The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-07-15

Il
most feasible after the unsuccessful trini 10
secure its main stem through the pIace;) but
it was not until ten years afterwards, or in
ls55G, that work was actually begun on it,
aud in the month Of May, 1869, the first pas.
senger trains came to Union Bridge. Daring
this time but little additional building had
been done in the town other than the brick
depot and warehouse built by Moses Shaw
and David lliliabidle, aud some other build
ings by the Railroad Company preparatory to
their accommodation upon its arrival But
upon the completion Of the railroad to this
point, which remained its western terminus
for six years, and also the locating the Com.
pany's machine shops here, an active demand
sprung up for dwelling houses for its employ
ees and their families. That part Of the town
nearest and most convenient TO the depot and
machine shops being east Of Main street and
bounding on Elgar street could not be oh.
tanned either by purchase or lease for the
purpose Of building thereon by reason Of the
occupants having life estate therein.
On Tuesday June 80, and Wednesday July
LIST, 1868, the Second and Fifth Army Corps,
forming the centre column of the Army of
the Potomac, passed through the town in
their march towards Gettysburg, being about
the only local incident to recall the memories
of the war of the great Rebellion, and in this
the town did not suffer, but rather prospered,
In 1864 telegraph company located IN
Office here which has since been maintained.
In the same year Moses Shaw and Joseph
Moore opened that part Of the street since
known as Broadway street, from Main street
westward, and this gave access to the remain
ing portion OF Joseph Moore's premises,
great part of which he has since sold by the
aar fr franttnnl af IN, unab
ties as were desired by the purchaser. About
the same time the first public primary school
house was built. In 1865 all that part of III e
town south of Elgar street and east of Main
street which could not heretofore be procured
was brought into market and it was laid out
into lots, and sold by the executor at public
sale, February 3D., 1866, and purchased by
Jesse Anders, Jasper G. Shriner and Thomas
L. Norris, who have from time to time sold
the lots upon which the dwelling houses are
built. The town now made more decided
progress in improvement. In 1868 the Metho.
dist Episcopal Church was built, and also
Anders x lightners store and public hall.
On the 3D. day of December 1865, at s
o'clock, p. M, the machine shop, carpenter
shop, blacksmith shop, and all the other
buildings and local improvements Except the
engine house) Of the Western Maryland Rail
road Company, took fire and were burned.
The fire originated in the oil house, and so
rapid was the conAagration that the tools of
the wOrkmen, the books of the railroad com.
pany, and all the finished and unfinished work,
including new locomotive engine, in process
of construction therein, were destroyed and
lost. But by extraordinary labor and vigil
ance, all other contiguous buildings in the
town were saved. This was the first expert
ence of q loss by fire in the town, and was
severely felt by the railroad company, then
in its infancy, and was also felt as q public
local calamity by the inhabitants Of the town
and vicinity, the mutual character of which
being manifested by the local and substantial
pecuniary aid contributed, and the inherent
energy and enterprise of the railroad compa-
ny, which being combined, oil Of the said
shops aud other buildings were forthwith
rebuilt in a better and more substantial man
ner than they had previously been. In the
same year the railroad began to run its trains
Westward from Union Bridge, and about
that time much Of the building on Benedum
and Farquhar streets was done. A "Build.
ing Association was formed by the aid of
which twelve of the dwelling houses in the
town were built.
At the session Of the General Assembly of
Maryland, began and held at the city of An
napolis, January 3D., 1872, and ended April
LIST, 1872, an act was passed creating new
election district from parts of Uniontown,
Middleburg and New Windsor districts, call.
ed Union Bridge, district No II; the first
polls opened and election held in the town,
and the first voting done therein under said
act was for President and Vice President and
members of Congress Of the United States,
November 8, 1872.
At the same session of the General As.
sembly of Maryland an act was passed en-
titled, "An Act to Incorporate the Town Of
Union Bridge, in Carroll County," Chapter
Ia. Whereupon, in pursuance of the terms
and conditions of the said charter an election
was held on the first Monday in April eusu.
ing, for Mayor and Common Council, and
Reuben Saylor was elected the first mayor Of
the town, and John Hartsock, Philip Il.
Myers, Joseph Wolfe and j. Calvin Wentz,
were the first elected Councilmen, and John
b. Eppley was its first Balif and Joshua
Switzer, its first Clerk, and also Treasurer.
And what had been prior to that time
settlement" "burg," and u "villagc' at
once rose to the dignity of a town, clothed
with municipal authority. At n session of
the Mayor and Common Council, held March
3lst, 1874, the same Mayor and Council, ex-
cept John NJ. Furneye in place of Joseph
Wolfe, (who declined to serve,) passed the
following preamble and resolution
WHEREAS, The streets in the town Of
Union Bridge have heretofore had no legal
name, and some of the said streets have been
called by several different names, causing
much ambiguity and misunderstanding in
their location and description, THEREFORE
RESOLVED, That the principal thoroughfare
through the said town, being the Liberty and
Pipe Creek turnpike road, be called "Main
street." and that the street next westward
thereof and running parallel herewith from
the county road No. 80, at the southwest
corner of the school house grounds, past the
premises of William II. Rinehdrt, 1.-THE
American Sculptor) and Thomas Russell,
Philip b. Myers and others, be called
"Whyte street, and that the street next,
eastward from Main street and running near
ly parallel Herewith from the ground for the
track of the Western Maryland Railroad,
past the premises of G. I. Grumbine,
Margaret Spurrier, Joshua Switzer and
others, to intersect the said county road No.
80, (the southern boundary of the town. be
called Benedum street, and that the street
near the eastern boundary Of the said town
and running parallel with the said eastern
DOunuary lTOH tne BrOuuu LOT tne track OF
the Western Maryland Railroad, along past
the premises of Capt. Isaiah Lightner, j.
Calvin Wentz, Edward Kelly and others, to
intersect the said county road No. so, be
called Farquhar street; and that the street
running from Main street eastward at the
corners of the premises of John W. Diehl and
Howard d. Hartsock, crossing Benedum
street at the corner of G.. T. Grumbine and
others, and crossing Farquhar street at the
corner of j. Calvin Wentz, Isaiah Lightner
and others, to the eastern boundary of the
town, be called "Elgar street. and that the
wide street crossing Main street at the resi-
dence and stores OF Jesse Anders, Anders 4
Lghtner, William Wilson and John N.
Weaver, and running through the town from
east to west, be called broadway; and that
the street next southwark from Broadway
street and running parallel Herewith from
Main street at the corner Of the premises Of
Jesse Anders and Il. o. Mannakee (now NJ.
C. McKinstry) and crossing Benedum street
to Farquhar street. be called, "Thomas
street.; and that the short street next west
ward from Whyte, and running parallel there
with and connecting the west end of Broad.
way street with the aforesaid county road
No. so, as the same is marked and laid down
on the plat, but not yet opened, be called