The Washington times., 1929-06-15
Ghosts From Colonial
Times Are There
Along This Way Rode the Lords Baltimore
and Olden Cavaliers and Danes
in Romantic Age

SOUTHERN maryland lOUaCCO - HUtS
in demand now than ever before
for blending and farmers are de-
voting most of their land to rails.
ing this old reliable cVop. Com,
wheat, oats and hay form the
other mainstays.
Through Beantown and Bryan
town. little groups of gasoline sta.
tions and general stores. the road
passes and. about So miles out from
Washington. reaches Charlotte Hall.
Historic School
There Is not much in Charlotte
Hall but the Charlotte Hall School.
Its history may be traced directly
back to the free public schools
established in st. Marys county
under the general act of 1928.
In 1774 the free schools of st.
Mzrys, Charles and Prince Georges
counties were united, their funds
were merged and A school for the
three counties was ordsred erected
at THE Cool Springs" to be known
as Charlotte Hall. The Revolu
tionary war interrupted the work IF
founding the school and it was
not opened until January l, 1897.
It's doors have not been closed
since.
In colonial times the little town,
now called Charlotte Hall. was
known as Eye Coole Springs" or
Fountains of Healing Waters" and
was set apart in 1898 as health re-
sort. This was probably the first
sanatorium in the colonies. The
fame of the springs spread all over
the colonies, and the governor
recommended that suitable build
ings be erected at the springs to
care for the sick.
Springs Still Good
The springs are still gushing forth
streams of cold. clear water. and mo-
torists should stop here and quench
their thirst. The springs are just
across the road from the school,.
Straight through Charlotte Hall
the road stretches on toward Nor
ranza and Loveville. Forests begin
to replace the farms along this
stretch of road. Tall. cool patches
Of evergreen and shade trees stretch
almost to the edge Of the road.
Just before reaching Loveville-
Just a general store, restaurant and
three gasoline pumps-is the only
bad stretch Of road on the whole
tour. The road has been torn up for
about a block. where workmen are
tearing out an old bridge and con-
structing a new one.
A steep hill winds down to the
bridge. and the motorist is In soft,
slippery gravel almost before he
knows 1t unless he pays. sharp at
tention to the road. A temporary
wooden, winding bridge has been
placed across a small creek. Once
clear of this obstruction the motor
ist is again on a smooth, hard road
all the way to Leonardtown.
Gateway to st. Mary's
The gateway to st. Mary's Acad-
cmy is the first sight that greets the
eyes of the visitor when he arrives
in Leonardtown. A "T' Is formed
by three roads at the gateway and
To reach Leonardtown proper the Wis
itor from Washington should turn
sharply to the right.
Branching off from Leonardtown
are several small roads all leading
to picturesque spots. If anxious for
a swim, turn left on the State road
in the center of the town. Dukes
drug store marks the popular cen
ter of the town.
Keep on this road foru@bout a half
mile and then turn to the right. A
dirt road leads to Abelrs wharf,
where the water is about feet deep
and anyone can swim, providing that
they brought their bathing suits.
Unless too tired or wanting for
time the motorist should drive to
st. Marys City, IA miles below
Leonardtown. st. Marys is the old
est city in Maryland. having been
founded in 1884. A historic old
church and a few old houses are
all that remain OF the once proud
seat of the Maryland government. A
short distance out of st. Marys is
an immense stone cross, erected in
memory of $500 Confederate SOL
diers who died in a Federal prison
near the spot.
Oldest Resident
Judge B. Harris Camalier. so, Is
the oldest living resident Of Leonard.
town.
when I was a boy" he relates,
''it took two days to drive from
Leonardtown to washington. Now
people think the two points are
far apart because it takes two
hours to drive between them"
Judge Camalier, who for II years
sat on the Seventh judicial circuit
bench OF Maryland, says that Leon
ardtown was originally called Sey-
moretown but its name was changed
n few years after it was founded.
Was Smuggling Center
During the civil war. Judge
Camalier says. Leonardtown was
swarmed with Union soldiers and
martial law was declared in an ef.
fort to stop the smuggling of
contraband to the Confederates
across the river
Leonardtown derives its revenue
now from the farmers in the rich
country surrounding the town.
Much tobacco and other products Of
the farms Is sent to Leonardtown
to be shipped in small sloops and
all supplies for the farmers are sold
there.
Leonardtown has one hotel, the
st. Mary's, just up the street from
Dukes drug store, and two news.
papers.