy, Albert G. Ross, son Sincell family joined them here. of the Civil War veteran, Matthias Ross. Charles H. Sincell bought the woodwork­ Mr. Ross was elected to this office at the ing and blacksmith shop business from John end of the term, and continued to hold it un­ and Thomas Browning. In the woodworking til 1946, when he announced that he would shop carriages, wagons, sleighs and sleds not be a candidate to succeed himself. The were made, and in the blacksmith shop, John present incumbent, Richard L. Davis, one of Ross was the assistant. Mr. Ross's deputies, was then elected. All went well until Mr. Sincell's health Two brothers, John T. •Mitchell and Ed­ failed and his death occurred in February win Mit'Chell, practiced law together in Oak­ 1884. His eldest son, Edwarq, was a student land. They were surveyors as well as law­ at Annapolis at that time. yers, which gave them an advantage in land The business was sold to A. D. Naylor in cases. Their Scotch-Irish ancestors came to March. Mrs. Sincell bought a house on Liber­ Pennsylvania in 1771 ; members of the fam­ ty Street from Mr. E. J. Fringer and moved ily were in the Revolutionary War. Their with her family of eight children; Edward, father was Alfred S. Mitchell, of Somerset John, Benjamin, Henry, Albert, Margaret, County. Gertrude, and George. She had two houses In 1878 John T. Mitchell came to Oakland built to rent in the block below; her father's to teach; he studied law under Col. John W. house was near-by. The Richardson house Veitch and was admitted to the Bar in 1882; was occupied for several years by Edward He married Miss Kansas Hamill, daughter H. Sincell after his marriage. of Judge Patrick Hamill. -Their home was on Asa Totten Matthews, a grandson of . Second Street near Center until 1908, when Ezekiel Totten, pioneer business man of they built the Mitchell house on route 219. Oakland, has been practicing law in Oakland Edwin L. Mitchell, a younger brother, was for many ·years. He is active politically in educated as a civil engineer. He joined his th,2 Democratic party. brother in Oakland, where he studied law For seven years, Norman Swope Heindel, and was admitted to the Bar . in Garrett from Gettysburg, Pa., was associated with County. He was married in 1906 to Miss Eva E. H. Sincell in the practice of law. He was Button, daughter of Dr. E. J. M. Button, of educated at Gettysburg College and com­ Annapolis. pleted his study of law at Columbia Uni­ Edwin Mitchell was interested in real versity in New York. He was admitted to estate; he __ purchased and sold several the Bar in Baltimore, where he was in the homes ; the Pennington house on Second office of his uncle, Judge Harry Claybaugh. Street was bought and sold, and the Carter Mr. Heindel was interested in surveying and 83 banking. In 1908, he with his family left his profession. Mr. Dawson was State's At­ Oakland and returned to Gettysburg; later torney from 1930 to 1934, and was elected he moved to St. Petersburg, Florida. again in 1946. He served on the County William R. Offutt, youngest son of D. E. School Board for ten years. He has been as­ Offutt, was educated in law at the Universi­ sociated professionally with E. Ray Jones, ty of Virginia, in Charlottesville; he re­ who was a Garrett County boy, whose turned to Oakland to establish practice of father, Wilbur Jones, came to Deer Park law. He was married to Miss Mary Humbird, from Ohio in 1883. Ray Jones has been of Cumberland, daughter of J. Wilson Hum­ active politically and in 1940 was appointed bird. The Humbird family came to Cumber­ Secretary of State under Governor Nice. He land in 1838. studied law at Maryland University Law The first home of Mr. Offutt and his fam­ School and was admitted to practice. His ily is now owned and occupied by the James son, Lewis Jones, also studied law and was Treacy family, and Mr. Offutt and his family admitted to the Bar. He is associated with built a second home in the Dixon addition his father in practice. on Second Street. In Ja~uary, 1948, W. Dwight Stover, a Mr. Offutt has been a successful lawyer veteran of World War II, was appointed by in Oakland, being State's Attorney from year the Circuit Court to succeed Walter Dawson to year. Associated with him was Mr. Julius as State's Attorney, who resigned. C. Renninger, who was educated at Mary­ Col. A. G. Sturgiss, the founder of Stur­ land University Law School. Mr. Renninger giss' Pharmacy, was a lawyer, as was also was born in Cumberland; his wife was Miss James C. Peddicord, who practiced for a Gertrude Scherr, of Eglon, West Virginia. time with his father, Thomas J. Peddicord. The Renninger home was on the east side of George Legge, the son of George and Second Street, and is now owned by Charles Susan Offutt Legge, is an Oakland man who C. Helbig. has been successful in the legal profession. Juli us, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Juli us C. He was admitted to the Bar in Garrett Renninger, followed his father in the study County and later moved to Cumberland, of law. He completed his studies at Prince­ ,vhere he served as Mayor. ton Law School, and, when admitted to. the OAKLAND BANKS Bar in 1934, opened his office in Oakland. After service in World War II, he is now in The four banks in Garrett County showed the Department of Justice in Washington. deposits of more than nine million dollars In 1938 he was married to Elizabeth Broad­ in 1948. These banks have promoted fi­ water, daughter of Dr. N. I. Broadwater. nancial interests of the county in every way. For a short time Playford Naylor, th,2 son The first bank to be established was the of A. D. Naylor, and grandson of S. L. Garrett County Bank of Oakland. In 1887, Townshend, practiced law in Oakland with through the interest of Mr. John Jones and A. T. Matthews. After finishing his studies, his son, Scott T. Jones, of Terra Alta, W. Va., he returned to Oakland for a few years. In the business men of Oakland formed a group 1928 he became interested in property at to organize a bank, with capital of $25,000 Sebring, Florida, established his practice and surplus of $10,000. Subscribers were D. there, and in a few years was elected Mayor E. Offutt, John M. Davis,·George W. Legge, of Sebring. He was most successful in his Gilmer S. Hamill, of Oakland, and John law practice, and all regretted his early Jones and Scott T. Jones, of Terra Alta. Of­ death. ficers elected were D. E. Offutt, President; Another Oakland resident who has entered Gilmor S. Hamill, Vice President; and Scott the practice of law here is Neil Fraley, son T. Jones, Cashier. All served as directors, of G. A. Fraley, who was assistant cashier along with J.M. Davis and George W. Legge. and cashier of the Garrett National Bank. Mr. Jones had been employed in banks in Walter Dawson, resident of Oakland, was Grafton, West Virginia, and Atkinson, well known in business as the popular Nebraska. He supervised the construction cashier of the First National Bank. Mr. Daw­ of the building on Second Street, which was son resigned from his position at the Bank opened for business on November 14, 1888. and studied law. He was admitted to the Bar The second floor of the bank building was and has been most successful and popular in arranged as a residence apartment for Mr. 84 a~d Mrs. Jones and their two children, Grace The· bank was opened for business Jan­ and Harland. This pleasant home was occu­ uary 8, 1901, in the Matthews building on pied until about 1908, when Mr. Jones Alder Street. The first directors elected were bought the large house on Second Street, E. A. Browning, C. E. Ellithorp, L. E. formerly the Commercial Hotel. Friend, William Moody, U. G. Palmer, R. A. AU went well, business :increased and in Ravenscroft, E. E. Sollars, U. M. Stanton, N·ovember, 1889, Mr. George A. Fraley was F. A. Thayer and M. N. Wilson. employed as assistant. F. A. Thayer was elected President, a po­ On January 22, 1903, a charter to convert sition which he held, with the exception of the Garrett County Bank of Oakland to the two brief intervals, for the remainder of his Garrett National Bank of Oakland was is­ life; U. G. Palmer was Cashier, Moses R. sued. About this time, William R. Stull, Sec­ Hamill, Assistant Cashier. Bank resources, retary and Treasurer of the Preston Lumber February 5,- 1901, were $90,017.31. and Railroad Company, became interested Mr. Palmer resigned as cashier in June, in the Bank and was made a director, and 1901, and Mr. R.- E. Sliger accepted the po­ Mr. Fraley was made assistant cashier. A sition. Mr. Sliger was from Westernport, statement published in 1906 shows capital and had been employed in the Lonaconing $50,000, surplus $29,828, with resources Savings Bank. He was interested in educa­ $574,720.12. tion, and was one of the promoters of the Harland Jones entered employment in the Garrett_ County Fair. His home on Second bank when he completed his education at Street is now owned by Mrs. Owen Treacy. Lindsley Institute in Wheeling, and re­ The Central Hotel, on the corner of Sec­ mained until 1934. Mr. Fraley became ond and Alder Streets, was bought, and the cashier .when Scott Jones retired from active handsome bank building was built on the business, and remained until 1934. A new site. The new building was ready for occu­ charter was issued at that time, and H. C. pancy in November, 1903. In 1920, D. M. Riggs came from Morgantown to be cashier. Dixon was President, M. N. Wilson, Vice T'he assistant cashier, J. M. Jarboe, has been President ; R. E. Sliger, Cashier, and W. W. employed in the Garrett National Bank in Dawson, Assistant Cashier. various positions since 1915. His father, Mr. Sliger resigned in September, 1922, to John M. Jarboe, came to Oakland about enter life insurance business, and Walter W. 1857 and was successful as a contractor and Dawson was elected Cashier. In 1928, Mr. builder, later becoming postmaster. Dawson resigned to take up the study of law. Julius Littman, assistant cashier, has Delbert Davis was elected cashier in 1928; held positions in the bank since school days Mr. Davis was popular in business and \Vere finished. Banking and music are his socially, and · general regret was expressed interests. ,vhen he resigned in 1945 to accept a similar Present officers of Garrett National Bank position in Salisbury, Maryland. are: W. R. Offutt, President; H. C. Riggs, Cecil Smith, of Hoyes, Maryland, was em­ Vice President and Cashier; J. M. Jarboe, ployed in the bank and was promoted to assistant Cashier; Julius Littman, assistant cashier in November, 1945. Mr. Smith has Cashier. Directors in 1948: W. R. Offutt, grown up in Garrett County, and the bank. Stuart F. Hamill, Lester Yutzy, H. C. Riggs, He is carrying on the business with great Arthur Naylo-r, Floyd B. Leighton and J. Ed­ success. His father, W. A. S~ith, of Hoyes, ward Helbig. ,vas a director of the Bank for 36 years. It In 1948 resources of the Garrett National is of interest for our history that Mr. Smith Bank were $3,087 ;815.05. The bank build­ is a descendant of Mr. Ezekiel Totten, pio­ ing has been modernized and enlarged, as neer settler in Oakland in 1857. business ha.s increased. A recent improve­ In 1948, resources of the First National ment is the installation of a night depository Bank were $4,084,204.41. Officers in 1948: to lessen d·anger of burglary. A. D. Naylor, President; E. R. Jones, Vice The charter for the First National Bank President; Cecil Smith, Cashier; George K. of Oakland was issued November 15, 1900; Littman, Assistant Cashier. Directors: A. the promoters of the bank were Alfred G. D. Naylor, E. R. Jones, James P. Treacy, R. Sturgiss; Ulysses G. Palmer, John Felty, Jr., E. McIntire, Alva G. Gortner, Cecil Smith, T. F. Burke, D. M. Dixon and F. A. Thayer. Ralph E. Pritts. . 85 CHAPTER XIV ORGANIZATIONS

"Oakland is a thoroughly organized town." inactive and the management of the ceme­ This remark is often made about Oakland · tery passed to the foil owing resident mem­ and it is· verified by the following. infor­ bers of the lodge: A .. G. Sturgiss, F. A. mation. Thayer, and Thomas Little. · LODGES Knights of Pythias, Alta Lodge, No. 574, was instituted April 3, 1877, by the Deputy Meetings of the first Masonic Lodge in Temple of Mansfield, Ohio. Meetings were Oakland were held in Sturgiss' Hall, the held semi-monthly in Sturgiss' Hall. Char­ second floor of the Sturgiss Drug Store, ter members were: W. H. Tower, Dr. J. Lee now the home of Mr. and Mrs. William McComas, Dr. E. H. Bartlett, J. H. Brooks, Sturgiss. A second meeting place was A. G. Sturgiss, John M. Davis, E. H. Thal­ Legge's Hall, ~ver the George Legge gener­ maker, N. B. Wayman, John N. Veitch, al store on Second Street, now the Alva Bowie Johnson, Samuel Lawton, M. L. Gortner Store. Since 1903 meetings have Scott, and John M. Read. In 1889, Garrett been. held in the First National Bank build- Lodge No. 113, K. of P. had its first dispen­ Ing. · sation, the charter was delivered February · Oakland Lodge, A. F. & A. M., first met 12, 1890 .. · under dispensation July 13, 1867. Officers: The Rathbone Bible, us·ed in the founding Patrick Hamill, Jacob Gibson, George Sped­ of the Knights of Pythias in the Unit~d den, Charles McKee, W. B. Kelly, and M. States in 1864, is in the Custody of the Fadden. At this meeting, John M. Jarboe Supreme Keeper of Records and Seal. Gar­ received the Fellowcraft Degree. Among rett Lodge was the first lodge in the State early Worshipful Masters were Patrick of Maryland to use the Rathbone Bible at Hamill, Dr. Edward H. Bartlett, George an installation of members. Spedden, John M. Jarboe. 1872, Officers: In 1947, the gold medal for a 50-year John M. Jarboe, G. A. Spedden, S. L. Towns­ veteran was presented to George Little ; 25- hend, Gilmor S. Hamill, T. F. Hughes, and year veteran jewels were also presented to J. Hoops. 1881, officers: John M. Jarboe, S. the following members: James B. Bell," G. L. Townshend, Dr. J. Lee McComas, Gilmor W. Browning, C. H. Browning, H. C. Ed­ S. Hamill, Alexander L. Osbourn, and George wards, Charles Fulk, Frank S. Graham, A. Spedden. G. Gortner, J. C. Hardesty, H. W. Hine­ A recent list of the Past Masters of the baugh, Joseph Hinebaugh, Edward P. Kahl, Oakland Lodge No. 192 gives the name~ o~ Walter W. Dawson, Arthur Lawton, F. E. Benjamin Koch, H. ·C. Leighton, C. V. Mer­ Rathbun, George Hanst, Reaford Pu.rbaugh, sing, S. T. Naylor, Charles E. Queer, Cecil Scott Shirer, Milburn Mann, Clifford Phil­ Ramsey, E. F. Shaffer, A. M. Schoch, Ira lips, Russell Pancake, Robert Hoffman. Sisler, L. B. ~haffer, H. V. Schlossnagle, S. lips, Russell Pancake, Robert Hoffman, Cecil D. Whipkey, and W. C. Welch. Smith, Herbert Leighton, Donald Sincell, S. Pythian Castle, on Third Street, which T. Naylor, Neil Liller, Delbert Davis, Paul houses the Maryland Theatre, was built in Mitchell, Wellington Yutzy, Dr. W. W. 1911, at a cost of $18,00Q. In addition to the Grant, W. 0. Davis. large theatre and the office for the tele­ Oakland Chapter No. 67 of the Order of phone - company, spacious assembly rooms Eastern Star is active in connection with are located on the second and third floors. the Masonic Order. These rooms were used temporarily for the In 1881, Oakland Lodge 114, Independent Grammar School in 1922, and the Civic Order of Odd Fellows was active, with the Club and Oakland Library used two rooms following members: T. E. Galway, Miss L. in the building for several years. Johnson, Miss M. Spedden, G. A. Spedden, S. In 1920, a committee composed of James L. Townshend, F. P. Arnold and David Bell, Harry Stemple, and J. W. Whorton Little. This Order, established the ~kland s·uggested having a Labor Day -picnic to cemetery. In 1911, the organization became earn money to complete payments on the 86 building. Success crowned this effort, and leader. War came and many of its _members in 1923, the Castle was_ free of debt. The were called to ar-ms. In 1947, Charles L. Labor Day Picnic has grown to be an annual Briner returned from active overseas ser­ event, serving as a reunion for the people vice. He revived interest in the Mountain from all parts· of the County. . Top Chamber of Commerce, which is active On May 15, 1929,- a disastrous fire of un­ at the present time. known origin damaged the exterior of the ·building. The $3,000 fire insurance plus an ROTARY additional $5,000 was used to lay brick The Oakland Rotary Club was formed Au­ veneer over the exterior. gust 28, 1925, with the following charter T~e theatre in this building has recently members: Dr. H. W. McComas, Lawrence been refurnished with special lights, air M. Fraley, Wade Hinebaugh, Floyd C. Stahl, conditioning, enlarged lobby and entrance. Benjamin H. Sincell, Alvey R. Martin, Paul An active group of ladies form Garrett A. Naylor, Dr. B. f. Selby, Charles W. Temple, No. 17, Pythian Sisters. Ream, James A_. Towler, A. T. Matthews, Moose Lodge 786, a well organized group Harry L. Miller, Joseph E. Harned, Edward of Oakland men has purchased· a lot on C. Lawrence, Henry Lauer, Edward P. Kahl, Third Street, and have plans for building a Rathbun, Rev. Archib~ld Moore, Arthur lodge home. H. A. Loraditch, Charles Deff inba ugh, F. E. The Woodmen of the World is an active Lawton, Guy Yutzy, and Roland R. Gilbert. group under State management of Spencer A program is given by the Rotary Club at Graham. its weekly meetings. Since 1943, a series of lectures under the Institute of Internation­ OAKLAND CLUB - 1900 al Understanding has been promoted. Re­ The Oakland Club, promoted by Mr. Percy cently the club joined in a national collection Proctor, is described in the Guide published , of used clothing to be sent to Europe, China, in 1900, as a "Social organization"; the and the Philippjnes. Every year members members' aim was to make the town a of the ·Oakland Club attend the Rotary In­ pleasant and profitable place of residence. ternational, bringing home inspiring reports Committees were named on amusements, of work being sponsored by Rotarians charities, conventions, county fair, fish and around the globe. game improvements, industries, institutions, MT.. LAKE PARK - OAKLAND LIONS law and order, library, press and visitors. The club house was located in the Fringer ·CLUB Building, no'\\i· part of the Half Price Store The recently -organized Lions club has on Second Street, and included a library, taken an interest in the Boy Scouts in Oak­ reading and writing room, recreation hall, land and Mt. Lake Park. In 1947, the Lions cloak and wash room. It was open from one club and the volunteer firemen combined to o'clock to eleven every afternoon and even­ plan the Fourth of July celebration. The ing. The organization eventually disbanded .. money collected from the celebration was CHAMBER OF CO·MMERCE used to pay their pledges for the Garrett CoJnty hospital. Lieutenant West, U.S.A. retired~ moved vvith his family to Oakland about 1912. He BOY SCOUTS established his home at · Thorncroft, the The first Boy Scout troop -in Oakland was Lambert place -and· opened a real estate of­ organized by C. Edward Bender, principal fice. of the high school, in 1912. In October, 1924, He soon gathered a group of men together the present troop was organized by Rev. A. and formed a Chamber of Commerce. This J. Torrey. A group of men purchased land was before the Rotary and Lions' clubs were on Deep Creek Lake for the Scout . Camp. organized; Mayor John A. Hart, and the - They built the original barracks and had a Council worked with Lieut. West. A few ,vell dug. When the Rev. Mr. Torrey gave up years later, Lieut. West moved away and the his position as Rector of the Episcopal Chamber of Commerce was dissolved. The Church, Scott Shirer became Scoutmaster, "J.C.C."-Junior 'Chamber of Commerce was followed by Rev. Paul Linaweaver and· organized v,,.ith Mr. Charles L. Briner as others. 87 1948 troop roster of Oakland included broadcasts from Cumberland, Pittsburgh the names of Richard a:rid Herbert Leighton, and Baltimore. After Mr. Gilbert was trans­ junior assistant scoutmasters ; Scouts: ferred by the company, Mr. Brown becam~ Homer. L. Bennett, Frederick Bell, Frederick the director. Thayer III, George Hanst, Thomas Wain~r, Jack Kight, Hervey Smouse, John Hanst, OAKLAND CIVIC CLUB Richard Bell, Willis DeBerry, Robert King, The Oakland Civic Club, established in Robert Ryan, Wayne Graham, Daniel Of­ 1911, became a member of the General futt, John Grimes, Roland Schoch, Edward Federation of Women's Clubs in 1916. Club Hardesty, and George Kley. programs are planned to carry on the Na­ tional Federation's program as well as local GARRETT COUNTY HISTORICAL projects. Monthly meetings are well at­ SOCIETY tended. The Oakland Civic Club was first in­ terested in clean-up campaigns, which were The value of preserving and increasing in­ carried on yearly until regular garbage col­ terest in local history has been carried on lection was established. As noted in a pre­ since 1941 by the Garrett County Historical vious chapter, the club built the stone wall Society through the interest of Capt. Charles at the Oakland cemetery, presented the gates E. Hoye, whose family has been residents in and promoted regular care of the cemetery the Glades since colonial days. A room at lots. In 1916, it assisted the organization of the Court House has been as~igned to the the first Garrett County Fair, and continued S"ociety where articles of historical interest its support as long as the Fair Association a.re preserved, forming the nucleus of a was active. Assisted by the State ·Librarian, museum. Once every three months the at Towson, it developed the Garrett County Glades Star is published to record items of Free Library. The first clinic for crippled past history and present activities. The persons in Garrett County was promoted by membership has grown steadily; in 1948 the Civic Club in 1928, when Miss Grace there were 88 Life members, and 911 regu­ Jones became a volunteer health worker. lar ·members. In 1918, and in 1940, Red_ Cross work be­ OAKLAND VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT. came the main activity of the group. Home and garden projects were promoted by Miss The Oakland Volunteer Fire Department Lottie Loar in 1930. has been quartered in City Hall on Third Street since 1923. Because of the growth of Many pleasant social events have been ar­ membership and the increase in equipment, ranged by the Civic club. One occasion cele­ a larger stationhouse is being planned. The brated the completion of the State Road fire department is often called upon to fight (now a part of U. S. Route 219) in 1916. fires in outlying areas as well as in Oakland. Club members from Cumberland, Frostburg, The local Fourth of July celebration has - Lonaconing, and Westernport, came by auto­ been sponsored by the fire department since mobile to celebrate with Oakland. A luncheon 1924, as well as the annual Hallowe'en was served on the porch of the Thayer parade. Money which is raised through both house, the home of one of the charter mem­ events is used to carry on the work of the bers, Mrs. Lou Thayer Waters. organization. THE OAKLAND BAND The Gilbert Brown Band was organized in 1925 by R. R. Gilbert and Russell Brown, employes of the Northern Gas Company. Both Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Brown were en­ thusiastic musicians, and the band they de­ veloped made a real contribution to Oakland. Under Mr. Gilbert's leadership the band held yearly concerts in · the Maryland theatre, participated in parades in neigh­ boring communities, and performed on radio OAKLAND HOTEL BEFORE 1900 88 MISCELLANEOUS The Oakland Girl Scout Troop was organ­ ized in 1928, through the interest of a group The Red Cross chapter organized in 1940 of high school girls. It has gr-own in num­ has carried on the charitable and relief work bers and now consists of the Brownies, In­ for which the :Parent organization stands. termediates, and Senior Scouts. All groups The present president is Mrs. E. Z. Tower. have fine leaders. The Oakland Business and Professional The Garrett County Homemakers' club is Women are affiliated with the international directed by the local Home Demonstration organization. Their purpose is to further op­ Agent. The purpose is .to acquaint members portunities for women in business and the vvith the latest home-making trends. professions. An annual fashion show is held In 1935, a municipal golf course was in co-operation with local stores to stimulate opened 011 land belonging to the town, less patronage of Oakland shops. than a mile distant. A professional player The Garrett County branch of the Ameri­ ,vas placed in charge, and very soon many of can Association of University Women was the townspeople learned the ancient game. organized in 1946. Its primary aim is to pro­ This led to the building of a country club, mote high educational standards and wide ,vhich has become a center of summer enter­ opportunities for women the world over. tainment. This property is leased to Ira J. Yearly activities include study groups, open Bosley, who m3.intains interest by promoting meetings, and the annual Christmas musi­ .to :.1rnament games on the links, and dances cale. and card parties in the club house.

MRS. CATHERINE LOWER. THOMPSON EARLY RYAN'S GLADE SETTLER

89 CHAPTER XV FARM AND DAIRY

All through Garrett County there are for extra milk and cream are filled on regu­ various organizations under the state and lar deliveries. county organizations which bring to this Garrett County has developed gradually section of Maryland modern farm methods. its dairy farming industry. Since 1920 the Farmers' Institutes held fifty years ago Imperial Ice Cream Company, with head ·of­ have been followed by the regular employ­ f ice in West Virginia, has collected and ment of a County Agent. James A. Towler, separated milk, shipping the cream to Park­ the first County Agent, came to Garrett ersburg, W. Va., by train to be used for ice County from Virginia. John H. Carter has cream. The Imperial Company installed an held the position since 1924 and continued ice-making plant and furnished many homes improvement has developed under his super­ in Oakiand with ice. Ice can still be · pur­ vision. The Farm Bureau was organized in chased, but electric refrigerators have made 1938. general delivery unnecessary. The creamery The present Home Demonsiration Agent ,vas improved and rebuilt in 1947. f ~r Garrett County is Miss h1eanor Dear­ At the City Roller Mill, owned by Leo Hel­ born. An annual Rural Short Course held at big, milk and cream are collected to be the University of Maryland is usuaiiy at­ shipped to out-of-town customers. tended by a .large group .of women from the In 1939 a survey of the dairy cows in Gar­ county. rett County was made for the Carnation The 4-H Girls and 4-H Boys report on Milk Company, when it was found there was their work, and form a live organization an unusual record of good health in the dairy frequently winning prizes. cows of the region. This record contributed At Bittinger the raising ·of turkeys has to the decision to establish a milk collecting developed into a commercial interest. plant in Oakland. A number of farmers de­ Thousands of turkeys are grown from incu­ cided to increase their herds of milk cows, bator poults from May to October. and fine registered Alderney cows were In early Oakland every family kept a cow, bought. Good barns were built to care for vrhich had to be driven through the town to the cows under approved health conditions. a nearby pasture field. The first dairy was Milk is gathered from 500 farms located owned by the Charles Shafer family; their in Pennsylvania and West Virginia as well house is still standing on the Cranesville as Maryland. On the road one meets trucks Road. In 1880 Mrs. Charles Shafer brought carrying cans of milk to the milk depot at milk to town on a one-horse wagon. She Oakland, or returning the steam-cleaned rang a bell in front of each patron's house, and sterilized cans to the farms. This milk and the housekeeper hurried out to the is pasteurized and shipped in glass lined wagon with a pitcher or bucket to get the trucks to Clarksburg, W. Va., four hours milk, which was measured out from a large away, where it is canned as evaporated milk. can, with a s·pigot at the bottom. The first day the Carnation Milk depot In 1909 many persons depended on buying was opened, 11,000 pounds of milk were re-­ milk from neighbors who kept cows; the ceived; the average daily receipt in 1946 was supply was often limited. 50,000 pounds. The highest amo"Q.nt in one The Highland Farm Dairy .on Eighth. day was 6.5,000 pounds. Street is outstanding in its development. It Garrett County farms were expected to is owned and managed by Clayton and Har­ produce four million gallons of milk in 1948. vey Winters. A modern barn with concrete This business has transformed Garrett floors and runways is kept spotlessly clean. County into a modern dairy region.· Great Cows are pastured in well-watered fields, the fields of corn for silos and hay fields im­ milking is done by machines, milk is aerated, proved by fertilizer are on every side, and pasteurized and refrigerated before delivery in the pastures fine herds of purebred in steam-sterilized bottles. Telephone orders Guernsey and Alderney cattle graze. 90 . Another source of revenue from the When exhibits increased sheds were built farms is the growing of peas, corn, and along Center Street on the Sweeney lot. In­ green beans for the canneries at Mountain terest in the fair developed so much that the Lake Park and Grantsville. Mountain-grown Bradley farm and house were bought by the vegetables come to maturity later in the Fair Association and successful fairs were season, which lengthens the canning season held on that property. Since expenses were and increases the output. much greater in the larger quarters, a large With the increased interest in farming, a barn was _built for the cattle show, and a suggestion has been maae to revive the Gar­ house was built for. the chicken show. rett County Fair. A successful Fair Associ­ Smaller exhibits were on display in the ation existed from 1915 to 1925. The Fair Bradley house. was first suggested by Stephen Casteel, as Money and volunteer workers are neces­ a horse and colt show. Many persons partici­ sary for a successful fair. Besides the di­ pated in the well-patronized fair. The mem­ re~tors of the fair, a secretary was employed bers of the Oakland Civic Club, with Mrs. E. and an office was open all summer to prepare Z. Tower as president, assisted. . for the exhibits, arrange for the concessions The fair was held in late September for and plan the advertising and prizes. When several years, in the Naylor building on bad weather in late September caused lack Third Street. Animals were shown on the of attendance and left a deficit, the Associ- ground floor and exhibits of grain, fruit, .ation folded up and the fair was discon­ and handwork were on the floors above. tinued.

. ::-:·· .. ~-~~ ..

1 . . . .. '. {': :~ if}~?:~ ;~ij{f j~~~

i

RATHBUN PLANING l\HLL PLANT AT MT. LAKE PARK, ABOUT 1900

91 .CHAPTE-R XVI ~THE PARK'' AND ITS ENVIRONS

MT. LAKE PARK present county road. Mrs. James Chisholm owns the site of the old mill and a pair of The Mt. Lake Park Association established old millstones mark the location. A second a summer resort in 1881 on land originally pair of millstones from Chisholm's Mill owned by William Waller Hoye. The fertile have been built into Russell Harvey's service glades had been fenced in by the Henry station, on Route 50; near Fort Pendleton. White family and were known as Hoye's Big On June 23rd, 1849, James Chisholm Pasture. Israel Thompson rented this land. bought from Norman Bruce the land, the Cattle were brought from farms along the old mill, and the water right. The old mill Potomac to the Glades in the Spring to fat­ was rebuilt and enlarged. His son, James ten on the abundant wild glade grass. In Chisholm, Jr., was the surveyor for -Alle­ 1821 Israel Thompson's name appeared on gany County. Many Scotch families mi­ the assessment list, ·and in 1827 he bought grated to America from 1763 to 18-31. They Military Lot 889 from David Lynn for $15 ,vere attracted to the Alleghenies as they and Military Lot 949 from William W. Hoye "'-Vere used to the Highlands of Scotland. for $30. He built a home on this land, which Other Scotch families near the Chisholms was near a spring, at about the same location were the Masons, and McClures. Mason mar­ as that of the W. W. Schrock home. ried Mary Ann Chisholm. Their son, Alex In their natural condition the Glades were Chisholm Mason, born in 1848, was elected· open pastures, surrounded by rolling coun­ first county surveyor for Garrett County try, thickly forested. There was a rank in 1873. He was twice reelected and followed growth of tall grass and thickets of alders. his profession of surveyor for sixty years. The· correct name for glade grass is "tall­ His home in Oakland was near the corner of nerved manna grass." In many places this Third and Crook Streets. grass was from four to five feet high, of bluish color. This manna grass has become MT. LAKE PARK ASSOCIATION almost extinct, and has been followed by The Mt. Lake Park Association was tough glade grass of doubtful value. In re­ formed by a group of Methodist ministers cent years manna grass has been harvested from Baltimore, Wheeling and Oakland, and on the Josiah Wolf farm near Cranesville, their friends. They were the following: C. P ~ West Virginia. Masden, Mr. Hughes, E. W. Ryan, John M. Israel Thompson prospered by herding Davis, T. R. Logan, J. W. Atkinson, W. C. cattle, and when the. railroad was under Snodgrass, C. W. Connor, A. D. List, J. F. construction he supplied the workmen with Goucher, John B. Van Meter. Eight hundred meat. In 1849 he purchased the Norman acres of land were bought for $4,672.00. The Bruce property in Ryan's Glade, a large hold­ grounds were surveyed and laid out in build­ ing of 1500 acres; as recorded the price was ing lots ; all roads and streets were carefully $10,000. The Thompsons lived in a small planned. The surveyors were H. C. Faul, as­ house on the farm, while Mrs. Bruce re­ sisted by J. A. Enlow, J. Lee Phillips, and mained in the larger house; later the Thomp­ Henry Artus. sons m-oved into the large house. As time Five members were selected to form the went on, a new house was built, which is first board of the Association directors; now owned by their granddaughter, Mrs. they were: Charles P. Masden, Wheeling, Samuel E. Duckworth. West Virginia; John F. Goucher, Baltimore, In 1876 Israel Thompson and his little Maryland; John M. Davis, Oakland,_ Mary­ great-granddaughter were killed in a run­ land; John B. Van Meter; Thomas H. Logan. away accident. Their graves are on the A sale of lots was held November 1, 1881. Thompson farm at Ryan's Glade. Among the first purchasers were: George Chisholm's Mill is located in Ryan's Glade. Bullard, Mrs. H. Beacham, W. T. Graham, This mill was at the falls of Glade Run C. M. Babb, A. H. Malone, George W. Atkin­ where the stream crosses the glade near the son, S. L. Allen, Rev. W. L. Alexander, Hon. 92 W. H. Taw, Rev. J. H. Flanagan, Mrs. Nan­ ing lectures and musical entertainment for nie Blake, and Rev. A. S. Hank. four weeks. The price of the ticket for one Broad Ford Creek flowing through the day was $ .35 and for one week $1.50. On Glades, supplemented by the never failing excursion days as many as 5000 persons Crystal Spring, ·was impounded for a water form~ the audience at the amphitheater. supply. This formed a lake and gave reason Cultural classes were held during the for the name ''Mountain Lake Park." The Chautauqua month for young and old. lake contributed an industry of real value Briar Bend Seminary, school for girls, was to the community, supplying ice for a large established by Miss Swan in 1887. It was ice house, built in 1894 by the B. & 0. Rail­ well supported for about twenty years. But road Company. Eight- and ten-inch ice was interest in Chautauqua and resort life moved harvested each winter to supply the hotels, as automobiles made a different type of va­ cottages, and · meat markets. A spur track cation possible. The Hall of Philosophy was was built and carloads of ice were delivered taken down; no more classes were held. In at Deer Park and Oakland. Years later, arti­ 1946, the amphitheater, where many large ficially made ice was sent from Cumberland meetings were held, was razed. by train, until the Imperial Ice Cream Com­ The Mt. Lake Park Association sold its pany was established and ice was supplied holdings in 1920 to the Board of Foreign from its ice plant. Missions of the Methodist Episcopal church. A forest of oak trees formed a beautiful In 1939 the land and all property owned by park. Amid these trees, in 1882, a hotel, the Association was again sold. many cottages, and a large tabernacle and assembly hall were built. The first religious BIDLDINGS AND PEOPLE servic~s ·were held in the dining-room of the The original camp meeting auditorium hotel. In July, the first camp meeting was was partly destroyed by fire in 1941, but it held under direction of Rev. Chas. Masden. has been substantially rebuilt. Camp meet­ The resort was popular and in addition to ings have continued each year, since 1882. being the scene of religious meetings, Mt. Mt. Lake Hotel was bought by Mr. Creed Lake Park was on the itinerary of lecturers Dunnington about 1908. It is now success­ and musicians who were booked for the fully managed by his daughter, Mrs. Wil­ Chautauqua Circuit, starting at Chautauqua liam Grimes, assisted by her friend, Mrs. Lake, New York. Many famous persons and Lillian Davis. The hotel was leased for the persons of note appeared at the Mountain season of 1948 to Mrs. Victoria Ingram. Mt. Chautauqua, as it was called, at Mt. Lake Lake Park has grown steadily into a well Park, including the late President William established town. An electric light plant was Howard Taft, during his term of office; built in 1894 and natural gas was introduced Raymond Pearson Hobson, the naval hero; in 1912. · The water supply is piped from William Jennings Bryan, and Russell H. distant mountain springs. Conwell, who gave his nationally-known As one drives through Mt. Lake Park one lecture, "Acres of Diamonds." observes architecture of the eighties, es­ At the time that Rev. Lewis A. Rudisill pecially in the early cottages built near the was manager for the Park Association in driveway overlooking the Glade. 1890, 90 cottages had been built. Mr. Rudi­ Other persons who have been prominent sill was not only secretary and manager, but in promoting interest in Mt. Lake Park are: with Rev. Wilbur Davidson, promoted the Rev. John Thompson, Miss Jennie Smith Chautauqua Circuit in Mt. Lake Park. In (who was an evangelist for the B.·& 0. rail­ 1894 the lake was enlarged and a large ice road) ; her friend, Miss Addie Sherman; Dr. house was built to supply the B. & 0. Rail­ Logan L. Carr; James Enlow, Miss Kate road as well as local trade. McLain, Mrs. Winchell, Mrs. Pollard, Mrs. In 1900 the Chautauqua had become so B. H. Sincell and Ralph Weber. popular that a ~arge amphitheater was built. A well organized Woman's Civic Club has Railroad excursions were advertised yearly. been actively interested in promoting Mt. Week-end and season tickets made travel Lake Park. In 1900, a club house with a from the east and west very inexpensive. bowling alley and good tennis courts was . . A season ticket to the Chautauqua sold for built. Tri-State tennis tournaments are held $4, including morning, afternoon and even- each summer. The club house has recently 93 been changed to a year-round recreation named it Grace· Cottage. It, as well as other center. hotels in the Park, was torn down and sold Young peoples' meetings are part of the for lumber. Braethorn, owned at one time by present-day gatherings at Mt. Lake Park. Dr. and Mrs. Campbell, of Norfolk, Virginia, A five-day camp was in session in 1946, ~t­ is now owned and managed by Mrs. ~ary tracting more than one hundred young peo­ Kiser as a nursing home. The Deaconess ple. In 1934 the Mountain Choir Festival was Home was recently enlarged. The Colonial organized vrith . Rev. Felix Robinson as the is owned by Miss Weimer. Alleghany House founder and leader. Choirs from neighboring· is now the residenc~ of Mrs. Skyles and her towns competed and sang together. Meetings daughter, Mrs. Pollard. Maryland Inn is .now were held in the large amphitheater.,For six the residence of Mrs. Isabel Hill. Allenhurst, years, this festival was a happy occasion for built by S. L. Allen, was owned and operated many musicians. In 1946 its programs were ~ as a boarding-house by Miss Myrtie Fin­ resumed at Arthurdale, West Virginia, under nell until her death. It was changed to an the inspiration of Mr. Robinson and ; his apartment house in 1947. talented wife, Lucille Henry Robinson. LOCH LYNN Levi Echard and his son, Jacob Echard, proprietors of livery stables at Mt. Lake The founding of Loch Lynn can be traced Park since 1894, gave pleasure to summer to the establishment of the planing mill in visitors through their courtesy and interest, 1881, when Mt. Lake Park was surveyed, making it possible to drive to distant moun­ and many homes built. The first owners of tain vistas and ·resorts.· Morning, afternoon the miil were Alde1·son and Robinson ; in and all-day excursions were arranged: Au­ 188G, Clarence M. Rathbun was engaged to rora, Eglon, Alleghany Heights, Table Rock, manage th.2 mill. Mr. Rathbun came from Truesdell Heights, Eagle Rock, and Swallo,v Wheeling, \'Vest Virginia, where his father, Falls were on the schedule. They kept about Russell Rathbun, had owned a planing mill twenty good horses during the season, with since 1852. The Rathbun family settled first a good line of carriages and light vehicles. in Rhode Island, later going as pioneers to The most popular was the three-seated Chautauqua County, New York, where Rus­ spring wagon. Levi Echard's parents .were sell Rathbun was born in 1821. In 1891 Mr. Christopher and Christina Huffine Echard, Rathbun went into partnership with P. T. both born in Germany. They -established Garthrighf and purchased the' mill. .The their home in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. business was carried on under the name C. Levi came to Accident, about 1860, and to M. Rathbun and Co-mpany. For many years, Mt. Lake Park in 1894. Jacob Echard was this was the only local planing mill. Franklin Director of the Park in 1920. E. Rathbun, the veteran school superintend­ Mt. Lake Park Hotel was built in 1882 by ent of Garrett County, is a son of C. M. Rath­ the Association. Faith Home, afterwards bun. known as Hamilton Hall, was built by Miss The name "Loch Lynn" was chosen at the Sarah Harris. The large hotel known in re­ time the hotel was planned in 1894. Loch cent years as Hotel Chautauqua, because of Lynn Hotel was built by a group of business its immediate proximity to the amphi­ men from Wheeling, who enjoyed vacation­ theatre, and afterward renamed "Thoburn ing in the mountains. It was a three-story Inn," was built by Miss Jennie Smith, who .··· .·. ·.(·. ·. --

,. ' .. -~-~:.i-,;~~:f><":'~/,;:i~/<~·· ,~-~~·--- ::5 ·

B. & 0. NEAR BLOOMINGTON YOUGHIOGHENY VALLEY AT SANG RUN 94 building, with about 100 rooms, a large lobby canning company to insure a uniform and parlors, dining-rqom and ball-room. The product. Planting and harvesting time is view from the hill location made the spa­ scheduled. The cannery has changed owner­ cious porch popular. Mrs. List, the manager, ship and management several times. In 1945 and her daughter were gracious ladies and the original buildings were destroyed by the atmosphere at Loch Lynn was delight­ fire. After a short period, a modern canning ful. Cottages built near the hotel were the plant was built, which cans thousands of Chesley cottage, first owned by Mrs. Hil­ cases of peas and corn. The managers are dreth; Whitaker cottage, inherited by Mrs. R. E. Leister and R. N. Shaffer, of Man­ Brann, and destroyed by fire ; the Bolgiano chester, Maryland. In 1947 the company had cottage, and the Dr. William Burch cottage. 500 acres of peas and 300 acres of corn to be In 1912 the hotel was destroyed by fire, harvested. Viner stations were operated at leaving only the swimming pool. Eglon and Gortner as well as at the cannery. A plant for canning peas and corn has Mickey's Band, originated in Loch Lynn been established at Loch Lynn. It has grown by the young people of Loch Lynn and Mt. into a well established business. The farm­ ers of the surrounding country have im­ Lake Park, grew into a popular organization. proved their yield through modern farm H. S. Mickey, of Mt. Lake, was instructor methods. All seeds are furnished by the until his death in 1947.

THE RED HOUSE Built in 1884, ,by Christian Martin, succeeding the Red House Tavern. This has ·been suceeeded by the pres€•nt stone structure of B. F. Knepp.

95 PENNSYLVANIA

O Speelman~ Mill·

I I I I I I Bitti I Run 0 I

I •Sun Gatrett County, Maryland

STATE FOREST AREAS _..) SCALE A - SWALLOW FALLS AREA ,,-o·, 2. B - SAVAGE RIVER AREA I - E---3 I C - POTOMAC AREA State Improved ll{,7Awa¥.s --­ Secondary Roads

96 BUSINESS GlJIDE, 1860

Situated 1n the far famed CABINET MAKER & UNDER­ MILLS - SAW "Glades" region of country, and a TAKER Frank Browning favorite and popular summer re­ Thomas Grimes STEAM MILL sort. HOTELS E. G. Hall and Bros. CHURCHES AND MINISTERS Glades Hotel, Jno. Dailey, TIN & SHEET IRON WORKERS Rev. W. Hall, Methodist; Rev. Prop'r; National Hotel, G. W. Baker and Smouse Collins, Prop'r. Fr. Slattery, Roman Catholic; SHOEMAKERS Rev. J. Winekoff, Lutheran. DISTILLERS E. D .. Kepner, T. B. Tepner, Val · Rayberger. SCHOOL J. A. Droege, Jos. Frazier, Miss M. T. Dailey, Principal of Smouse & Bros., T. T. Webster, TANNER Female Academy. C. W. White. Jno Helbig. PHYSICIAN MERCHANTS BLACKSMITH J. Lea McComas Delawder & Co., · J. Hinebaugh, John Wetsel. D. E. Offutt. POSTMASTER MAGISTRATE S. Townshend. J. Mathews MILLS AND FLOUR R.R.AGENT Charles Shaffer, J. L. Towns­ HUNTER AND TRAPPER G. W. Delawder hend. Jesse J. Ashby

BUSINESS DIRECTORY, 1872

Population about 900.

MERCHANTS AND GENERAL WOOL FACTORY WAGON MAKER STORES Samuel Lawton. William Broderick. D. E. Offutt, Davis and Towns­ hend, William P. Totten, G. W. SHOE & BOOT MAKERS PROPERTY AGENT Delawder, J. W. Easter, James George F. Loughridge, E. D. Patrick Hamill. R. Bishop and Co., C. C. Mich­ Kepner. aels, George W. Legge, P. PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS LIVERY STABLE Starchman. and D. M. Mason. Dr. J. Lee McComas, Dr. E. H. Thomas Marj:in, C. Sweeney. Bartlett. DRUGGISTS T. S. Hughes, Dr. E. H. Bartlett. BLACKSMITHS DENTIST David Little, A. Delawder, H. Dr. Singleton Townshend. MILLINER Hesen. Mrs. M. E. Davis. LAWYERS-1873 TINNER PLASTERER Thomas J. Peddicord, Col. John Peter Shirer. J. M. Arnold. R. Veitch. CABINET MAKER BUILDERS & CONTRACTORS HOTELS J. T. Ward. J. M. Jarboe, George Spedden, Glades Hotel, John Daily; Oak­ MILLER A. C. Brook, J. Crim, William land Hotel, corner Second and Peter Martin Burton, Theodore Bush. Alder; P. 0. Hotel, Rowan White, on Oak Street; Davis TANNER STONE MASON House, Mrs. E. M. Davis, corner John Helbig. J. S. Johnson. of Oak and Second Streets.

97 ''ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO OAKLAND" • • 1900 .- . '~urmont" ·-• .• 1926

In 1837, a candlemaker named Procter and a soapmaker named Gamble met in cincin- . nati and formed the firm of Procter and Gamble, makers of Ivory soap. When the Oakland Hotel was opened for summer guests, Cincinnati folks soon found the nearby resort a good change from summer days on the Ohio River. Among the guests each season were Mr. and Mrs. Percy Procter, a son of the originator of the firm. As they sat on the broad veranda of the hotel they looked across at a high hill, and presently the idea came to them to build a home on that hill. The land was bought. It was part of the Bradley farm, . and joined property where Mrs. Crook had built her home in 1892. About 1896 the Procter house "Surmont" was built, and greatly enjoyed by Mr. and Mrs. Procter and their son Percy. Mr. Procter was advertising manage:- of the Procter and Gamble Company. He 1was interested in the development of Oakland. He organized a Men's Club which met at Fringer Hall, now part of the Half Price Store. An illustrated guide to Oakland was pub­ lished in 1900 for the club. We have a copy of the Guide to Oakland among the treasures of the· Garrett County Historical Society. The walks and drives around Oakland and Deer Park are-described, and the following names form a business directory in 1900. It is inter­ esting to compare it with that of 1872.

ATTORNEYS GENERAL STORES GARRETT COUNTY BANK OF W. A. Daily, Gilmor S. Hamill, Lewis Gertner, 0. Hart and Son, OAKLAND Edwin L. Mitchell, John T. Thomas Little, John Felty, H. Daniel E. Offutt, President; Gil­ Mitchell, Frederick A. Thayer, C. S:ncell ~nd Co., S. L. Towns­ mor S. Hamill, Vice-President; Edward H. Sincell, Peddicord & hend and Son, D. E. Offutt and Scott T. Jones, Cashier. Peddicord, N orval Speelman, Sons. Julius C. Renninger. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE HOTELS A. B. Gonder, Dr. E. H. Bart­ lett. CHURCHES Central Hotel, G. E. Boyer, Garrett Memorial Presbyterian, West's Hotel, Browning Hotel, NOTARIES PUBLIC Rev. S. M. Engle, Pastor; St. Commercial Hotel, Mrs. S. M. G. A. Fraley, Geo. F. Lough­ Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Miller; Glades Hotel, John Cor­ ridge. Church, cor. Alder and Third, nelius, Prop'r.; Hotel Bosley, G. Rev. George I. Uhler, Pastor; L. Bosley, Prop'r.; Oakland PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS St. Matthew's Protestant Epis­ Hotel Sanitarium, open all the Dr. Mahlon C. Hinebaugh, Dr. copal Church, on the hill, Rev. year, capacity 400. John E. Legge, Dr. J. Lee Mc­ William H. Osmond, Pastor; St. Comas, Dr. W. H. Ravenscraft. Paul's Methodist E·piscopal DRUG STORES Oakland Pharmacy, owned by PUBLIC HALLS Church, old church, Rev. R. B. Little's Hall over Little's Store, Ward, Pastor; St. Peter's Jos. E. Harned; Sturgiss Phar­ corner of Oak and Third streets, Roman Catholic Church, old macy, established in 1873. Naylor's Hall on Railroad site Oak street, Rev. James E. FLORIST Street, Shartzer's Opera House, Connell. H. Weber and Sons. on Second Street, Sturgiss Hall over Sturgiss Drug Store. DENTISTS FURNITURE Dr. R. F. Bartlett, Dr. S. L. D. E. Bolden, Second Street op­ BARBER SHOPS Townshend, Dr. J. G. Robinson. posite Garrett Memorial church. Liller Brothers

98 BLACKSMITHS HARDWARE RESTAURANTS G. · A. Shirer, J. 1\1. Davis and Erown and Davis. W. G. Hinebaugh, John D. Tag­ Son. A. D. Naylor and Co., machin­ gart. ists, large dealers in all kinds of MEAT MARKETS PHOTOGRAPHERS vehicles and · farming imple­ Browning Brothers, Nelson's. Pritchard, Grant and Co. ments. MILLINERS GARRETT COUNTY COURT Mrs. M. L. Scott, Connell and BOOKS-CONFECTIONERY HOUSE Crane. Flower's, A. T. Matthews, J. M. Red brick building on Fourth Stanton. · LIVERY STABLES and Green Streets. M. Maroney and Son, Charles GARRETT COUNTY JAIL CEMETERIES Sweeney, established 1863; Mar­ tin's Livery and Sale Stables. Corner Fifth and Green Streets. Odd Fellows Cemetery, Ron1an Catholic Cemetery, Churchyard NEWSPAPERS OAKLAND SCHOOL HOUSE of the Protestant Episcopal Garrett Journal, James D. Ham­ · Corner of Center and Wilson Church. ill, Publisher; Mountain Demo­ Streets, with attendance from crat, J. M. Litzinger, Publisher; October to April of 300 pupils, HARNESS Oakland Republican, Benj. H. with Normal School from April J. W. Leathers and Co. Sincell, Publisher. to July.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, 1949 Jonas W. Sines, Oakland; J. Edward Helbig, Deer Park; Stewart F. Stahl, Grantsville.

99 BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY 1949 Businesses are listed alphabeti­ CLOTHING STORES Ernest Liller (Tailor) - 1915. cally, when obtainable, dates of Half Price Stores-1931. 2nd 3rd St. establishment are shown. Street, Irvin Feld, Prop'r. Maryland Cash & Carry Dry Harvey's Style and Beauty Shop Cleaners-1949. Alder St., Carl BANKS -1923. Alder Street, Mrs. C. V. Delaney, Mgr. First National Bank-1900. Harvey, Prop'r. Nu Way Laundry & Dry Clean­ Pres. A. D. Naylor, Vice-Pres. Gortner's Store-!'890. Second ers-1946. Center St., Robert E. R. Jones, Cashier, Cecil Street, Alva G. Gortner, Prop'r. Orr, Mgr. Smith. Princess ·Shop-1945. Third St., ELECTRICAL AND AUTO­ Garrett National Bank-1888. Clarence Umstot, Prop'r. MOBILE APPLIANCES. Pres. Wm. R. Offutt, Vice-Pres. H. C. Sincell-1894. (Previous Ace Radio & Electric Service- Lester C. Yutzy, Cashier, H. C. location, Alder St.-1891) 2nd 1947. Alder St., Ace Nethken, Riggs. Street. Prop'r. Rudy's Department Store-1939. De Witt & DeBerry-1945. Alder BARBER SHOPS 2nd St., I. R. Rudy and Son, St., Paul DeWitt and Prentice Bittner and Stahl-1916. 2nd Prop'rs. · DeBerry, Prop'rs. St., Hervey Bittner and Floyd C. Treacy's Store-1905. Alder St., Stahl, Prop'rs. R. & P. Store-1946. Alder St., John T. and Maurice F. Treacy, Herbert and Arvey Ritchie, and Guy W. Thayer-1923. Liberty Prop'rs. St. Ralph Pritts, Prop'rs. Youthland-1947. 2nd St., Mary Oakland Electric & Radio Ser­ Gene Liller-1946. Green St. Helen Wainer, Prop'r. Snyder Neville, Alder St. vice-1945. Alder St., Orris De­ CONTRACTORS & BUILDERS Berry, Prop'r. BEAUTY SHOPS Western Auto Associates-1940. Bette's Beauty Salon-1949, 2nd SUPPLIES Alder St., Reaford Purhaugh, Street, Bette Kight, Prop'r. Hardesty Bros.-1939. Center Prop'r. Hardesty's Beauty Shop-1941. St., ext., William C. Hardesty, West Maryland Power Compan:v Alder Street, Olin W. Hardesty, Prop'r. -1926. Second St., F. C. Kley: Prop'r. Edgar T. Hardesty-1939. Rose­ Manager. Mabel's Beauty Salon-1947. dale. FEED STORES Cor. 2nd and Water Streets. Ma­ J. B. Mumma, Jr.-1947. Liberty bel W. Hathaway, Prop'r. St. Acorn Associates-1946. Liberty Margaret's Beauty Salon-1949. Oakland Lumber Co.-1947. Near St., Lowell Loomis, Prop'r. Oak Street, Margaret Brennan, Oak St., Earl Zepp, Mgr. Southern States Service, Inc.- 1940. Liberty St., J. R. Van Prop'r. CREAMERIES Vogue Beauty Salon-1949. 2nd Houten, Mgr. Street, Phyllis B. Trickett, Imperial Ice Cream division of Swartzentruber's-1949. Liberty Prop'r. Fairmont Fqods Co.-1948. 3rd St. St., A. P. Hickman, l\'Igr. FLORISTS BEVERAGES Carnation Company-1940. Crel­ Coca-Cola Bottling W orks-193~ lin Road, Howard White, Mgr. The H. Weber & Sons Co.-1884. Third St., Nelson Langan, Mgr. 1 mile S.E. of Oakland. DRUG STORES A. V. Schaeffer-1.934. Oak St. GARAGES & FILLING STA­ Oakland Sales Co.-1935. Second Sturgiss Pharn1acy-1873. Al­ St. Lawrence M. Fraley, Prop'r. der St., W. A. Sturgiss, Prop'r. · TIONS Joseph Hinebaugh & Son-1935. Oakland Pharmacy-1872. 2nd Garrett Truck & Implement Co. Green .St. St., J. E. Harned, Prop'r. -1940. Green St., A. Claude National Distributing Co.-1948. Englander's Pharmacy - 1946. Stanton, and M. S. Brookhart, Third St., Paul W. Hoye, Dis­ Alder St., C. W. Englander, Prop'rs. tributor. Prop'r. Hawkinson Tread Service-1944. Bell's Bottling Works - 1948. Gonder's Cut-Rate-1945. 2nd 2nd St., Leighton Bros., Prop'rs. Rear of Third St., John Bell: St., Estate of Andrew Gonder, Hesen's Service Garage-1929. Prop'r. Prop'rs. 3rd St. Robert J. Hesen, Prop'r. Paul W. Hoye Service Station- BOOKS DRY CLEANERS & TAILORS 1947. 3rd St. Hamill's Book Store, Alder St.: Kight Dry Cleaners - 1946. Leighton Bros. Garage-1926. Isabel Hamill, Prop'r. Center St., Melvin Kight, Prop'r. 3rd St., Floyd B., Clarence H., lCO and Russell H. Leighton, Prop'rs. HOTELS & BOARDING PRINTING OFFICES AND Meyers Motor Co.-1949. 3rd HOUSES NEWSPAPERS St. ext., James Meyers, Prop'r. Fi}{e's Place-1949. Oak St., Mrs. Mountain Democrat--1878. McCullough Motors-1946. 3rd Eldon Fike, Prop'r. Thornton 0. Deffinbaugh, Pub. St., John McCullough, Prop'r. Manhattan Hotel-1896. Second WHbur W. Close, Editor. Oakland Trailer Sales-1947. St., Thos. Sheehe, Prop~r. The Republican-1877. Oak St., Wm. H. Spiker, Prop'r. Pickwick Inn-1945. Seventh St. Mrs. Benj. H. Sincell, Pub. Ralph Pritts Garage-1938. Lib­ Mrs. Lillian Davis, Mrs. June George H. Hanst, Editor erty St. Grimes, Prop'rs. Donald R. Sincell., Managing Ed. Reckard & Glotfelty Garage- William James . Hotel - 1922. REAL ESTATE 193~. Cor. Oak and 3rd Sts., C. Second St., Mrs. Victoria E. In­ Adams & Adams-1944. Second C. Reckard, Mason Glotfelty, gram, Prop'r. St. Prop'rs. Mrs. Harry While-1932. Oak Ringer Independent Oil Co.- St. RESTAURANTS 1934. Oak St., John W. Criss, INSURANCE Bill's Barn-1937. Liberty St., Mgr. H. A. Loraditch-1911. 2nd St. William Gibson, Prop'r. Sanders & Hershman Garage- H. P. Stuck-1918. 2nd St. Bosley's Bakery-1935. 2nd St., 1948. Liberty St., Harvey W. Frederick A. Thayer, Jr.-1919. Ira J. & Olive E. Bosley, Prop'rs. Sanders, · Earl J. Hershman, 2nd and Alder Sts. Varsity Maid-1946. 2nd St., Prop'rs. Gonder Insurance Agency-1921. Emile Germain, Prop'r. Arthur M. Savage Garage- 2nd St. B. I. Gonder, Prop'r. Ward's Place--1949. 2nd and 1948. 3rd St. Carlton E. Bowser-1928. 3rd Oak Sts., Harry Ward Hine­ Sharps l\'Iotor Co.-1930. 3rd St., St. extended. baugh, Jr., Prop'r. Clarence E. Sharps, Prop'r. Mary Louise Helbig-1932. 2nd Hinebaugh's Restaurant-1898. Ray T~ets Garage-1928. Oak St. 2nd St., Guy Hinebaugh, Prop'r. St. Ridder's Insurance Agency- Carrie's Restaurant-1947. Oak Whites Garage-1947. 8th St., 1946. Alder St., Pete Ridder, St., William & Carrie Shaffer, Sherman White, Prop'r. Prop'r. Prop'rs.

f Gonder's. 2nd St., Estate of JEWELRY A-ND Andrew Gonder, Prop'rs. GIFT SHOPS WATCH REP AIRS Taxi Inn-1949. Alder St., M. Acorn Gift Shop-1924. Third Helbig's Jewelry Store _, 194 7. W. McCabe, Prop'r. Street, Mrs. Nettie Thrasher: Alde,r St., D. R. Helbig, Prop'r Jim's Place-1947. Alder St., Prop'r. George Deffenbaugh-1949. Oa1' James Nally, Prop'r. J anny Lee Craft House-1946. St. Glotfelty's Restaurant - 1924. Third St., Mr. and Mrs. R. l\1. 2nd St., J. W. Glotfelty, Prop'r. Spence, Prop'rs. MILLERS Cee-Dee Tavern-1948. Oak St. City Roller Mills-1894. GreeTJ Pinkey's Gift Shop-1948. Liber­ extended, Calhoun & DeWitt, St., A. Leo Helbig, Chas C. Hel­ ty St., Mr. and Mrs. James Bell, Prop'rs. big, Prop'rs. Prop'rs. Fike's Snack Bar-1949. Oak Kildow's Mill-1825. Water St. St., Mrs. Eldon Fike, Prop'r. GROCERY STORES & MEAT Michael V. Kildow, Prop'r. SHOE REPAIR SHOPS MARKETS MOVING PICTURES Fazzalari's Shoe Shop-1921. lVIaryland Theatre-1926. 3rd St. Cheston H. Browning-1943. 3rd Third St., Ilario Fazzalari, St. B. I. Gonder, Prop'r. Prop'r. Miller's Sanitary Market-1910. PHOTOGRAPHER Hauser's Shoe Shop-1944. 2nd St., Earl Shartzer and Wil­ Bells' Studio-1923. Liberty St., Li,berty St., Harold Hauser, liam Naylor, Prop'rs. James Bell, Prop'r. Prop'r. Piedmont Grocery Store-1924. Liberty St., Richard G. DuVall, PLUMBERS, HARDWARE AND TAXICAB SERVICE Gen. Mgr. FURNITURE DEALERS Oakland Taxi Service--1946. 2nd F. A. Smouse-1924. 2nd St. A. D. Naylor & Co.-1884. Lib­ St. Emile Germain, Prop'r. - Warnick's Meat Market-1931. erty St. McCabe's Taxi-1949. Liberty 2nd St., A. C. Warnick, Prop'r. W. E. Shirer & Son-1866. Oak St. M. W. McCabe, Prop'r. Dusic Wholesale Produce-1945. St. UNDERTAKERS High St. Grover C. Stemple & Son-1934. Bolden Funeral Home-1888. The Great Atlantic & Pacific K. of P. Building. Second St., Emroy and Edith Tea Co. 3rd St., D. E. Willian1s, Oakland Hardware and Furni­ Bolden, Prop'rs. Prop'r. ture Co.-1916. 3rd St., The Leighton Funeral Home--1935. Harve's Market-1936. Mt. Lake C. N. & Paul W. McIntire Oak St., Herbert C. Leighton, Road, H. B. Mussard, Prop'r. Estates, Owners. Prop'r. 10 l MISCELLANEOUS Michael!s -Candy~ Co.-1946. 7th S. F. Hamill, S. F. Hamill, Jr., St., John A. Michael, Prop'r. E. R. Jones, L. R. Jones, A. T. Carroll's Sport Shop-1948. 2nd Hinebaugh's Pool Room-1946. Matthews, W. R. Offutt, W. D. St., Carroll Miller, Prop'r. Green St., James C. and Daniel Stover. Craig Motor Service Co.-1934. M. Hinebaugh, Prop'rs. Third St., Williard Elliott, Mgr. Highland - Park Dairy-1919. TEACHERS J. W. Jackson Co.-1933. 2nd Dennett Road, Roy 0. Winters (School Year 1948-1949) St. and Sons, Prop'rs. Oakland High School: Oakland Machine Co.-1932. Mance's Auction Sales-1949. Grayson S. Burrier, -Principal; Oak St., George T. Kerins, 3rd St., Dr. A. F.. Mance, Prop'r. Mrs. Daisy D. Beachy, Mrs. Prop'r. Dr. Robert J. Flaherty, Chiro­ Goldie B. Bittle, Mrs. Adrienne Laundry and Dry Cleaning Ma­ practor, 31·d St. Dr. Sidney Dantzic, Optometrist, Carter, Roberta M. Cogley, Ray chinery-1944. Near Center St., M. Crowthers, Carl H. Everly, W. A. Johnson, Prop'r. Alder St. Dr. F. D. Custer, Veterinarian, Ruth R. .Field, Dorothy M. Oakland Upholstering Co.-1949. 2nd St. Fletcher, Oren T. Graser, Clar­ 2nd and Oak Sts., Forrest Wel­ ence J. Gump, Lannie Harmon, ling, Prop'r. MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL Zelotes R. Knotts, Mrs.. Donna Cogley's Block Plant-1947. Michael K. Carney, Roman H. Littman, Mrs. Virginia Mc­ Weber Rd., Ray Cogley, Prop'r. Catholic; Luther L. Hare, Luth­ Manis, Mrs. Theoda R. Miller, Cumberland and Allegheny Gas eran; Dan H. McAllister, Church Julia F. Morrison, Anna L. Co. ( Successor to Northern Na- of Jesus Christ; Denver C. Mouser, Frances L. Patterson: . tural Gas Co.-1909), Alder St. Pickens, Methodist; Austin F . Marian V. Schmidt, Mildred C. Carl Stone, Mgr. Schildwachter, Episcopal. Schrock, Ervin S. Smith, Ernest · The Music Shop-1946. ·2nd St., C. Spoerlein, Kyle W. Wilson. MEDICAL DOCTORS E. P. Stockman, Prop'r~- Oakland Elementary School: H ub's Harness Shop-1945. 2nd E. I. Baumgartner, J. H. Feas­ ter, Thomas F. Lus-by, A. E. St., H. D. Swartzentruber, Joseph P. Sollars, Principal; Mance, E. E. Sollars, W. Prop'r. J. Ruth -Fazenbaker, Charles L. Sander's Motor Freight-1941. Wenzel. .Blubaugh, Ann Dilgard, Mrs. Liberty St., Francis Sanders, DENTISTS Alta H. Duling, Mrs. Ethel M. Prop'r. T. J. Cahill, H. R. Gibson, W. Helbig, Mrs. Catherine L. Hoye, Esso Standard Oil Co., Liberty W. Grant, B. F. Selby. Josie M. Iden, Lucille Mitchell, St., R. J. Stanton, Mgr. Mrs. Hildred B. Mulvey, Marion C. A. Phillips Wholesale Gas LAWYERS L. Shaw, Earl C. Savage, Mrs. and Oil, Mt. Lake Road. W. W. Dawson, N. C. Frale:;, Edna B: Wright. '

.. ") 1u .... SOME. SEVENTY YEARS AGO

By J. W. Kimmell "The Jack-Oak Poet" ( Dedicated to his friend, Geo. Little) How wondrous are the changes, George, Since you and I were boys ! When your Dad ran a blacksmith shop, And Cheap John sold .his toys ; When Father wore his cowhide boots, And trousers made of tow, For people did no smearing-on, Some seventy years ago. When Totten kept a cheap cash store, And Wiseman sold the booze, And Old Man Bell ran a saddler shop, And Kepner mended shoe~; And Hesen owned the livery barn, Down near the B. & 0., With Maroney & Martin on the hill, Some seventy years ago. A. G. Sturgiss sold all kinds of drugs, To cure all sorts of ills: He had Foutz's horse and cattle powders, And Janes's patent pills. And all old folks had rheumatiz, And corns on every toe: There were no India rubber heels, Some seventy years ago. Then people went to meeting, George, With oxen hitched to sleighs, And wagons rode as easy then As flivvers do now'days; But what on earth are we coming to? Oxen now would be too slow. For people lived not half so fast, Some seventy years ago. Yes, well do I remember, George, Doc Henry's first mobile ; He eased her down the Court House hill By sliding every wheel. And how the neighbors shouted, George, When he got the thing to go! They said: " 'Twill swerve and kill us all!" Not seventy years ago.

COMMITTEE'S NOTE:

Mr. Kimmell is an old resident of Oakland, who is at present living in Akron, Ohio. He was Treasurer of Garrett County for many years, and is a home­ spun poet who delights in recalling old days and scenes in rhyme.

103