Accident - Garrett County MDGenWeb

The town got its name, according to legend, when, about 1751, King George II of England gave a large tract of land in Western Maryland to a Mr. Deakins, in payment of a debt. The land numbered 600 acres more or less.

Then, in 1774, Lord Baltimore's land office issued warrants for the survey of many tracts of land to be opened for settlement. Among the many men who came to survey and select tracts of land were one William Deakins and one Brooke Beall. Both men seemed to have surveyed and selected the same tract. Deakin explained to Beall that he had selected the same land as Beall by accident and agreed that Beall should have it. They then named this tract of land Accident. But in August of 1774, Beall assigned his warrant and survey over to William Deakins and after the Revolution, Deakins was given a patent by the State of Maryland. In 1778, Deakins sold the tract of land called Accident to Captain Lynn. Lynn then sold this tract and others, measuring 970 acres, to a Colonel William Lamar for $3,000 (probably pounds at that time.)

James Drane, Jr., Lamar's brother in law, was the first permanent settler in Accident, settling here before 1798. His family did not arrive until 1801 where they lived in the Drane house, the oldest building in Garrett County still standing.

German immigrants arrived in the mid 1800's to introduce and maintain the thrift and prosperity which have made Accident what it is today.

The first post office opened in Accident was in 1838. William Drane was the postmaster. This post office was closed in 1839 and a special mail route from Accident was let to James Drane. This mail route was rescinded in 1845. When the post office reopened, John E. Gnagey was the new postmaster. He issued the first money order to Jeremiah Beeghley in 1881.

Going South on Main past Zion Lutheran Church

Entrance to Zion Lutheran Cemetery

View of Accident from Accident-Bittinger Road

View of Cove from Route 219 Overlook

The old picture of Main Street was supplied by Lois Hetrick Stewart
The newer pictures were taken by Theodore Melinat in 1999, and contributed by Lois Melinat.