Garrett County

Albert L. Feldstein

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Year: 2006
• Print ISBN: 9780738542669
• eBook ISBN: 9781439617311
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

Established in 1872, Garrett, Marylands westernmost county, was the last county created in the state and is named for John Work Garrett, then president of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. The images presented here were selected with care from the authors collection of several thousand postcards. Featured are Garretts numerous towns and communities; downtown business scenes; residential views; historic buildings, churches, railroad stations; and the great resort hotels. Also included are the countys many historic and natural landmarks, rustic scenes, the Deep Creek Lake area, and varied sites along the historic National Road. A special element is the inclusion of many of the personal messages sent on the back of the postcards.

One

OAKLAND

The Wilderness Shall Smile

“I’m taking life easy at Oakland, Mar yland.” Oakland had settlements dating from the early 19th century, when the land was first patented and named the Wilderness Shall Smile. Among these early settlers was Isaac McCarty, who owned much of the land that later became Oakland and is considered its founder. Isaac subdivided and laid out the town in 1849, two years before the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad’s arrival in 1851. Suggestions for the official town name included “McCarty’s Mill,” “Slab Town,” and “Yough Glades,” which was what the community was popularly known as for some years. Isaac McCarty’s daughter, Ingabe, finally suggested “Oakland.” Oakland was incorporated by the state legislature in 1862 and voted upon as the county seat in the election of November 4, 1872. The back of this postcard dated February 17, 1915, reads, “Dear Miss Laura, How are you now? Hope you arrived home safe. Would you care to correspond with me? Please answer. Lloyd.”

This is Main Street in Oakland from a postcard dated 1943. The sender writes, “Dear Maril and Will. The air up here is wonderful. We sleep under two blankets every night. I feel much better than I did before. Sister Mary is up with me and she sends her love. Love, Aunt Lizzie and Mary.” Note Warnick’s Restaurant and Brown’s Store on the right.

Carroll’s Sport Shop is on the left on Second Street in this 1953 postcard. “Dear Mildred, the Doctor thought it would be nice to see the fall foliage in the mountains. The ride was beautiful. We went to the falls today which was scant for lack of rain. I hope you are feeling yourself. Love, Virginia.”

This earlier view looks south on Main Street (now Second Street) from a postcard dated November 17, 1916. The sender writes, “Dear Mother and all, I got here all ok and found them all well. I’m better for that. It’s cold now. Hope you are well and love from all, Billie.”

The Garrett County Courthouse was designed by New York architect J. Riley Gordon and erected between 1907 and 1908. The courthouse actually had its cornerstone laying ceremony on October 15, 1907, and it is the second courthouse to have served the county. This 1920 postcard reads, “Dear Helen: You get all your dishes washed in time? Write me a few lines and tell me how all of Painesville [Ohio] is getting along. Having a dandy time here. Love, Peg.”

Designed in a Neoclassical Renaissance Revival style, major alterations and additions were made upon the Garrett County Courthouse between 1977 and 1979, significantly changing its historic appearance. The writer of this postcard in December 1947 writes, “Dear Irene. No deer yet. It is hailing so hard up here now, I dare not attempt the roads. Love, Morton.” The site was commonly referred to as Courthouse Hill.

This is a different view of the Garrett County Courthouse. Note the lampposts, concrete benches, wall, and steps. The sender writes, “Dear Bertha. Arrived in Oakland at 3:33 p.m. Made fine connections all the way. Had 14 minutes to change stations in Martinsburg but took a cab and got through ok. I am feeling well, but real tired. Was only off the train about 25 minutes until arriving in Oakland. Your Friend, Nellie.”

Above is a 1913 depiction of the Garrett County Jail and sheriff ’s office, which originally included the sheriff’s residence and was designed by the architectural firm of Holmboe and Lafferty from Clarksburg, West Virginia. The facilities were constructed in 19...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• One - OAKLAND
• Two - MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK, LOCH LYNN, DEER PARK
• Three - OTHER TOWNS
• Four - DEEP CREEK LAKE
• Five - THE HISTORIC NATIONAL ROAD
• Six - LANDMARKS
• BIBLIOGRAPHY