C is for Clear Spring, Maryland

16 May 2015
C is for Clear Spring, Maryland.  It took a little more than 1 ½ hours for me to drive to this little gem and I was very anxious to see this town, which I eventually found to have a very old-time, and somewhat Mayberry feel to it.  I was even more anxious to see this town as I discovered the National Pike Festival was going to be celebrated today.  Each May, this celebration occurs because Clear Spring was a gateway on a 300 mile wagon train route back in the 1800s. The festival includes a wagon train reenactment covering 40 miles of this route.  Before I continue with this and the rest of my experiences in Clear Spring, I’ll provide a brief description of the town.

Clear Spring was founded in 1823 (you blink and you’re through it) and is located in Washington County roughly 12 miles from the Pennsylvania State line (click here for a map).  This town (incorporated in 1836) has a population of 358 people and covers an area of 0.11 square miles.  One of the interesting things about this town is it houses Washington County Public Schools' Academy of Agricultural and Environmental Science - a program available to any student enrolled in Washington County Public Schools regardless of their home district.

So, how did Clear Spring get its name?  I only bring this up because I ran across a little sign pointing to the spring the town was named for.  Well, this spring just got added to my list of things to see in this town.  When I reached the spring, I was surprised to see it was just a concrete path guiding the flow of water.  However, today it was “standing”, not flowing.  I really wanted to see where it originated, but I was bordering private property, so I didn’t continue my search.  It must have been significant, though, as this town was named after this spring.  Per the Washington County Historical Trust:

 “The clear spring still flows at the foot of Fairview Mountain on the south side of what first was called the Bank Road.  Now Route 40, it once was dirt and gravel highway to the west that completed the connection between Baltimore and Cumberland by 1823.  At Cumberland, it joined the National Pike, which went west from there.  Having the spring close to the road made this an appealing place for coaches and wagons to stop and refresh both travelers and teams.  A sign directs the passerby to a double walkway between 109 and 111 Cumberland Street.  Back behind the houses, the spring emerges from beneath a stone bulwark and flows into a concrete basin.  It then proceeds across backyards in an irregular path of man-made channels.  Still as cool and appealing as it must have been 150 years ago, the spring is now accompanied by a sign warning that it should not be tasted.”

Now, off to discover the festival where I was actually a little more interested in finding the wagon train.  I read it would momentarily stop at the Wilson Store at a specific time (on this day) and I was very close to meeting the timeline.  As part of the festivities, the one room school house (Wilson School) would be open for a self-guided tour, as well. 

Here come the wagons!!! 

VERY impressive!  Everything from horses and approximately 15 covered wagons, to a stage coach were there – even a few Confederate soldiers.  Held every year since 1989, this fun-filled community event provides visitors with an authentic wagon train experience (highly reminiscent to the 1800s era) during the time when Western Maryland was a frontier and everyone relied on wagons and horses.  As mentioned earlier, the route was 300 miles.  It was created by the Federal Government eventually to become known as the National Pike.  Per Wikipedia:

” The National Road (also known as the Cumberland Road) was the first major improved highway in the United States to be built by the Federal Government.  About 620 miles (1,000 km) long, the National Road connected the Potomac and Ohio Rivers and was a gateway to the West for thousands of settlers.  When rebuilt in the 1830s, the Cumberland Road became the first U.S. road surfaced with the Macadam process pioneered by Scotsman John Loudon McAdam.

In 2000, the James Shaull Wagon Train Foundation was formed.  According to the foundation’s website, the name was given in honor of James “Jimmy” Shaull, who was a farmer of Belgian horses and was Wagon Master for the National Pike Festival in 2000.  Unfortunately, Shaull died shortly afterward in a tractor accident. 

The wagon train does not cover all 300 miles – only 40 of the miles.  I should also tell you that unless you are part of the reenactment team with your own wagon and horses, you don’t actually get to ride on the wagon train - you only get to be a spectator.  To get an idea of what one of the modern day participants went through, this is an excerpt from a 2010 Herald Mail Media interview with Ms. Jeanne Ward of McConnellsburg, PA:

“Wagons roll in all night that first Friday, as the group stays together in Clear Spring, before preparing to head out early Saturday morning. The nearly 40-mile trip takes the wagons through Clear Spring and right through the center of Hagerstown before heading to Funkstown to the encampment, where they stay the night, before wrapping up the journey in Boonsboro the next morning.  However, everything in the process is required to be authentic, Ward said.  “We can’t have coolers showing and no cell phones.  It has to be all steel tires, no rubber tires on the wagons.  You can’t wear T-shirts with logos,” she said, adding that many people enjoy coming up to the wagons and looking inside.

Ward and her husband finally have a pair of matching Belgian horses to pull their wagon.  It is the campfires that Ward said she is looking forward to the most.  “I love the campfires in Funkstown.  We have harmonicas and banjos, and we sit around a big campfire and have music and food,” she said.  “It’s a really educational moment to come out and bring your children to see this. It’s history in the making,” Ward said. “It’s a real feel for how things were a long time ago.”

After spending a considerable amount of time looking at the wagon train and visualizing what it must have been like “back in the day,” I decided I wanted to explore the Wilson Store.  In working my way over to the store, I heard music playing and found a small group of people had formed who were playing mountain music.  One of the Confederate soldiers was playing the harmonica, as a couple of “civilians” were playing the guitar and banjo. 

It was extremely enjoyable – the mountainous background of the town, the music, and the sight of the wagon train threw me right back into yester-year.  I listened for a bit and when they took a break, I went into the store.  Wow!!!!  Check out this Pot Belly Stove!  And I never saw so much “penny candy” in my life!  There were abundant old time candy jars on the counter filled with to the brim with licorice, gumballs, caramels, and many other yummy treats.  Alexis was the store’s very happy salesperson and extremely helpful with answering everyone’s questions.  I stayed just long enough to look around to admire/appreciate all of the antiques and left to tour the one room schoolhouse located next door.

The Wilson School proved to be an interesting experience.  Built in 1855, the school was finally closed in the 1950s after being open 103 years.  At one time the school actually had as many as 50 students!  There was a “teacher” at the front of the room already discussing the history of the school as I walked in (I guess I was tardy), so I was not there for the entire lesson.  So, I’ve taken a little history about this school from the Wilson Village site:
 

“[The Wilson School] was a labor of love and produced by Rufus Wilson.  His wife and two of his children had died and he was reluctant to let his only remaining child, John, travel far to attend school.  He offered land next to his home and store to the county for a school.  Used by the Washington County Board of Education until 1955, it has been restored to such a magnificent extent, the visitors remark it looks as if the children had just gone out to recess and were expected back any minute.  Rows of old-fashioned wood and wrought-iron school desks are lined up inside the school room facing the school master’s or marm’s desk at front and center.  An old piano sits against one side wall.  A recitation bench – where students would wait to stand and recite their lessons – is in front of the blackboards.  Little hats and coats are hung in the area just inside the door.  A sleigh used to pull wood is propped against a wall.  Textbooks, a washbasin, and mirrors are at hand.  Even the dunce’s cap and stool sit waiting in a corner.”

 

After the teacher “dismissed” me, I decided I would drive over to the Windy Hill Restaurant to experience some local cuisine.  I was greeted by Ching,  

the manager, and was seated at one of the 10 tables in the restaurant.  As busy as he was, Ching couldn’t have been friendlier to everyone in the room.  He told me the Homemade Salmon Cake sandwich was very good, so that was good

enough for me.  As I was waiting for my sandwich, I began talking to the two ladies sitting at the table next to me until my food arrived.  They were Canadian tourists simply passing through on their way to Washington, DC.  When my sandwich arrived, it definitely did not disappoint!  Ching was “spot-on” with his recommendation.  I paid Ching, thanked him for his hospitality and recommendation, and left.

From there, I ventured over to the Knob Hall Winery – a very popular winery in Maryland.  It took just 15 minutes to drive there.  When I got there, I walked over to where some employees were setting up tables and chairs.  One individual saw me and asked if I was there for a wine tasting.  I told him, “no” and asked if I could just look around.  He happily said I could, but suggested I experience a wine tasting.  I nodded, “alright,” and he kindly motioned me towards the barn (where a few people were standing/working), instructed me to go over to the bar, and would be in momentarily.  Baxter, the establishment’s dog, showed me the way.  

When I got to the entrance of the barn, I wasn’t sure where the bar was located, so I asked a girl who was arranging papers and flowers on a table if she worked there.  She smiled and said, “no” – she was the BRIDE.  Ummmm……..wow!  Awkward!  I apologized and explained what had happened (and promised I wasn’t there to crash her wedding.)  She laughed, said, “no worries”, and politely pointed me in the direction of the bar.  When I got there, Amy (who I later found out was a tattoo model, as well as an employee of the vineyard) met with me and asked me to have a seat.  Every seat at the bar was open as I was the only one at this tasting.  Gee…..I wonder why!

Amy provided me with a brief history of the winery.  The 43 acres of land was in the family for over 200 years and they planted their first grapes in 2007.  They’ve won numerous awards for their wines as well – it’s THAT good.  The barn is used for events (see paragraph above), parties, bands, and wine tastings.  Amy told me one of her co-workers sometimes caters for the wine tastings.  Additionally, the house adjacent to the barn is partially used as a B&B.  So, on to the wine tasting.  For $5.00, I was able to taste 6 of their 15 available wines.  Amy described each one of them with great detail and was extremely helpful in answering my questions.  In the end, I bought a bottle of one of wines I tasted named Le Reve Rouge (French translation – “The Dream Red”), which Knob Hall nicknamed, “A Wine for Everyone.”  Amy explained this wine is for lovers of both red and white wine, and very few people do not care for the taste.   I thanked Amy for the education and excused myself before the wedding began.  As I was leaving, she suggested I go out back to see the Guinea Hens and Peacock roaming around.  Happily, I took her advice and remained back there looking at the beautiful birds for a few minutes before I drove home.

I found Clear Spring to be another pleasant, small town to visit.  I was excited to visit this town before I made my journey and the excitement never faltered.  Today, “I was a fly on the wall” in a town with tradition and a celebration of history both the local and neighboring population take pride in recognizing.  Simply put……Clear Spring is a little slice of life!