Group searching for city’s oldest building

History buffs have list narrowed to seven

Angie Brant Cumberland Times-News

— CUMBERLAND  — More than 500 current and former residents have launched an investigation to determine where the oldest structure in Cumberland is located. They are using social media to help solve the mystery.

The Western Maryland History Group was formed on Facebook more than a year ago by local historian Steve Colby. The group became part of an extension for the research Colby was conducting on the National Road and Braddock’s Road.

“I established forums for the Cumberland Road Project and the Western Maryland History websites, but they saw little action. I wanted to create a place where people interested in local history could discuss a myriad of topics and share pictures and histories. Adding photos to the forum format can be difficult, Facebook simplfies the process,” Colby said.

Anyone with an interest in local history is invited to join the group and maybe help solve this mystery or begin an investigation on another topic.

Colby said the group is dedicated to “all things Western Maryland history from General Braddock to the Donohoe’s Hamburger Stand in LaVale. We’re looking for photos, documents and your recollections of bygone people and places in Cumberland, Frostburg, Hagerstown, Frederick, Oakland, Grantsville, Allegany County, Garrett County, Washington County and Frederick County.”

Soon, individuals from Cumberland and throughout the country started joining the group, sharing memories and posing questions about the history of the “Queen City.”

According to member Dave Williams, “Things got lively when I, local historian Bob Bantz, attorney Dan Press, local heritage expert Dave Dorsey and local resident Bill Feeney started kicking pictures and stories around about the people.

“When famous, familiar houses on Washington Street and Columbia Street came into discussion with a good picture, these guys started chiming with the amazing amount of human, social and economic history they knew,” Williams said. “All of a sudden the dry history came alive and people began to connect family names and their own personal experiences with the historic homes and buildings.”

Then, a question was raised that seemed to really pique everyone’s interest, “What is the oldest house still standing in Cumberland?”

“The group went crazy with enthusiasm, suggesting houses daily,” Williams said.

When it became clear that there was no definitive answer, Williams organized a search that would involve members from across the country.

The “principal investigators,” Press, a deed search attorney; Colby, an expert in old land patents; Dorsey, a former employee of the Maryland Historical Trust; and Feeney, a local history enthusiast; sifted through countless historical documents, relying on tips they received from their fellow Western Maryland History Group members. After six months, the “investigation” yielded what the group is calling its finalists.

The seven structures they have determined to be among the oldest still standing in Cumberland include: Hoye House, Washington Street, 1796; Simpkins House, Mechanic Street, 1809; Shriver Farmstead, Third Street, 1790-1810; Laing Farm House, South End, 1812; and Pigman’s End, Fayette Street, 1855.

Additional information is being sought on the Brinker House on Oldtown Road and 128 Greene St. Williams said evidence suggests both structures are early 19th century but a more accurate date has not been determined.

Rick Witt, a former Cumberland resident, recently joined the ranks of the group’s more than 500 members.

Now living in San Diego, Witt said the site has provided him an outlet to share his memories and love of the area, while learning something new about his hometown.

“I am now on the other coast and I am so terribly proud of the history of my hometown,” he said.

Calling the group a “a spectacular collection of minds and hearts who love this area and its history,” Witt said he enjoys the discussions and is pleased when he is able to contribute a bit of information to the online chats.

“I could probably write pages about the Western Maryland History Group and all the things I’ve learned. It is an amazing resource of information and insight into Western Maryland history from many who are working to preserve the rich heritage that we all are so passionate about,” Witt said.

“There are so many in the group who are profoundly interested and concerned about Western Maryland, its past, present and future. Through the posts, pictures and comments, the Western Maryland History group makes me walk down Fayette Street, through the alleys of West Side, up and down Baltimore Street; it is a virtual memory organizer for the sights and sounds of my hometown. I’ve walked Braddock’s Road on Haystack Mountain, sat on the edge of the Narrows and looked down on Nemacolin’s village at Wills Creek; for those who understand and appreciate the history of the area, the Facebook group offers us the opportunity to connect with like-minded people to share thoughts, pictures, news and so much more.

“I’m only saddened by the fact that I can’t jump in the car or take a walk and reinforce the memories that the group has helped refresh and restore,” Witt said.

Colby has also created several other faces Facebook pages: Architecture of Cumberland; Architecture of Western Maryland and the Alleghenies; and Cemeteries and Other Favorite Haunts.

Contact Angie Brant at abrant @times-news.com.

More here.

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WM history website still work in progress

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News The Cumberland Times-News Sun Apr 03, 2011, 11:10 PM EDT CUMBERLAND — A Western Maryland history website created by city resident Steve Colby continues to be a work in progress. The website www.wmdhistory.org, which was started a year and a half ago, offers a wealth of historical information on Allegany and Washington counties. “The intent for the website was to create a collaborative online database of documented information for people to do research or who are into history,” said Colby. “It was also created to promote more consciousness of history in the area.” The website includes a host of historical articles, maps, a history forum and a Google site search. Recently added to the website are Allegany and Garrett County land patent surveys from the 1740s to 1787 and a Gazetteer of Western Maryland. “History, without visual context, often lacks the sense of place that stirs the imagination. By mining information stored in books, documents, maps and photos and presenting it online, we hope to provide a spark ... a spark that will stir you to see past the veil of everyday life and envision the history that has gone on before,” says the website. Colby is seeking transcribers for the surveys. Anyone wishing to transcribe can find the images of the original handwritten patents through the Maryland State Archives online at www.MDlandrec.net. Colby is still adding to the patent survey project and later years will be added as time permits. A gridded version of Veatch's 1787 Map of Military Lots West of Cumberland has been created to help find the location of the patents. “Early land patents and deeds often have valuable references to roads, creeks, houses, mills and other landmarks” said Colby. “Ofttimes these are the only recorded information on the location of a landmark.” Colby explained that the archives can be a little cumbersome at first and that there is a learning curve. He also explained that sometimes it is hard to search the archive for Allegany County because at one time Allegany was a part of Prince George’s County, then was a part of Frederick, followed by Washington and Garrett counties. The Gazetteer features natural and manmade landmarks from the 1700s on in Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties. The initial Gazetteer includes information from the MD State Gazetteer, circa 1941, combined with a list of Maryland post offices from about 1792 to the 1970s, according to Colby. In addition to the Western Maryland History website, Colby also hosts a Cumberland Road Project website, www.cumberlandproject.com, which features history of the National Road, and a Western Maryland History Facebook page that features historical photographs. Colby travels as far as Brownsville and Clear Spring to get pictures for the Facebook page. “Additional early landmark information, including waterways, residences, mills, roads, towns and villages, cemeteries and etc. is added almost daily (to the website),” said Colby. “I welcome people’s submission. If anyone has any historical information or if anyone would like to write a historical article, I would love to see it,” said Colby. The only thing Colby asks is that people who offer historical information also provide the documentation to back it up. Anyone with historical information on Western Maryland may e-mail it to Colby at editor@cumberlandroadproject.com Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com If you or someone you know is considering buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues! As member of the Garrett County Board of Realtors, I can assist you with ANY listed property, regardless of the listing broker.

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Ten Oddly Named Small Town Travel Destinations - sawfnews.com

Accident, Maryland. Photo Credit: Garrett County Chamber of Commerce

Accident, Maryland
Accident is a town in Garrett County, Maryland, United States. The population was 353 at the 2000 census.

A person from Accident is called an "Accidental".

The town of Accident is located near Deep Creek Lake in northern Garrett County, the westernmost county of Maryland.

The unusual name of the town has an interesting story.

In 1750 King George II of England paid off a debt to George Deakins by giving him 600 acres of land in western Maryland.

To make the best of the opportunity, Deakins dispatched two independent survey teams to scout for the most promising land in that section of Maryland. When the teams returned it was discovered that they had marked the exact same 600 acres, even starting with the same oak tree.

A delighted Mr. Deakins had the location patented as "The Accident Tract."

The town is best known for The Drane House, which was constructed circa 1800 by James Drane, the first permanent settler in the Accident area.

Located on a high ground to the east of the town, approximately 150 yards from the Accident-Bittinger Road and one-half mile east of U.S. Route 219, it is believed to be the oldest standing structure in Garrett County.

The Drane House was purchased by the Town of Accident in 1987, reconstructed and preserved on the original site, and dedicated in 1994.

Recreational activities such as rafting and climbing programs from Adventure Sports Center International offer a more varied experience.

Read the rest here.



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Garrett County Schools Of Yesteryear Is Published; Result Of 16-Year Effort

courtesy Republican News


Aug. 14, 2008

Book-Signing Slated Aug. 23

by Mary Sincell McEwen

After completing a history project about area schools some 16 years ago, two retired teachers, Jean Williams Grose and Alice Feather Eary (above left and right) shared a vision. "Let's compile a book about all the schools of Garrett County," said one. "Do you think we'll live long enough to get it finished?" asked the other.

The answer is yes, and decidedly so. Eary and Grose now are the accomplished authors of Garrett County Schools of Yesteryear, a 670-page tome of stories, pictures, and rich history of the education system of the area from its very beginning. The book was published by Schlabaugh Publishing in Sugar Creek, Ohio, and is now available at the Garrett County Museum in Oakland.

The two writers will be available for a book-signing at the museum on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. The production of the hardback book, priced at about $40 each, was funded by the Garrett County Historical Society, and all the proceeds from its sale will benefit that organization.

Both writers are members of Delta Kappa Gamma, a teachers' society. That group was hosting an exhibit at Garrett College in about 1992, and Eary and Grose said they were appointed ("more like drafted," Grose said, smiling) to compile a history of area schools for one part of the display. They became so engaged in the research that they decided to embark on the journey of finding out all they could about the entire history, and doing their best to preserve it in book form.

Their trek was long and arduous, with a number of obstacles. For one thing, the decision was made in about 1943 by the school board at the time to get rid of most minutes and records of the school system, as there was apparently no known need to keep them. So precious documents were indeed destroyed. However, Eary and Grose remained steadfast and found other resources, such as the back issues of The Republican newspaper.

"There was a wealth of school information in the newspaper," Eary said. "We just had to take the time to find it."

Over the years, she combed through issue after issue, with the help of the Ruth Enlow Library and its microfilm collection of the paper.

"There have been so many letters-to-the-editor dealing with the school system; some complaining, some praising. That helped. And there were many stories about pageants and events, too, at the schools. It took a long time, but I found a lot in the papers over the years," Eary said.

The two asked for the public's assistance in gathering any school information out there. At first, they said, the response was very slow. But as word spread about the project, more and more information began to flow in. The book features multiple photographs of the many area facilities, both staged pictures and candid. There are 20 chapters, 14 of which are specifically about the schools from Finzel to Kitzmiller and all in between. At one time, every small community throughout the county had its own one-room or two-room school. The book includes photos and information of facilities, teachers, and students, now long gone, as well as data about more current schools and their administrations.

Both women had a passion about the topic, as both were longtime teachers in the community. Eary began her career in 1951, teaching in a one-room schoolhouse in Preston County, W.Va. After one year there, she moved on to Garrett County and taught at the Oakland Elementary School (Center Street) for seven years. Later, after her son was born, she taught for seven more years at Loch Lynn, and then settled in for 25 years at Southern High School, teaching business education. In all, she was a teacher for 40 years.

Grose began as a substitute, and then enjoyed the position enough to complete her degree and take a full-time position at Northern High School, teaching math. She remained a math teacher for 33 years, working at Northern, Southern, and Southern Middle. Both women said they loved their careers. The odyssey of the book has enhanced their retirement years.

"I feel a deeper connection with Garrett County now," Grose said. "Even though I am a West Virginian (having grown up in Romney), Garrett County is the place I know and the place I love."

Eary said one of the best aspects of completing the project was the way people wanted to help.

"It has been very gratifying the way people have shared pictures and memories and so on," she said. "We have been so touched by the generosity and willingness to help, and we are so pleased with the reception of the book we've already witnessed."

The two women, who both reside in the Cranesville, W.Va., area, attended an Oakland High School allclass reunion last week. They were barraged with requests to see the book, and actually sold several at the event.

"That was a surprise," Grose said. "We were selling them left and right."

The two have even had requests for the book at their church.

"It felt rather odd, selling books out of my car after the church service. I don't think that's very appropriate," Eary said, laughing. "But all the proceeds do benefit the historical society."

"We so appreciate the cooperation of Garrett Countians," Grose said. "Their enthusiasm has been rewarding."

The book lists a large number of individuals who helped with the project, and contains a forward written by Dr. Jerome Ryscavage, former superintendent of schools.

"We had a lot of help, with everything from gathering information to assistance with the computer," Eary said. She especially appreciated the help of her son, Matthew Eary, who helped create a program to aid in the compilation.

Robert Boal, president of the historical society, said the women have outdone themselves on the book.

"They absolutely have done a beautiful job with this," Boal said. "It will be of great interest to so many people."

Both women noted that there are still opportunities for anyone who has information about the history of public (or private) education in Garrett County but who were not able to pass it along before the publication of the book.

"If there are pictures or stories or information out there still, people may submit the data to the historical society," Eary said. "It can then be published in the Glades Star." (The Glades Star is a quarterly publication of the historical society.)

For more information about the book, persons may contact the museum at 301-334-3226.


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