The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-09-24
An Old Land Mark Destroy ed-Burn
ing of Rock Hall.

ing OIL ROCK HAL.
On the easterly side OF the Baltimore
and Philadelphia turnpike, or the sold Post
road" as the older residents still term it, near
the twentieth mile stone, has stood for over
century, the well known Rock Hall Tavern
Built about the year 1875, and added to from
time to time, it had stood the brunt OF storm
and the decay of time until 1t had become
familiar to every traveller along the road,
which at the beginning of this century was the
direct and almost only means of communica-
ton between the Northern states and the
National Capital. 1t derived its name from
the large rock which is still to be seen in front
of the ruins.
1t was this building, which had for SO many
years been favorite stopping place for the
many who in the ante-railroad times, travelled
by stage, that was entirely destroyed on Satur-
day night by fire. On that night between
seven and eight O'Clock colored boy was
| in the kitchen washing dishes, and in order
| to prevent the water from splashing upon the
chimney of the lamp by the light of which he
was working, he placed the latter upon the
| top of tall cupboard. From some cause the
| lamp chimney was broken and the flame shot
| upward, communicating with a straw bed
which was on the floor of an upper room and
but short distance above the lamp. The
| smoke aroused several members of the family
who were seated on the front porch but few
feet away, and they hurried to the place, and
did what they could to stay the progress of
| the flames. But the old house built partly of
logs and partly of frame, long seasoned and
thoroughly dried, was like finder and all of the
efforts Of the large number Of spectators were
of no avail. The pump, the only available
supply of water, stood SO close to the house
| that the heat soon forced the workers to
desist.
! Crock Hall which was used as a hotel until
the act of 1882 stopped the Legitimate sale OF
liquors, was large building, with five rooms
on the lower floor and seven or eight above
1t was for many years, in the possession oil
the late Benjamin Carroll the farther of
Mrs. George w. Anderson and Mr.. w. Cole
man Carroll, of Bel Air. 1t afterward becsm,
the property OF Mr.. William T. Preston who
for short time kept general store on tn,
premises, and is at present owned by Mr.
Thomas Sullivan.
The psrlor and dining room furniture wa
saved, but with the exception of very few
articles the rest OF the contents of the build
ing were consumed. The destroyed propert,
included seven complete chamber sets,
valuable breech-loading gun and consider
able sum of money. Miss Anna Lochary
of Thomas Run, the newly appointed teache
at the Van Bibber school, made her hom
with Mr.. Sullivan and lost all of her persona
effects. She was at her home at the time.
The property was insured In the Roya
Insurance Company Of Liverpool for $3.50
one thousand Of which was placed upon tn
r building and the balance on the furniture
the tO'al loss being estimated at $500
p None of the buildings upon the property wer
r destroyed except the dwelling and the dair
= which almost joined the kitchen.
t One Of the incidents connected with tn
the history of the old hosiery, was, that dun
a ing the period when travel between Balti
0 more and Philadelphia was almost entirel
conducted by coach, the horses attached b