The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-08-18
WESTMINSTER, Carroll county, Nd. /
August, 9th, 1877.

Editors Bahimorean or the many
pretty towns with which Maryland abounds
there is none more beautifully located
than Westminster, the county seat Of Car
roll Situated on the Western Maryland
Railroad, at an altitude Of | 900 feet above
tide, distant thirty three miles from Balti
more, and in the heart Of one Of the most
fertile counties of the State, its location i:
one of exceeding beauty. 1t is almost
completely surrounded by circular range
of hills, known as PARIS Ridge, and ex.
tends from the ridge on the northwest tc
the same on the southeast The centra
portion Of the town is situated in de
preston or narrow valley between two
spurs of the ridge, of which Wakefield
Valley is the continuation, aud through
which the Western Maryland Railroad
winds its way westward. In this position
either wing Of the town is at the greater
elevation Of 100 feet above the central
portion.
Many elegant and handsome residences
line the various streets, and the majority
Of them are fanked on either side by taste
full yards which are ornamented with care.
fully arranged fower.beds aud shrubbery;
the less pretentious dwellings display the
same degree of careful attention, while nu.
merous picturesque cottages surrounded
by highly cultivated lots, are aoticed at
intervals, all combining to form a most
happy picture.
Upon entering Westminster for the first
time, the visitor is most favorably impres.
sed with the attention given by the inhab.
itants to Horticulture, evidences Of which
are met on every hand
The population is estimated at $500,
and the town was incorporated few years
since under city charter. It's governed
by Mayor and city council, composed Of
five members. The contiguous territory
is not only exceedingly productive as an
agricultural district, but large deposits Of
iron ore are met with, while veins of mar
Bile, here and there, add to the general
richness of the county. The Patapsco and
other streams render the soil sufficiently
irriguous to produce crops equal to any in
the State
The scenery surrounding Westminster
is decidedly picturesque and varied, and
fully realizes all that has been said in this
connection. From the summit Of Parr
Ridge, directly north of the town, a view
Of unequalled beauty is opened to the eye.
To the north, west and east, extend range
after range of fertile hills.
Almost directly beneath, reaching far
off to the north into Pennsylvania can be
traced the course of Bachman's Valley.
The whole landscape is dotted here and
there with hamlets, surrounded by cultiva.
ted fields, while miles distant the Blue
Ridge Mountains loom up in the sunlight,
forming the background of most beauti-
ful and panoramic picture of nature.
To the west of the town similar view
is presented, being relieved somewhat by
fertile plains between the spurs Of the ridge,
and from this point the county almshouse
property, aggregating 225 acres, is con-
spicuous by hundreds Of panels of uniform
whitewashed post and rail fences, which
designate the boundary and separate the
county property from that of the neigh
boring farmers,
During the summer season, Westminster
society circles are considerably enlivened
by the presence of numerous city visitors,
who concentrate here from Baltimore and
Philadelphia, and who find the cool and
invigorating climate Of this section not
only manifest improvement over the
heated atmosphere of the larger cities, but
decidedly beneficial. A marked peculiar
ity is the extreme sociability of the resi-
dents who ignore city conventionalities,
and labor incessantly for the social enjoy
ment Of strangers especially; and the latter
cannot fail to fully appreciate their efforts
in this particular.
ln houses for religious worship, West.
minister is exceedingly abundant. There
are no less than seven churches, of various
denominations, all of which are handsome
structures, and will compare favorably in
point Of architecture with many of those
in the larger cities.
A long-felt want here is public park,
and the failure to procure proper site is
apparently the lack of unanimity on the
part of the citizens, as to the choice of To-
cation. There are several groves within
the corporation limits, that are in every
way suitable, and doubtless ere long this
want will be supplied,
The Carroll County Agricultural Asso.
citation, Of which Col. VIM. A. McKellip is
president, is especially worthy of mention.
The grounds, comprising about thirty acres,
are lOcuted on the Baltimore turnpike, at
the "east end Of Westminster. They arc
suitably enclosed, aud contain accommoda-
tions for 300 head of stock. A prominent
feature in connection Herewith, is the
race,track, half milo in length, and one of
the finest in the State. The unusual in.
terest displayed by the farmers in turf
sports, as well as the general reputation
enjoyed by this section for racing stock,
render the annual meeting decidedly one
Of the leading features Of the season. Il
is expected that the State and Carroll
county exhibitions Of the coming fall, will
be held here simultaneously.
Among other numerous points of inter
est is the courthouse, which is situated at
the head Of Court street. enc square from
Main street. This is a commodious and
substantial structure, and is not only utili-
zed as the Carroll county seat Of Justice,
but forms q prominent meeting point for
elections aud on other important occasions.
In the rear of the courthouse stands the
county jail, which is noted rather for Sc.
curity than architectural beauty.
The Western Maryland College, located
at the "west end, is an institution second
to none in the State. The spacious bull.
ding stands upon the most prominent and
elevated point in the town, and the college
numbers among its classes members of both
sexes. The faculty is a thorough one,
and the chairs embrace bellelettres, the
languages, literature. theology, mathemat-
les, aud all other branches taught in the
hrst institutions Of the country.
or the several industries Of Westmin.
ster are the works cf the Taylor Mauuiac.
turing Companv and Il Wagonar,s fo,n