The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1945-05-31
NOTES from
The Old I.nlliyAt's''
Diary
Editors Note:

column from the July "a, 1912, is
sue of the HagerStOwn Globe. Be
cause we thoroughly enjoyed read
ing it, we believe you will too, so
here it is:
We are indebted to Rev. Roy
Long, 125 Playground avenue, for
a Composition on Hagerstown,"
written by Miss Estella Hagerman,
townsville, Md, in the late 1905,
when she was a student at the Up
regraff Private School on South
Mulberry street. Miss Hagerman
later became the wife of Isaac Long,
who served as sheriff of Washington
County. Their son, Reverend Long,
preserved the composition, which
was written in a most excellent
hand. The composition follows:
"Hagerstown is the county seat of
Washington County. 1t was found
ed in 1850 by Jonathan Hager, who
called it Elizabethtown after his
wife. The name was changed to
Hagerstown in the year 1913. When
the American Revolution began in
1776, Hagerstown had about 100 in
habitants. The first church that was
built in Hagerstown was the Ger
man Reformed; it was finished in
IVA At that time the floor was
made of brick and there were no
seats or fire; the people use to bring
chairs on which to sit.
The first Court House was stu
ated in the center of the public
Square; the court hall was in the
second story and was reached by
steps from the outside. All of the
elections were held in this room and
all the voters of the county came
here to vote and the election lasted
for several days. The Market House
was under the Court House and
was open, the building being sup
ported by arches. In the center of
the market house stood the public
whipping post which was frequently
used.
''The first Jail was a small rough
building of logs, situated on the lot
where the tannery of the Washing
ton County Leather Company
stood. The second pit is in the build
ing now occupied by R, Sheckles.
In this Jail were confined father
and his two sons, by the name of
Cotterell, charged with having
murdered man, and they were all
hanged at the same time in the
year 1920.
''The first newspaper published in
HagerstoWn was called the wash
ington Spy" which was issued in
July 1890 by Stewart Herbert, the
grandfather of F. D. Herbert.
General Washington visited Hag-
erstown, October 81, 1890, and was
escorted through the streets of the
town by company of Light Horse,
and company of infantry The
citizens all turned out, the bells
were rung and volleys of musketry
and artillery were discharged. The
President was entertained with a
splendid supper at Beltzhoover's
hotel, which stood where the Wash
ington now stands. Toasts were
given and the President made
speech. The town was Illuminated
at night and bonfreS were kindled
The next day the President went to
Williamsport for the purpose of
selecting site for the capital of
the United States. Hagerstown is
now ia years old. According to the
census of 1876 it contained 4,91O
white persons and 839 colored people
making total population of 5,779.
The population is now supposed to be
about 1000 The public buildings
are the Court House, the Market
house, the Jail, and the aims house.
The court house is a fine, large,
building estimated to contain from
100000 to 100000 bricks. The
building cost about $65,000 The
total cost including furniture is
estimated at $4,000.
'Hagerstown has two agricultural
implement manufactures, two sash,
blind and door factories, one steam
flour mill which can make 300 bar
rels of flour per day; one bone
mill, one leather mandatory, five
breweries, one cracker mandatory,
one Academy, one Female Semi
nary, one public school building,
II churches, one of which the Trim
ity has chime of bells which cost
$500; IL dry goods stores, "a gro
Gerry stores, II clothing and four
drug stores, five confectionaries, six
hotels, six shoe stores, four hard
ware stores, four tin stores, four hat
stores, two jewelry stores, six mill
inery stores, three book stores, SO