Brunswick

By Mary H. Rubin

Eel Pot, Buffalo Wallows, Coxson Rest, Tankerville, Hawkins’ Merry-Peep-O-Day, Berlin—readers might not recognize a few of the names the area now known as Brunswick went by in years past. Brunswick, Maryland, just six miles by towpath from historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, is rich in history. The area holds Civil War importance and served as a supply depot for the Union army after the Battle of Antietam. Primarily known as a canal town until the late 1800s, the town became an important rail center when the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad came to
town and set up huge rail operations. Today the town sits on the now-quiet banks of the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal, and the train whistles don’t sound quite so often, but this community continues to draw visitors seeking history, outdoor recreation, and
small-town charm.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Sep 12, 2007
• ISBN: 9781439619346

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.

Book preview

life.

INTRODUCTION

Just six miles by towpath from historic Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, Brunswick, Maryland, is rich in history. The town’s name itself serves as a lesson in history. Though it was incorporated as Brunswick in 1890, the town’s roots reach back to its original settlement in 1728 when it was known as Coxson Rest. This plot of land was located where Lock 30 of the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal now stands and was built by an Indian trader, Abraham Pennington, who ran a trading post and a ferry across the Potomac River. This spot along the river grew as a major crossing point for those heading to Virginia. The Highland Indian Trail was a direct north-south route through this region and ran as far as Florida.

Some of the other names given to what was to become Brunswick, each with their own story to tell, include Eel Pot, Buffalo Wallows, Tankerville, and Hawkins’ Merry-Peep-O-Day. Arguably the most well-known, previous name was Berlin, so named for the large number of German immigrants in the area at the time. The name caused great confusion for the U.S. Postal Service because there was already a Berlin, Maryland located on the state’s eastern shore. To avoid postal problems, the town began operating under the post office name of Barry. In 1890, the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad was making its presence known in town, and a railroad official was asked to suggest a fancier name for the community, and Brunswick was born.

When exploring downtown Brunswick today, it is hard to picture it as the thriving town it used to be. In the days before suburban sprawl, people not only lived in town, but also shopped there, met friends and family for social events, and traveled to points far and near on the train. In short, town was where the action was! Today only commuter and freight trains stop in Brunswick, but at one time, excursion trains left Brunswick for Hagerstown and to one of the most popular parks of its day, Pen Mar Park, on the border of Maryland and Pennsylvania. The five-and-ten store was once a treasure trove to all who entered—you name it and it could be found. The counters, walls, and ceiling were stuffed with merchandise of every kind. Russell Baker writes in his biography, Growing Up, that coming across the river from Virginia to Brunswick was like coming to paradise, and a trip to the movie house or an ice cream soda at the drugstore was a dream come true. The canal was a thriving, living thing, and trains rumbled by endlessly. In fact, the kind of activity that one only associates today with large towns was once the commonplace way of life in Brunswick, as was true of other small communities throughout Maryland and, indeed, the rest of the country.

Today the town sits on the now-quiet banks of the C&O Canal, and the train whistles don’t sound the way they used to, but this community continues to draw visitors seeking history, outdoor recreation, and small-town charm. Join author Mary Rubin in a look back at Brunswick as seen through photographs of days gone by. Images from the Brunswick History Commission and the C&O Canal National Historical Park Headquarters bring the area back to life and illustrate the vital role it played in the growth of our nation.

One

THE EARLY YEARS

Founded in 1787, Brunswick, Maryland, has a reputation as a railroad town, but it also has ties to the C&O Canal. The town was located at Milepost 55 along the canal, and ferry service was the original mode of crossing the Potomac River prior to the bridge service used now. This 1964 photograph shows a dilapidated mill from the old canal days. Note the rail tracks in front of the mill and the hopper car to the left. (Courtesy U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.)

Here is a close-up view of the pontoon bridge across the Potomac River at Berlin (Brunswick), Maryland, in October 1862. The bridge was built on pontoons that floated on the surface of the water rather than traditional bridge pilings driven into the riverbed. The Civil War was already in progress, and troops would use this bridge to cross the river in the days to come. In November 1862, the pontoons were removed and transported to Fredericksburg, Virginia, for use in crossing the Rappahannock River. (Courtesy C&O Canal National Historical Park Headquarters.)

Known at the time as Berlin, the town of Brunswick, Maryland,