According to at least two articles in the Brunswick Herald (1894 and 1907), she ran a boarding house on 1st Street (today: Virginia Ave.). In 1910, widows Mary (85) and her daughter-in-law Helen (66) were living together. Mary was running a boarding house on 3rd Street (Maple Ave.), near Dr. Horine’s residence. At that time, she had 5 boarders staying with her. Of interest is the fact that, per the 1900 census, Mary never learned to read or write.
Mary’s husband Barnard (or Bernard) died in December 1898. [Documentation: Brunswick Herald, December 16, 1898. It states that he was 96 years old, but this is probably in error, as it lists Mary E. McDonald as his widow.]
Mary died July 1, 1911 at the age of 86. She willed her house and lot to Helen Bruner, her son’s widow. She also bequeathed “to the Reformed church of Brunswick, $25 for the erection of a memorial window in the church to her memory.” However, no memorial window with her name on it is to be found in what is now Beans in the Belfry.
Mary E. McDonald was buried in Sharpsburg. I’m not sure why she was buried there, as she spent most of her time in Berlin/Brunswick. Apparently her daughter-in-law moved to Sharpsburg, where she was found in the 1920 census living by herself. Helen died in 1927 and is buried with her husband Rufus beside Mary E. McDonald.
Descendants: None. Mary E. McDonald’s tombstone in Sharpsburg, MD
- 36 -
