The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1947-10-09


need and the worth of good roads.
Among these were George Wash
ington and Alexander Hamilton.
Washington was especially inter
ested in opening up the Ohio area,
and since his own land lay along
the Potomac, his first plans for trav-
ell improvements were through the
mountains where the Potomac cut
its course. This then was the orig
inal conception of what became our
first and most historical National
Road
Since the mountains to the west
form barrier of almost continuous
ridges, travel of larger vehicles was
virtually impossible through this
section. So the building of this
road proved to be as great factor
in the rapid settling of the mid
west as Washington anticipated
In December of 1896, a meeting
was held in the courthouse in Hag-
erstown ''to devise means for pro-
curing a turnpike road to be made
from Baltimore Town through Hag-
erstown to Williamsport, one-eighth
of the expense to be borne by Wash
ington County, At this meeting
Gen. Thomas Sprigg presided. Gen
eraI Hester was chosen to repre-
sent Washington County in this
work. The committee for the pas
sage of a charter were Eli Williams,
William Claggett, Samuel Ringgold,
Daniel Hughes, Nathaniel Rochester
and Adam OFT. The charter was
granted in March 1897 A bill had
been passed in the General Assem-
bly, for the road, and the people of
Baltimore and the intervening coun-
ties were all taking part in the pro-
ject.
The plans for the road were cause
for much talk about a more pros
porous time, and everyone looked
for the increased traffic to promote
real growth in business. This all
came to pass, but not till twenty
seven years had passed. During
this time there was regular turn
pike fever" Roads were chartered
in every direction, and many were
built. A new road to Baltimore ap-
peared, through Westminster and
Emmitsburg, as well as roads to
Sharpsburg, Rockville, Williams
port, among others.
Shortly after 1900 the plans for
the turnpike were extended Sew
eral banks of Baltimore, Hagers-
town, Conococheague and Cumber-
land took up the project of building
the road from near Hagerstown to
Cumberland. This 81 mile stretch
of road is therefore known as the
Bank Road.
There are always many interest
ing sidelights to the construction of
any sizeable work One that took
place while the road from Baltimore
was being built was the Battle of
Funkstown. A large number of Irish
laborerS were working on the con-
StructiOn in Funkstown in the spring
of 1923 On st. Patrick's Day an Sin
animate parsonage called Paddy"
appeared among the turnpike work
ers in ridicule of the Irish national
Saint. A large group of workers as
Sembled and picked a fight with the
citizens, Several people on both
sides were severely cut and bruised
and for awhile it appeared that the
whole town would become engaged
in the battle. After a time about
$50 turnpikers assembled on one of
the cross streets and the Funkstown
Rifle corps drew up on another. In
this position they eyed each other
closely, waiting for someone to make
move.
Back in Hagerstown everything
was hustle and hustle; there was a
real appearance of war as the Amer
lean Blues, commanded by Mr. Will
liam D. Bell, of Torchlight fame, as
sembled and marched quickly to
Funkstown. They arrived there to
find the two parties lined up oppo-
site each other, and no doubt their
arrival slightly dampened the
spirits of the mob. A short parley
was held, and after few of the
leaders of the threatening workers
were taken into custody, the crowd
dispersed. But the militia remained
to stand guard.
1t is reported that this uprising
caused excitement throughout the
whole country, attracting as much
attention and interest as a war be-
tween France and Spain.
In 1927 there was another meeting
about the road, in Town Hall. DR..
Boerstler and William D. Bell led