TABLE OF CONTENTS ADAMSTOWN/BUCKEYSTOWN ..........................................................................6 BOONSBORO/BURKITTSVILLE ......................................................................... 10 BRUNSWICK/KNOXVILLE/LOVETTSVILLE ......................................................... 13 DOWNTOWN FREDERICK................................................................................ 14 GETTYSBURG....................................................................................................20 GOLDEN MILE ..................................................................................................22 ABOUT THIS ISSUE Designer: Lorraine Walker; Editors: Justin Griffin and Anna Joyce Photo Editor: Bill Green; Publisher: Geordie Wilson Director of Advertising: Connie Hastings COVER Cover illustration by Lorraine Walker; Early 1900s photo courtesy of the Rita and Paul Gordon Collection, Maryland Room, Frederick County Public Libraries; modern photo by Bill Green/The Frederick News-Post 2 HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017
HAGERSTOWN ................................................................................................ 24 LIBERTYTOWN/MOUNT AIRY/MARKET SQUARE .............................................. 26 MIDDLETOWN/MYERSVILLE ............................................................................ 29 ROUTE 26........................................................................................................ 31 URBANA .......................................................................................................... 34 WALKERSVILLE/WOODSBORO ........................................................................ 36
“Hello, Frederick” is a publication of The Frederick News-Post. All editorial content is property of Randall Family LLC and may not be reused in any way, shape or form without expressed permission from Randall Family LLC. Advertising information is provided by the advertisers. Opinions by contributors are not necessarily those of Randall Family LLC. For extra copies call, 301-662-1177.
Photo courtesy of Heritage Frederick
The Frederick News-Post thanks Heritage Frederick for providing the historical photos in this publication.
THEN AND NOW: Heritage Frederick
The history of the organization that preserves Frederick’s history By Kaitlyn Shorter Heritage Frederick, formerly known as The Historical Society of Frederick County, is celebrating its 125th anniversary! We’ve come a long way in our history as a member of the community. The organization began in 1892 with 30 members and Dr. Charles Hoffman as the president. In 1905, the Historical Society met in the rooms of the United Daughters of the Confederacy and purchased one bookshelf to store its research. The HSFC became incorporated in 1910 with the mission to “promote the study of history and antiquities of Frederick County and the conservation of the records thereof.” In 1912, the group began collecting items from the Schley family, who were the first to purchase land in Frederick from Daniel Dulaney. John Thomas Schley, among many other things, was a musician. Heritage Frederick still has his music books that date back to 1740.
The first mention of the HSFC acquiring its own building came up in 1926. Unfortunately, the Great Depression would hit soon after that, stymieing the purchase. But in 1943, Mrs. William Tyler Belt made a large donation to the HSFC, which included two $1,000 war bonds for future expansion. Among that collection were also china, silver, glassware and furniture. The following year, the HSFC purchased its first location, which was the Steiner House on the corner of West Patrick and Jefferson streets. As the HSFC held fundraisers to restore the building, membership grew from 60 to 400 people. Mrs. Belt donated yet another generous gift, $500, to the HSFC to help with the repairs. In 1946, tours were offered at the Steiner House on Wednesdays and Sundays. In the same year, Judge Edward Delaplaine gifted the Roger Brooke Taney House to the HSFC, which leased maintenance and daily operations to the Frederick Junior Chamber of Commerce. In 1959, the HSFC purchased its current location on 24 E. Church St., which was previously the Loats Female Orphan Home. Mrs. Belt left
$23,000 to the Historical Society, which paid for half of the building. The Steiner House was then sold to the Civic Club of Frederick in 1962 and the Roger Brooke Taney House was sold to the Francis Scott Key Museum in 1968. The HSFC put its first docents in place in 1972, and still relies on docents today. Fast forwarding to 1988 through 1990, the Church Street building underwent approximately $250,000 in renovations. In 1998, the HSFC named its first professional executive director, Mark Hudson. The first professional curator came in 2000. The year after, the Preservation Center was purchased. It houses the museum, library and archival collections. In 2003, the Roger Brooke Taney House was returned to the HSFC’s possession. That same year, it became the first Historical Society in Maryland to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Today, Heritage Frederick offers dozens of services to the community, including walking tours, school groups, tours of the museum, scout programs, research in the library and archives, photography contests, and so much more! HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 3
F r e d e r i c k C o u n t y T h e n : F r o m T h e F r e d e r i c k P o s t , N o v. 1 4 , 1 9 1 6
GROCERYMEN SHOW DIFFERENCES IN PRICES FROM 6 YEARS AGO Edibles Of All Kinds Cost More—Interesting Comparisons Made— Even Cereals Have Gone Up, And The Lowly Bean, Too.
HOW THEY HAVE GONE UP
SALMON from 8 1-3¢ per can to 15¢ per can
SUGAR
from 5 and 5 1-2¢ per pond (sic) to 8 1-2¢ per pound
BEANS
from 12¢ per quart to 25¢ per quart
CANNED PEAS
have gone from 11¢ per can to 12, 15 and 18¢ per can, according to grade.
CABBAGE
from 1 1-2¢ per pound to 5¢ per pound
COFFEE
from 16¢ per pound to 25¢ per pound
THINK OF THE BEAN. 4 HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017
HAM
from 15¢ per pound to 25¢ per pound
MILK BOTTLES
have advanced 25 percent and milk bottle caps 50 percent in price.
BOLOGNA
from 9 cents per pound to 18 cents per pound
POTATOES
From $1 per bushel to $1.65 or more per bushel
SPICES
Largely because of the war in Europe prices of nearly everything have advanced. Especially upon articles which find a place on the table in most homes is this inflation in cost to be noted. The grocerymen have to pay more for the products they sell and the advance must be transferred to the consumer. In many cases this bears heavily. On account of the advance in the price of coal, it is generally believed that the winter will be a hard one for poor people. A groceryman who has kept a record of prices in 1909 and 1916 has made an interesting comparison of figures which is given below. This will make many a housekeeper sigh for the days gone by. While in most cases these prices closely follow the prices at the majority of stores in the city there may be some differences …
Have advanced in price 50 percent, and paper bags used by grocers, have advanced 100 percent in the last year
CHEESE from 16¢ per pound to 30¢ per pound
10¢ baked beans are practically off of the market and better quality of baked beans have advanced in price from 15¢ per can to 18¢ per can. Canned corn has been raised from 10¢ per can to 12¢ per can, while the better grades have advanced accordingly. Of course, with the price of wheat all kinds of cereals are higher in price. Washington corn flakes have advanced from 10¢ per box to 12 1-2¢ per box.
One commodity which has greatly increased in price in the past year is soup beans. Last year they were 18 cents per quart while now they are retailing at 28 cents per quart. Lard has advanced from 16 to 18 cents per pound, and sauerkraut from 10 cents per quart can to 13 cents, or two cans for 25 cents. Then when the prices of today are compared with what they were say 10, 12 and 15 or more years ago, the advance is still more noticeable. With butter now retailing at 40 cents per pound…, it is amazing to the one who remembers, if he had chanced to be a producer some years ago, that he sold many a pound of a butter at 12 and 15 cents per pound.
Frederick County Then
Ads of Yore Local papers provide readers with news and information important to their community. Take gander at just what kind of information advertisers delivered to newspaper readers back in the day. And this might be the only time we’ll ever say this: Don’t bother trying to respond to these ads.
The News, Oct. 31, 1883
The Frederick Post, March 18, 1954
The Frederick Post, March 28, 1940
The Frederick Evening Post, October 12, 1912 The Daily News, March 9, 1905
The News, March 22, 1889
HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 5
SNIPPETS OF HISTORY
From The Frederick News-Post, Sept. 2, 1994 Buckeystown is a unique rural town, rich in history and architecture. The town was established in 1775 as part of the land granted to Charles Carroll, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Its history covers a span of time from the American Revolution, through the Civil War, up to modern America. Little change has occurred since the early 1900s, and most of the old homes and historic sites have been restored to their original grandeur. In 1982, Buckeystown was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. From The Frederick News-Post, May 23, 1986 The Frederick County commis-
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sioners decided yesterday to require the owners of 90 homes and buildings in Adamstown to connect to a public water system the county plans to extend within a year to the town, which is plagued with groundwater contamination problems. The commissioners decided that the water system will serve the area of Adamstown that surrounds Trans-Tech Inc., where a number of wells are polluted with chemicals thought to cause cancer. …. The tainted groundwater was first discovered in well samples that were tested last June…. At present, health officials report that more than 45 wells in the Adamstown area are contaminated with volatile organic compounds, fecal coliform bacteria, or nitrates associated
A frosty morning in Buckeystown, December 1812
with heavy fertilizer use in the local agricultural community. …. From The Post, Oct. 6, 1960 One of the south county land marks will soon disappear from the scene with the planned razing of the old Adamstown Town Hall. For many of the older residents, it has fond memories of years gone by—years when the frame two story structure served as the chief meeting place for county folk from Lime Kiln south to the Virginia border along the Potomac River. It was the scene for country suppers, for giving of plays by traveling troupers, for school performances, for fairs and home talent plays, for grange and lodge meetings, and even at one time it was used as a private school building. …. The building was constructed in 1884 by Jesse Krieg. The lower story for a number of years was used for carriage and buggy making. The upper story was used as the community town hall. …
Photo courtesy of Heritage Frederick
From The Daily News, Saturday, Jan. 4, 1913 After having been closed down for about three months for remodeling, the plant of the C.F. Thomas and Son Brick Company, at Buckeystown, will be ready to resume the making of bricks about the first of February, with a capacity of more than double what it was before. The plant at Buckeystown has been running about 11 years, having begun operations in the year 1901. During those years the plant has turned out millions of bricks, most of which were sold in and near Washington, D.C. The plant had the capacity of only about 25,000 bricks a day, and it was no longer able to supply the demand for bricks in this capacity. …. A seventeen and a half kilowatt dynamo, with direct connected engine has been installed in the engine room…for lighting the entire plant. It was formerly lighted with smoky torches.
Adamstown/Buckeystown Now BY MATT LEE SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-POST
Strolling through the quaint Buckeystown Historic District, one might feel somewhat lost in time. Here the streets are lined with colorful Queen Anne and Victorian-era houses, shops and churches, surrounded by sprawling farm- and woodland. Buckeystown and neighboring Adamstown lie nestled between Sugarloaf and Catoctin Mountain, bordered by the Potomac River on the west and the Monocacy River on the east, which provide a natural sanctuary for these communities. Perhaps this explains why change has been gradual in this part of the county. Indeed, Adamstown’s 19th-century, linear-style layout remained bare-
ly altered until the year 2000. But now where horses and carriages once traversed along the “Bridal Road,” Uber drivers and cargo trucks shuttle through what is now Mountville Road. Change may be slow to come by around these parts, but that seems to be how most folks like it here. This is a region that has traditionally been sustained by industry and agriculture. The local economy experienced no small shock with the closing of the Alcoa Eastalco Works aluminum plant in 2010, undoubtedly as a result of the rising environmental concerns and the propagation of clean energy. “There used to be a lot more industrial zoning down there,” said John Fieseler,
See ADAMSTOWN NOW, 38
Photo by Sam Yu/The Frederick New-Post
Buckeystown general store at the intersection of Buckeystown Pike and Michaels Mill Road
HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 7
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ADVERTISEMENT
Shockley Honda
45 Years of Sales & Service in Frederick – And So Very Much More
A car dealer with a yoga room? Sign language classes? Ladies Day? Charity cornhole tournament? Shockley Honda offers so much more than Honda vehicles—and has for many years. Al Shockley founded his dealership in 1973 on Route 85, selling Volkswagens, Audis and Mazdas. Al and his wife Patti were busy with four small children, and had to sell their house and “borrow like crazy” to start the business. To this day, Al thanks Patti for her support and confidence. “Somehow, we fought our way through, but we had fun doing it.” Route 85 was bare and very rural, he remembers. “People would ask what we were doing way out there. We were one of the first businesses on 85 and surrounded by farmland. On one occasion, I looked out the window and saw a cow walking around the used car lot,” Al laughed. In 1976, he added the Honda franchise. The Japanese cars were just getting popular for their quality and fuel economy, and the business grew quickly. Forty-five years later, Al remains president of the company and his daughter, Marisa, and son, Mike, operate the business together. Al jokes that he simply gets a paycheck, but he still serves as a trusted advisor of the dealership. “He notices things that we might overlook,” says Marisa. “He’s an extra set of eyes that sees things the same as a customer would.” “Lots of people came from Montgomery County,” Al says. “They would drive north on 270 and the first place they saw was us.” A 1985 clipping advertises “Super Savings On 100 Cars In Stock.” Today there are 300 or more cars, and almost 100 employees— several of whom were there at the start. “My father started community outreach from the time he first opened our doors,” says Marisa. “One of his core philosophies has always been to serve the community that supports us. Mike and I are committed to continue the tradition of giving back.” For instance, because Al’s parents were deaf, he became very involved at the Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick, serving as one of the founding members of the foundation and later as president. Following in her father’s footsteps, Marisa developed a fundraising plan for the foundation, and became president as well. Marisa initiated partnerships with local businesses to introduce American Sign Language (ASL). Today the dealership offers complimentary ASL classes twice yearly that are open to the community. “We have a waitlist every time,” says Marketing Director Kara Shaffer. The list of philanthropic and community events is extensive and includes initiatives such as raising funds for ALS research and local families in need, offering
Natalie Altar, Gaithersburg - Panasonic VCR
Roy Linton, Frederick - Magnavox clock-radio-phone
on-site pet adoptions and free rabies and microchip clinics for pets, and winter coat collections for the Frederick Rescue Mission. It doesn’t stop there. Every Wednesday in the yoga room at Shockley—yes, yoga room—an instructor from Ananda Shala yoga studio teaches free classes open to the entire community. “We like to promote health and wellness,” says Marisa. Ladies Day is also found on the Shockley calendar of events. “Women are responsible for over 75 percent of purchases and we want to make them feel comfortable and make it a pleasant experience,” says Marisa. To ensure the dealership is femalefriendly and welcoming, Ladies Day is the third Wednesday of every month and includes seated chair massages, mini-manicures, hors d’oeuvres, and various vendors. Another regularly scheduled event is the Car Clinic on the second Thursday of every month that invites anyone with a recently purchased vehicle (Honda or not) to learn about their vehicle’s technology, connectivity and more, and includes various giveaways, prizes and dinner. These kinds of promotions are part of a longestablished company culture. Back in 1986, at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Honda franchise, giveaways included a Panasonic VCR, Magnavox clock-radio-phone and an RCA color TV. Innovation has been a hallmark since the beginning, as well. Shockley was one of the first dealerships to sell imported makes in Frederick. It was also one of the first to have a drive-through carwash years ago, a service that is now complimentary for customers. “We’re constantly adapting and we jump on new technologies that make communication and service the best it can be,” says Shaffer, such as iPads for sales and service that enable fast responses for customers. Though invisible to most, customer relationship management (CRM) technologies go a long way to making communications better, resolving any issues and enabling surveys and feedback tools. Shockley has never been afraid to invest in the latest and greatest tools and technologies to improve the customer experience as it evolved over the past 45 years. Weekly manager meetings with every department are held to keep the dealership running smoothly. “I received a piece of advice many years ago,” says Al. “The best thing you can do is make every customer your best friend. Attract people to your showroom, because you know sooner or later they’re going to buy a car. Hopefully they’ll buy from us.” 7400 Shockley Drive, Frederick 21704 301-789-0223 | shockleyhonda.com HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 9
SNIPPETS OF HISTORY
From The News, April 4, 1979 The year was 1788. Two brothers, George and William Boone (second cousins of the Kentucky frontiersman Daniel Boone) travelled to Western Maryland in search of virgin farmland… Two coterminous tracts were purchased by the brothers covering the entire town limits of present day Boonsboro. … The Boone brothers didn’t name the place Boonsboro, the name they chose was Margaretsville— for George’s wife, Margaret. …. The name “Margaretsville” was short-lived. A few months after the merging of the two tracts, a variation of the original name, “Margarette” was using to designate the Boone landholding where William and his family would live the rest of their lives. An abundance of wild berries throughout the wilderness settlement prompted a third name change before 1800—Boones Berry. “Boones Berry” slowly gave way to “Boonesborough” which, in turn, was shortened to today’s “Boonesboro.” From The Frederick Post, July 11, 1940 On Saturday, July 13, one of the most elaborate Homecoming celebrations Boonsboro has even witnessed will open with a baseball game between Boonsboro club and Conoco Colts. The game will be played on
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Photo courtesy of Heritage Frederick
Main Street in Burkittsville, 1890
the new diamond in Shafer Memorial Park. Following the game the many attractions in the carnival court will open. The entertainment committee has arranged an interesting program for
every evening during the celebration. ….Monday evening, xylophones solos by Esther LeVan, accompanied by Margaret LeVan, and songs by “Nip” and “Tuck.” … Tuesday; boxing bouts; Wednesday, Songs of Yesterday and
Today by the Hill Billy Kids of Funkstown; Thursday, Minstrel Show by recreational Unit No. 2 of Washington County; Friday, Kiddies’ Parade and Contest for the Loving Cup, followed by the Talent Contest.
Boonsboro/Burkittsville Now BY MATT LEE
Important Numbers
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-POST
In the shadow of the scenic South Mountain range sits the sleepy town of Burkittsville, a humble 289-acre patch of land established in 1824. Its estimated population, taken from a 2010 U.S. Census, is a mere 160 people, making it Frederick County’s smallest township. Burkittsville’s Mayor Deborah Burgoyne said that most people passing through are surprised by what they see. “What they ask is: ‘You really live like this? Where’s the rest of the town?’” Don’t let its size fool you; Burkittsville is rich with history and culture, dating back to the 18th century. Surrounded by a plethora of Civil War sites, such as the infamous Antietam Battlefield, this is a place where time stands still – for the most part anyway. Almost the entirety of Burkittsville was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Thanks to numerous land trusts and agricultural conservation efforts, much of the region has remained untarnished by residential and commercial development. Based on a 2016 Burkittsville 20-year Comprehensive Plan adopted by the town council, this is deliberate. “We’re preserving the streetscape as best we can,” said Burgoyne. These pristine landscapes are a veritable playground for nature enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Gathland State Park, the scene of the Battle of South Mountain, is home to several unique 19th-century structures, most notably the War Correspondents Memorial Arch. Passing by the large stone arch’s base is the famed Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Hikers can follow this path to neighboring Washington County’s Greenbrier State Park in Boonsboro, which offers camping, boating and fishing opportunities. Visitors can also take in the nearby original Washington Monument, erected by the citizens of Boonsboro in 1827. Burkittsville is something of an anomaly these days in just how little it has been altered. “What has changed is
Burkittsville Town Office 301-834-6780 Burkittsville Post Office 301-834-9592 Greenbrier State Park Office 301-791-4767 South Mountain Heritage Society 240-818-1610 P.J. Gilligan Dry Goods 301-693-8373 Distillery Lane Ciderworks 301-834-8920 Boonsborough Museum of History 301-432-6969
Photo by Dan Gross/The Frederick News-Post
The corner of S. Main and Potomac streets in Boonsboro
this used to be a town of small businesses. We had everything,” said Burgoyne. “Now all that business has gone away.” What has remained is a tight-knit community dedicated to the town’s past and future. The South Mountain Heritage Society, a repository and museum for local historical artifacts, exemplifies local preservation efforts. Housed in the historic Resurrection Reformed Church, SMHS serves the community by hosting meetings and events, as well as facilitating tourism and exhibitions. Another historic property, P.J. Gilligan Dry Goods on Main Street, has been an active business for 150 years. It now carries a wide selection of locally-made crafts, from soaps and candles to antique furniture and 19th-century era reproduction toys. In neighboring Boonsboro, the Boonsborough Museum of History features an extensive Civil War collection that includes items from the Antietam and Gettysburg campaigns, as well as colorful local items. The Boonsboro Trolley Museum, housed in the original restored trolley station, is the last of its kind in the region. The Boonsboro Historical So-
ciety resides in the Bowman House, a 19th-century log cabin typical of Western Maryland. Visitors are welcome to book a room at Inn BoonsBoro, a quaint bed-and-breakfast owned by bestselling author Nora Roberts. Just on the outskirts of Burkittsville is one of its newer attractions, Distillery Lane Ciderworks. Family owned and operated, DLC became an official winery in 2010, and is the first licensed cidery in Maryland. Guests can enjoy freshly made hard or traditional cider culled from an impressive array of more than 45 apple varieties. “It’s certainly a nice compliment to all the other things that are happening in the craft beverage movement around the county,” said John Fieseler, executive director of Visit Frederick. Burkittsville certainly has an oldtime feel, but that doesn’t mean its residents have escaped contemporary concerns. New organizations, like Sustainable Burkittsville, are working to find the balance in maintaining a 19th-century town by 21st-century standards. Their mission is to promote green practices that complement, rather than compromise, Burkittsville’s historic character. Other associations, like the long-standing Burkittsville Ruritan
Boonsboro Town Hall 301-432-5141 Boonsboro Historical Society 301-432-5889 Boonsboro Police Department 301-432-6838 (Non-emergency) 240-313-4345 (Police Dispatch) First Hose Company of Boonsboro (Fire Rescue) 301-432-2348 (Non-emergency) Boonsboro Ambulance & Rescue Services 301-432-6979 (Non-emergency) Inn BoonsBoro 301-432-1188
Club, are dedicated to helping improve the community and its rural heritage. They continue to host many annual events, including carnivals and country breakfasts. In a small community like this, the diversity of its residents might come as a surprise. “We have someone from almost every walk of life. It’s fascinating,” said Burgoyne. With younger families moving into Burkittsville’s historic houses, there is more potential than ever for economic revival. “[In the future], I see more small businesses in town. The world is changing. Burkittsville is the type of community that lends itself to all those possibilities.” HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 11
SNIPPETS OF HISTORY
From The News, Nov. 5, 1980 On April 8, 1890 the town [that was originally known as Berlin] was incorporated and Col. J.B. Jenkins of the B&O Railroad chose “Brunswick” as the permanent name for the town in honor of all the railroad workers from the town of Brunswick, Germany. After incorporation, the population of Brunswick quickly jumped from 300 to 3,000. In 1907, when the rail yard was finished, Brunswick possessed the largest gravity railroad freight yard not only in the state or even the country, but in the world. “Brunswick, especially as it is today, is a product of the B&O Railroad,” commented John B. Funk, a 75-yearold native of Brunswick. …. In 1910, only three years after the completion of the freight yard, Funk remembered his father taking him down to the tracks and seeing large tents bordering the yard each bearing signs that read “8 hours work—8 hours recreation—8 hours sleep.” Even as early as 1910, workers were fighting for the 40-hour week. The Brunswick that Funk knew as a teen-ager was a rough town. The conflict, as in most “rough towns,” was not man against man, but man against machine. The steam-powered trains proved to be a dangerous adversary. There were quite a few ‘peg-legs’
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The river and bridge at the west end of Brunswick, year unknown
and men missing arms during the early 1900s in Brunswick. *** On Nov. 8, the town of Brunswick will be celebrating its bicentennial—200 years since its founding by Leonard Smith. One of the guests of honor will be Mrs. Mae Starner, the town’s oldest living citizen. Mrs. Starner is an extremely spry 98. …. “Entertainment in Brunswick in 1900 was a Sunday walk down the boardwalk to the park,” recalled Mrs.
Starner. … In 1900, she received a gold watch from the town after being voted as the most popular girl in Brunswick. .... “I never had to wait for dates. I don’t know why I was so popular back then. I was no raving beauty, but the boys kept coming up to my house on Saturday night.” “We’d walk out on the wooden bridge over the Potomac…or take horse and buggy rides out in the country. There were no bars, no li-
Photo courtesy of Heritage Frederick
quor in Brunswick back then. Knoxville had the closest bar and we stayed away from there.” From The Frederick Post, Feb. 2, 1965 Construction crews have been busy blasting rock to make way for the relocation of U.S. Route 340 near Knoxville. The old road, running parallel to the B & O railroad tracks, lies below the temporary road bed ... When completed, the highway will bypass Knoxville.
Brunswick/Knoxville/Lovettsville Now BY JIM MAHAFFIE SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-POST
For an avid cyclist, exploring the small river towns and rural roads of Frederick County is a sheer pleasure, and the C&O Canal National Historic Park towpath is always a wonderful option for a ride. Winding east along that trail, the historic river town of Brunswick is just 6 miles from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and a regular stop for a cold drink, ice cream or a snack. Just north and south are the small towns of Knoxville and Lovettsville, Va., hosting riders, hikers and small-town-charm hunters, too. With more than 6,000 residents, Brunswick is the second largest city in Frederick County. Only 45 miles up the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., it’s a stop on the Maryland Rail commuter (MARC) Train line and right on the C&O Canal Towpath. Brunswick Senior Center Director Cathy Barnes has lived in Brunswick her whole life, and loves the size of the town. “We’re a great place to raise kids,” she said. “There’s just one stoplight in downtown, and I can pull out of my driveway any time and not worry about traffic.” She laments the lack of shopping, but that’s about to change. Terri Householder of Brunswick Main Street economic development office said a 56,000 squarefoot Weis grocery store is scheduled to open late summer in Brunswick Crossing, a large area of new development just outside of town. Formed in 2004, Brunswick Main Street focuses on downtown revitalization and redevelopment. “Main Street’s façade grant reimbursement program has helped numerous business owners improve their buildings, including Beans in the Belfry, Smoketown Brewing Station and Brunswick Heritage Museum,” said Householder. “We’re working to develop more comprehensive downtown way-finding signage and hold numerous events throughout the year to attract people and dollars to downtown.”
Photo by Bill Green/The Frederick News-Post
Restored Catoctin Aqueduct on the C&O Canal National Historical Park
A favorite and funky destination just off the C&O Canal Towpath, Beans in the Belfry is located in a century-old, historic, restored church in downtown Brunswick, serving coffee and breakfast, lunch and dinner. Smoketown Brewing Station transformed the town’s 1948 former fire station into an on-site brewery. It features a tasting room and patio and hosts various events. Proud of its railroad heritage, the town offers the Brunswick Heritage Museum, which is really two museums in one on West Potomac Street, along with a C&O Canal Visitors Center. Another exhibit is a huge, interactive model railroad depicting the B&O passenger line that used to run through the town. Householder also mentioned new restaurants, including Benancio’s Southwest Grill, a new Airbnb, yoga studios and a wellness center, among other new growth. Brunswick recently awarded a contract for a new marketing plan focusing on outdoor recreation activities, she added. Just north is Knoxville, a tiny unincorporated community. Its Robert Clagett Farm and Magnolia Plantation are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. “Knoxville is really a tiny little town bumped up against Brunswick and there’s a broad area that shares
a Knoxville address,” said Monica Pearson, who runs Monica’s Sugar Studio. Once a lead pastry chef for a local award-winning caterer, Pearson branched out on her own and now creates custom cakes and desserts for any occasion, “and a lot of wedding cakes for celebrations all around the Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia area,” she said. Though right on the Potomac River, Knoxville isn’t well known, but the area is familiar to hikers on the nearby Appalachian Trail for its Harpers Ferry Hostel, a backpacker’s destination located roughly at the halfway point of the entire trail, which runs from Georgia to Maine. A free shuttle, called Trail Angels, takes hikers to and from the hostel’s front door. The hostel did major renovations in 2016, gutting and rebuilding bathrooms and showers, reupholstering furniture and getting a new roof. Natasha Baihly is president of River & Trail Outfitters in Knoxville and Brunswick Family Campground, a family businesses celebrating its 45th anniversary. River & Trail runs whitewater rafting, tubing, kayaking, canoeing, biking and hiking excursions. “We get a large crowd from Frederick, and draw from a 70-mile area around the three states,” she said. “Our last two years have been
Photo by Dan Gross/The Frederick News-Post
Brunswick seen from the bridge over the Potomac River
the best ever, and we’re getting new cabins at the campground and a new zip line this year, as well. “Lots of people may not know Knoxville, but they know us for outdoor recreation right before the Route 340 bridge.” Crossing the Potomac River, you arrive at Lovettsville, Virginia. Like many small historic towns in the region, Lovettsville proudly shows off its rural character and small-town charm through events like Oktoberfest, Mayfest — its All-American town picnic — and the annual Christkindlmarkt traditional German Christmas market. Berserkle on the Squirkle, a family-friendly 5k run, is held on Arbor Day. During Light Up Lovettsville, residents decorate their homes. For Summer on the Green, free movies are shown at the historic Walker Pavilion on the Town Green. In 2012, the town was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register. Most historic assets in town are residences, and there are three historic churches and some cemeteries. “Very little modern construction has occurred within the district, giving it a remarkable degree of visual cohesion and historic integrity,” according to the registrations.
See BRUNSWICK NOW, 38
HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 13
SNIPPETS OF HISTORY
Photo courtesy of Heritage Frederick
Black-and-white print of West Patrick Street and North Market Street in 1968.
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From The Daily News, Aug. 10, 1910 Mentionings of Local and General Nature Worth Reading. • A caravan of gypsies passed through town on Sunday. • Hagerstown is not the only pebble on the beach. Frederick is going to have a “loop.” • Mrs. O.P. Bennett and Miss Sabina Beckley will have a trolley party to Jefferson tomorrow evening. • They say the leaning tower of Pisa is in danger. It might be propped up with some of our old cobblestones. • Officer Brengle has a force of hands scraping the mud of North Market street, between Third and Fourth streets. • The United engine was given a trial on the bridge over Carroll creek on Water street last evening, which proved very satisfactory. • Watch the August meteors. • The drought wasn’t so bad…The onion crop is pronounced good. • Mr. Harry Ebert, East Fourth street, found a fine white petticoat in front of his residence last night about eight o’clock. Whoever lost it was too modest to pick it up… • A wagon load of hay, belonging to Mr. C. Ramsburg of Harmony Grove, tumbled in the street this morning as the wagon was coming out of East Fourth street into Market street. It was reloaded on the wagon again. • Mr. Thomas G. Buckey tested his piscatorial ability yesterday and was
successful in getting six bass. From The Daily News, Aug.31, 1922 Upon the suggestion of several members of the Chamber of Commerce, a canvass was made of the business section of the city yesterday to ascertain the attitude of merchants with regard to closing the stores on Monday, Labor Day, and from the results obtained it is safe to say the day will generally be observed as a holiday. A poll was taken by the Chamber of Commerce of all the merchants on Market street between Patrick and Third streets and out of more than forty approached, thirty-five expressed their intention of taking a holiday on Labor Day, which as is remembered was generally observed throughout the city last year. Proprietors of grocery stores stated that they would close for a half day, and drug stores will observe Sunday hours. From The Frederick Post, Nov. 14, 1933 One of the most colorful Armistice Day parades ever held in Frederick had a tragic ending Monday afternoon as Lewis H. Moberly, 52-year-old bass drummer in the band of the United Fire Company, collapsed on South Market street while returning to the engine hall and was pronounced dead a few minutes later at the Frederick City hospital. Aside from this unfortunate conclusion to the parade and a steady rain which depleted the crowd of specta-
tors, the event was one of the best in the history of the observance. Of the approximately 1,500 persons in the parade, the remarkable showing of the three fire companies—United, Juniors and Independents—together with auxiliaries was particularly outstanding …. From The News, May 3, 1958 Frederick City parking meter receipts, which might be considered something of a business barometer were over $1,300 lower during the first four months of this year in comparison with the same period of 1957. The figures of Parking Meter Collector C. Elgin Hemp showed the total meter “take” for the January-through-April period of 1958 to be $17, 268.74. …. It was also pointed out that the telephone company street work on Patrick street eliminated some lucrative meters from operation for quite a period and official sources said the major South Court street lot isn’t producing the revenue that it once did. From The Frederick Post Jan. 8, 1969 A proposed city ordinance to control exterior changes of buildings in downtown Frederick is expected to cause considerable controversy. ….
Photo courtesy of Heritage Frederick
Emergency Hospital was located at 135 S. Market St. Photo circa 1900.
An ordinance, which is being drawn up by the City Attorney, will propose a district, and also propose some form of control or advisory status for the [Historic District] Commission. Several members of the Downtown Frederick Association expressed concern when [Charles F.] Bowers [chairman of the Historic District Commission] indicated that historic buildings in the district could not be remodeled externally
or demolished without the Commission’s approval. .... .... The Frederick County Branch of the NAACP announced last night that the boycott of area businesses whose owners or managers signed the Wallace partition has been discontinued. In a prepared statement, Frederick County Branch President Sherman Mason said: “The Frederick County Branch of the NAACP, having given due con-
sideration to events of recent days, declares a succession on the selective buying campaign. “We are no longer concerned only with those businesses whose managers or owners signed the Wallace partition. “At a meeting Thursday many businesses of the community committed themselves to the correction of lack of concern and insensitivity to the problems of the black man in Frederick City and county…. “With determined concerted effort on the part of those at the heart of the community—the businesses— these problems thrust upon the black community can and will be corrected. Those problems include improper housing facilities and opportunity, unfair employment practices and poor police community relations. The lack of enforcement of the city housing code is responsible for slum housing and over-crowded living conditions in Frederick city…. “These and other conditions have created an atmosphere of mistrust and disillusionment. “The Frederick County branch also states that if concerted, determined positive action continues in all reasonable areas the cessation of selective buying will continue….”
HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 15
Downtown Frederick Now BY KATE MCDERMOTT SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-POST
For young, old and everyone in between, Downtown Frederick is the place to be. Goodcall.com, a website that focuses on topics related to higher education, recently named the area as one of its top 50 cities for recent graduates, while Where to Retire magazine recently named it one of “8 Delightful Downtown Cities.” Frederick earned a spot on Expedia’s list of “21 of the Most Scenic East Coast Cities” and Southern Living calls it one of the “50 Best Places in the South Now.” In 2014, Livability.com named it one of the nation’s top 10 downtowns and CNN recognized it as one of America’s Great Comeback Cities. The American Planning Association named it a Great Place in America and it was chosen as one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “Dozen Distinctive Destinations.” By any measure, Downtown Frederick is “hot.” With vacancy rates that average about 6 percent for office and retail spaces, downtown continues to draw new residents and visitors to its eclectic collection of boutiques, restaurants and public events. From July 1, 2015 to June 1, 2016, the area attracted 14 new businesses and created more than 75 new jobs. Of course, the biggest new business that may be coming to downtown is a hotel and conference center. A portion of the funding — $16 million over the next three years — for the project proposal was included in Gov. Hogan’s first draft of the fiscal 2018 budget. Proponents of the project see it as an important missing link in Downtown Frederick’s growing success. Plamondon Hospitality Partners of Frederick has committed $53 million in bank financing and equity to build a 207-room Marriott and 24,000-square-foot conference center. Richard Griffin, the City of Fred16 HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017
Photo by Bill Green/The Frederick News-Post
Frederick’s City Hall once served as the Frederick County Courthouse.
erick’s director of economic development, said the city, Frederick County and Visit Frederick have committed roughly $12.25 million in tax increment financing, hotel taxes from the project, parking fund cash and parking revenue bonds for public infrastructure components, including land, onsite parking, meeting space, utilities and surrounding streetscape and road improvements. Griffin said the project will continue to move forward since the agreement with the developer states that if project costs exceed funding, the partners will work in good faith to find other sources of funds and/or rescope the project to bring costs into balance with funding. The project’s supporters believe the hotel and conference center will attract the kind of special events, businesses and programming that will bring even people to Downtown Frederick. The local performing arts community continues to draw out-of-towners to the Weinberg Center for the Performing Arts, which attracts national acts, while Downtown Frederick Partnership will host 20 Alive@Five happy hour concerts on Carroll Creek in 2017. The proposed hotel and conference center property at 200 and 212 E. Patrick St. is owned by a business entity formed by members of the Randall family. The Randall family also owns the parent company of The Frederick News-Post, though a sale of the newspaper is scheduled to close at the end of this month. “More and more frequently we run into people at trade shows, busi-
Photo by Bill Green/The Frederick News-Post
Water lilies and other water plants cover the waters of the Carroll Creek Linear Park in downtown. More than 3,000 plants have been planted in a quarter-mile stretch of creek.
ness events or when traveling for fun — both regionally and nationally — who know Frederick,” Griffin said, adding that many people express how much they enjoy Downtown Frederick’s historic atmosphere, Baker Park and Carroll Creek Park and events like First Saturdays. Downtown Frederick has also become a hotbed for craft brewers and distillers, while epicureans have recognized the area for its eclectic mix of restaurants, including those that offer a variety of international flavors that range from Cuban to Mediterranean meze to Spanish tapas. In 2015, more than 280 people signed up to attend the Downtown Frederick Cooking School’s 15 classes, which were led by some of the area’s top chefs. The cooking school is just one of many initiatives sponsored by the nonprofit Downtown Frederick Partnership, which serves as the area’s Main Street association. Kara Norman, the partnership’s executive director, said her organization is always looking for new ways to support and encourage new and existing businesses. Last year, the partnership worked with the City
See DOWNTOWN NOW, 39
Important Information:
City of Frederick City Hall 301-600-1380 www.cityoffrederick.com Frederick County Government at Winchester Hall 301-600-9000 www.frederickcountymd.gov Frederick Police Department 301-694-2100 www.cityoffrederick.com/police Downtown Frederick Partnership 301-698-8118 www.downtownfrederick.org Frederick Arts Council 301-662-4190 www.frederickartscouncil.org Weinberg Center for the Performing Arts 301-600-2828 www.weinbergcenter.org Maryland Ensemble Theater 301-694-4744 www.marylandensemble.org C. Burr Artz Library 301-600-1630 www.fcpl.org Visit Frederick 301-600-4047 www.visitfrederick.org
HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 17
18 HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017
HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 19
SNIPPETS OF HISTORY
BY ANDREW I. DALTON The Gettysburg Springs Hotel One hundred years ago, an era ended in Gettysburg. The once-famous Katalysine Springs Hotel, built just years after the close of the Civil War, burned to the ground in an accidental chimney fire. One of Gettysburg’s earliest tourist attractions, the Springs Hotel was constructed between 1868 and 1869 as a resort to accommodate crowds of people who sought the curative powers of the nearby Katalysine Spring. During the Battle of Gettysburg, Emanuel Harmon owned the property that would later be associated with the Springs Hotel. During the fighting on July 1, 1863, his family occupied a house along what is now Old Mill Road west of
20 HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017
Gettysburg. During the Confederate attacks that afternoon, his house was used by Union soldiers for sharpshooting. Once the Confederates drove them out, the house was burned and its occupants were forced to flee westward. When the smoke cleared three days later, Harmon’s property was a “smoldering ruin.” In 1865, attempting to regain lost money, Harmon had his spring analyzed by a Pennsylvania (now Gettysburg) College professor who found that the water contained an unusual amount of lithium—thought to be curative at the time. That combined with a host of other minerals made the water a rare find. By 1866, newspapers across the country were running sto-
See GETTYSBURG THEN, 39
Katalysine Springs Hotel
Photo courtesy of Adams County Historical Society
Gettysburg Now BY ERIN CUNNINGHAM
Important Numbers
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-POST
In the 1990s, Gettysburg was struggling. A prominent hotel was destroyed by a fire, and downtown storefronts struggled to find tenants. The roughly 1.3 million tourists who visit the historic battlefield each year would spend an hour or so at the battlefield and leave, according to Deborah Adamik, president and CEO of Main Street Gettysburg Inc. A lot has changed since then. Adamik attributes the turnaround in part to an ambitious 10-year plan to revitalize Gettysburg. That included at least $55 million in investments to renovate historic buildings, revitalize streetscapes, and improve marketing and transportation options. This resulted in more diverse shopping, attractions and multicultural and locally-sourced restaurant fare downtown that could attract locals and tourists, Adamik said. New businesses Appalachian Brewing Co. opened a new location on a newly-revitalized Steinwehr Avenue in May 2016, said General Manager Tuesday Kennell. The brewpub now has six locations in Pennsylvania, including a second location in Gettysburg and sites in Harrisburg and Mechanicsburg. Appalachian Brewing Co., moved from its location on Buford Avenue, where it was located for about 10 years, to the Steinwehr Avenue site, Kennell said. The brew pub moved after the Civil War Trust bought the land at the Buford Avenue site. “We were actually without a place for about a year and a half before we got this up and running,” she said, adding the new location is “great.” The brew pub has 20 taps inside and an outdoor beer garden with a beer window. “The beer garden is definitely the big draw,” Kennell said. Another new Gettysburg business is Nerd Herd, a pop culture retail store,
Borough Offices 717-334-1160
Gettysburg Area School District 717-334-6254 Gettysburg Fire Department 717-334-8300 Gettysburg Police Department (Non-emergency) 717-334-1168 Photo by Bill Green/The Frederick News-Post
Confederate and Union troops clash during the reenactment of the “Devil’s to Pay” battle before a crowd of thousands of spectators at the start of the three-day Battle of Gettysburg reenactment on a farm north of Gettysburg.
at 40 Baltimore St. The store is operated by area high-school students and is sponsored by a local businesswoman, Timbrel Wallace, who owns Lark A Modern Marketplace, which also is located downtown. The teens learn about business skills such as accounting, finance, marketing, information technology and store operations while bringing the public a creative shopping experience complete with board games and geek accessories, according to the store’s website. Another new business that blends history with modern interests is 1863 Escape, Adamik said. 1863 Escape is a Civil War-themed, entertaining “es-
cape room” experience that gives its participants the opportunity to solve a Civil War mystery within one hour. As the suspense builds, people work as a team using their best communication skills, intuition, instinct and logic to become a “hero” before time runs out, according to the business’ website. Parking Several groups are working to define a strategy to address parking challenges in Gettysburg, Adamik said. Geographically, Gettysburg is surrounded by Gettysburg National Military Park, which limits space for parking, she said.
Main Street Gettysburg 717-337-3491
“We have to be smart about it,” she said. Officials, she said, are determining what the need is, what solutions there may be and how to charge for parking since the borough depends on parking revenue. One option, she said, is centralized parking in various designated areas of town strategically connected to various means of transportation, such as biking and walking areas, and trollys. She expects that the groups could make recommendations by the end of the year after hearing from community groups and others. Other goals Other goals for Main Street Gettysburg in 2017 include a focus on implementing the Baltimore Street Master Plan, Adamik said. That includes establishing community groups, a steering group of property owners and coordinating the planning process geared toward attracting more businesses, residents and visitors. The master plan’s goal is to improve the economy, create jobs and enhance the quality of life for those living and working in the district and in the town. Adamik said that business and property owners have raised more than $50,000 toward achieving that vision in the past two years. Main Street Gettysburg also will focus on town-wide parking, rezoning, business incentives and other means to attract new businesses and residents. HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 21
SNIPPETS OF HISTORY
From The News-Post Leader, May 19, 1993 …. It may not be Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive, but the Golden Mile, stretching between Baughman’s Lane and Waverly Drive, clearly is the most highly concentrated shopping area in Frederick County, linchpinned by the Frederick Towne Mall at the far west. According to the county planning office, the mall, plus eight shopping centers, amount to 1.6 million square feet of commercial space. This roughly translates into 34 football fields worth of clothing racks, toy aisles, shoe departments and blue light specials and doesn’t even take into consideration the single businesses such as Hechinger and Jiffy Lube, or the myriad of restaurants up and down the highway.
But before all the paved parking lots, the eight sets of traffic lights and the apartments and townhouses that burgeoned behind the commercial strip, there was a history of farms and orchards. …. Rosie Brown, 66, of Taney Avenue, and her late husband, Herman, ran a grocery store at the foot of Linden Hills at the spot now occupied by the Red Horse Motor Inn…. The Browns operated the store for 13 years, starting in 1953. They attracted customers from as far away as Braddock Heights, as well as those in the immediate Linden Hills area. One of the regulars, living in a nearby trailer park, was country singer Patsy Cline in the days before her Nashville career. “She always wore a white jacket with fringes,” Mrs. Brown recalled.
Frances Beall, who worked for 42 years as a theater manager for the late Dan Weinberg, a Frederick businessman and owner of the former Braddock Drive-In, said that when Patsy Cline was living in Winchester, Va., she used to come back and sing while patrons waited for darkness and the movies to start. Patsy and her band, who performed at local carnivals, “would play on the roof of the snack bar building,” she said. The name, “Golden Mile,” is attributed to Mick Mastrino, a former state trooper, who coined the term in the 1970s when the first wave of commercial building started. “I was chief of the Uniteds at the time, and I was in a running battle with the mayor,” he said. “We in the fire service had a great deal of problems with all the buildings out there” and insufficient amounts of water and water pressure to fight fires. Apparently it was in the heat of that battle that he tossed out the “Golden
Mile” designation. …. the Golden Mile area was included into the city as part of a major annexation in 1967. Five years later the Frederick Towne Mall opened, becoming the first of what would be major commercial development up and down the highway. The mall also contained the only escalator in the county, transporting J.C. Penney shoppers up and down. …. Ronald Young, who served as Frederick’s mayor from 1974 to 1990, said development of the Golden Mile came up regularly on the city’s agenda during that time. With the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, he said, “I don’t think there was enough control” on its growth. “It was new to us,” he said. “I think we accommodated too much. “That kind of development was not good for downtown,” Mr. Young said. As far as the city’s growth and tax base, “it just took from one area and moved it to another.” ….
Photo courtesy of Heritage Frederick
Elmwood Farmed owned by Charles and Philip Wertheimer on the National Pike, now the site of the Frederick Towne Mall. 22 HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017
Golden Mile Now BY ERIN CUNNINGHAM SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-POST
With more than 2 million square feet of restaurant and retail space, the Golden Mile remains the largest commercial retail corridor in the City of Frederick and Frederick County. The Golden Mile includes more than 320 businesses, which employ more than 2,700 people, according to a Sage Market Analysis Report. Commercial activity has spiked recently, with new businesses opening or under construction and plans to revitalize the long-underutilized 37.5-acre Frederick Towne Mall site. The 2-mile stretch of U.S. 40 from U.S. 15 on the east to the City of Frederick’s boundary on the west was seen as in decline in 2001 when the Golden Mile Task Force turned its attention to revitalizing the aging corridor. Those efforts continue today, and Robert Baumler, economic development manager for the City of Frederick, said officials are “optimistic and upbeat” about the future of the Golden Mile. The Mall The West Frederick Center LLLP, a limited liability limited partnership that formed Jan. 26, purchased the Frederick Towne Mall site with plans to “revitalize the property,” The Frederick News-Post reported earlier this year. Dr. Mohammed Mohiuddin, a Frederick urologist, is listed as the resident agent. Several partners, both general
and limited, are part of the company. No details have been released regarding plans for the site. The only concrete plans to have materialized dissolved in 2016, when Wal-Mart announced it would not open a new store as part of a shopping center that was planned for the site. “We are looking forward to working with the new ownership to find out what the plans are,” Baumler said. “There is very much a willingness to consider any request that would come forward.” He said he expects that whatever is slated to fill the space will spur new investment in the Golden Mile. Deb Reynolds, president of the Golden Mile Alliance, said that she hopes to see a plan for the site that would create employment opportunities for residents and enhanced business opportunities. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be retail,” she said of the site. “You could have a service-type business, like a medical campus. This is just a great beginning.”
Across the street, a new Chipotle is under construction. The freestanding store next to Motel 6 is scheduled to open this summer, according to Chris Arnold, communications director for Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. The restaurant typically employs about 25 people, he said. The old Giant grocery store site in the West Ridge Shopping Center, which briefly housed a G Mart grocer, will welcome an H Mart in March, Baumler said. He described H Mart as a small, international grocer that he believes will do well in that space. Baumler said a hallmark of the Golden Mile is its international cuisine and shopping options. That includes the Photo by Sam Yu/The Frederick News-Post
See GOLDEN MILE NOW, 38 The Golden Mile looking east
New Businesses A host of other new businesses have recently opened or are under construction on the Golden Mile. A Wawa gas station and convenience store opened in November at the corner of West Patrick Street and Baughmans Lane. The 2.63-acre site, which previously included the old Maryland State Police barracks, will include a new MedExpress as well, Baumler said. That urgent care center is scheduled to open in March.
HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 23
SNIPPETS OF HISTORY
From the News, April 7, 1956 The friendly citizens of Hagerstown, Md., tonight received a national “silver anvil” award for distinguished public relations achievement in the cause of national amity. The award, made by the American Public Relations Assn., (APRA) at its annual banquet, was in tribute to Hagerstown’s five-year “sister city” friendship with the town of Wesel, Germany. .... Wesel and Hagerstown since 1952 have been exchanging books, pictures, exhibits, pen pal letters of school children, recorded Christmas carols, and information about each other’s history, institutions and ways of life. Hagerstown trolley, date unknown
Photo courtesy of Heritage Frederick
From The Frederick Post, Oct. 8, 1938 Devoid of fanfare and ceremony, the last trolley to make a round trip between Frederick and Hagerstown departed from the local terminal on South Carroll street at 5.10 o’clock Friday evening. .... The Potomac Edison Company of which the Hagerstown and Frederick Railway is a subsidiary, will substitute bus passenger and freight truck service between Myersville and Hagerstown beginning today. From The News, Aug. 6, 1947 The steel rails in the trolley line from Hagerstown to Williamsport, which is being discontinued by the Potomac Edison Company, have been purchased by Jacob Goldberg, president of Frederick Iron and Steel, Inc., it was learned today. Mr. Goldberg, who consummated the purchase yesterday with R. Paul Smith, president of the Potomac Edison Company, said the rails would be hauled here for use in making pumps, stokers, power presses and other equipment at the local industry. .... The trolley line from Williamsport to Hagerstown covers about seven miles. Authority for its discontinuance and the substitution of bus service was recently granted by the Public Service Commission.
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It is understood the removal of the rails from a car barn on the line began yesterday. Much of the rail, according to reports, is so worn from long use that it is fit only for scrap. The line has been in use for nearly half a century. From The Frederick Evening Post, Oct. 12, 1912 Preliminary to the improvement of the Hagerstown Electric Railroad system through investment by persons outside the city, the Hagerstown Railway Company have (sic) asked for a new municipal franchise for the distribution of commercial current in Hagerstown. .... As upon completion of the Frederick and Hagerstown power plant, both the local electric system and the Hagerstown system will receive power from this plant, the request is in fact for a franchise allowing for the Frederick and Hagerstown Power Company to sell electric current in Hagerstown. From The Daily News, Nov. 16, 1915 Upon examination of the schedules of the rates filed with the Public Service Commission by the Hagerstown & Frederick Railway Co. it was found that the charges for Power were from 25 per cent. to 100 per cent. higher in Frederick than in Hagerstown, varying with the installation or demands of the consumer. .... Notwithstanding extreme differences in costs of electric current and power to the citizens of Frederick, who are limited or restricted in the purchase from only the Hagerstown & Frederick Railway Company, with exceedingly lower rates the citizens of Hagerstown are profiting through the operations of its own municipal plant. The municipal plant of Hagerstown has earned a surplus of $38,290.01 from the commencement of operations in 1900 to August 13, 1915, over and above all expenses, after providing for interest on bonds issued for the erection of the plant, and after allowances and reasonable deductions for depreciation on plant and machinery.
Hagerstown Now BY SCOTT HARRIS SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-POST
Hagerstown is growing into the future without forgetting its past. “We are a miniature Maryland,” said Paul Frey, president and CEO of the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce. “We have mountains, we have the C&O Canal, we have parks.” The Antietam Civil War battlefield, and other traditional natural and historical amenities for which the city is well known, will always be a reminder of previous eras. Likewise, the city’s quaint downtown remains a draw. At the same time, though, Hagerstown is one of the country’s most connected cities. A $6 million private investment led to the construction of one-gigabit high-speed Internet, which will ultimately reach more than 11,000 local homes and businesses. This makes Hagerstown only the 75th “gigabit city” in the United States. It’s just one way Hagerstown is working to get ahead of the curve. Another way is Mount Aetna Technology Park, a 150-acre property that, when complete, will cater to high-tech businesses, bringing a new dimension to the city’s economic profile. Leaders say Mount Aetna will be a game changer for the city. “This is a park that’s unlike any other park that we have,” said Kassie Lewis, director of the Washington County Department of Business Development, according to Herald-Mail Media. “This is a park that’s perfectly geared to those high-tech jobs ... and these are the types of jobs that bring a higher wage.” That quaint downtown is also entering the modern era. On top of its gigabit makeover, the City Center Plan offers a 10-year roadmap designed to spur development in this part of Hagerstown. Organizers estimate it will create at least 875 permanent jobs and bring $125 million in new investments to the area. One key part of the plan is expanding and renovating the Maryland Theatre,
Photo by Sam Yu/The Frederick News-Post
Main entrance to the Maryland Theater in Hagerstown
Photo by Sam Yu/The Frederick News-Post
The garden entrance to the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Hagerstown
which serves as the hub of downtown Hagerstown. When the work is complete, the theater will go from 150 to 225 performance days each year and reach an estimated annual audience of 60,000. A Civil War Heritage Center and Commemorative Park will also open alongside a new upscale hotel. New commercial spaces and other new amenities also are included in the plan. University System of Maryland Hagerstown is also set to grow. In 2015 USMH enrollment rose 16 percent from 2014, to 549. Various improvements and expansions are in the works, chief among them the addition of two new academic programs—one for nurse practitioners, the other for physician assistants—that will bring approximately 185 more graduate students to Hagerstown. Other plans at USMH include a new hospitality management and tourism degree program housed on West Washington Street. If a city is to continue to grow and evolve, connectivity and ease of travel are important. That’s why local leaders hailed the decision in December by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan to fund a $105 million effort to widen Interstate 81. The project, done in cooperation with the state of West Virginia, will
expand the heavily traveled interstate to six lanes in key segments. Work includes reconstruction of the Potomac River bridges and two bridges at the Md. 63 interchange. On top of the direct funding for construction, another $5 million in state funds were budgeted to help with the second phase of widening, which will allow the project to progress north to the Interstate 70 interchange. Hogan also announced that he had submitted an application for a federal FASTLANE grant to help pay for construction of the second and future phases, eventually widening the entire 12-mile portion of I-81 up to the Pennsylvania line to six lanes. The first phase is expected to be completed by summer 2020.
Photo by Sam Yu/The Frederick News-Post
One of the entrances to Hagerstown City Park
Important Numbers Fire 301-790-2476 Police 301-790-3700 City Government 301-739-8577 Parks and Recreation 301-739-8577 Ext. 169 Washington County Government 240-313-2200 Washington County Public Schools 301-766-2800
HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 25
SNIPPETS OF HISTORY
From The Frederick Post, Jan. 11, 1966 There are white letter-size printed notices tacked to the doors of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad stations at Mount Airy and Germantown. They give public notice of the intention of the railroad company to ask the Public Service Commission for permission to close certain facilities at each station. Word of the company’s intentions has brought forth objections from both areas. .... R. Delaine Hobbs, acting president of the Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce, said yesterday, “The railroad says that it has received more protests on this issue than any other in recent years.” .... There are many similarities in the location of the two stations and their backgrounds. Both nestle in the curve of the hills and one can hear the trains coming long before they appear in view. Both were the centers of once prosperous farming country and both were once the center of most of the social life in their area. The burgeoning population growth, with the resulting highways and expressways and cloverleafs, by-passes and over-passes, has changed the picture. But the changes have not entirely erased the memories of former years from many minds. “I sure will miss the sound of the old steam engine whistle. Those new Diesel trains whistle only when they’re in trouble!” said C. S. Dorsey. …. From The Frederick Post, Jan. 11, 1965 The Libertytown Fire Department has purchased a truck for their newly established department. .... President [Richard C.] Sappington said last night that the town has purchased a 1952 fire truck from the Ridge Volunteer Fire Department. Ridge is a small community in St. Mary’s County. The truck cost $1,500. “It has a 500-gallon capacity,” President Sappington said last night, “and includes a front end pumper.” …. 26 HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017
the past three weeks, but the contagious disease is believed to have been checked … Approximately 50 residents of the Libertytown section have been immunized against the disease with anti-typhoid serum.
Photo courtesy of Heritage Frederick
Main Street Libertytown looking east
Postcard of the railroad station in Mount Airy
From The Frederick Post, July 18, 1940 Repairs to the highway bridge over Ben’s Branch at New London were started Wednesday … During work on the structure the road will be closed to traffic between New Market and Libertytown necessitating a detour by way of Frederick, which adds approximately 10 miles to the trip.
Photo courtesy of Heritage Frederick
…The bridge, which has been repaired on a number of occasions in the past, has been the scene of numerous automobile accidents. From The Frederick Post, May 14, 1935 Two additional cases of typhoid fever have been reported at Libertytown, bringing the total to five cases within
From The Frederick Post, June 20, 1933 Despite a decrease of some $18.00 in the taxable basis of the local municipality, the Mount Airy mayor and council, at a special meeting, reduced the present rate of 98 cents on the $100 to 95 cents. The reduction, it is estimated, will effect a saving of approximately $440 for local taxpayers. The reduction in the town’s taxable basis of some $18,000—from $888,864 on July 1, 1932, when the levy for 1932-33 was made, to the present figure of $870,561—was largely due to the decrease in value of personal property—automobiles in particular. From The Frederick Post, Aug. 18, 1926 Announcement that a “real, live baby” will be given away during the Mount Airy-Carroll County Fair this week has aroused a storm of protest among residents and town officials, it was learned Tuesday. Mayor A. R. Molesworth, during the evening told a Post reporter that a baby will not be raffled off during the fair, but declined to say what it was. .... Bradley C. Leatherwood, Mount Airy Councilman and assistant cashier of the First National Bank there, said the town authorities were opposed to the use of such advertising to arouse interest in the carnival. John T. McCaslin, concession man at the carnival, said Tuesday that he… intends to carry out the advertised raffle on Thursday. Residents of Mount Airy pointed out that the advertising of the affair says the baby “is not a pig, dog or animal,” but a “real, live baby.” Mr. McCaslin, when asked if the “baby” was a real live human being, turned and walked away.
Libertytown/Mount Airy/Market Square Now BY JIM MAHAFFIE SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-POST
The area from Market Square just east of Frederick out to Libertytown and south to Mount Airy can be driven in a very short time. But the contrast between these three western Maryland destinations is marked. Brand-new, Market Square offers luxury apartments and townhouses with lots of restaurants and retail, such as Wegmans grocery store, Lowe’s Home Improvement, Marshalls and Wal-Mart. National eatery chains include Buffalo Wild Wings, Chipotle and Moe’s Southwest Grill. Frederick Research Park is right next door. The Retreat at Market Square apartment development bills itself as “Frederick’s First Live, Shop, Dine & Play Community,” and Dan Ryan Builders is also building homes. “Our townhomes are all luxury, two-car garage townhomes located in the most walkable community in Frederick,” said Heather McCulloch, community sales manager. “There’s a lot of interest from a mix of young professionals as well as empty-nesters and families, many coming from closer in to the metro area.” Leaving Frederick and Market Square and heading east out on Route 26, you rapidly get into what Frederick used to be, with farms and fields and rolling hills. It’s a big contrast, with tiny historic towns like Libertytown, (population of 950.) According to a Maryland Historical Trust survey, “Libertytown is an excellent illustration of a 19th-century turnpike town.” Many historic structures remain. The Rev. Jason Worley is the pastor at Saint Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Libertytown, one of three historic churches in town. “I have always believed that if you offer people a good and wholesome event where they have good homemade food and the opportunity for positive socializing, they will keep
Photo by Dan Gross/The Frederick News-Post
A building front in Mount Airy
coming back, bring a friend and tell their neighbors,” he said. To that end, St. Peter hosts several traditional events as well as a few new initiatives to nurture community togetherness and draw people to town. These include a Fish Fry during Lent for more than 300 people, a BBQ & Bluegrass event every August, a Christmas in the Country Arts and Crafts Festival every November. The church also has a thrift shop and a food pantry on Route 26. “While some drive through Libertytown thinking it is a sleepy country town, there is a lot going on. Activities keep getting better and people who attend keep finding a place to call home,” said Worley. Among the many beautiful drives and bike routes touted by Frederick County is “Old Main Streets,” which explores quaint towns and villages in Frederick and Carroll counties, focusing on the main streets that were once a hub of activity. Maps can be found at visitmd.org and the route takes you through Libertytown, Mount Airy and Emmitsburg, among other communities. Historic buildings along these thoroughfares today hold antique shops, inns and restaurants. In Mount Airy — nestled between three vineyards that offer tours and wine tastings, Linganore Winecellars, Loew Vineyards and Elk Run Vineyards — the slogan is “Stop, Shop and Stroll.” It’s a far more bustling small town of almost 10,000 residents, according the 2010 U.S. Census.
See LIBERTYTOWN NOW, 39
Photo by Bill Green/The Frederick News-Post
Libertytown is at the crossroads of Md. 26, Main Street, Md. 75 and Md. 550.
HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 27
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Mt. Airy Children’s Dental Associates During his 33-year career as a pediatric dentist, Dr. David Hasson has literally seen thousands of patients in his Mt. Airy Children’s Dental Associates practice. If you need proof, he can show you stacks of Polaroids he has taken of his smiling patients over the years. Given Dr. Hasson’s warmth and genuine enthusiasm for his work, it is no surprise that many of those patients are now bringing their children to him. Thanks to advances in pediatric dentistry, these youngsters enjoy easier evaluations and treatments than their parents may have had as recently as 20 years ago. Gone are the uncomfortable fluoride trays; today’s patients can get a fluoride “varnish” that adheres and absorbs into the enamel. Remember those uncomfortable x-rays? Today’s fast, low-dose, digital x-rays provide greater detail and resolution than ever before to reveal signs of early decay that can be resolved with small preventative fillings. Improved anesthetics reduce anxiety and create a sense of amnesia so patients do not have unpleasant memories of their treatments. More importantly, Dr. Hasson and his colleagues are specifically educated in behavioral techniques
28 HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017
that are critical to serving young patients, including those with physical, mental or emotional special needs. “Our goal is to be welcoming and warm,” he said. “We practice ‘No Big Deal Dentistry.’ We make it easy-peasy.” Despite advances in dental techniques and technology, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry reports that dental caries (cavities) is the most prevalent chronic disease in our nation’s children today, with more than 40 percent of children having some form of tooth decay by the time they begin kindergarten.
In fact, Dr. Hasson sees more decay in children now than 20 years ago, which he attributes to increased consumption of sugary and acidic sports drinks and bottled water that is not fluoridated. To fight this trend, he focuses on education and prevention, noting that the first oral care visit should occur by a child’s first birthday. His “No Cavity Club” awards children (and parents) with monthly prize drawings, including things like movie passes and gift cards. In addition to Dr. Hasson, Mt. Airy Children’s Dental Associates includes two other pediatric dentists, an orthodontist who treats children and adults, and a dedicated team of dental hygienists and support staff. “I am surrounded by the best of the best,” Hasson said. “Our commitment to ensuring that good oral health is part of a child’s total health, coupled with the generous referrals we get from friends, neighbors, colleagues, etc., is the reason we are still here after all these years.” 602 Center St. Suite 203, Mount Airy 21771 301-829-6588 | mtairysmiles.com
SNIPPETS OF HISTORY
From The News, Jan. 20, 1972 The Women’s Christian Temperance Union is apparently alive and well in Middletown, as are other persons who oppose the consumption of alcohol. Middletown residents who sympathize with the WCTU are opposing Middletown’s private Amvets Club getting permission to sell liquor by the drink. Over 300 members of Middletown’s Amvets Club have been drinking beer at their club on Green Street for almost 30 years, and they recently asked legislators for permission to sell drinks. “I am sure the WCTU is very much opposed to the Amvets selling liquor,” WCTU secretary-treasurer Miss Charlotte Remsburg declared. …. From The Frederick Post, Sept. 5, 1932 What the Mayor and Aldermen would like to know—and what they say they intend to learn—are the persons responsible for arranging a ruse, which enabled the county engine of the Independent Hose Company to participate in the big parade in Middletown Saturday night after answering a fake fire call. The situation, it seems, was something like this. The Juniors and the Uniteds had appeared before the city fathers and obtained permission to take a small engine and a floodlight engine to the Middletown parade. The Independents, as far as it is known, did
Photo courtesy of Heritage Frederick
Middletown circa 1908
not request to go to Middletown since it was the understanding that they were to participate in the Labor Day parade in Washington today. Saturday night, about 7.15 o’clock, Sergt. Vernon T. Smith answered a telephone call in Police Headquarters. The call, afterward traced to a Middletown garage, instructed him that there was a large fire in Middletown and to send the Independents to the scene. The county engine was accordingly dispatched to Middletown and, arriving there, entered the parade. The fire, from all evidence obtainable, was a hoax.
The result was that when city officials heard of the affair, they were thoroughly incensed. …. From The Frederick Post, Oct. 20, 1930 Large crowds attended the first annual carnival of the Middletown Volunteer Fire Company held in the county town Friday and Saturday. The carnival was featured by a masked parade Friday night through the main street and a more formal parade Saturday evening, which was participated in by organizations from many other nearby towns. It was estimated that approximately 1,000 were in line Sat-
urday night and from 3,000 to 5,000 watched the procession. Prizes were awarded each evening. .... The carnival formally opened Friday afternoon with a moving picture in Memorial Hall, followed by a chicken and waffle supper in the social rooms of the Reformed church. About 300 suppers were served by a committee of ladies, representing the fire company. .... Later a large number of persons visited the carnival grounds on Washington street where dancing was held and a concert given by the American Band, of Middletown.
HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 29
Middletown/Myersville Now BY ERIN CUNNINGHAM SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-POST
Founded in 1767, Middletown is spending 2017 celebrating 250 years of history. The yearlong celebration includes a series of events, speakers and entertainment, with a different theme each month, said Becky Reich, Main Street Middletown manager. April will focus on transportation history, and May’s theme will be historic preservation. As a result, the town will unveil a new walking tour. For June, dairy month, the celebration will focus on the history of farming, with a visit to South Mountain Creamery, Reich said. Reich said a program in February was standing-room only as a panel of experts on black history in Frederick County spoke about the legacy of Jefferson Street. The event was the second installment of a monthly “Town Talks” lecture series the 250th steering committee put together on behalf of the town to celebrate the town’s 250th anniversary, The Frederick News-Post reported at the time. In 1865, Middletown opened the first school that black students could attend in Frederick County. The town also had a church for black residents along Jefferson Street, The Frederick-News Post reported. Other events will focus on education, business appreciation, veterans and the holidays, according to Reich. “It’s been wonderful,” she said. “It just shows how much everyone loves this community.” New Fire Station Planning is underway for Middletown to have a new fire station to replace the existing Middletown Volunteer Fire Co. building on South Church Street. The new, five drive-through bay station will be built on a portion of the fire company’s carnival grounds on Franklin Street, said Chief Tom Owens, director of the Frederick County Division of Fire and Rescue Services. Design of the station is underway, he 30 HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017
Photo by Bill Green/The Frederick News-Post
West Main Street in Middletown
said, and construction is expected to be complete by the late spring or early summer of 2018. He said the fire company has outgrown its existing station. A larger station also is necessary to accommodate additional paid staffing that has been requested by town officials, Owens said. The county government will pay for the building, but the land is being donated by the fire company, Owens said. He said this model, including the eventual design of the building, will be a prototype that the county will use for future fire stations that are built in partnership with local volunteer fire companies. “We’re trying to get a very functional design, and then when another company needs a new station, we have the base design of the building done,” Owens said. “This will save money and streamline the process.” New Businesses A number of new businesses are
scheduled to open in Middletown, according to Cynthia Unangst, the town’s staff planner. The Cross Stone Commons Shopping Center, on Middletown Parkway, is home to a standalone CVS. Under construction now is a building that will house a Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins drive-through and a Mexican restaurant with some outdoor seating, Unangst said. There also are plans for a nail salon. There are four other commercial spaces available, she said. There also are plans at Cross Stone Commons for a fast food restaurant, but that is “years away,” Unangst said,
Important Numbers
Middletown Glen An 81-lot subdivision, called Middletown Glen, is planned adjacent to the school complex on East Green Street, Unangst said. Walking trails will connect the development to the schools. Building permits have been obtained
Middletown Volunteer Fire Department 301-371-6907
Middletown Municipal Center 301-371-6171 AMVETS Post #9 301-371-5115 Central Maryland Heritage League 301-371-7090 Middletown Valley Historical Society 301-371-7582 Middletown Recreation Council 240-490-7745 Frederick County Sheriff 301-600-2071
for about a dozen of the homes, and occupancy is expected later in the spring. The homes start at about $440,000.
SNIPPETS OF HISTORY
From The Frederick Post, March 18, 1954 The State Roads Commission is receiving bids until April 6 at noon on the modernization of another section of Route 26, which is the Liberty Road to Baltimore, it was learned here. .... The section of Route 26 to be modernized in the latest project will be widened from around 18 to 20 feet to 24 feet. Included will presumably be widening of the small bridge over what is known as the Dolly Hyde Branch
Kelly’s Mill, Route 26
between Libertytown and Unionville. From The News, July 13, 1949 The Monocacy River was on its worth rampage in a dozen years today in the wake of heavy rains and a number of State and county roads were closed as residents witnessed the almost unbelievable change from drought to flood in approximately 24 hours. Both Route 15 north to Gettysburg and Route 26 east to Baltimore
were closed this morning by Monocacy backwater, but the river was reported for the first time to be falling far upstream. Nearby residents said six feet of water covered Route 26 at Israel’s Creek about 9 a.m. and the water over Route 15 at Muddy Run was about three feet deep. …. R. L. Kelly, Ceresville miller, estimated the river was 24 feet above normal shortly before 9 a.m. At 10:30 o’clock the river had stopped rising there. Mr. Kelly stood in 16 inches of
water in his mill office as he talked to The News by telephone. … From The Frederick Post, March 26, 1940 A traffic light and a wider road at the dangerous junction of U.S. Route 15 and Maryland Route 26 at Worman’s Mill, a mile north of Frederick, are to be installed soon. .... Necessary construction would be done to widen Route 26 in order to provide maximum safety and movement at the road junction.
Photo courtesy of Heritage Frederick
HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 31
Route 26 Now BY GINA GALLUCCI-WHITE SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-POST
As folks traverse Md. 26 today, they will still see a bevy of farms dotting the landscape from Libertytown to Ceresvillle. However, after the Monocacy River bridge crossing, the landscape has drastically changed since the road’s inception in the 19th century. Earlier this year, Wal-Mart closed a nearby 135,000-square-foot store and opened a 187,000-square-foot supercenter at the corner of Md. 26 and Monocacy Boulevard, adding groceries, a full-service pharmacy with health and wellness services, and an auto center to its offerings. The company moved 229 associates to the new facility and added almost 300 new full- and part-time jobs. The old site will be sold or leased. The store, which is open all the time, “has experienced a warm welcome by the community and our associates have been busy serving our many customers,” said Eve Butt, WalMart spokeswoman. “...Wal-Mart is excited to continue to serve Frederick in our new location and to do our part to strengthen our community through job creation, economic stimulation, charitable donations and access to healthy, affordable groceries, pharmacy services, home goods, crafts, apparel and more.” The 19-acre property has multiple other commercial pad sites. ChickFil-A spokeswoman Brenda D. Morrow confirmed in mid-March that its second Frederick location by the new Wal-Mart is projected to open in the latter part of the third quarter of this year. “We are always evaluating potential new locations in the hopes of serving existing and new customers great food with remarkable service,” Morrow said. “It has been a longtime goal of ours to serve communities in the Frederick area. ...We look forward to joining the Frederick community and 32 HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017
Photo by Sam Yu/The Frederick News-Post
A view of shops and housing at Market Square off Md. 26 in Frederick
serving all of our customers delicious food in an environment of genuine hospitality.” Starbucks also has plans to build a 2,200-square-foot store with 50 seats and a drive-through in the Wal-Mart lot. The coffee company has a store across the street from the proposed new site. There are five other Starbucks locations in Frederick. One of the largest changes to the state road came this decade when Market Square and Clemson Corner opened by Worman’s Mill Road. What was once a grass and tree covered field is now a bustling commercial area serving the North Frederick area and neighboring communities. Market Square offers a walkable community with residential townhouses/apartments on one side and a bustling commercial area on the other. Folks can head to OneLife Fitness to get their exercise in, shop retail at PetSmart and HomeGoods or get in a fast food meal or enjoy one of the sit-down restaurants including Bennigan’s, Black Hog BBQ and Buffalo Wild Wings. Just across the street is Clemson
Wal-Mart store on Md. 26 at Monocacy Boulevard
Corner, where residents may stock up on groceries at Wegmans, get some items for home improvement projects at Lowe’s, sit down for a relaxing dinner at Madrones or indulge in dessert at Yogi Castle. “The key attraction to the shopping center is the strength of the two key anchor tenants — Wegmans and Lowe’s — and the quality of the retailers and restaurants that they attract,”
Photo by Bill Green/The Frederick News-Post
said David Polonsky, Atapco Properties’ development director and lead senior project manager for the Clemson Corner development. “The shopping center is set up to allow for local residents to come get all of their errands done while also allowing them to linger for something sweet, a quick snack or a quality meal.”
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HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 33
SNIPPETS OF HISTORY
Bloomsbury at Urbana
Photo courtesy of Heritage Frederick
From The News, Aug. 15, 1977 …. The recently developed Urbana Regional Plan update projects a total population for the Urbana region of 21,195. This figure estimates that large concentrations of population will develop along the Green Valley and Monrovia areas, and assumes that the two PUDs at Urbana will not develop at their currently projected densities. The plan envisions a total Urbana community population of 10,200. If developed to its fullest potential, the Urbana Estates subdivision alone could bring 10,800 people to the area . … If the Leisure Tech development succeeds as well, the Urbana community could swell to 25,000, a community only somewhat less populous than present-day Frederick. The total population of the Urbana election district, including the population which would be encouraged to fill in the areas around subdivisions in Monrovia and Green Valley, could reach 35,000 or 40,000 in a 20-year period. …. From The News, Jan. 10, 1950 A petition is being circulated in Urbana seeking a relocation of a proposed cloverleaf intersection on the new Washington-Frederick expressway to the extent that it is not placed in the town. The petition, which a resident of Urbana said has been signed by nearly all citizens, will be presented to the State Roads Commission in the near future. From The News, Feb. 11, 1948 The proximity of a proposed Urbana district packaged liquor establishment to the so-called “dry” Montgomery County districts of Clarksburg and Damascus was a major point raised by objectors this morning as hearing began before County License Commissioner G. Cleveland Trout in the Court room of the Court House. .... The objectors brought out that the proposed place of business would be located within about 50 feet of the Montgomery County line, virtually at Hyattstown; that it was lo-
34 HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017
cated about a tenth of a mile from a church at Hyattstown and that another church is close by. Hyattstown is in Clarksburg district, which was voted “dry” in a local option election. Urbana is “wet.” .... Witnesses guffawed when applicants’ counsel suggested that Hyattstown might prosper from a business standpoint because of trade coming there due to the liquor store. From The News, March 18, 1924 Employees of the M.J. Grove Lime Company today began work looking towards the completion of the new highway leading from this city to Washington by way of Urbana, Hyattstown, and Clarksburg. A stretch of about eight miles remains to be built before the new cement highway between Frederick and Washington is completed. .... With the completion of this road, Washington will be linked with the heart of Maryland by three distinct and separate routes, one by way of Ridgeville, Damascus, Gaithersburg, and Rockville, a distance of 52 1/2 miles; the second is by way of Buckeystown, Dickerson, Poolesville and thence on to Rockville, a distance of 53 miles; and the third by way of Urbana and Clarksburg, a distance of 44 1/2 miles. From The Frederick Post, July 28, 1922 First glass works in United States opened in Urbana in 1789. The first structure to be built in Urbana was the Zion Protestant Episcopal Church. While there is some doubt—this edifice was probably constructed along about 1700. Urbana district was settled as early as 1730… The most recent improvement in Urbana is the completion of the link of state road from Frederick Junction through Urbana. The road is built of cement. Elmer Stupp, declared, “Among other things Urbana needs electric lights.”
Urbana Now BY SCOTT HARRIS SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-POST
Urbana, as people know it today, was established as a residential community. That is still the case, but the area is also quickly growing—and doesn’t show signs of slowing down any time soon. “It’s a major growth center for the county,” said Denis Superczynski, a principal planner with the Frederick County Division of Planning and Permitting. “You’ll probably see continued expansion. There is a lot of investment in getting Urbana up and running as a key growth center.” But as it grows, city residents and officials want it to grow responsibly, melding expansion with a commitment to the area’s bucolic natural landscape. “We want to keep open spaces,” Superczynski said. “If you look at Urbana from the sky, it looks like a donut. Urbana is in the center and there is a large ring of land around it. We hope to continue to grow and gain intensity in this way.” Two mixed-use developments, one on the northern end of town and one on the southern end, are key to the continued growth. According to planning officials, these developments can provide up to 4 million square feet of office space to the area. Perhaps the most important component of the Urbana North development is a new school, much needed in order to keep up with rising enrollments in the community. When it opens in 2020, Sugarloaf Elementary School will be able to accommodate 725 students, relieving crowded conditions at nearby Urbana and Centerville elementary schools. The new school, estimated to cost $30 million, also will facilitate the renovation of Urbana Elementary School. “It will provide additional capacity and also allows Urbana Elementary School to be rebuilt and expanded,” Superczynski said. “So you get two expansions in one.” Development is ongoing in the area surrounding the Villages of Ur-
bana, which began as the core of the area and now has more than 3,000 total homes. The overall project covers a 300-home unbuilt portion of the Villages of Urbana, the Urbana Office Research Center and the Urbana Town Center and Worthington Square projects, which are slated for 610 and 72 homes respectively, in addition to employment and commercial space, according to a report in The Frederick News-Post. The Urbana Office Research Center continues to be a success story for the area. The center is home to, among other things, a data center for use by national mortgage giant Fannie Mae. The Fannie Mae Technology Center opened in 2005 and is widely recognized as a leader in its field for environmental sustainability. Along with this development comes a new feeling of urbanity in Urbana. A new apartment complex, Urban Green, aims to add a cosmopolitan feel to the area, along with 352 new units of housing.
Last but not least, the YMCA of Frederick County is currently in the planning and fundraising stages for a 50,000-square-foot facility in Urbana. The new facility, which would be situated on Urbana Pike, will feature an aquatics complex and various health and wellness programs, among other amenities. The facility could open as soon as 2018, according to a report from the News-Post.
The Fannie Mae facility’s courtyard
Moms stroll with children in the Villages of Urbana.
Important Numbers
Frederick County Government 301-600-9000 Sheriff’s office (non-emergency) 301-600-1046 Volunteer fire department 301-663-3822 Frederick County Public Schools 301-644-5000
Photo by Travis S. Pratt
Photo by Dan Gross/The Frederick News-Post HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 35
SNIPPETS OF HISTORY
From The Frederick Post, Jan. 8, 1969 The county is going to get a brand spanking new bridge over the Monocacy River to replace the present span over the Biggs Ford Road which connects US 15 with Walkersville by the spring of 1970. .... Southey Nottingham, county engineer, said, “The new bridge will be approximately 8/10s of a mile long, cost anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million, and be about 60 feet upstream from the present bridge. …. The reason we are replacing the old bridge is that it was built way before the turn of the century and represents a potential threat to the safety of vehicles crossing over it now. ….” From The News, Feb. 6, 1957 A large delegation of Walkersville school patrons jammed the office of the Board of Education to capacity this morning to ask retention of their junior-senior high school and the construction, on a site already purchased by the board, of a new high school across from the present building. The group was disturbed over a recent report of the advisory committee on future school construction, made to the Board of Education, which listed as its No. 1 project a new junior-senior high school at Libertytown and made no mention of any new school in Walkersville.
36 HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017
Photo courtesy of Heritage Frederick
Walkersville looking north, circa 1908
From The Frederick Post, Sept. 1, 1944 Firemen from Walkersville, New Midway and Frederick Thursday night saved buildings on the Howard D. Flickinger farm between Walkersville and Woodsboro after lightning struck a large straw stack, consuming baled straw, hay and soy beans as well as some machinery. .... Miss Martha Flickinger noticed the fire soon after lightning struck … Again a change in the course of the
wind save (sic) a Glade Valley barn from destruction. Soon after the fire started, the course of the wind changed, carrying flames away from the barn instead of toward it. Similar good fortune on Wednesday saved the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Roger L. Kling, nearby. From The Frederick Post, Oct. 20, 1930 Twenty valuable sheep belonging to William H. Powell, Walkersville, were killed on the latter’s farm, near Thurmont, and a half dozen or more badly injured in a raid by dogs recently. The dogs made two raids killing eight or nine the first night and the remainder the second night. .... Mr. Powell entered a claim with the County Commissioners for damages for the sheep that were killed, in the amount of $610. .... The raid is one of the most destructive reported for some time and the claim is the largest filed with the commissioners for years. From The Frederick Post, April 24, 1930 Frederick County’s two largest
county banks—The Valley Savings Bank of Middletown, and the Walkersville Savings Bank—having combined deposits of more than three million dollars—will be consolidated with the Central Trust Company of Maryland. …. The merger will make the total resources of the Central Bank Trust Company more than $15,000,000, which will place the local bank in the forefront of the banking institutions of Maryland outside of Baltimore. The total bank resources of all the banks and branches of the city and county aggregate about $45,000,000. From The News, June 22, 1923 Walkersville is making plans for the opening of its playground for children on June 30. This will be the fifth year that Walkersville has had a playground and unusual enthusiasm and interest is being manifested both by the children and by their parents. The playground is conducted under the auspices of the Epworth League of the Walkersville Methodist Episcopal church, but it is for all children. ….
Walkersville/Woodsboro Now BY MARITTA PERRY GRAU SPECIAL TO THE NEWS-POST
Small Town America is alive and well in Walkersville and Woodsboro. The two communities offer all the conveniences of living near a sizable city with the comforts of a small town. In fact, Woodsboro’s motto is “Smalltown living at its best.” While the two towns retain that “small town” feel, their community leaders are in sync with today’s needs and issues, staying in touch with residents through modern means, including websites (see sidebar) and local TV stations (Comcast, Channel 99). They address growth and development through the Frederick County Comprehensive Plan, the Walkersville Regional Plan and the Woodsboro Comprehensive Plan. Both towns have experienced growth through businesses that have expanded over the years or have moved in, as well as through several subdivisions. In addition, many other businesses and recreational areas, such as the Glade Valley Golf Club, are located near Walkersville and Woodsboro. Walkersville’s most prominent business centers include the Walkers Village Shopping Center; the recently-opened Walkersville Diner; a large Sheetz, currently being remodeled; and Lonza, an international bio-research company with a cell therapy manufacturing facility—and the town’s largest employer, said Walkersville Burgess Chad Weddle. Woodsboro boasts the Rosebud Perfume Company (founded in 1895,) which is headquartered in a multistory brick building on Main Street. Its products are manufactured in Joppa and packaged in Baltimore. Woodsboro Bank has been a town fixture since 1899. It now has branches throughout Frederick County. The needs resulting from suburban development and expanded businesses, such as expanded police and fire protection, improved community resources, excellent educational facili-
ties, and increased amenities such as library services, parks, and other recreation, are addressed in the towns’ Comprehensive Plans. Emergency Services In an email, Weddle noted that the region’s continued growth is reflected in increased calls for fire and medical emergencies. He said that the Walkersville Fire Co. is completely volunteer, while the rescue company uses volunteers outside the staffed time. Walkersville has three state troopers (expected to become five this summer) through the Maryland State Police resident trooper program. Walkersville expanded its fire station in recent years, providing not only greater fire protection, but with its large meeting hall, a venue for wedding receptions, banquets, conferences and other activities. Community Resources Within the Woodsboro plan are “goals and objectives for managing community resources such as transportation networks, natural and cultural resources, community facilities, housing, land use, and economic development.” Both towns have a number of service clubs, such as the Lions, Sertoma and Civitan clubs; the Glade Valley Athletic Association; and local branches of county government services connected through the towns’ governments to provide advice or help to those in need. Schools The two towns share a high school, Walkersville High School. Elementary-age students in Walkersville attend Glade or Walkersville Elementary School. Woodsboro elementary students attend Woodsboro or New Midway Elementary School, both of which feed into Walkersville Middle School. Library Services Another need in this region has been expansion and updating of the county branch library, currently located near
Important Information: Walkersville State police 301-898-0200 Water emergencies (pager): 301-631-8504 Town website www.walkersville-md.com Burgess Town Hall 21 W. Frederick St. Walkersville 21793 301-845-4500 Frederick County Board of Education 301-644-5000
Staff photo by Sam Yu/The Frederick News-Post
Walkersville looking down Fulton Avenue from W. Frederick Street at Glade United Church of Christ.
Walkersville High School. Ground was broken March 13 for a new library in Walkersville, with completion targeted for January 2018. According to the town website, the new facility will be about 15,000 square feet, six times the size of the current building. It will include computer stations and WiFi; a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) lab; an improved children’s section with space for interactive activities; and a community meeting room. Recreation Weddle lauded Walkersville’s tax rate, saying it is one of the lowest in the state for a municipality of at least 2,000 people. With such a low tax rate, you wouldn’t think the towns could offer much in the way of amenities. However, the towns offer a variety of recreation. Walkersville has several parks. Heritage Farm Park includes a nine-hole golf course and 18-hole Frisbee golf course; jogging/walking trails; baseball, soccer, and softball fields; multipurpose fields; two cov-
Woodsboro Frederick County sheriff’s office, non-emergencies: 301-600-1046 (general); 301-600-2071 (suspicious activities) Fire Hall, non-emergencies 301-898-5100 Town website www.woodsboro.org Town Hall Fire Hall, 3rd St. Woodsboro 301-898-3800
ered rental pavilions; playground areas; garden plots to rent; an historic manor house and outbuildings; yard waste recycling and compost facilities. The most recent of Walkersville’s recreational areas is the Gilmore C. Trout Memorial Park, founded in 2000. Its namesake was a longtime Walkersville burgess (1952–1972). The park, at the corner of Sandstone Drive and Bedrock Drive, can be accessed through the Sun Meadow subdivision. Woodsboro Park, between Routes 194 and 550, has playgrounds, fishing, sledding in winter, Frisbee golf, and three covered rental pavilions on its 102 acres. Both towns have moved with the times. Indeed, both Walkersville and Woodsboro offer “small-town living at its best” while embracing the inevitable change that is the future. HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 37
ADAMSTOWN NOW, continued from 7 executive director of Visit Frederick, which promotes tourism in Frederick County. “The county has reduced the amount of industrial zoning and put in other uses, whether they be residential or even just reverting back to agriculture that was there originally.” Some factories still dot the landscape, which has led to the extension of highways like MD 85, adding greater accessibility to the area. Most associate Adamstown and Buckeystown with its premium pastures. Mainstays like Hedgeapple Farm and Mayne’s Tree Farm draw large crowds year after year, whether it be to pick up some grass-fed beef or peruse the pumpkin patch. Likewise, long-standing establishments like Lilypons Water Gardens and the Maryland Horse Trails at Loch Moy Farm offer unique outdoor adventures. For a region where farmers have been operating since the 18th-century, the agricultural community is certainly not immune to change. New farms like Miolea Organic and Nick’s Organic are embracing consumers’ shifting tastes for eco-conscious food. With an estimated population between them just shy of 4,000, these are some of Frederick County’s most tight-knit communities. When Nancy Bodmer and her husband, Ed, first moved to Buckeystown in the 1960s, most of her neighbors ventured into Frederick City only twice a year: First, to go to the dentist, and second, to visit the Great Frederick Fair. Now Bodmer sometimes drives into Frederick twice daily. The author of several books on local history, Bodmer recalls inter-
viewing people who had been living in Buckeystown since the 19th-century. Although many of the same structures still stand from back then, nowadays they are being bought up by young working professionals, many of whom pounce on the opportunity to purchase an historic property at a fairly low cost. “We have young people coming in with families. I think they’re attracted to the history and the architecture,” Bodmer said. She herself owns two such unique stone houses, one of which she and her husband have operated as Bodmer’s Stoves & Pottery for over 40 years. Her efforts helped place Buckeystown on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. In 1994, she was a founding member of the Buckeystown Preservation Society, overseeing updates to the town’s original streetlights. The past is inescapable in this area, but that hasn’t stopped the influence of 21st-century technology. Instead of going to church socials, nowadays most locals login to Facebook or Instagram. “I think the changes that have happened here are what’s happened in every small town. For some of us, we’re willing to put up with that,” said Bodmer. She, like many of the residents, appreciates the balance between modern conveniences and maintaining the area’s heritage. “Seriously, I live in the past. I love history and I feel a part of it. We’re honored to take care of these properties.” In Adamstown, several new residential developments, like Green Hill Manor and Adamstown Commons, have met the growing need for housing. Nevertheless, the classic architec-
Important Numbers
Carroll Manor Fire Co., Adamstown 301-874-5111 Hedgeapple Farm, Buckeystown 301-662-0226 Mayne’s Tree Farm, Buckeystown 301-662-4320 Loch Moy Farm, Adamstown 301-514-0111 Nick’s Organic Farm, Adamstown 301-983-2167 Miolea Organic Farm, Adamstown 301-437-8958 Lilypons Water Gardens Adamstown 301-874-5133 Bodmer’s Stoves & Pottery Buckeystown 301-662-0777 Alexanders at Buckeystown 301-874-1831
ture and old-world ambiance remain what draws most people to the area. “Our neighbors have done wonders with some of these houses that maybe weren’t taken care of as well as they should have been. There’s a renewed interest in them, which is great to see,” according to Bodmer. Besides the stunning scenery and ever-present history, both Adamstown and Buckeystown offer several restaurants, businesses and shops. Alexanders at Buckeystown serves up flavorful southern comfort food, while Chartreuse & Co.’s monthly barn sale is an antique picker’s paradise. In these two towns where past readily meets the present, there is truly more than meets the eye just waiting to be discovered.
BRUNSWICK NOW, continued from 13 Loudoun County managed 10 community centers in the county. For 40 years, the Lovettsville Community Center has offered preschool and childcare, a pool, tennis courts, and classes for all ages, interests and abilities. “The center typically sees 150-200 visitors on weekdays,” said Claire Smith, public information & communications manager at the Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services. “Centers serve as a focal point of communities, bringing residents together for a wide variety of events and activities.” She notes that residential growth in recent years has resulted in an average of one new family per week signing up for programs at the Center. 38 HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017
Important Numbers
Brunswick Senior Center 12 East A Street Director - Cathy Barnes 301-834-8115 Frederick County Public Schools www.fcps.org 301-644-5000 Loudoun County Public Schools www.lcps.org 571-252-1000 Brunswick Heritage Museum & Railroad Museum 40 W. Potomac St. Open Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays 301-834-7100 brunswickmuseum.org
Smoketown Brewing Station 223 W. Potomac St., Brunswick 301-834-4828 www.smoketownbrewing.com Town of Lovettsville www.lovettsvilleva.gov Town Hall – 540-822-5788 Lovettsville Community Center 57 E. Broad Way 540-822-5284 River & Trail Outfitters 604 Valley Road, Knoxville 301-834-9950 www.rivertrail.com Voting - Board of Elections: Frederick County 301-600-8683
Chartreuse & Co., Buckeystown 301-874-1882 Frederick Inn Bed & Breakfast Buckeystown 240-341-2902 Visit Frederick 800-999-3613 Frederick County Sheriff’s Office 301-600-1046, 301-600-2071 (Non-Emergency Dispatch) 301-600-4131 (Crime Tips Line) Frederick County Council 301-600-1135 Frederick County Community Development 301-600-1499 Frederick County Public Schools 301-644-5000
GOLDEN MILE NOW, continued from 23 Anji Mart, which opened Jan. 1, and offers authentic cuisine from southeast Asian. The store is next to Clay Oven, an Indian restaurant. Another new business, Maryland Bakes, will offer commercial kitchen space that can be rented to make baked goods, he said. Baumler points to a number of long-term tenants on the Golden Mile as well, including Peterson’s Carpet & Flooring, which opened in 1983; Wonder Book, which has been there for decades; and Casa Rico, which has been open for 25 years. Carrabba’s Italian Grill, a national chain, closed its Golden Mile location earlier this year. Baumler said that location was part of a corporate closure of 43 restaurants. New Elementary School A new west-Frederick-area elementary school, which serves residents along the Golden Mile corridor, is scheduled to open in 2018, according to Frederick County Public Schools documents. Butterfly Ridge Elementary School will help relieve overcrowding at Hillcrest Elementary. Golden Mile Alliance president Reynolds said the gym space that could also be used for meeting space for area residents.
DOWNTOWN NOW, continued from 16
Downtown Frederick is known for its spires.
of Frederick to get a new sidewalk café ordinance approved and also launched an initiative to encourage businesses to extend their hours, especially during the holiday season. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a cohesive group of organizations and volunteers to keep the wheels of progress moving in downtown.
Staff photo by Bill Green/Frederick News-Post
“Downtown Frederick’s growth and vibrancy is built on the many partners — large and small —who work collaboratively to make this community better,” said Norman. “Downtown Frederick has great people who are more than willing to work together, dig in and do the non-glamorous tasks necessary to make this community thrive.”
GETTYSBURG THEN, continued from 20 ries on the spring, and plans for a hotel were soon underway. By late 1868, the foundation had been laid and the four-story structure was taking shape. Among the first guests at the Springs Hotel was General George Meade, who visited during the summer of 1869 and sampled the famous water. Other notable individuals who visited the hotel included Generals Daniel Sickles, James Longstreet, Joshua Chamberlain and Wade Hampton. The hotel was a major gathering place for veteran reunions after the Battle of Gettysburg, and the aged generals would often sit and converse in rocking chairs on the large veranda that surrounded the entire north side of the building. In addition to the hotel, a horsedrawn railway was put in place that transported guests from the hotel (located west of Gettysburg along Willoughby’s Run) to the train station on Carlisle Street in town. Though the hotel is gone today, remnants of a stone railway bridge over the creek still exist. Also, a dam was placed further south
on Willoughby’s Run to create a swimming/boating lake for guests at the hotel. Until the turn of the century, the resort was operating at full capacity. After the 1913 Battle of Gettysburg Reunion, the Springs Hotel was not doing business like it had in previous decades. The hotel was occupied by a caretaker and the youths of Gettysburg would roller-skate through its halls and slide down stairway bannisters. The fire in 1917 completely destroyed the once-glorious structure, and the property laid dormant until the 1930s when a family attempted to reintroduce the curative water to Gettysburgians. This business venture did not succeed, and the Gettysburg Country Club formed with the intention of turning the property into a golf course. Until 2011, the property was just that—and President Dwight D. Eisenhower was a frequent golfer there until his death in 1969. Today, the land is owned by the National Park Service as part of the Gettysburg National Military Park. – courtesy of Adams County Historical Society
LIBBERTYTOWN NOW, continued from 27 Connie Farrar, who lives on Main Street, said that with sidewalks on both sides of the street, her son Gus walks everywhere. Plus, “Mount Airy has a terrific advantage in location, as it is practically equal in distance to Washington or Baltimore for commuters.” Farrar said development is always an issue in town, what with balancing new and old and issues of whether to raze, renovate or replace historic structures. “There’s been lots of development,” Farrar said. “...There are lots of new houses, a new distillery (MISCellaneous Distillery), and a drive-through Starbucks.” Rails to Trails, a national initiative turning railroad tracks into pedestrian walkways, provides foot traffic for local businesses and scenic beauty in Mount Airy. Besides the trail built along the original rail line, there’s “Mac the Caboose,” an old rail car volunteers transformed that sits on Main Street near the entrance to the popular trail. The B&O railroad car was built in 1925 and was retired from service in 1978. Mount Airy retains its small-town historic charm while building for the future. For instance, for near-
“I have always believed that if you offer people a good and wholesome event where they have good homemade food and the opportunity for positive socializing, they will keep coming back, bring a friend and tell their neighbors.” ly 60 years, the town has owned the three-story brick Flat Iron Building, which houses the Mount Airy Museum and a Maryland State Trooper office. In March 2016, the Town Council approved a site design for a new building, keeping the historic feel while expanding space from 2,200 square feet to 13,500 square feet. “We are looking to provide the best solution to address the needs of the town,” said Barney Quinn, town engineer, “to eliminate structural and other issues with the building, improve pedestrian movement on the east side of Main Street, provide more convenient and accessible parking to downtown and minimize disturbance to the existing merchants. Ongoing community forums
will help us understand everyone’s concerns and make informed decisions.” The Mount Airy Downtown Façade Program (FP) helps local businesses preserve and rehabilitate the exteriors of their properties. Businesses can apply for grants through the program and help improve the appearance of the downtown business district. The program offers an incentive dollar amount of up to 50 percent of the total cost of façade rehabilitation in return for the owner’s 50 percent or greater investment in façade improvements. As in Libertytown, visitors and tourism dollars come from various events that bring in day-trippers from Frederick and Baltimore. Mount Airy hosts five major townwide events annually, including the Main Street Heat Chili Cookoff in April, MayFest (formerly known as the Spring Fling) in May, Flag Day in June, FallFest (formerly known as Festival on the Ridge) in October, and Christmas in Olde Town in December. Volunteers from the town run these events. It’s a small section of Maryland, but it has the entire spectrum of new and old, a perfect microcosm of Frederick County — where hip meets historic — every day.
Important Numbers
Mount Airy City Website www.mountairymd.org Mount Airy Library 705 Ridge Ave., Mount Airy 301-829-5290 Information Desk: 410-386-4470 Mount Airy Senior Center 703 Ridge Ave., Mount Airy 301-829-2407 The Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce 301-829-5426 inquiries@mtairychamber.com www.mtairychamber.com Mount Airy Town Hall 301-829-1424 email town@mountairymd.org Mac the Caboose Visitors Center 2 N. Main St. Open Saturday, Noon – 5 p.m. The Retreat at Market Square 301-663-0156 Frederick County Tax Information 301-600-1111 Voting - Board of Elections: Frederick County 301-694-1005 HELLO, FREDERICK | 2017 39