The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1959-11-19

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seIf-portrait
As one leaves Oakland. Md.
going west on Rt 7 upon a wide
curve leading into the community
of Rosedale there is a path to the
right which if taken will lead one
to spring that has quenched the
thirst of the wayfaring stranger,
the summer visitors, and the local
people for over two hundred and
thirty years. 1t was place fire.
quented by the Indian also. And
in these succulent glades with
their tall grass adjacent to the
Spring one could have seen buff
falo. deer and elk grazing in large
numbers. This is the kind of scene
that the first white men. fun
traders. saw when with their pack
horses they travelled to and fro
over McCullough's Path. This was
a path that followed a buffalo trace
ttraiD from the Ohio to the Poto-
mac ValleyS-and passed nearby
the Spring. Fifty seven years later
the states of Maryland and Vir-
ginia erected road 1787 from
WesternpOrt to MorgantoWn whose
routing passed near the Spring.
This was the shortest route from
the eastern tideWater or coast
country to the Ohio River country
distance of sixty miles. No sooner
did the road open than it was used
constantly by pioneers going west
ward to make new settlements.
Oakland. Md, has many distinc-
lions, historically speaking. The
first improved road from the At
laptic coast across the Allegheny
mountains passed through this
place. And the first railroad sta
ton to be built on top of any noun
tain in the world was erected in
Oakland. Md. in 1851. Along this
road in what is now Garrett Coun-
ty there were taverns, most of
them of a very primitive order.
But at least they could accommo-
date the traVellcrs-providng them
rest. food and shelter There were
two tavernS not far from the
Spring. The first was operated by
a Mr. Boyle A Hollanderl and
was located at the intersection Of
Wilson Creek and the Little Nough
about the same position as the
second Glades Hotel, the latter
built in 1874 Thomas Walcutt OF
Massachusetts states in his Jour
nal of March 18th. 1890: we eat a
little fried salt pork and bit OF
vension at Friends Augustine
Friend and then crossed the great
Youghiogheny About two miles
further on. we crossed the little
ditto Little Youghl at BOyles." In
Eric Bollman's letter dated 1876
we read We spent the second
night with one named Boyle, an
old Hollandcr. Early the next
morning we could hear the hoWllng
of wolf in the forest" The other
tavern was established about 1906
by William Armstrong and located
further down the Little Yough-
and on the other side of the Spring
about where the ESQ tank yard
is now located. This became the
headquarters for the first postoffice
in the southern part Of the county
and was known as "Yough Glades
Post Office.
Three years before the first i'm
proved road went through Oakland
General George Washington re-
turning from a western trip in
which he was trying to ascertain
the most feasible canal routing
from the Potomac tC the ono
came back by McCullough's Patf
stopping at Charles Friends 'abou'
3 miles from the Spring. on Sep
TENDER &c. 1884. In his Journal nc
states: From Friends | passed by
a spring distance three mleSl-
crossed the back bone Backbone
Mt and descended into Ryan'
Glade. Thence by Thomas Logs
dons etc"
There is evidence that Washing
ton was referring to what was
later known as Arches Spring adj
iacent to McCullough's Path IL
Pleasant Valley. The Spring tina
bears his name is Located north Of
Charles Friends and adjacent t'
one of the branches of the frs
improved road that went approx
mately the right of way OF the
present rout, 7 to Charles Friends
where it connected with roat
that went to Moorefield. But this
was not a right of way until three
years after Washington's trip. II
The Gladcs Star" Vol. II II p. 49,
fifth paragraph we read: "a patl