This Month In Frederick County History

March

From John Ashbury's - '... and all our yesterdays'

March 2

There are many institutions in Frederick County which have enjoyed a fruitful and illustrious tradition. One of the oldest still in business (in 1997), after 170 years in operations, is the Fredericktown Bank and Trust Company in the unit block of North Market Street in Frederick. The handsome, federal-style building, now occupied as the main branch of the bank, was opened for business on March 2, 1970. But that's getting ahead of the story.

On March 7, 1828, the bank, then called the Fredericktown Savings Institution, was organized and the first deposits made. It was then located in the offices of Dr. Jacob Baer on N. Market St.. From there it operated for many years until, in 1850, the board of directors ordered George Brengle to purchase the property of Mrs. Mary Howard on the eastside of N. Market St., where the headquarters of the bank remains today.

The lot has a frontage of 63 feet and a depth of 186 feet. The bank built a new brick building which stood for 57 years before it was demolished in 1907 to make way for a new structure. This building was made of granite, cement, steel and concrete and reflected the era in which it was built.

Sixty-one years later, the board of directors decided that their headquarters, which provided only 5,800 square feet of space, was inadequate and decided to build a new facility. Their decision to tear down the 1907 structure and rebuild on the same site has been viewed by many as the spark that lead to a rebirth of downtown Frederick. Demolition began on December 9, 1968.

During the 15-month building period, Fredericktown Bank and Trust operated from the old Shipley's building at 103 N. Market St. That temporary facility closed at the end of the business day on February 27, 1970, and the new headquarters opened Monday, March 2. Federal law required the rapid move.

The new bank, built during the presidency of W. Meredith Young, offered some new features for downtown customers in addition to its 24,000 square foot interior. Included was a drive through window, which operated by way of a television camera.

A feature that pleased all who walk downtown was the heated pavement in front of the bank. Whenever the weather is inclement during the winter and the temperature was low enough to cause freezing, the bank turns on the heat and pedestrians are assured of safe footing.

In August 1980 the Fredericktown Bank decided to affiliate with Mercantile Bankshares Corporation of Baltimore. At the present time the bank also has several branch offices, two on West Patrick Street, one in the triangle with W. South St., and one on the Golden Mile; one at Thomas Johnson Drive and Opossumtown Pike; one at the Prospect Shopping Center; one on Yellow Springs Road, and one in Walkersville.

March 9

For most of Frederick County's history the milling business has been an integral part of the commercial community. The Zentz Mill stood on N. Bentz St. for more than 130 years before fire destroyed it in 1926. On South Carroll Street today stands The Delaplaine Visual Arts Center. Originally it was The Mountain City Mill, operated by James Gambrill.

He was born in 1866, in Baltimore, and was raised in Frederick County and attended the public schools here. At 16 he became an apprentice with his father in the milling business.

From 1888 to 1893 he was in the mercantile business in Alabama, but Frederick drew him back. In 1898 he was an incorporator of the Truckers Association of Frederick County, which was founded to better market the products of local farmers.

Four years later The Frederick County Farmers' Exchange was founded with Mr. Gambrill as the treasurer. Several years later he and D. Dietrich purchased the stock of this company and operated it in conjunction with the Mountain City Mill.

In 1907 Mr. Gambrill was elected a city alderman, but refused to stand for re-election in 1910. However, that year he was one of seven men appointed to revise the City Charter. He also set a true fiscal example by refusing to accept his aldermanic salary while in office.

If there was a civic organization that could benefit from his abilities, Mr. Gambrill would offer his services. He was a director of Citizens National Bank, chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Home for The Aged, and was a member of The Governor's Commission to study relief and old age pension. He was also active in the Chamber of Commerce, Federated Charities, the Community Chest, the Monocacy Battlefield Association, the Frederick City Park Board, and The Rotary Club, of which he was a charter member.

Mr. Gambrill was an avid sportsman and served for a time as chairman of the State Game and Inland Fish Commission. An outspoken conservationist, he was president of the Confederation of Western Maryland Communities, formed to preserve the area's natural resources.

To recognize his efforts and his devotion to the cause, Gambrill State Park was named in his honor.

From 1916 until his death in 1951, Mr. Gambrill was a member of the Board of Trustees of Hood College, serving as vice-president in 1942. In November of 1949, Hood College named its new gymnasium after him in appreciation for his years of service to the college. The facility, which contains the Hodson pool, classrooms, faculty offices, and locker rooms was built originally at a cost of $420,000, which was donated over a quarter century by alumnae of the college.

March 16

On March 16, 1829, just five weeks after President-Elect Andrew Jackson had received an inauspicious welcome in our fair community, retiring Secretary of State Henry Clay arrived for several days of festivities, including a banquet in his honor at Talbott's City Hotel. It had been Clay who was responsible for Jackson defeat in the House of Representatives in 1824, when John Quincy Adams was elected president by that body.

Once again Frederick was on the direct route home for a public servant. Clay was on his way to his Lexington, Kentucky, home when he stopped here for respite.

Clay must have felt like a candidate for president again during his stay because, as The Frederick Town Herald reported: "...so continual was the press of visitors that scarcely could he avail himself of the necessary hours of refreshment."

On March 18, a banquet was held at Talbott's, and, although the $3 price was considered expensive in those days, more than 200 attended. The Frederick Band was complimented by the press "for their polite attendance and tasteful and appropriate tunes."

As was the custom then, just about everyone in the room afforded a toast, some more than one. Among those in attendance were John Wright, Dr. John Tyler, George Baer, George Baltzell, Capt. John Dudderer, Dr. John Baltzell, who built the home which today serves as the headquarters for The Frederick County Historical Society, William Schley and Jacob Cornish.

When all were finished, Clay, noticing that Lawrence Everhart, who had saved Col. William Washington at the Battle of Cowpens, and had assisted a wounded Lafayette from the Brandywine Battlefield during the Revolution, was in attendance with several other War of Independence veterans, rose and asked those present "to unite with him in the expression of the pleasure their presence added to the scene, by a toast `to Lawrence Everhart and his fellow soldiers.'

The Herald, in the closing paragraph of its story reporting the event, remarked on the coincidence that those in attendance number the same as the members of the House of Representatives - 213 - which Clay had served for several years as Speaker.

March 23

While on routine patrol in the early morning hours of March 23, 1977, Maryland State Trooper William Tower noticed a fire in the home of Bernard Burkett, on Walter Martz Rd. just off Opossumtown Pike.

At about the same time, State Fire Marshall Timothy May, while returning from investigating another blaze, saw the flames. Both men called in the alarm and volunteers from Independents, Juniors, Lewistown, Braddock Heights and Walkersville sped to the scene.

There was little they could do as the entire house was engulfed when they arrived. Before the firefighters arrived, however, both May and Tower attempted to arouse the occupants, but to no avail.

Two sons of the owners, who lived in nearby trailers, were awakened and they also tried to enter the burning structure, but the heat was too intense.

All the firefighters could do was protect nearby structures and watch the house burn. During the blaze, which was fanned by 40 mph winds, the upper floors and the roof collapsed into the basement leaving only the massive exterior walls still standing.

When it was safe, the firemen began the task of recovered the bodies of the eight occupants. The family was known in their neighborhood for their hard work and friendly nature.

One neighbor said: "They was just your typical farm family, gettin' along, makin' a living. It's so bad that things like this have to happen."

Spectators at the scene described how helpless they felt as they watched the building destroyed. Trooper Tower, particularly, was devastated by the fire. He told reporters later: "There I was, but I couldn't do anything. I've never felt so helpless than I did this morning."

The fire has gone down in county history as the worst ever in terms of lives lost.

March 30

Although most Frederick Countians even today trace their ancestry to Germany, there were many who were born in that country who contributed mightily to the enrichment of their adopted home.

One such man was David Lowenstein, who was born in Germany November 26, 1845. Before he died on March 27, 1919, he had owned a clothing store, organized a company which became one of the county's largest employers, served as president of the Board of Aldermen of Frederick, bought and remodeled the City Hotel, and organized the White Cross Milk Company.

Lowenstein was brought to this country by his parents when he was 7 years old. At 18 he moved with his mother, and his sister Amelia, who had just married Samuel Weinberg, and opened a clothing store at 9 North Market Street. For more than 56 years, even though he took Charles Wertheimer as a partner in 1885, he conducted his business at the same location.

In 1887 in association with Thomas Haller, George Zimmerman, and John Baumgardner, he formed the Frederick Seamless Hosiery Company, which became the Union Knitting Mills, then The Union Manufacturing Company.

This firm began with but 9 employees, but at the height of its success between 300 and 400 people worked in the plant at the corner of East Patrick and Wisner Streets, a building which still stands.

In 1890, just three years after the successful formation of the seamless hosiery firm, he started the Frederick Shoe Manufacturing Company, which also enjoyed great success, but not to the degree as his hosiery company. For many years Lowenstein was the president of both firms.

For five years, from 1902 to 1907, he was engaged in the manufacture of clothing at a Baltimore plant. In 1908 he and Mr. Wertheimer purchased the old City Hotel in the first block of West Patrick Street and undertook extensive renovations.

Because of his extensive business ventures and property ownership, Lowenstein served for 14 years as a director of The Farmers & Mechanics National Bank.

While he was president of the Board of Aldermen from 1909 to 1912, The City Opera House was renovated, numerous streets were paved and many sewer lines extended.

He was also a generous benefactor in the establishment of the Beth Sholom Synagogue, which he did not live to see become reality.

In the middle of March 1919, he was taken ill. Although it was thought not to be serious, complications set in and he died on the morning of March 27. He was laid to rest in the Hebrew Cemetery in Baltimore.