Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1922-04-27
EARLY CUSTOMS AND HABITS
AT MONOCACY
Continued

Owing to the cost of ocean transpor-
tation but few wagons were brought
by the first settlers, and wagons were
first made entirely of wood. The
wheels were sawed from the trunks of
gum or button tree. Flows also were
made entirely of wood, but in course of
a, short while this was all changed
when mines were opened, the forge set
up and all kinds of useful implements
were manufactured.
For a period of so years after the
first settlement in Pennsylvania trans
portation of goods and commodities of
all kinds was made entirely by means
of pack mules and horses. Large sacks
or wallets called panniers were con-
structed and slung over the backs OF
the animals, into which the articles
were placed. A horseman would some
times be almost invisible by reason of
the large heaps of pork, flax, butter,
chickens, and even calves and sheep
contained in the panniers, on his way
to Philadelphia or the South, there to
be exchanged for merchandise which
in similar way would be carried back
to the settlement in the interior.
BY the year 1889 the Indian Trail
began to be converted into wide coun-
try road, and wagoning between the
interior and seaports became quite a
business, and the "Conestoga" wagon
became famous and remained so for
many years.
The very oldest people living may
still remember those wagons with
their bright red wheels and sky blue
bodies drawn by four, six, and some
times eight horses, furnished with bells
fitted into an iron arch over the collar
of the horses. The wheel or saddle
horse carried the bass bells and the
others had bells producing different
notes and so arranged as to produce
harmony.
The opening of the wagon business
necessitated the erection of a great
many inns or taverns along the roads
and also in the towns and villages.
Many of these old inns can still be
seen standing along our roads as we'll
as in our towns and cities.
The. owners of pack horses and
mules bitterly opposed the use OF wag-
ons as an invasion upon their rights
and prerogatives, as did the wagoners
themselves some years later bitterly
oppose the introduction of railroads.
Thus step by step the march OF
progress moved on, and moves on still
First the foot traveller-then the pack
horse-then the wagon, thought to be
carrying a great load at the rate Of
four or six miles an hour; now the
steam locomotive drawing more than
ten thousand horses can carry and at
the rate of forty miles an hour-yes
at this very hour gas and electricity
are seemingly putting the steam loco
motive on the back list with the auto
truck, limousine and airship.
A long days journey of our fore
fathers can now be made in an hour.
The rifle company formed in Fred
erick upon hearing of the Battle of
Bunker Hill, under the leadership of
brave Captain Cressop and his gallant
Lieutenant Ohio Holland Williams was
nearly three weeks in marching to the
camp of Washington near Boston; now
it is possible for resident of Freder-
lex to breakfast at home, lunch in
Philadelphia, dine in New York and
sup and sleep in Boston all the same
day. These are a few Of the many
great changes that have come into our
glorious Monocacy Valley country as
we'll as in the country generally, since
the first settlers found their way into
tho wilderness from Pennsylvania and
the Palatinate and settled between the
Monocacy river and the Catoctin
mountains which now Is one Of the
beauty spots Of America-beautiful
fruits and grains Of fertile soil and
an invigorating climate.