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Mount Savage, Maryland

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Mount Savage is an unincorporated town in Allegany County, Maryland. The town of Mount Savage is a small blue-collar town nestled at the base of Big Savage Mountain in the Allegheny Mountains, between the cities of Frostburg and Cumberland. The town began as a small farming settlement in the mid-1800s, but it was not until 1844 that the region was put on the nation's map with the pressing of the first iron rail in the United States. After this claim to fame, Mount Savage became the fifth largest city in Maryland. Named as the headquarters for the short line railroad and the Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad, the area was deemed an industrial center. In addition to the rail businesses, Mount Savage attracted a foundry, two brick refractories, and several local merchants. In this company town, the industries shaped the economy and topography of Mount Savage, building housing for workers and donating land for schools, churches, and other public buildings. The town was a cultural melting pot attracting English businessmen and Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Italian, and German workers. With this diverse mix of cultures, the identity of Mount Savage was molded into a close knit community. Despite the loss of the industries to the region, Mount Savage continues to celebrate its hard-working traditions.

The latitude of Mount Savage is 39.695N. The longitude is -78.88W. Elevation is 1,234 feet.

Early History

The name origin of Mount Savage is derived from a land surveyor, Thomas Savage in 1736 who happened to be traveling through the area.[1] The Archibald Arnold family later settled "Arnold's Settlement", more commonly known today as "Mount Savage" around 1759. Thus making the oldest town in Allegany County, Maryland to have a group of the same family to pioneer a town. [2]The Arnold's were known to be Catholic farmers originating from Southern Maryland. [3] The Arnold family settled northeast of the current town along a Native American Trail know to history as "Turkey Foot Road". The Arnold's established a hotel "Arnold's Hotel" which was commuter friendly for the intrigued pioneers who were heading out west and towards the Ohio River Valley. They also had a self-sustaining farm which was part of the the Glen Savage Dairy Farm today.[4] The Archibald Arnold family eventually owned most of the land area of the present day Mt. Savage, Archibald sometimes purchasing 1000 acres at a time. [5] Some areas of land that Arnold purchased were documented only as "Move About", "Tomahawk" & "Durbin's Neglect".[6] In the early 19th century Mt. Savage was primarily as self-sufficient farming community with no real need to embark onto neighboring towns or industries. Mt. Savage was the only town though, west of Cumberland with a Catholic Church, so many families from neighboring states and towns traveled here for Mass. [7] Upon completion of the National Road, settlers headed west by the thousands, flooding the Cumberland/Mt. Savage area prompting the immediate attention of Mt. Savage's mineral wealth.

Industry

The Maryland and New York Iron and Coal Company was incorporated in 1837. This important company was established by an Englishman Benjamin Howell, who was one of the many curious commuters along the now completed National Road. The company was to manufacture and utilize the iron ore that was abundant in the Mt. Savage area. With the construction of the iron furnaces in 1839, the first local railroad was built which connected neighboring Cumberland to Mt. Savage. By 1845, the iron company was now producing around 200 tons of iron a week. [8] The Maryland and New York Iron and Coal Company was the only company in America to manufacture heavy railroad iron at this time. This was very important to American history and transportation because prior to 1845, railroads were made with "wooden rails with a thin strip of iron on the top" [9], thus making train transportation unsafe and operating under poor conditions. With the flourishing industry upon Mt. Savage, clay, brick, coal and locomotives were also being manufactured and transported to neighboring towns and states by way of the new and improved railroad system. The most prosperous coal mines were the Eckhart Mines located right outside Mt. Savage, which produced bituminous coal. The Mt. Savage railroad system was now the main supplier of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and by 1852 was considered to be the largest Iron Works in the United States. By 1864, the Union Mining Company was established in Allegany County. This company controlled most of the clay and brick exports. Little Mt. Savage had officially grown into a legendary, American industrial center.

Historic sites and museums

  • Mount Savage Museum & Historical Park
  • Union Mining Company Office Building
  • C&P Railroad Office building
  • Remains of the Iron Furnace where the First Iron Rail was Rolled.

See also

References

  • Paul, Amanda,"Mount Savage" Arcadia Publishing, Charlestown SC, 2004. Page 9. (Google Books)
  • "Arnold's Settlement," Heritage Press. June 1972, Volume 1, No. 8. Page 1.
  • Carney, Charles:"The History of Mount Savage" University of Maryland, May 1967. Page 1
  • Carney, Charles:"The History of Mount Savage" University of Maryland, May 1967. Page 1
  • Carney, Charles:"The History of Mount Savage" University of Maryland, May 1967. Page 1
  • "Arnold's Settlement," Heritage Press. June 1972, Volume 1, No. 8. Page 1.
  • Carney, Charles:"The History of Mount Savage" University of Maryland, May 1967. Page 2
  • Carney, Charles:"The History of Mount Savage" University of Maryland, May 1967. Page 3
  • Carney, Charles:"The History of Mount Savage" University of Maryland, May 1967. Page 3

General Internet references

Local Community Organizations

Local Schools

Local Maps

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  1. ^ Amanda Paul:"Mount Savage" Arcadia Publishing, Charlestown SC, 2004. Page 9.
  2. ^ Anonymous. "Arnold's Settlement." Heritage Press. Volume 1 No.8 (1972) Page 1
  3. ^ Charles Carney:"The History of Mount Savage" University of Maryland, May 1967. Page 1
  4. ^ Charles Carney:"The History of Mount Savage" University of Maryland, May 1967. Page 1
  5. ^ Charles Carney:"The History of Mount Savage" University of Maryland, May 1967. Page 1
  6. ^ Heritage Press: June 1972. Volume 1 No.8
  7. ^ Charles Carney:"The History of Mount Savage" University of Maryland, May 1967. Page 2
  8. ^ Charles Carney:"The History of Mount Savage" University of Maryland, May 1967. Page 3
  9. ^ Charles Carney:"The History of Mount Savage" University of Maryland, May 1967. Page 3
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