1882

The Western Maryland Hotel

1871

The former Western Maryland Hotel, later called Spotswood House, stands at the intersection of Emmitsburg Turnpike (now Church Street) and Altamont Avenue, across from the Plaza Shopping Center. Built by John Lohr a farmer who lived in Graceham, about two miles East of Mechanicstown, now called Thurmont, in the summer of 1871, it was purposely sited there to take advantage of the proximity to the first railroad depot, then located up the hill between the tracks and the U.B. Church (Wellers). Mr. Lohr spared no expense in constructing the three-story brick building with wide porches across the front under a fashionable Italianate-style bracketed cornice. The building had 16 rooms and "every modern convenience."

1877

Mr. Lohr's investment turned sour when the railroad decided to move the passenger depot to the Carroll Street location, leaving the hotel in an inconvenient and isolated locale. In the spring of 1877 the Hotel building was offered for sale. The newspaper commented that nearly $4,000 had been spent on its construction, but no adequate bids were received at the public auction, so John sold the building to his brother Simon Lohr, also a farmer, for $2,100. It was renamed Spotswood House and limped along for a few more years with several local merchants maintaining storerooms there. Dentists and lawyers who spent one or two days in town also made it their headquarters. It later became a Lohr family residence and was finally converted to apartments.

1878

A directory of its day describes Mechanicstown in the following fashion:

Is on the W. M. R. R., 56 miles from Baltimore, 15 by pike from Frederick and 27 by rail, and three-fourths of a mile from the Catoctin Mountains. The nearest streams are the Hunting and Owing's (Owens) Creeks; it is located in a pleasing and thriving country. The climate and health are good, business fair. Soil is of red shale, yellow slate, alluvial, and some limestone. The land is principally cleared, ranges in prices from $30 to $60 per acre, and yields 8 to 20 bus. wheat, 10 to 40 oats, 80 to 50 corn and 1 to 2 tons hay. The Catoctin Furnace is within 2 miles and in operation. The timber now remaining consists of oak, hickory, walnut, chestnut, poplar and beech. Population 700. John Root, Postmaster.

*W.M.R.R. = Western Maryland Rail Road

1882

January 17, 1882 - TGMM

Mr. Sheets reported making progress on making drain at West End of town. Public school board of Frederick notified to pave for walk in front of public schoolhouse bought or before the 15^th day of April 1882. Adopted Carlisle Street to be paid with Cobble head stone from square topper side of alleys as soon as weather permits. The foot walk from the public square along the east side of the Emmitsburg and Frederick turnpike road to the Emmitsburg where road depot grounds show before foot 6 in. Wide from the northwest corner of the Western Maryland Hotel to the alley and from there and a straight-line 6'6" wide to the southwest corner of a lot of land belonging to David Wagner and join the coal and lumber yard adjoining the railroad depot.

The importance of having the foot walk in the public square between the long and Shorb lot was discussed.

June 16, 1883

Richard Offut was passing along the banks of Tom’s Creek, last week with his gun in his hands, he happened to see some fish before him in shallow water and fired, killing two mullets, one of them was 17 ½ inches, another 18 in. long.

The contract for the Bridge ever Tom’s Creek at Myers Mill, 80 ft. span in 14 roadway was given to Isaiah Moser for $670, an ironwork to the Canton Bridge Company at $10.50 per four

William Krause and sons-proprietors of the Western Maryland Hotel

1884

May 10, 1884 Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company

List the stations and the numbers now connected with the Emmitsburg exchange to which new names will be added as fast as connected. Instruments free to subscribers only

237 - Adams express office
249 - William Krause and sons
212 - Chronicle Office
231-3 Catoctin office, Mechanicstown
231-3 - Charles Cassell
248-2 - Emmitsburg railroad depot
226 - Emmitt House
236 - Gunther & Beam stable
232 - R. Gelwicks
202 - W. G. Horner
241 - John Hess
234-3 - Ernest Legarde
202 - Mutual livestock insurance company office
237 - Motter, Maxell & Co.
212 - Samuel Motter
234-2 - Mount St. Mary’s College
229 - managers office exchange
217 - William Nunemaker
248-2 - George Ovelman - office
248-3 - George Ovelman-residence
226 - William Sutton
235 - St. Joseph’s House
231-5 White and Letterman
249 - Western Maryland Hotel

Terms: for special wire within 1 mi. of exchange, $50 per year, for place of business and residents on special wire, $86 for both. For residence in city limits on a general wire-$36

Explanation - a special wire is a wire with only one instrument on it connecting with the exchange. A general wire is one upon which the Company reserves the right to put as many instruments as they deem proper connecting with exchange.

To call the exchange press the button on the left of Bell, as you ring one long ring, then take down the "hand phone", and when you hear from the exchange say "Please give me number -------", keep your telephone to your ear until you hear from the party wanted. When through talking say "goodbye," hang up the phone, with a large end down, and get one short ring of the Bell, to notify the exchange that you are through talking.

When you are called, do not ring back, but take down the hand phone, and place at your ear and ask "who calls?"

Signed Belle Helman, local manager.

1892

Cole's Cavalry was mustered out of service on June 28, 1865 at Harper's Ferry. The cavalry command then rode to Baltimore to be formally discharged. The operations of Cole’s Cavalry were amongst the most heroic and impressive of any organization in the Eastern Theater of the Civil War. It is estimated that the command rode over 7000 miles during its four years of military service. The men themselves stuck together as a fraternity long after the war. As late as 1892 they were holding reunions at the local Grand Army of the Republic headquarters, banqueting at the old Western Maryland Hotel, and holding "campfires" where they relived their old days in the field and camp.