The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-01-01
WESTERN MARYLANDFOLK
BUILT FIRST MONUMENT
Memorial To Washington on S.
Mountain to be Restored

(By Betty M. Snyder in BALTIC. Sum-
Undaunted by former failure, West
ern Maryland is launching another at
tempt to rebuild the first monument
ever erected to George Washington,
that on South Mountain, near where
the old National Trail crosses the bor-
der line of Frederick into Washing
ton county.
For many years this monument has
been only crumbling pile of rock and
efforts to interest historical societies
or Congress in it's restoration have
failed. Recently the affair has been
taken up by the Hagerstown Chamber
of Commerce, which hopes to have
presented at the next session of Con-
gress bill to restore the monument
and to provide for it's hpkeep.
1t was in 1927 that the patriotic ar
dor of the people of Boonsboro, then
as now one of Washington county's
small but prosperous communities,
inspired the erection of the monu-
ment. In Baltimore's own Mount Yer
non Place monument was in process
of construction, but it was not COM
pleted until after the humber one at
Boonsboro was started and finished.
Early on the morning of July 4,
1927, a party of men from Boonsboro
climbed the steep ascent of South
Mountain and began building a me-
mortal unique in construction yet
! sturdy enough to withstand the as
sault of storms for many years.
This monument was a shaft thirty
feet in height, fifty-four in circum-
ference at the base and pierced by a
circular staircase, yet built entirely
without cement or mortar. So well did
the st1nemasons of the day know their
materials that naked rock was fash
toned into this tower and fashioned
so we'll that, despite neglect and bad
treatment, a good portion of it is
standing today.
Those men of Boonsboro were well
accustomed to working in stone, for it
was their best building material.
Some prehistorical upheaval had
strewn the mountains and fields there
with boulders large and small, and so
furnished a building material more
durable and less expensive than wood.
Boonsboro and Washington county
will bear witness to the skill of these
workmen. Many house and barn
built hundred years or more ago is
still standing, as weather-proof as
when it was new. Many a rod of
fence still tells that early farmers
found it easier to pile stone than to
split rails.
When Washington's Monument was
being built there was no water near
to mix mortar to hold the stones to-
gether. The nearest springs was half
way down the mountain, so the ma
sons depended upon their own ingenu-
ity to place the stones so they would
stand firm and solid. Had the mon
ument received as much consideration
at the hands of the late generations
as did the stone fences of the same
period, perhaps it would have kept its
dignity longer.
Reporting the erection of the monu-
ment to Washington, who had then
been dead but twenty-five years, the
Hagerstown Torch-Light, a weekly
newspaper then published in the coun-
ty-seat town of Washington county,
bearing date of July, 1927, said of the
event:
Pursuant to previous arrange
ments, the citizens of Boonsboro as
sembled at the public square on the
fourth inst, at half-past seven O'Clock
in the morning to ascend the "Blue
Rocks" for the patriotic purpose of
erecting a monument to the memory
of him whose name stands at the head
of this article. This spot was selected
in consequence of the great facility
with which the materials were fur
nished. A little more than the foun-
dation had been laid the day before,
which enabled us to proceed without
delay to the grand design before US.
The men seemed actuated by a spirit
of zeal and ardor almost bordering on
enthusiasm.
"About IL o'clock we heard a very
appropriate extempore address from
the Rev. Mr.. Clinghan, a gentleman
of the Revolutionary period, whose
warm patriotism, animating a consti-
tuition rendered infirm by age and bad
health, induced him to bear all IA
tigue and danger to accomplish the
purpose of his heart.
"About / o'clock we partook of a
cold collation., as our object was not
to crafty our pampered appetites;
consequently no sumptuous arrange
ments had been made, neither were
toasts prepared for the occasion, but
we enjoyed more heartfelt satisfaction
! 6 o,,,. fo,.o Than