Weird Western Maryland

Credit: Snopes.com. Photos of a fawn and a beagle apparently resting cozily on a sofa together, reportedly somewhere in Garrett County, went viral in summer 2008 after being published online in the Deep Creek Times of McHenry. Snopes.com published one of the anonymous emails that accompanied the viral photo: A fawn followed this beagle home — right through the doggie door — in the Bittinger, MD area. The owner came home to find the visitor had made himself right at home. This hit the 6 o’clock news big time. Sure beats out the political news for a change. Viral emails often position themselves as a refreshing or welcome antidote to whatever the press is focusing on; that’s part of the reason people forward them. The “political news” of summer 2008 included the nominating conventions that chose John McCain and Barack Obama as presidential contenders; the Bush administration’s protest of the Soviet invasion of Georgia; the John Edwards sex scandal; and a U.S. Supreme Court ruli...

Previously, I listed the seven Washington County locations covered by Roadside America . The site has 14 Frederick County locations, the most of any Western Maryland county, even if we subtract the two defunct locations. We should keep in mind that of the counties in our remit, Frederick, being the farthest east, is the closest to Baltimore and D.C., so it's as far into Western Maryland as many day-trippers ever get. Never fear, Frederick, we will do much better even than 14! Burkittsville: Spook Hill . “ Defying the laws of gravity and common sense, vehicles appear to roll backwards up a hill.” Emmitsburg: Big Jinxed 9/11 Statue of Flag-RaisingFirefighters . “ Ended up here after three cities rejected it as too big, or too impractical, or too much of a tourist attraction.” Emmitsburg: Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton . “ American saint entombed in an altar, but not on display.” Frederick: Dog Almost Melted for Bullets . “Black-painted cast iron sculpture of a grey...