The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-10-08
FROM BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, TO WHEELING, WEST
VIRGINIA, ALONG THE HISTORIC NATIONAL HIGHWAY


During the Harrison campaign of
1910 log cabin on wheels was hauled
over the old pike from Uniontown to
Baltimore.
The highway next passes through
Brier Hill, a town of about 1900 peo-
pie, where there is coking plant.
Some of the Pennsylvania mining
towns are amusing, particularly if
they are small enough to be seen in
entirety. l remember one that I saw
in the distance from the highway. 1t
consists of perhaps so houses, all just
exactly alike, each built in the same
position on the lot, each just so many
feet from it's neighbor. The conscience
of the engineer or expert accountant
who designed them probably smote
him when they were completed and
he decided to introduce little varia-
ton in the painting. So he painted the
first house all red, the second all
green, and the third all orange, and
repeated that scheme all down the
line. The result is something to look
at.
Brownsville, unlike some of the
other towns in this part of the coun-
try, does not owe its existence to the
old pike. 1t was there long before the
pike was built, and was on a trail
from Winchester, Va, through Old
Town, Md, to the Ohio, which trail
was laid out in 1749.
The Monongahela River flows thru
the town and the road crosses it over
a new bridge. From the bridge you
can see coal barges and other river
boats. There is probably some manu-
featuring going on in the town, for
there is plenty of smoke. But it may
be from coke ovens.
South Brownsville, across Dunlaps
Creek, was laid out in 1894 and was
once known as Bridgeport.
On the other side of the river is
West Brownsville, where James G.
Blaine was born. In the early days
there was no bridge across the river;
even after the Government built the
road the Monongahela was the only
stream between Cumberland and
Wheeling where the wagoners had to
ferry over. A wooden toll bridge,
operated by private company, was
built in 1888, and was continued in
use until 1910, when it was condemned
by the War Department. While the
present bridge was being erected, a
ferry was again used.
Farther on along the highway is
the Maiden Inn, stone building, and
a little beyond that cemetery in
which one monument outshines all
the others. 1t is close to the road and
it's design is such that it seldom fails
to attract attention. 1t was erected
by a hermit-one McCutcheon-who
probably felt that buying himself a
monument was as good way Of
spending his money as any other.
There are three small towns along
the highway before arriving at Wash
ington, Pa. Beallsville is one of
them, Scenery Hill another, and South
Strabane another. Scenery Hill was
formerly known as Hillsboro. 1t was
not named for the hill but for the
Hills. In this general neighborhood
we begin to notice oil wells and der
ricks, and that is sign that we are
approaching West Virginia. Another
town through which the road passes
is Laboratory. prefer the old name
of Pancake, acquired from George
Pancake, VIII kept tavern there
once upon time.
Between Centerville and Beallsville
is a replica of the Madonna of the
Trail statue that you will later see in
Wheeling. On the day that we passed
by, Madonna was being treated to
some sights that must have sorely
grieved this Woodworking and hard
ship-enduring woman. Directly across
the road at country club highly
decorated male was swinging at a
golf ball and a modern Madonna OF
the Trail, female in knickers, was
calmly powdering her nose, while she
cast casual glance at the worn fea
lures and coarse clothing of the wo
man on the pedestal.
Just before Washington is reached
you come upon a great pile of refuse
from a coal mine at Lincoln Hill. A
pile of refuse is no novelty to one who
does considerable getting around. But
this one is different by reason of the
fact that it is perpetually on fire. One
of the bystanders there said it hac
been burning for several years and
that he expects it will continue tt
burn until Gabriel blows his horn.
Washington, Pa, is everything that
modern town should be. 1t has
trolley cars and taxis and electric
lights and seminary and college
and court house, and Beau street
and Maiden street, and stores, and
fine residences. and a nopulation OF