USA > Maryland > Washington County > Hagerstown > A history of Washington County, Maryland from the earliest settlements to the present time, including a history of Hagerstown > Part 30
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islature in 1822 granted the necessary power. On St. John's day, June 24, 1822, the corner stone of the new building was laid amid imposing cere- monies, preparations for which had been in active progress for weeks. The arrangements were in the hands of Mt. Moriah Lodge and their commit- tee was composed of Samuel Ringgold, Otho Hol- land Williams, Henry Lewis, William Price, Wil- liam D. Bell, George F. Kreps and Samuel Rohrer. Masons from all the neighboring towns and cities constituting a great number were in attendance. They formed in a procession at the Court House and marched to the site of the building preceded by a choir, singing "Hail Mystic Art!" The Masons were clad in black or blue coats and panta- loons, white waist coats, black hats, white gloves and wore their aprons and sashes. Upon arriving at the stone prayer was offered by the Rev. Mr. Shaw, an oration was delivered and then the ceremony of laying the stone was performed. The procession then moved to the German Luth- eran Church where services were conducted by the Rev. Benjamin Kurtz, the pastor of the church and a sermon preached by the Rev. John Clark of Greencastle. After leaving the church the pro- cession returned to the Court House and was then dismissed. An elaborate dinner had been pre- pared at the Wabash Spring, a great picnic resort a short distance from town on the Funkstown road. A great inany articles and papers were de- posited in the corner stone and are there in safety to this day. "for the inspection, perhaps of future ages." Among the other papers is a list of the officers and members of Mt. Moriah Lodge, officers of the Grand Lodge of Maryland, the names of the President and Cabinet, the officers of the State and County and of the various local institutions of the town, names of the ministers and church officers, a copy of the Bible, various Masonic doc- uments. Constitution of the Female Society for In- structing Poor Children, copy of the oration de- livered at the laying of the stone, impressions of the first engravings of bank notes, issued by the Hagerstown Bank, notes of the Bank in circula- tion, U. S. coins, foreign coins, presented by Mr. Rohrer, newspaper and almanacs, census of Ha- gerstown. 2.757 inhabitants, of Washington County 23,065. The market was moved to the new Mar- ket House in December 18 ?? although the build- ing was not finally completed until nearly two years later. About the same time a public meet- ing was held at the Court House to take subscrip-
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
tions to place a town clock in the cupola and it was ascertained that the cost would be about a thousand dollars. But the town authorities later on employed Arthur Johnson, a skillful cloek maker of the town, residing on West Washington street to make the clock. It is an admirable pieee of work and bears testimony to the skill of the maker as do the tall eorner cloeks still standing in many of the houses of Washington County. The Mayor and Council were empowered by an Aet of Assembly passed in 1833 to levy a sum of money not to exceed one thousand dollars to pay for the clock. For several months during the spring and summer of 1823 the town was in an uproar over "Little Hciskell." In the contraet between the Moderator and Commissioners of the town and the Masons under which the latter erect- ed their lodge over the Market House, it was set forth that the work should be done according to the specifications then agreed upon and submitted. Those specifications showed a Masonic square and compass for a weather vane upon the cupola and the square and compass were accordingly placed there. Immediately there was a great outcry. The newspapers were filled with indignant and excited protests. Correspondents protested against the symbols of Masonry and begged that "our good little friend Heiskell" be elevated to the promi- nent and important position at the summit of the Market House. "It is he who has buffetted old Boreas and told us which way the wind has blown for many years." They suggested as a eompro- mise with the Masons, that little Heiskell be in- vsted with an apron, embellished if they please with the square and compass. The Masons did not fail to reply and the papers were filled with many sarcastic shafts directed at the Moderator and Commissioners, but these worthy officials re- garded the public clamor and the square and com- pass were ordered down and Little Heiskell rein- stated in his lofty station as overseer of the town. In 1889, the Odd Fellows who had purchased the rights of the Mt. Moriah Lodge in the east wing of the Market Honse, raised that portion of the building and the corner tower another story in height and the town erected a much higher cupola which elevated the town clock nearly a hundred feet from the pavement. This, it was decided, would necessitate the removal of Little Heiskell but the suggestion was met by determined oppo- sition. from the people. The newspapers contained many protests against such vandalism, petitions
were signed and a public meeting was threatened when the Couneil gave way and ordered the little soldier to be reinstated after receiving a fresh uniform of gold leaf. When it was taken down it was found that the figure had been greatly injur- ed by rust and that during the war a musket ball had passed through it and several others had den- ted it. After Little Heiskell had been restored the money for the erection of the building was ex- hausted and in Dceember 1823 the Legislature was ealled upon to authorize the town to raise more inoney for the completion of the work. At the dedication of the new hall which took place St. John's day, June 24th, 1824, three hundred Ma- sons were present and the ceremonies were after an ancient and solenin form. Frisby Tilghman, Otho H. Williams, Thomas Kennedy, Wm. D. Bell, Wm. Hammond, Henry Lewis, George Brumbaugh were the committee. The religious services were conducted at the Lutheran Church by the Rev. Benjamin Kurtz, and an oration was delivered by Col. B. C. Howard the Grand Master of Maryland. In the procession, besides the three hundred Ma- sons, were the clergymen of the town and five com- panies of militia-the American Blues, Washing- ton Huzzars, Union Guards, Washington Yeagers and Warren Rifle Corps. During the war the use of the Market House was discontinued and for twelve or fifteen years there was no public market in Hagerstown for the only time sinee 1776. The citizens were supplied with marketing from wag- ons which drove from house to house. Among these street vendors the most famous and best known for many years was "Bob" Warner, whose stentorian voice as he shouted out a list of his wares could be heard over the greater part of the town. In 1875 the Market House was enlarg- ed and improved and the public market, three days in the week, was revived. The proposition to re- establish it was bitterly opposed by many citizens who had become accustomed to this street service, and by merchants who feared it would injure the . business of the town to place restrictions upon the sale of country produce. But these objections were overruled and the market has been improv- ing each year and growing in publie favor until now it has become one of the features of the town at which citizens "point with pride."
The excitement over Little Heiskell in 1823, gave place to another and much more important one, which involved the whole State, and was re- garded with interest in all sections of the Union.
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OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
Under the original Constitution of Maryland, which was still in force at that time, Jews were debarred from the privilege of holding office by the declaration of belief in the Christian religion which all officials were compelled to make when they took the oath of office. In the Legislature at the session of 1818, and again in 1822, Mr. Thomas Kennedy, a member from Washington County, introduced a bill to remove the political disabilities of the Jews and to grant them the same privileges which they enjoyed under the Con- stitution of the United States-in other words, to do away with all distinction between Jew and Christian before the law. This bill was defeated in 1818. After Mr. Kennedy's return home in 1818, he was bitterly assailed then as being "an enemy of christianity," a "Judas Iscariot," "onc- half Jew and the other half not a Christian," and "if he should be re-elected he would renew his shameful attack upon the Christian religion." But at this election the religious fervor of the people had not been aroused and Mr. Kennedy was re-elected. In 1822 the bill was passed by a slender majority. Under the Constitution it had to be approved by the next Legislature before be- coming operative; it therefore became the issue before the people at the election for members of the Assembly in 1823. All other questions were lost sight of, and even the Canal was forgotten. A perfect frenzy seized upon the people. Ten men were ready to take hold of the skirt of him that was a Jew, but with an entirely different motive from that suggested by the Prophet. In one issue of the Torch Light there were no less than four- teen different articles, written with a degree of in- temperance which we in our day find it hard to understand. "A Christian Voter" asks the people of Maryland whether they wish to strike from our laws the last clause which declares our profession of Christianity. To pass this bill would encour- age Turks, Jews, Pagans and Infidels. It would sap the foundations of all we hold dear. "A Na- tive of Maryland" declares that all the twelve mill- ions of this persecuted race which are scattered abroad throughout the whole earth, are welcome to come to our country. We will be friends with
them. We will give them anything but our coun- try. We cannot make them masters over us. But the most conspicuous and violent in his opposition to the Jew Bill was Benjamin Galloway. This eccentric gentleman headed the "Christian" ticket, and along with him on the same ticket werc Jo- seph Gabby, Joseph I. Merrick and James H. Bowles. But Galloway conducted the campaign in the newspapers. This bill was an assault upon the Christian religion. He had voted against it in the legislature at the last session as a bill to promote infidelity. The father of the bill, Thomas Kennedy, was not a native of Maryland, but of Scotland-a country where infidelity had made more progress than in any other country. The approaching election, he said, would solve a doubt which has been raised in the minds of many of the believers in the divinity of our Blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, whether Christianity or Unitarianism has more supporters in Washington county. He did not wish the support of any Jews, Deists, Mahometans or Unitarians, but he wanted every Christian to go forward and uphold the Christian religion." Of course the other side was heard from and replied in language equally vigor- ous but not so abusive. The Jew Bill ticket was composed of Thomas Kennedy, Ignatius Drury, T. B. Hall and Thomas Kellar. In all the dis- tricts of the county a religious frenzy took posscss- ion of the people. The eight candidates were in- vited to a "spouting" at the Cold Spring, there to give their views in addresses to the people of the County who would be gathered there to hear them and decide between them. Mr. Kennedy and his colleagues on the Jew Bill ticket had reason and right and justice on their side. But the people were in no mood to listen to reason. The "Chris- tian" ticket was elected by a vote of almost two to one. The National Intelligencer attributed the distressing result to a religious excitement which had been artfully fomented by misrepresenting the Jew Bill. Washington County was therefore represented in the Legislature by four opponents to the measure, which one of her delegates had the honor to introduce at the former session .*
But one who was closely identified with the
*The text of the law as published in 1825 is as follows:
An Act for the relief of the Jews in Maryland.
Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assem- bly of Maryland, That every citizen of this state pro- fessing the Jewish religion, and who shall hereafter
be appointed to any office or public trust under the state of Maryland, shall, in addition to the oaths required to be taken by the constitution and laws of the state, or of the United States, make and subscribe a declaration of his belief in a future state of rewards and punishments, in the stead of
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
county, John Van Lear MeMahon, then a rising young lawyer representing Allegany eounty, car- ried on to completion the work which Thomas Kennedy had begun. In the session of 1824, Mr. MeMahon delivered a speech of five hours dur- ation on this subject, and it has come down to us as one of the most eloquent and powerful speeches ever made within the walls of the old State House. In 1825 the bill was again passed and in 1826 Mr. Kennedy brought in a bill to confirm it. Mr. Galloway endeavored to raise the Jew issue at sub- sequent elections, but the people had recovered their reason and would listen to him no longer.
Thomas Kennedy was the son of William Ken- nedy of Paisley, Scotland. He left home when a boy. April 18, 1296 and embarked at Port Glasgow in the ship Brittania, bound for Georgetown on the Potomac river. His motive in leaving home seems to have been a romantic desire to live in the "land of freedom." His brother Matthew had already gone to America a good many years before. For twelve years no news had been received from him and his parents supposed he was dead, but in 1795 a stranger brought a letter from him, then a year old, giving a good account of himself and his pros- pects. in America. His brother John sailed from Port Glasgow a few days before Thomas left and landed in New York the day Thomas landed at Georgetown. The voyage consumed thirty-eight davs. As the Brittania let go her anchors at Georgetown on the 28th of May her guns were fired. This brought the inhabitants of the village down to the water side. Kennedy was the first of the passengers to jump from the captain's jolly boat upon the shore glad, as he says in his journal, "glad once more to tread on solid ground-and that too in the land of liberty." As he landed a tall man accosted him and asked where the vessel was from. He understood the man to ask where he was from and answered "from Paisley." The stranger then with great eagerness inquired of Mr. Kennedy his name. "And while he was speaking to ino," continues the journal, "I thought fortune
had brought to me my brother Matthew whom I had not seen for eleven years, and on that supposition I told him I thought I knew him and then let him know my name ; but it was with difficulty I eould persuade him I was his youngest brother (for the said person was indeed the same I supposed.) The mutual happiness caused by this meeting ean be easier conceived than deseribed. Thomas then went to his brother's house, which was in Georgetown and beeame acquainted with his fanı- ily, a wife and child. "After drinking some re- publiean whiskey, I sat down to dinner and feast- ed on some wholesome fare, the produet of Colum- bia and began first of all with luneheon made of Indian meal and well known by the name of Poan." In the afternoon he went through the vil- lage and the following Sunday crossed Roek Creek to view the Federal City, Washington. Washing- ton was then a wilderness. The only buildings completed were a row known as the "six building." The President's House and Capitol were begun but were not yet under roof. One grog shop was in a temporary shed near the White House and that was all of Washington just 112 years ago. Kennedy soon obtained employment as book keeper, first for a merchant in Georgetown and then for the building of the bridges across the Po- tomac at Little Falls, and later on for the Poto- mac Navigation Company. Whilst in the latter employment he met Miss Rosamond Thomas of Frederick who was visiting near the Great Falls and after a few years married her. In 1797 he removed to Washington County and engaged in the flour trade on the Potomac at Williamsport and owned the first boat that passed through the locks at Great Falls. In 1815 he published a small volume of poems. In 1817 and in the then succeeding years and again in 1822 he was elected to the House of Delegates. In 1821 he was defeated by Casper Wever by reason of a division of the republican vote. In 1822 he seeured the passage of the "Jew bill" and for this reason he was defeated at the next two elections. In 1825
the declaration now required by the constitution and form of government of this State.
2. And be it enacted, That the several clauses and sections of the declaration of rights, constitu- tion and form of government, and every part of any law of this state contrary to the provisions of this act, so far as regards the sect of people aforesaid, shall be, and the same is hereby declared to be repealed and annulled on the confirmation hereof.
3. And be it enacted, That if this act shall be
confirmed by the general assembly of Maryland afler the next election of delegates, in the first session after such new election, as the constitution and form of government direct, in such case this act and the alterations of the said constitution & form of gov- ernment, shall constitute and be valid as a part of the said constitution and form of government, to all intents and purposes, any thing therein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.
POTOMAC STRE
Old Market House.
.
COURT HOUSE.
Residence of P. Napoleon Brumbaugh, Hagerstown, Built in 1746.
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OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND.
he went back and the Jew bill became a law. For this service to their people the Israelites were deeply grateful and sent him a number of hand- some presents, some of which are still preserved by his family. In 1826 he was appointed Post- master of Hagerstown which positon he resigned the following year to go to the State Senate. He died during the cholera epidemic.
The Cold Spring, where the discussion of the Jew bill took place was near the southern outskirts of Hagerstown, on the beautiful property owned for many years by the late John H. Heyser. It was for many years a noted resort for the people of the town and a favorite place for eating dinner, drinking toasts and listening to orations and reading the Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July. During this time it was the property of Dr. John Reynolds, who got it from his wife, the sister of Wm. O. Sprigg. It was fixed up as a regular resort ; bath-houses, shower baths and hot baths were there, a restaurant, a bar-room, a ten-pin alley and a dancing hall were carried on for the delectation of visitors, and the baths were advertised as a specific for rheumatism. But the principal spring in the county was the Belinda Spring, on the banks of the Antietam, a mile or two from Sharpsburg. It was discovered in July, 1821, and was for many years a place of consider- able resort. Its waters unquestionably have min- eral virtues and were supposed to contain sulphate of magnesia and carbonate of iron, which was ad- vertised as very efficacious in bilious complaints, and fully equal to Bedford water. A tavern was maintained for years, grounds were laid out and walks made on the opposite bank of the Antietamn. A pleasure boat plied on the waters of the Potomac and Antietam, from the spring to Harper's Ferry, affording visitors an opportunity to view some of the grandest scenery in America. At the tavern, the rates were six dollars a week and half that price for a servant or a horse. Guests could use the water free of charge, but others had to pay a dollar, which was the price of the water by the barrel. Warm and shower baths were provided, and some seasons a theatrical troupe was in at- tendance to afford amusement to the guests. Among the visitors at this spring in 1825 or 1826, were Judges Wmn. B. Rochester, of New York, the eldest son of Nathaniel Rochester, and Elias Glenn. These gentlemen declared themselves greatly benefitted by the waters. In 1825, Jacob B. Gilbert supposed that he had discovered medic-
inal properties in a spring, which he named the Paradise Spring, on his faim three miles north of Hagerstown, on the great road leading to Waynes- boro, and immediately started a health resort in opposition to Belinda. The water, he said, "was distinguished from all other waters, and contains neutral and metallic salts and soda, and exerts a cleansing efficacy, purifies the blood and is effec- tual in liver and pulmonary complaints, rheum- atism, sores, and vertigo. Applied as cold baths, it quickly cures nervous troubles, epilepsy, St. Vitus' dance and distraction of the mind."
But the most popular and beautiful resort in the county, although very inaccessible, was the Black Rock. Here, cach Independence day par- ties would gather and spread sumptuous repasts upon the beautiful green sward which surrounds the spring. The Declaration of Independence was regularly read and an oration was delivered, which was sure to meet with a hearty reception and vociferous applause, for patriotism was stimulated by an abundant supply of the pure liquor distilled from Washington county rye by Washington coun- ty distilleries. At these, and all other social gath- erings, there had to be thirteen regular toasts, to correspond with the thirteen original States, and after these had been drunk with becoming fervor and responded to by a selected orator, volunteers were in order and they were proposed and drunk as long as a man was left with sufficient sobriety to guide his glass to his lips. Not only at Black Rock were these celebrations held. There was usually one in each of the election districts of the county and always one at the Cold Spring, and frequently at the taverns in Hagerstown. For several years about 1823, the Cave at ('avetown was illuminated and used for a kind of beer gar- den, and several 4th July Celebrations held here. An admission fee of 12 1-2 cents was charged. The issue of the newspapers immediately following the 4th of July, were filled with bombastic accounts of these various celebrations and lists of the reg- ular and volunteer toasts which were proposed.
Patriotismn took various forms a few gener- ations ago, and the one which in our day would be regarded as the most eccentric of all was the erec- tion of Washington Monument on the summit of South Mountain, just above Boonsboro, at a place then known as Blue Rocks. It is the most con- spicuous artificial object in our county and can be seen from almost every portion of the valley. No observant stranger, visiting Ilagerstown, fails to
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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
inquire what it is, and but few citizens can give any satisfactory reply. At seven o'clock on the morning of July 4, 1821, a party of men, mostly laborers and mechanics, met in the public square of Boonsboro' and under the command of George I. Hardy marched to the Blue Rocks with the determination to spend the day at hard labor erecting a monument to the Father of his Country. The foundation had been laid the day before. All set to work, actuated by a spirit of enthusiasm, except a party from Frederick County, who greatly incensed the patriots by standing off and eating and avoiding work. At noon the Reverend Mr. Clingham, of Boon-boro', an aged survivor of the Revolution, delivered an address and at its conclu- sion a cold collation was spread. "It was not our object," says the leader, in narrating the history of the day "it was not our object to gratify our pampered appetites, consequently no sumptuous arrangements had been made, neither were toasts prepared for the occasion." This latter was a self denial which, it was likely, was unattained at any celebration of the times. It enabled the writer to boast that the whole party returned sober to their homes. They "enjoyed a more heartfelt satisfaction in partaking of their simple fare, than the most costly or highly seasoned dishes could have afforded. Our thoughts and food were both highly seasoned in the contemplation of our work." The monument was fifty-four feet in circumfer- ence at its base and on this day was raised to a height of fifteen feet. The wall is composed of huge stones. A flight of steps runs through the pile to the summit, from which a magnificent view is spread out at the foot of the spectator. A pan- orama of towns and villages, the fertile fields and mountain summits of three counties, and the Poto- mac winding its tortuous course amongst them. On the side of the monument pointing west a white marble -lab was placed, bearing the inscrip- tion: "Erected to the memory of Washington, July 4, 1822, by citizens of Boonsborough." As this slab was placed three revolutionary soldiers ascended the monument and fired three rounds of musketry from the top. "As it was raised in much haste," continues the grandiloquent patriot, from where account this sketch is taken, "all cannot boast the regular accuracy of perfect beauty; yet it possesses both solidity and durability-two im- portant qualities. It has such strength as I think will preserve it for ages. Though rude and naked of all the charms of architecture, yet there is an
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