Day 5: July 5, 2006
Turning West
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After three nights in one spot I'm moving at last. First it's up US-1 to Baltimore. This was certainly not part of the National Road and I don't believe it was ever part of the National Old Trails Road. But the NOTR saw many variations and politically motivated hints at inclusion so I suppose it isn't entirely out of the question. Whatever its early history, it's obvious that the route has been around a long time. I was pleasantly surprised to at the number of independent motels that still exist and remain open. This half-dozen is just a sample. There are several motels in Elkridge which was founded in 1734. I imagine that lodging has been available here for a long time.
Baltimore was closed when I got there. There was plenty of traffic so not everything could have been closed but it was too early for the USS Constellation or the impressive looking visitor center.
That tall obolisk where I watched fireworks last night was a latecomer as Washington Monuments go. It wasn't even started until 1848 and wasn't completed until 1888. The dedication ceremony, a day before George's birthday in 1885, was just a little early but did start the fireworks tradition. Seems that DC's Washington Monument has always been a party sort of place.

Construction of this one, at Mount Vernon Place in Baltimore, was begun in 1815 and finished in 1829. But even it isn't the oldest. Stay tuned.

This stone in Irvington marked mile three on the Baltimore Frederick Turnpike. The "To B" is still quite readable. The number "3" much less so. While not federally funded and not officially part of the National Road, this turnpike did form part of the link to Cumberland and is justifiably part of the Historic National Road Byway. If the stone looks a bit tired, it's because it has been standing here since 1787.
This is Frederick mile marker #5. It is right outside of the Baltimore National Cemetery looking, as others have noted, as if it could be a grave stone that has slipped through the fence. Note that, in 1787, it did not seem necessary to spend time finishing the back of these stones.
This boundary stone was set in 1919 and still marks the Baltimore city limits. I learned about it here. Start at the base of that site to learn about a lot of Baltimore stuff - including those mile markers.
There are some pretty neat signs - and buildings - in Ellicott City. There is also a pretty big rock that I've not seen mentioned. Today's breakfast consisted of a muffin and iced tea from Sarah & Desmond's.
I guess I was so happy to have found that city limits stone that I forgot all about Frederick #6. Since it is well marked with a real sign, that's rather embarassing but I'm telling myself that finding this marker without help makes up for it. The stone is at the east edge of New Market but I can't read anything on it.
The stone jug was how Leonard Harbaugh marked the stone bridge he built over the Monocracy River in 1808. Both it and the plaque were moved about a mile west of the river following the bridge's collapse after 134 years of use. They are visible from US-40A but require a turn onto Bowman Farm Road to access. General Lafayette visited nearby Frederick in 1824 and was met on the bridge. The plaque commerating this was erected by the Sons of the American Revolution. About time the guys did something.
Here it is. The first Washington Monument. Apparently the whole thing was originally built in one day, July 4, 1827, to beat out the laggards in Baltimore. The monument itself isn't all that tall but it sits atop a tall ridge for some great views. For the bizarrely curious, cell phones do work at the base of the tower and I called from here to make reservations at the Cassleman Inn which is three years older than the tower.
This is Boonsboro, home of the tower builders and site of the highlight of my day. I liked the appearance of the liquor store and the log cabin beside it and I also liked the hanging sign at Crawford's. A hunter, a 'burger, and some things that just might be confections. I walked by before deciding that this was probably a good place to get an iced tea for the road. Inside, just to the left of the door, were some small hunting & fishing items; Lures & such. Shelves in the center hold what I'd call sundries and there are greeting card racks in the back. There is a counter with eight or so stools and some booths squeezed in between the counter and the sundries and among the greeting cards. As centrally located as possible was what I instantly recognized as a "liar's table". It was occupied and as I entered I heard two great political lines that had something to do with a shirt.

The talk continued and topics included snuff, charcoal, raw meat, and big ears. It was a friendly group and, after a little conversation, I asked about the shirt. It seems that one of the group, in his younger days, had made a bet or accepted a dare about climbing a tree. A sycamore, they thought. The tree was so big that you couldn't get a grip on it at the ground so he went up neghboring trees until he could reach the lower limbs of the big tree and then made his way to the top. As proof of this accomplishment, he had left his shirt hanging in the tree's uppermost branches.

And that's the point at which I had walked in to hear:

"When the Democrats were in office, you could afford to leave a shirt in a tree"

"If the man who's president now knew what I did, he'd give me his own shirt"

The first bridge here isn't on the signed byway but is straight ahead where the current US-40A turns right leaving Funkstown. Built in 1823, it once carried the road over Antietam Creek. As the picture shows, it is still very much in service. The Wilson Bridge no longer carries anything but foot traffic. Built in 1819, it is now the focus of a park west of Hagerstown.

The day started dry but there had been periods of light rain. It started again as I crossed Sidling Hill. Plan B was to dash to the Cassleman on the expressway if it got too late. Encountering rain, I-68, and 6 o'clock all at the same time seemed to be a sign. I hit the expressway with plans to return in the morning.

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