Hagerstown

By Mary H. Rubin

Lying just north of the Potomac River in the heart of the fertile Cumberland Valley, Hagerstown, Maryland has been at the crossroads of history and commerce since its founding in 1762. Nestled between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, the city sits on a north-south path that migration, war, and commerce have traveled for centuries, while the nearby Potomac River carves out a natural path that served as a gateway to the American West. This fortunate geography influenced the growth and development of Hagerstown, the seat of Washington County, and also earned it the nickname Hub City. The unique story of Hagerstown, captured in this volume of vintage photographs, includes not only the tales of the Civil War, the coming of the railroad, and the C&O Canal, but of the men and women who built a community and made it home. Through their perseverance and spirit, the city took shape businesses were established, schools, hospitals, and churches erected, and neighborhoods formed. From Alsatia Mummer s parades and the Great Hagerstown Fair to the bygone days when trolleys rolled through town, the heritage of this singular city is recalled and honored in this engaging tribute.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Jul 10, 2001
• ISBN: 9781439612149

Mary H. Rubin

Join author Mary H. Rubin in a look back at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal as seen through the photographs of days gone by. Images from the C&O Canal National Historical Park Headquarters depict the canal's vital role in the growth of our nation. Take a walk through history in this retrospective and remember the days of the C&O Canal and the legacy it has left.

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INTRODUCTION

For over two centuries, since its founding in 1762, Hagerstown has been a central player in the history of our country and is literally at the crossroads of history and commerce. The town lies just north of the Potomac River in the heart of the Cumberland Valley. The Conococheague and Antietam Creeks cut this valley, known locally as the Great Hagerstown Valley. Originating in Pennsylvania, these two streams also cut the northern part of the Great Valley in Pennsylvania known as the Cumberland or Lehigh Valley. The Great Valley continues south across the Potomac River into Virginia where, known as the Shenandoah Valley, it was formed by the Shenandoah River. This scenic valley between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains provides a north-south route that migration, war, and commerce have followed through the years. Additionally, the great Potomac River provides a natural east-west passage that America used as the gateway to settling the West.

Residents encountered Native Americans in the early years of settlement as the abundant wildlife in the area made the valley a popular hunting ground. Some of the area’s place names today come from native words such as Antietam, which meant swift, flowing water. For those early adventurers who pushed on from the East Coast to penetrate into this fertile valley and carve out a new life, Native Americans were a constant threat. With the unknown wilderness to the west and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east, there was little hope of timely help in case of attack. This need to rely upon themselves made the early settlers of the area an independent race.

After the Revolutionary War, Washington County (of which Hagerstown is the county seat) was created on September 6, 1776. Originally part of Frederick County, the new county was named for George Washington who would later become the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. General Washington had spent time in the area working on schemes to improve navigation on the nearby Potomac River, hoping to link it to the Ohio River with a series of locks and dams. One of Hagerstown’s main thoroughfares through downtown, Washington Street, would take its name from the country’s first president.

As the new, young country began to grow, so too did Hagerstown. Pioneers moving further westward traveled the National Pike through Washington County, and Hagerstown became an important stopping point. Settlers heading out to the west took Hagerstown Almanacs with them, as well as many other products manufactured in Washington County to be sold at western outposts. Thousands upon thousands traveled the National Pike route, once the busiest road in the country, from Baltimore to the Pike’s end in Illinois. Tollhouses collected fees for the use of the road, and inns and taverns sprung up all along the way to accommodate weary travelers.

The coming of the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal and, later, the railroads, brought increased prosperity to the growing town, which was once the third largest city in Maryland. As western farmlands began to develop, trade with the East Coast increased. The C&O Canal, begun in the late 1820s, was designed to meet the need for a faster method of transporting goods. So named because it was intended to begin at the Chesapeake Bay and continue on to Ohio, the canal followed the Potomac River. In 1867, the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad opened a line to Hagerstown with the intention of competing with the canal. The railroads soon proved to be far more efficient than the canal boats, and rail traffic increased dramatically.

With its critical location on the North/South border, Hagerstown was heavily involved in the Civil War. The town served as a supply center and staging area throughout the war years and was occupied several times by Confederate troops. One of the most notable events was the Ransom of Hagerstown during 1864. On July 6, 1864, General McCausland demanded the sum of $20,000 as well as clothing supplies for his troops from Hagerstown or the town would be laid to waste by fire. Working together, the Hagerstown City Council and three local banks were instrumental in hastily gathering the funds to meet the demand and save the town.

Hagerstown continued to grow and thrive through the remainder of the 19th century and on into the 20th. Today, as the town moves through its third century and on into the new millennium, we would be well served to slow down from today’s hectic pace for a few moments and take a look back on where our town has been. The photographic retrospective presented in these chapters documents the places and events that helped shape this historic town. A better understanding of the past that shaped Hagerstown will allow residents to look to the future with pride and confidence.

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HISTORIC BUILDINGS, HOMES, AND VIEWS

Hagerstown’s first town hall was built c. 1769 in the middle of the public square. The first floor was an open-air market, and farmers drove their wagons through the open archways. Note the weathervane, Little Heiskell, which can be seen on top of the