Allegany County
MDGenWeb
With the permission of Jo Beynon (who had coordinated this project and had various
memories printed in the Cumberland newspaper), we are alerting Allegany County
researchers of a magnificent source of information. Included on this page is an
introduction by Jo Beynon, the full table of contents of Bicentennial Memories,
and an article by Doris Goldsborough.
Special thanks to Doris for taking
the time to transcribe everything on this page and for securing permission for
us to use it on Allegany County MDGenWeb.
Bicentennial Memories, Allegany County, 1789-1989 is a book for sharing memories,
oft-told tales and happenings of yesteryear! It is a collection that Allegany
Countians wrote and that appeared in the Cumberland Times-News as Allegany
County celebrates its 200th birthday in 1989. The book of memories has been
compiled and published by the Georges Creek Promotion Council of Lonaconing,
Maryland.
To quote Will H. Lowdermilk in his published History of
Cumberland, 'at the session of the Legislature of 1789, a petition was presented
asking for the erection of a new county, and the following act was passed on the
25th of December of that year: an act for the division of Washington County and
for erecting a new one by the name of Allegany.'
The act outlining the
Allegany County geographical area stipulated that 'the county court and orphans
court for Allegany County shall be held at the town of Cumberland until the
voters of said county, by election to be held as hereinafter provided, shall
determine on some other place; and until a place shall be fixed on by the said
election, and a court house shall be built.'
The act had nine 'whereas
and be it enacted' parts and according to Lowdermilk, the name was then spelled
A-L-L-E-G-A-N-Y. (Maybe someone will write a column on how and why people can't
spell the name of our county). Thus, we came to be.
One hundred years
later, in 1889, the people of Allegany celebrated the centennial anniversary of
the erection of the county. The celebration at that time lasted three days and
consisted of great parades and special celebrations in every community. There
were boats on the river and exciting displays of fireworks. There were many
speeches, festivities, athletic contests, music and poetry affairs, picnics and
bells ringing.
Railroad excursions, concerts in the parks, parachute
jumps and balloon ascensions were all part of the 100th birthday party. U.S.
President Benjamin Harrison rode in the spectacular military parade with Sen.
Henry G. Davis and Lloyd Lowndes.
When Commissioner Robert Shriver
delivered an address from a stand in front of the court house, he said, 'We have
gathered together this morning to begin the ceremonies and festivities which are
to take place today and the two days succeeding, in commemoration of an event
which occurred 100 years ago --the beginning of the existence of Allegany Co.
Now we can recall another 100 years of memories as the years have turned to
1989 and we have now passed 200 years of existence as Allegany County. We have
included memory stories from folks who will enlighten us about many things of
the past. Here are some of the subjects that you will be reading about in this
volume: one room schools, Cresaptown before Celanese, Cumberland fair grounds,
growing up in Lonaconing, trains of the 1950's, summer fun in 1920, early years
in Barton, and the fire watch tower on Dan's Rock. It has been exciting for me
to read about some of the things I remember best such as the three-cent stamp,
Depression glass, tramp art, CCC camps, Saturday afternoons at the movies, World
War II and dancing to big name bands. Remember drinking Moxie or ordering a
"dark cow" at a favorite soda fountain?
There were no rigid rules for
writing the articles. All that the authors needed for their stories were
approximately 700 words and enthusiasm for the project. Combine this with a
distinct love for Allegany County, fond memories and you have interesting
stories.
In searching the past we have uncovered standards for the future
of Allegany County. Enjoy!"
It seems as though it were
yesteryear as I reflect in days gone by..... many happy memories that will live
within me forever of my home town... Cumberland, Maryland.
As a child
growing up at 224 Pennsylvania Ave., it was quite a thrill for me to have a
couple pennies to spend for candy at a store just down the street. I believe
half of the fun was to hear the jolly owner, Mr. Bowles, say, "Thank you, call
again, come again."
Storms, back then, seemed to be more fierce. I very
vividly recall several huge trees being uprooted on the 300 block. The kids on
our block couldn't wait for the aftermath of the storm when we could jump in to
the water soaring down the street headed for the sewer.
We lived in
another generation than that of today. There weren't many cars and we enjoyed
going to the top of Pennsylvania Ave. and roller skating all the way to the
bottom, jumping the curbs.
South Street was paved by the W.P.A. (Works
Progress Administration founded by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 to
provide work for needy persons in public works projects.) Gosh, what fun it was
after its completion riding our bikes up and down the newly constructed street
Directly behind South Street was an area called Fisher's Woods and it was
there we had a lot of fun picnicing and strolling through the woods.
During this time the "bums" jumped on the freight trains taking them to their
desired destinations. It wasn't uncommon in South Cumberland to have one or more
of them saunter towards the house, rap on the back door, asking for something to
eat. My grandmother usually complied with their needs by fixing them some food
which they ate while sitting on our porch step. Being a compassionate woman, she
noticed one of the men needed shoes so she gave him a pair of my grandfather's
good Florsheim shoes which were valued at $10. That was a lot of money in those
days.
Tagging along with my grandfather, Harry Hasenbuhler, who was an
engineer for the B&O Railroad, to the B&O Round House was something special as I
got to see all of the steam engines. It was great fun but we had to dodge the
cinders that inevitably got into our eyes. Many times I would watch in awe my
grandmother taking a wooden match and turning my grandfather's eye lid to remove
a cinder. Frequently I was awakened by a knock at the door in the wee hours of
the morning. It was the B&O Caller telling my grandfather the hour he was to
report for his "run" to Brunswick, Maryland. Not many people had telephones;
those who didn't were notified by the Caller.
I liked to go to Moreland's
Grocery Store on Race Street, crossing thru the walk-way of the South End Fire
House from Seymour Street, never neglecting to glance in to see if one of the
firemen would be sliding down the pole. I thought it was neat to watch them do
that instead of using steps.
The bandstand next to the Fire House was
used for concerts and other events. Some of my playmates and I used to like to
get up onto the platform and pretend we were on stage with hundreds of people
viewing us while we were acting out a play, singing and dancing. (We waited, of
course, until we thought no one was around to see us up on the bandstand!)
The sound of the jingling and clanking of bells in our alley meant only one
thing! It was Dorie Ogle coming down the alley in his horse-drawn cart
collecting junk. If I remember correctly, I believe he used to chant as he
passed our houses, "Rags, rags, any rags today?"
Every week a lady went
door-to-door selling her pies, carrying them in a long basket with a handle and
covered by a white cloth. That got me in the notion, and I could never
understand why my mother or grandmother wouldn't make some pies so I, too, could
go around and sell them.
Periodically the ladies at the Presbyterian
Church on Seymour Street made soup for carry-out sales.
One of the most
memorable places to me was Sam's Candy Kitchen on Virginia Avenue, especially at
Easter time. When you opened the door, the aroma of chocolate permeated the air.
The bright array of colors of the paper which wrapped the Easter baskets and the
beautifully decorated chocolate eggs seemed to me, at my early age, that I was
in a fantasy world.
Virginia Avenue was the main shopping area in south
Cumberland which included several drug stores, Atwell's 10 Cent Store, Packie's
Bakery, a post office, several doctors' offices, two theatres, etc. At Davis'
Store, we all had fun buying our Valentines. We couldn't resist the temptation
of buying mean, 8-l/2" x ll" Valentines for a penny each. Most of the time the
Valentines were taken in good humor by those whom we sent them to, but
occasionally someone would get at odds with us, and rightly so.
Going to
Dr. M. E. B. Owens on Virginia Avenue, when I was sick, never seemed to bother
me as I always felt he was a kindly man. When entering his office I wondered
which pills he would give me. He had two huge jars: one contained white pills
and the other contained brown pills. Whichever pill he decided to give me always
seemed to do the trick, however when he recommended Tonsiline or Cod Liver Oil,
I began to cringe All cuts and other irritations he said to "Wash it off with a
solution of Lysol."
One of my playmates on Pennsylvania Ave. was Francis
Murphy. He is now Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Baltimore of the Catholic
Church. I saw his picture in a publication and he hasn't changed in his looks
one bit!
Mother and I couldn't wait for Inner Sanctum to come on the
radio. We turned out the lights, listened for the story to begin. It always
began with the sound of a screeching door that sent chills up my spine more than
once, and we would sit there "living" the story.
As my thoughts continue
back through memory lane… high school days at Fort Hill High School in the 40's
brings forth a multitude of memories!
Constitution Park was the gathering
place in the building (upstairs) beside the pool called the "Casino". There we
gathered trying to see who could "out-jitterbug" the other. Broomstick skirts
were popular and everyone seemed to own one. That was what they were called
because we bought them wrapped around a broomstick. (Mine was yellow). Brown and
white saddle oxfords and bobbie-sox went along with the attire, and we would
dance until we felt like we were going to drop. But, it was fun!
I got my
permanents at Georgia's Beauty Shop on Union Street. The beautician would wrap
our hair on electric rods and come around periodically to see if we felt a rod
was burning our head. She would blow a little cool air to ease it. Ouch! That
did smart!
Walking didn't seem to tire any of us at that age. Many times
I would take the opposite route home from school with my friends. Our favorite
hangout was the Queen City Dairy where they served the most scrumptuous, thick
chocolate milkshakes and White House Ice Cream with big black cherries! It was
all calories, but my, was it heaven!
My walk home then took me through
Shanty Town. When the carnival would come to town they would set up on the ball
field in that area. It was fun to watch them.
Other days, via the usual
route home, we would stop at Browne's Store on Williams Street where we drank
our chocolate root beers.
Walking to school early in the morning, a
friend of mine, Georgia Appel (now Sipes) and I would often stop at Kline's
Store on Pennsylvania Ave. and get a dill pickle wrapped in a napkin to eat on
the way! I didn't like them. I believe we got them to see who would admit first
that they were too sour, at least that early in the morning.
The style in
the 40's was to wear cardigan sweaters backwards (with buttons down the back)
accentuated with a pair of pearls around our neck
On Turkey Day, the last
football game of the season was played between Fort Hill and Allegany. Rivalry
ran high. We would fight for our school and team. The stadium at Fort Hill was
always overflowing with dedicated followers from both schools.
As a high
school usher, I had the opportunity to view the Metropolitan Opera House's
producations which were presented at Fort Hill such as "Faust", "La Boheme", and
"Rigletto" as well as viewing Joseph Battista, the pianist, Marian Anderson and
Lena Horne.
While a high school junior, I worked part-time at Truitt's
Drug Store on Virginia Avenue. At that time, the popular fountain drinks were
ammonia, chocolate, lemon or cherry cokes. A classmate of mine (who, in later
years, became my husband) worked at "upper Keeches." There was also a "lower
Keeches" drug store. On my break I would go to upper Keeches and get a coca cola
and he would do likewise on his break at Truitts. There wasn't much conversation
as he was very shy in those days.
Time has not dimmed the memories during
World War II. It all began one day, Dec.7, 1941, with the shrill voices of the
paper boys on the street calling "Extra, extra...Japs bomb Pearl Harbor...read
all about it."
Not long after that, all young fellows of eligible age
were called into the service of our Country by the draft system. One by one,
they left for basic training in the Army, Navy, or Marines. Women took over
during the war effort performing different jobs. My mother, for one, went out to
the Kelly packing shells where each shift was expected to make their quota.
Practice black-outs were made. Unannounced, we would hear the air raid
siren, originating from the B&O Shops, which made an eerie sound cutting through
the night. All lights were turned out, the shades drawn. Each block had an
air-raid captain. If Mr. Kline would see a light he would knock at the door and
tell us to douse the light. After a while, another siren would sound meaning all
was well and we could turn the lights on again.
Ration books were issued.
Meat, canned tomatoes, cigarettes, and nylons were hard to get. An innovation
was made for the females since nylons were so hard to find. A liquid leg make-up
was devised which we could get in different shades. True, it did look like hose
as long as, during a hot day, our legs didn't perspire and then we would have
"runs." The nylon was used for parachutes.
I remember the motion picture
actress, Loretta Young, standing on a platform on Baltimore Street attired in a
white dress and picture hat, selling war bonds. She was even prettier than she
was on the screen. War bonds and stamps were also sold at Fort Hill High School.
The Fort Hill A Capella Choir appeared at the platform at the B&O Railroad
Station to sing Christmas carols to the service men when the train stopped. I
recall that when we went inside the station, several service men were sitting
there listening to us. When we concluded, they thanked us. Many troop trains
passed through Cumberland during the war. Sometimes my friends and I would make
a point to be at the station as the trains chugged by and wave at the soldiers.
I never dreamed that one day I would meet in person Lt. General Lewis B.
Hershey, Director of the Selective Service system. He served in that capacity
under six U.S. Presidents, and was made a full 4-star General by President Nixon
and confirmed in the Senate. It was he who used the famous salutation of
"Greetings" to the draftees in his letter ordering them to report to duty. My
husband, the late William M. Goldsborough, was the District Commander of the
American Legion, and post commander of Post #7l in Oakland. General Hershey was
the principal speaker at the Annual Pig Roast of Proctor Kildow American Legion
Post #71 in the year 1969. Prior to the dinner, which was attended by 350
veterans at the legion home, my husband hosted a small reception at our home for
the General. It was an honor to have met this famous man who appeared to have a
deep sense of humor.
Recalling all of these memories brings tears to my
eyes and a lump in my throat. They were mostly happy days and times that can
never be relived. One thing's for sure, in my memory they will never die.
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