Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1911-09-14
GORMAN AND GORMAN|A
Two Towns In The Fastnesses of
The Allegany Mountains
NAMED FOR LATE SENATOR
Cultivated Lands-Knobs and Ridges
Great Plains in The LOrdly Noun
tains And Everlasting Hills
(Contrib
PABT IL.

Range after range of this continu-
Gus roll of mountains rise like the
waves of the sea between Bal1 Knob
and the horizon, and far out in the dis
tant southwest one blue summit, the
utmost distance of all. lifts its sub
lime head like a sentinel on watch
over its magnificent companions.
To the northwest is the larger area
of cultivated lands and in its far WIS.,
ion may be seen Oakland and Noun
tain Lake Park, half score of miles
distant. Southwark the country is
more broken by great knobs and
ridges, which hide the noble plains
that lie in between them and give
splendid harvests of grass that form
a basis IF agricultural industry in this
section. As the eye sweeps over this
panoramic array of delightful seen
cry, that eXaltation of spirit takes
possession Of the faculties in that in
spiration of mind and soul that has
birth alone in the prospect of the lord
ly mountain and the everlasting hills.
The last mile of the way TO Bald
Knob / had a guide, who brou ght me
through rock and thickets safely to
the journeys end on the Bald Knob
itself. The only things of life we
saw here were the fly, the butterflg
and the buzzard-winging its majestic
flight still farther skyward than the
mountains themselves. Bald Knob
is favorite resort of the visitors at
Oakland and vicinity. Vehicles may
be ridden to within half mile of the
top, and good bride path remains
for the rest of the way. A spring of
water gushes out of the mountain at
a point where the broad road ends.
The tannery at German is its chief
industry. The proprietor of this is
Mr.. ]. j. Hoffman, of Wheeling. He
has summer residence just above
German, located on a high summit.
The grounds have many natural beau
ties and these have been improved by
very harmonious artificial embellish-
ments. The historic is not wanting
at German. A mile above it is Fort
Pendleton," a relic of the Civil War.
1t is circular earthwork, about one
hundred yards in diameter and from
four to twelve feet high, according
to the topography of the hill on which
it is located. 1t commands every
point of approach and from it view
of every section of the neighboring
counry may be had. 1t was built and
commanded by the Union troops
Just before it was erected, General
Jones, of the Confederate Army,
made raid in this section, and burnt
bridge at the place where the two
towns of German and Gormania are
located.
The inhabitants of these interesting
places are very hospitable and intelli-
gent. The men have manly de-
meanor and the gentler sex possess
those charms that are the common
heritage of the better types of Amer
lean womanhood. There is nothing
loud or boisterous in the carriage of
the people. Free from the tempta-
tions of the saloon, endowed with
health and strength, blessed with in
telligent minds, strengthened by the
inspirations of the Christian church,
and enjoying the freedom of the
American mountaineer, these pleas
ant villages remind one of the Happy
Valley where only the best things of
life have fallen to the favored lot
of their inhabitants. E. S. r.
tCONCLUTED)