Frostburg mining journal., 1882-01-21
Our REPORTER TAXES A STRANGER


"A gentlemen who recently came
here from from one of the lower towns
called into the JOURNAL office few
days since and requested our repre-
sentative to act as guide to him
through the town as he wanted to see
it, and with our usual cheerfulness
! willingly consented to show the gen.
tlemen the sights, at the same time
thinking it would be an excellent
opportunity to take q few items by
the way. Hastily pointing out the
tasty monument in the front yard
of the @ tholic Church as memento
of the past and explaining to the
stranger it is dedicated to the memory
of Meshach Frost and his wife, the
founders of this town, who have long
since been gathered to their fathers,
we passed on down Main street picking
out here and there an old building
and explaining its origin, we arrived
at the st. Cloud Hotel, noted hos
telry in these parts. "What building
is that2" queries our companion, as
his index finger points to q large
structure across the way we respond
..it is the Odd Fellows Opera House,
costing at the time it was built $685.
600; it was erected by the Odd
Fellows of this town but proved to be
financial loss and a short time since
, was sold to its present owner, Mr..
John Ravonscraft, for $4,000. 1t is a
very fine building on the interior
having three stores on the ground
floor, large concert hall on the
second with stage, scenery and all the
necessary appurtenances that 60 to
make up theatrical hall; on the
third floor lie large lodge room and
several smaller rooms" Satisfied, we
pursue our way down the depot road
and as we so along we call his at
tention to the old Tunnel House, :"
once popular hotel, but for some time
has been used as a private residence.
Off to the left of it toward Borden
mine in grove of trees nestles the
handsome residence of superinten.
dent James B. Thomas, of the Con.
solidation coal company on the road
back of it is the o3d homestead of
the late Robert Tenant, while not
very far eff stands the pretty
home of one Of our city fathers, mine
boss Benjamin J. Thomas. We can
not tarry, however. and pursue our
way down the road, stopping only to
intro duce our friend to Mr.. John S.
Grove, Frostburg's only lawyer.
"Whose cosy cottage is that ?" and
as quickly we answer "Mr. Thomas
Paul's;" passing the cottage We enter
Paul's locomotive works, here every
thing Is in hubbub, machinery whirl-
ing, hammers sounding, steel and
ircn clanking--everything betokening
life and business. The courteous pro-
I rietor escorts us through his large
establishment and points with pride
at one of the new locomotives he has
recently completed. Thanking him
for his trouble we cross to the depot
and there meet express agent Wack
"up to hi4 ears in work; !" he greets
us cordially and we take peep into
the telegraphic room at our old friend
Charlie Taylor; Dan Scally comes up
and, iu answer to an interrogatory,
says that the tramrs give the sand
house wide lierth since the recent
tunnel murders, and he only wished
they will continue to kesp away.
Engineer Frank McDermott and his
jolly "stoker" standing on their en-
gine halloo at us and finding that we
want chew Of tobacco we "borrow"
from Frank. "Here comes the train, "
cries our local and we await to see the
passengers. Train in, and we climb in
in the Eail wagon and ride up to town.
Our friend was delighted with his
little stroll but condemned in unmeas-
ured terms the bad sidewalks, the
hogs to be seen daily running at
large on the streets and the bad child
rem with which Frostburg seems to be
afflicted. "Here's the Office. We
alight and prepare to write up the
stroll taken with the stranger.
The imp, ovements made at the