Page:Brunswick 100 Years of Memories.pdf/28

blocks went to nowhere. Central Avenue was developed after the new Elementary School was, built around 1952 and it dead-ended at the Elementary School and the Eagles Club. That's seven hills, same as Rome's, if you don't mind bending the rules a little.

W-MMM

OLD DOWNTOWN HOUSES AND BUILDINGS

The land along the B&O RR mainline track was a natural for business.

Lot 7 on the west side of South Virginia Avenue (the first lot north of the tracks) was designated as a "warehouse " in 1848 and belonged in 1891 to William Elgin, builder and mover in Berlin.

Opposite it, on the west end of Lot 28 was the Red Men's Hall in 1873; it became D. C. Winebrenner's in 1907. Winebrenner's was a distribution point for wholesale groceries throughout the area, including Frederick.

At the east end of Lot 28 was W. L. Gross, 1888, although the store wasn't built until 1893.

WEST SIDE SOUTH MAPLE AVENUE

When the commuters walk past My Sister's Place en route to the station, they pass a high double house and a quaint, possibly pre-1800 house, then no more buildings. Many commuters can recall when the block looked quite different.

Even the last house (Snoots) was attached to a larger house before it was removed. Next was an alley, then a commercial building with apartment above. The front had a small cement porch with steps perpendicular to the house descending both north and south; there was a show window on each side of the door. At one time Jess Dailey had a funeral parlor here.

Helen McBee Smith, who has provided information about this area, remembers the Sy Shewbridges living in the Dailey building before Mr. and Mrs. Ed Bell.

A narrow alley was south of this, then the McBee house. If you traveled west on the alley toward where J.P. Karn later expanded, there were three houses behind the McBee property, and facing the alley. Carrolls, Mainharts, and Reynolds lived in these houses. A sturdy highboard fence separated McBee's from the narrow alley and from the houses at the rear .

An alley separated McBees from Mr. Sine's (possibly Charles) shoemaker shop, which was between the alley and the Westbound station.

As Karn's Lumber Yard expanded it reduced the residential area to its present size.

S - Helen McBee Smith - Virginia C. Snoots

SNOOTS, VIRGINIA C. House (9 South Maple Avenue)

The original plat of Berlin by Leonard Smith designated the lot on which Mrs. Marshall (Virginia C.) Snoots' house stands as "a portion of Lot 75."

Once a double building, the street numbers for the two parts of this house would have been "seven" and "nine" South Maple Avenue. The original large edifice used "nine," so when the left side was removed, the remaining half kept that address although the portion left was located on the "seven" spot.

The building that was removed had been used for room and board for railroad workers. There was a food shop with snacks. This portion was later adapted to apartments. A common concrete wall that supported both buildings is still visible.

The Snoots house was built of logs, covered with weatherboard, then covered with Glasstex shingles. There is a fireplace, now covered, in the living room. The basement is under the original house, but not under its back addition.

The Snoots house has 6-1/2 rooms and bath.

There is an unusual construction on the second floor. This consists of logs that have been covered and topped, resulting in a shelf midway up the sidewalls. This gives the impression that the roof may have been raised and windows installed in order to produce a full second floor.

MRS. HIMES' RESTAURANT

Entirely of log, two stories high, and covered with weatherboard, this dwelling at 21 West Potomac Street was the town's family restaurant. Mrs. Ida Himes ran a restaurant here. At present, Mrs. Ruth Folk owns this century-old-plus dwelling.

DENNIS HOLMES HOUSE

The property at 35 West Potomac Street was sold to Joseph Waltman for $25 (with every of the appurtenances for "proper use") in 1847. Through Waltrnan's will it was sold in 1873 for $203, indicating that some time during the 26-year interval a house had been built.

29