The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-24
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES.
A Trip Through Garrett County via the
Old National Pike.

Old National PIke.
srom the Meyersdale Commercial.
For many years past it has been a
custom with me to spend short sum
rner vacation in the mountains OF
Garrett county, among the scenes OF
''Life's YOUTH but now among the
few surviving persons of that fading
era, and fewer each returning year.
| left Cumberland on the morning
of the Sth, on the G. 4 p. X. r., arriv-
ing at Frostburg on time-a busy,
prosperous and ambitious city, with
high hopes of continued prosperity
and success, and indeed there is much
object evidence of such continuance.
Soon we were in readiness for the
coveted jaunt in a spring wagon sent
for us, over the Old National Road,
but correctly speaking the "Cumber-
land Road" The first spot of historic
interest was the Sand Spring, in Olden
times n noted Inn" or Tavern, "
but now ''innocuous desuetude. -
Then up the long eastern slope of the
Great Savage Mountain with its
MANY charms far and near for the
eager eye and discriminating mind.
Atlength the shapeful crest is reached
and then a halt at its beautiful alti-
tude. Much has been said and writ
ten about this charming spot still the
subject has not been exhausted. The
view is perfectly grand but somewhat
obstructed by the new trees in the
places of the old ones, cut away Il
generation ago by Lord Napier, Il
city of Frostburg gayly appears in
the basin below, and beyond the gen
Tie slopes and crest of Dams Noun
tains east of Cumberland. The spot
is certainly a charming one, and per-
sons need not cross the ocean or travel
thousands Of miles in the home coun-
try to see its like or equal. But we
passed on down the western face of
the great mountain, crossing the new
ly made line dividing Allegany and
Garrett counties down to Savage
river flowing into the great Potomac
Why did not our wise officials adopt
this natural line as division instead
of the new one, that scientific men
found and marked with so much diff
ficulty if not uncertainty?
Four miles brought us TO the fine
residence and property Of the four
Johnson brothers, the descendants of
Naryland's first State Governor,
Thomas Johnson, passed on over the
two long stretches of level land, then
by the old Recknor Inn the sight of
which is imperceptible to a stranger.
Then that once noted and dreaded
place called the Shades of Death
was passed but the shades and its
horrors are long since gone. Only
hundreds of old pine stumps mark
this once great pine jungle. Its site
is now the seat of a number of dwell
ings, among them the beautiful resi-
dence of Thomas w, Frost, one of
Garrett county's most prominent and
wealthy citizens, the oldest son of the
late VIM. Frost, and nephew Of the
well known Wrights of Frostburg.
The next point of interest is the top
of Red Ridge. Here once stood three
taverns, only one yet remains, from
Frostburg, to the Little Meadows
empty, stunned and feared by many,
because it is believed one or two mur-
ders were perpetrated there, one in
the deep past. Four hundred yards
brought us to the foot of Meadow
Mountain, once the hunters chief
delight in taking large game, especi-
ally deer-now hardly one to be found
or heard of in the county. This de-
iightful mountain range has an easy
ascent and descent, only about mile
from the eastern to the western base.
Here is the beautiful historic Little
Meadows, so named by Washington
upon his first halt at the place in 1853,
on account of the meadow or prairie
ground there. The next year he built
a small fort or stockade near the foot
of the mountain, a short distance
from the old Tomlinson cemetery. Nc
historian seems to have noted this
fact. This was one or two years be
fore the making of Braddock's road
1775. This has always been a place
of note and interest especially in past
years. 1t was the Baronial seat OF
Jesse Tomlinson who settled here in
revolutionary times and died in 1S4O
aged 81. The power and influence OF
himself and family in their day was
very great, but useful and helpful
Strange to say not a vestige in name
or blood of this great family is to be
found in Garrett county, and but lit.
tie elsewhere. This fine estate OF
1900 acres has for some years been the
property of the wife of Mr.. David
Kuykendall of the Second National
Bank of Cumberland, and is in splen.
did condition for agricultural pur-
nOSaS aSnacio llNy oPa1iDU II twaS once