Businesses, Hotels and Saloons and Residences of Cumberland
Circa 1813 and later (Searight)

Last Update: Oct. 20, 2010, 2011

History of Cumberland, Md (1878) by William Harrison Lowdermilk.

(p289)
The following is a sketch of the houses standing in 1813, from the most reliable data that can be obtained, taking the oldest streets in succession, and beginning with the West side of the Creek.

On the South side of Green street, where it is intersected by Water street, stood a house and shop, which was used by a man named Glenn, who was a nail-maker; the brick building now used as the residence of the Chief Engineer of the Water Works, was erected by Roger Perry, in 1811. next was this was the Dent or Devecmon house; opposite Glenn's nailshop was the house of Capt. Thomas Blair, who was a hatter; nearby and opposite the Dent house, was the house of Michael Kershner. These comprise the houses East of Smallwood St. West of this street were, on the South side as is William McMahon's dwelling and store, and Faw's Tavern; on the North ssisidere the houses of Rev. Mr. Kennedy, minster; Mr. Glissan; the old guard quarters; George Hughes, and Andrew McCleary.

On Rose Hill was the reisdence now occcupied by J.G. Lynn, Esq., which was built by his father, in 1810. The house now occupied by Dr.James. M. Smith was built in 1810, by Upton Bruce, who reside there.

Washington Street was then a very steep and rough road. There were but four houses on the South side, one built by Mr. Deakins, and afterwards bought by John Hoye; the old Washington headquarters; a frame house a few yards West of it, and a brick house on the site now occupied by Hon. William Walsh's residence. On the North side were the Court Hosue and the jail, the clerk's office, and the house built by Roger Perry.

On the ground North of Fayette St., near the present railroad line, were Hanson Briscoe's house, the Methodist Church, the Academy, and a small house in the rear of the ground now occupied by the residence of Mr. R.G. Johnson.

These comprised all of the houses on the West side of the creek.

On Bedford street, now Baltimore street, a black-smith shop stood near the banks of the Creek, and in close proximity to the bridge; on the Southwest corner of Baltimore and Mechanic streets was a frame store house; on the ground now occupied by Mrs. S. Thress's store, was a log house, built by Robert McCleary. (This was torn down and replaced by a brick house in 1830). On the North side Peter Gephart had a dwelling where McKaig's block stands, below Liberty street; near the corner was Dowden's house. Between Liberty and Mill (now Centre) streets the ground was occupied by John Shryer's tan yard, and on the northwest corner of Baltimore and Centre stood the old Lutheran Church.

On Liberty street there were no houses, except those occupied by Captain Thomas Beall of Samuel, and John Miller.

Mechanic street was at that time the main street, and the houses located there were as follows, taken in sequence from the south to the north: On the west side below Harrison street, Elnathan Russell's house and blacksmith shop, both still standing at the offset in the street; A. Rogers, butcher; Nicholas Koontz; Michael Fisher, cooper; Henry Wineow, brickmason ; Thomas Dowden, blacksmith. Between Creek and Baltimore streets: — first, Slicer's tavern, the Cumberland Bank, Wyatt's drug store, corner Baltimore.

Between Creek and Baltimore streets: - first, Slicer's tavern, the Cumberland Bank, Wyatt's drug store, corner Baltimore.

Between Baltimore street and Bedford street:—Reeside's, or McKinley's, hotel, (old National) John Scott, Dr. Reese, McGill's drug store, E. Vowell's store, Samuel Lowdermilk, Peter Lowdermilk, harness and saddlery shops; William Shryer's cabinet shop, George Hoblitzell's store.

Between Bedford street and the Blue Spring:—The first house was where the gas works stand, and was occupied by a shoemaker named McDonald; then came Adam Zeigler's store; Jacob Neff's pottery; W. Boyd, a Methodist Episcopal minister; James Simmons, butcher; Robert McCleary, and Jacob Korns, blacksmith, just below the Blue Spring.

Above the Spring were Samuel Smith, store and post-office; Henry Korns, comb-maker; M. Soyster, tan yard; Jacob Soyster, saddler, and Wm. Beard.

West side of Mechanic street: — First, Martin Rizer's house; between Harrison and Baltimore streets, Michael Kershner's new house; Arthur Rose; John Boward; Christian Deetz; N. Bassnet; George Hoffman, and on the southeast corner of Baltimore, John Murrell's store.

Between Baltimore and Bedford:—Barton Carico's tavern; Justice's store; Ryan's tavern; C. F. Broadhag's store; George Hoblitzell; Jacob Saylor; John Gephart, hatter; Solomon Davis, tailor, and Jacob Hoblitzell's store.

Between Bedford street and the Blue Spring: — The first house was where the gas works stand, and was occupied by a shoemaker named McDonald; then came Adam Zeigler's store; Jacob NeflTs pottery; W. Boyd, a Methodist Episcopal minister; James Simmons, butcher; Robert McCleary, and Jacob Koms, blacksmith, just below the Blue Spring.

Above the Spring were Samuel Smith, store and post office; Henry Korns, comb-maker; M. Soyster, tan yard; Jacob Soyster, saddler, and Wm. Beard.

West side of Mechanic street : — First, Martin Rizer's house ; between Harrison and Baltimore streets, Michael Kershner's new house; Arthur Rose; John Boward; Christian Deetz; N. Bassnet; George Hoffman, and on the southeast corner of Baltimore, John Murrel's store.

Between Baltimore and Bedford: — Barton Carico's tavern; Justice's store; Ryan s tavern; C. F. Broadhag's store ; George Hoblitzell ; Jacob Saylor ; John Gephart, hatter; Solomon Davis, tailor, and Jacob Hoblitzeirs store.

Between Bedford street and Little Valley Road:—John Scott's mill, (corner Bedford,) George Thistle; Peter Lowdermilk; Jacob Shuck; Dr. Murray; Henry Baker; Benjamin Wiley; Francis Madore, (corner of alley below Railroad viaduct); Michael Wire's drug store; Wolf; George Cox, Jonathan Cox, tanyard; James Hook, wheelright; John Wickard, farmer; Jacob Sease; B. Howard; Henry Korns ; Dickeson Simkins' "Three Butts Hotel."

North of Little Valley street:—Thomas Clinton; Peterson ; Elias Hook ; Hector Mcintosh, combmaker; Strieker, tailor; Crawford, shoemaker; David Shultz, wagon-maker; John Rowe; Jonathan Hendrixon, carpenter; Peter Lichlider; and Starner.

Mill street, now Centre street, was then a narrow, crooked road through a commons, with but few houses scattered here and there. At the corner of Centre and Baltimore streets was Shryer's tan yard, on the north west, and the Lutheran Church on the northeast.. At the corner of Bedford street, where the City Hall now stands was the house of John Clise. On the northwest corner of Bedford and Centre was Startzman's tan yard, and on the northeast corner was Thomas Thistle's house, a tavern. The Catholic Church stood on the ground now occupied by the Carroll Hall school building, adjoining the present Church grounds. Immediately south of it was James White's house, and across the street lived Peter Louderbaugh. James Bean occupied a house a few hundred yards north, and above Little Valley road were two other houses, one of which was the house of Mrs. Waugh, a midwife.

Bedford street, or, as it was then called, Blocher street, boasted a very limited number of buildings. On the south side, near the corner of Centre, lived Mrs. Willison and James Moore; on the ground now occupied by Mrs. Henry Korns' residence was the house of Francis Deems; in a field, (corner of Decatur street) lived Abraham Simkins. On the north side of the street, where Jesse Korns now lives, was a block of small houses known as " Berry's Row." A short distance above were James P. Carleton's and John Lingo's, and next Eckles' Pottery, George Blocher's, (house still standing,) Jacob Shuck's and John McMahon's.

A grist mill stood at the mouth of the race, where the wharf of the Consolidation Coal Company is located. This mill was built somewhere about 1800, by Peter Devecmon, at a cost of $8,000, and was regarded as one of the finest mills in the State. It was bought by Patrick Murdoch, but payments not being made a law suit resulted after Murdoch's death.

These embraced all the houses in the town, with the exception, possibly of three or four. The whole number of houses was one hundred and thirty-eight. The taxable property amounted to $22,829, according to the assessment, which was put at very low figures.

April 1, 1824.—James Black refitted and opened the tavern on south Mechanic street, near Creek street, and called it the "Columbian Inn."

From The Old Pike. A history of the National road, with Incidents, Accidents, and Anecdotes Thereon (1894) by Thomas B. Searight (p. 205)

The city of Cumberland is the initial point, as before stated, of that portion of the National Road which was constructed by authority of Congress, and paid for with funds drawn from the public treasury of the United States.

In 1835, James Black kept the leading tavern in Cumberland. It was a stage house. In 1836 John and Emory Edwards, of Boonsboro, leased the Black House, and conducted it as a tavern for many years thereafter. John Snider, the old pike boy of pleasant memory, hauled a portion of the household goods of the Edwards from their old home in Boonsboro to their new location at Cumberland. At the date last mentioned there were two wagon stands in Cumberland. One of them was kept by Thomas Plumer. Plumer had teams on the road. The other was kept by George Mattingly. Frederic Shipley kept a tavern in Cumberland previous to the year 1840. It was located on Baltimore street, near the site of the station first established by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company. This house was subsequently conducted by George W. Gump, and after him, in 1857, by David Mahauey. One Kaig. of Bedford county. Pennsylvania, succeeded Mabaney in the control of this house. It was called "The American," and entertained wagoners and the traveling public at large. In 1844 and later, the widow Adams kept a wagon stand in Cumberland, on the site of the present rolling mill. George Elliott was manager for Mrs. Adams. The house was a large brick structure, and known in its day as the "Mountain City House." Lewis Smith kept "The Blue Springs House" on Mechanics street, and was largely patronized by old wagoners. Frederic Shipley also kept a tavern on Mechanics street, after he left the American. John Kelso, the old wagoner, kept a tavern for a short time on Mechanics street, and was well patronized; and Otho Barcus, another old wagoner, kept the " Pennsylvania House " on Mechanics street in 1843, and for a period of three years thereafter.

The road when first laid out. as seen in a previous chapter, passed over Wills Mountain. In 1834 this location was changed for a better grade, up the valleys of Wills creek and Braddocks Run. To make this change it was necessary to first obtain the consent of the State of Maryland, which was granted by an act of her Legislature in 1832. The old Plumer tavern stood at the eastern end of the old location, and the old Mattingly tavern at the same end of the new location. George Evans kept a tavern, also, near the eastern end of the original location.