Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-02-13
ThurmOnt: It's Past, Pres.
cnt and Future.

were erected along the road leading from
Hagerstown nia Harman's Gap to Baltimore
1t has been said that COWS belonging to the
first settlers, strayine eastward, made the
track which afterwurd became our grea,
thoroughfare, and this is possiblya plausible
theory. The Weller family was the frs,
that actually settled on the site of the present
town. There were three Weller brothers
who came from Bcrks County, Pa, one of
whom stopped here because ofthc very large
; and fine spring of water, now called the
Cold Spring"
Jacob Weller settled on the site Of Mechan.
icstowp, and was teamster in the Rcvolu
tionary war.
The first hotel (now the "Gbcrt Housc'')
! was built in 1900, under the auspices of Jacob
! Weller, son of the first settler, and the first
\ store was kept by Jacob Firor in 1906
At that period the present beautiful land
scape was an almost uninterrupted forest,
and game of various description was so
, plentiful that it is said the good host, MIR.
Weller, wishing to furnish his guests with a
treat of squirrels, killed sevcnty-tlrce of
! them from one tree. At the beginning of
the century the shrieks of prowling wolves
were heard at night, and the only response
was the plalntiye cry of the whip poor will.
Iu 1910 the first n.yard was established
by Mr.. Wamplcr (wherc Miss Norris livcs).
In 1911 the post office was opened in a
house built by Mr.. Ridcnoure Uhe Miller
House,
In 1911 there was started by Jacob Weller
an extensive cdge,tool mandatory, the first
one erected south Of New York.
| 1t was built on Fishing creek and run as a
ulting forge. Mr. Weller would start his
'liltng hammer in the morning before day
light, and working on Il cold piece of iron,
would wake up the neighborhood with Il
fearful noise He manufactured pump-aug
ers, chscls, axes, etc. Many of his orders
came from the Southern states and from the
Wes, Indies He made all of the mill irons
used at that day for miles around, and some
of them can still he found with his name
branded on them. THIS factory continued
until near 1850.
In 1915 a large wooden manulactory was
erected on the site nov occupied by w liam
Damu,h, and kept in successful opcrai ION
for over 40 years.
In 1880 the celebrated Hunting creek tan.
ery was built by Richard Jones Of Bllii
more 1t was of stone, two stories high, and
the establishment comprised about two hun
drcd watts constru ted on the patent reel
principle, consumed annually over two
thousand cords of bark, and required the
labor of but fifteen men to manufacture
twenty five thousand sides Of superior
leather per annum. 1t was aftcrward car
rlcd on by C,pt. W. l.. Jones, John Q Hew,
lett, and others.
Older citizens will rccolicct the frequent
alarms of fire runs out by the bell on llunt,
ing creek tanncrv, which usually occurred
| in the drying rooms. On such occasions
| great excitement prevailed and the people
wen, pell.mcl to the scene with buckets OF
every description Twenty years ago this
complete and substantial manufnctory stood
only as silent reminder of past sc, nes ol
activity, and ten years later it was dlsman
| tied of all its parts and the remaining walls
covered here and there with ivy, made a
picture for an artist. The ruins were re-
moved later.
The historian says there was another tan
merry in the town ton Rouzcr's hranch) and
two others contiguous requiring in all five
thousand cords Of Lark and a capital of one
| hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Former residents Of East Main street will
recall the rumble of the bark mill and roller
of the factory on Rouzel $ branch, and tho
fences tcovered with hides Of unfinished
leather. Of,hese tanneris all have di>ap-
apcared except the one owned by the late
John Rouzer, which is also being rapidly
demolished
In 1861 the Family Visitor, published by
Isaiah Wollersbergcr made its appearance
in Mcchanicstown. 1t was published in tho
building now occupied 10y John Landers. II
was tnctured with Secession procivliics at
the commencement Of the war, and the paper
was suppressed by the Union men of the
town.
The town derived its name from the fact
that's It's population was composed princi-
pally of mechanics. The first lucifcr matches
made in America were manufactured in this
town. Their inventor and discoverer was
Joseph Weller, who purchased some matches
of French importation, and then started an
invest igaton of the material and the result
was his discovery of their ingredients anG
the manufacture of them immediately
Although matches were manufactured il
this town in 1925 it was not an unusua
thing to see housewives borrowing live coal!
30 late rs 1853.
The following composition found in al
attic, and written by a school girl in 1856;
will best describe Mechanlcstown at tha
period:
"This pleasant village is situated at th'
foot of a range of mountains called the blue
ridge, and is sixteen miles from Frederick. l
has q turnpike, a post office, four churches
one academy, two primary school houses
one hotel, three stores, sixty tour dwelling
houses, three hundred and fifty one whit,
inhabitants, and twenty six coorcd. 1t ha
four streets which are vel paved, shaded by
trees and generally kept clean. 1t has me-
asccndency) AT the present time it is doing