The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-03-10
MT. AIRY.
A Progressive Business Centre.

writer in the last Ellicott City Times
gives the following description Of MI. AIRY,
| Carroll county:
"Mt. Airy is situated on the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad, at the highest point between
baltimore and the mountains and markinS Tue
divide between the territories drained by the
Patapsco and Monocacy rivers respectively.
The station, a store and house or Two,
formed the nucleus of what has since by
rapid strides become a aourishlng village OF
three hundred inhabitants. We style MT.
Airy a village, but with an ever increasing
population, with u prospect of even greater
business energy in the future, with prospect
of much greater facilities of every description
in the very near future, our citizens begin TO
entertain the aspirations and procliyltles OF
would be townsmen.
Long before the days of present improve
ments Mt. Airy had been great grain depot
1t had been recognized as the most accessible
point to farmers within a radius OF many
miles, partly because of the absence OF topo-
graphical barriers that barred the approaches
to other points perhaps even nearer. hoads,
too, which ever add immensely when in good
condition, even to a country OF few GOOD nat
ural qualities, while frequently shameiully
neglected, were yet on an average betier
than those leading to what might otherwise
have been terminal points. 1t was soon ap,
parent that the great number of wagons ana
teams daily hocking to the place could induce
the institution of claim to part of the trade
Heretofore enjoyed by the pioneer firm OF a.
Anderson & Co. then known simply as a.
Anderson. The situation was quickly taken
in by the entcrprising Mr.. j. B. Runkles WAC
inaugurated the general merchandise Dusi-
ness now carried on by j. Il. Runkies
Sons. Soon Mr.. Robert Sellman, whom Car
hnnnrad q
of her distinguished sons. with his usual bus
mess aptitude saw field for yet another en-,
terprise in the general merchandising line ana
the firm of Sellman Hood was the outcome
of the matter. Among the first to take up
special line, realizing that the increasing bus
mess importance of the village would warrant
an investment, was Mr.. Byron S. Dorsey
who began the handling of agricultural inlple-
ments of all descriptions from threshers,
engines, reapers and mowers down to imple-
ments used by hand.
About two years ago began the remarkable
revival and period of activity that has since
seemed to acquire vigor with age and which
Mt. Airy people believe to be yet initial.
The railway station Boosting of store, a
blacksmith and a shoemaker's shop, became
suddenly town possessing three of the most
prosperous general stores in the State, estab-
lishments handling as special lines, agricul
tural implements, hardware, harness, boots
and shoes, stoves and furniture, drugs and
chemicals, lime and coal fertilizers, and seeds,
carriages of all kinds and lumber, bank and
every enterprise to be attracted by q thriving
rural commercial centre. The handsome
residences erected upon the hilltops overlook
ing the place, and which continue in course
of construction commensurately with the
towns commercial increase, have added
greatly to the natural beauty of the scenery,
and by the way this section has been favored
more in gifts of natural beauty than many
places in Maryland and elsewhere. Purchases
of land and the erection of buildings by the
B. & o. r. X. Co. also doubtless led many to
appreciate the opportunities of the place.
The B. & o. Company has for some time had
in view the erection OF grand hotel and last
summer large force of men were engaged in
grading and leveling the company's grounds
as if with a view to future Identification. A
striking evidence of the healthy condition of
things is the Aourishing business of the Mt.
Airy Bank under the management of Messrs.
Jones & Co. and the steady maintenance of
the great general traffic that at all times in a
less marked degree characterized the place,
Mt Airy's facilities having been discussed,
after an allusion 10 its conveniences IN the
way of hotels and reference to provision
store, restaurants and cigar factory which
will he shortly opened, it remains to discuss
some of its needs among them being school
and church accommodations. One absorbing
matter at present is the fact that the divisional
line of Frederick and Carroll counties passes
through the town; this frequently causes in
conveniences in land and legal matters the
citizens thus being compelled to divide bust
ness effecting said matters between two county
towns The question of jurisdiction in legal
matters is especially productive of annoyance,
but this must be discussed in another article.