The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-07-30

IKE. II you are IN reQerlck anu gu
ing to Hagerstown, you think of the
road as the Hagerstown Pike. But if
you are in Baltimore and going all the
way through to Wheeling, you think
of the road as the Old National Pike.
This old highway is one of the most
used in the country; it is also one of
the most historic and picturesque. It
follows as direct course over the AL
legheny Mountains as the nature of
the country will allow and is the short
est and most natural way for road
travel between Baltimore and Wash
ington and points west.
Built before canals and railroads,
it was the link that tied up the I'M
known western part of our country
with the older and more closely set
tied eastern part, and carried trade,
traffic and mails between the two Sec
tions. In the opinion of many stud
ents of history, it was not only the
leading factor in the rapid settlement
of what we now call the Middle West,
but it prevented the formation of a
new republic along the Ohio by pro-
viding a continuous and constantly
used tie with the east.
Over this road flowed tide of en-
igration from east to west. Over this
road in both directions went long lines
of Conestoga wagons, carrying freight
of all kinds. Over this road went
droves of cattle, horses, mules, hogs
and sheep. Over this road-whisper
it softly-truged groups of poor black
slaves tied two by two to long rope.
Over this road, when it was barely a
trail through the wilderness, went
Braddock, the proud British general,
and with him went the young George
Washington.
Over this road went the famous men
of the west of the early days, when
affairs brought them to the Nations
capital or to Baltimore, and over
this road went men of the east who
sought adventure, profit or glory on
the frontier. Jefferson travelled over
it, and Lafayette, and Andrew Jack
son, and Zachary Taylor, and James
K. Polk, and William Henry Harrison,
and James G.. Blaine, and Sam Hous-
ton, and Davy Crockett and thousands
of forgotten men and women who rode
in the stagecoaches that are now dust
and ashes.
1 left you at Ellicott City while
went rambling off into ancient history.
To me the greatest charm of this old
town lies not in its old homes OF quaint
stone buildings that come right out to
the sidewalk, or it's flour mills or its
memories of other days, but in the
fact that the town is built on SEEM
ingly perpendicular hills that rise
from the river. The houses seem piled
up in tiers, and the streets are Sc
steep that they wind around instead
of going straight. Apparently no two
houses or streets are on the same
level
Ellicott City came into being in 1772
when Andrew Ellicott and his brother
established a mill on the river. The
Ellicotts were shrewd Scots and they
soon had a tavern and a general store
In order to attract the wheat farm
ers from Frederick county they built a
road between their mill and Frederick
and also improved the existing road
between their mill and Baltimore.
A few miles out of Ellicott City you
pass the entrance to Doughoregar
Manor. Here lived in his later years
Charles Carroll of Carrollton, who
was the last surviving signer of the
Declaration of Independence. At the
time of the signing he was living or
his estate Carrollton, in Carroll coun
ty. Immediately across the road from
the entrance are the ruins of Saint
Charles College. This was an educa
tional institution-a training schoo
for young men about to enter the
Catholic priesthood, and was founded
in 1881 with funds donated by Charles
Carroll, who also gave $50 acres o:
; land from his estate. The building:
were destroyed by fire in 1911 and the
college was later established on
tract near Gainesville.
/. Beyond Ridgeville you will trave
, for miles through what can be de
; scribed in no better way than by call
, ing it smiling country. And then you
reach New Market, the old houses o.
, which are strung along the highwa!
/ like worn wooden beads on string.
You arrive at the Jug Bridge owe
the Monocacy. The name of the rive
! is Indian for right ear and the NAM
of the bridge comes from the fact tina
, at the end toward Baltimore the build
!, ers erected in stone large jug or de
: canter, and it is said that sealed VI
inside this stone jug is jug of whis
key. 1t was built in 1903.
: This is one of the several ston
| bridges you will cross before yo'