The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-08-19
HISTORIC EVANSVILLE
On the Widely known Old National
Turnpike.

interesting sketch written by Sara
Roberta Getty, well and faYorably
known to the readers of The Republi-
can. published some time ago in the
Republican Of Meyersdale, Pa. Grants
vile is becoming widely known for its
delightful location, its picturesque sur
rounGings. and its excellent hotels.
Mrs. Getty saws:
One Of the prettiest spots in the
country is little old Grantsville on the
Pike, with its beautiful surrounding
country, slipping hills and high-capped
mountain peaks, 1t is situated on the
National Pike and derived its name
from a family named Grant, who con-
Quoted a waYside inn or tavern on the
old Braddock trail which was followed
by the early pioneers in crossing the
Alleghenies from the valley of the
Potomac to the valley of the Ohio.
Just how long since the Grant family
located on the Braddork Trail is not
known, but tradition says the Grant inn
was there when the building of the Ma
Ional Pike was begun more than a
century ago. The Pike from Cumber-
land, Md, to Brownsville, Pa, follows
the Braddock Trail closely, and when
the Pike was being built the Grant inn
became the nucleus of a village that
took the name of Grantsville, and has
occupied place on the map Of Mary
land as such for more than 100 wears.
From the completion of the Pike in
1918 until after the Civil War, Grants
vile was an important stage coach
station, never boasting less than two
or three good taverns where travellers
and teamsters from East to West ard
West to East were fed and lodged and
their horses fed.
The village has a population of about
BOO and has but one street, the houses
beng strung along on both sides of the
Pike for distance of about one-half
mile, ION a gently sloping eminence
about one-half mile from the west bank
of the Casselman River where that
beautiful stream is spanned by the
historic Little Crossing" stone arch
bridge. The street through town will
be macadamized this summer, thus
completing the stretch of good roads
almost the length of the county.
Everywhere cement pavements are
replacing the old board walks. Elec-
trio and acetyline lights are being used
in churches, stores, hotels and other
business places, besides in many of the
homes. Street lamps are set at regular
intervals through the village. The town
lacks the din and hustle of the crowded
city and appeals to the heart and eye
by its very quietude and freedom from
worry and strife. 1t is a modern pro-
gressiYe little village and a credit to
the county.
The Pike almost its entire length
from Baltimore to the OHIO River has
| been rebuilt IN a most substantial man
ner, and it is now link in an ocean to
ocean highway for automobile tourists.
A magnificent State road to Keyser' S
Ridge, six miles west of Grantsvllie, the
highest point on the National Pike
(2780 feet to Accident and thence to
Oakland, Mountain Lake Park and
Deer Park, makes Grantsyille very ac-
cesslble from other parts of Garrett
county, Frostburg and Cumberland,
Md, and Addison, Somerfeld and
Uniontown, Pa. 1t is rs miles distant
from Cumberland, IA from Frostburg,
II from Addison, 16 from Somerfeld
and II miles from Meyersdale, which is
the nearest trunk line railway station
and trading point of much importance.
To speak of Grantsville without max
ing mention of the historical old bridge
would be emitting one of the Oldest and
most beautiful land marks in the county.
Spanning the placid Casselman, directly
upon the National pike it stands, beauti-
full and stately as when it was built al
most century ago, No landmark has
been photographed more often than
this. Its picture has graced the pages
of many periodicals. and an extended
circulation of souvenir postcards made
from the shapely arch, each one more
beautiful than the last, are found
scattered throughout the county and IN
many states.
The people of the village and county
are possessed of many admirable and
lovable characteristics. Generous,
sympathetic and loyal to each other,
finding IN their daily duties and simple
pleasures both a contentment and enjoy
ment that are in themselves a reward
for days well spent. Occasional
festivities bring diversion after the
days work is done and tend to create
a broader bond of comradeship among
themselves. The people, almost with
out exception, are religiously inclined
One might almost say there are too
many churches here, but such is not
the case as each church is self-support-
ing and prosperous and always ready to
help the other. 1t is Ella Wheeler
Wilcox who says that 'all roads that
lead to God are good, it matters not