Weird Western Maryland

Previously, I linked to the Roadside America entries for Allegany , Garrett , Washington and Frederick counties, as a baby step toward establishing a canonical list of well-known Western Maryland Weirdness. In the same spirit, I turn now to Atlas Obscura , beginning with Allegany County's five entries. Never fear, Allegany, we will do much better than that! Cumberland: George Washington’s Headquarters . “This one-room cabin where the young colonel slept during the French and Indian War.” Cumberland [actually LaVale]: LaVale Toll Gate House . “Maryland’s first (and last standing) toll house on America’s first federal road established the state as the ‘Gateway to the West.’” Also at Roadside America. Frostburg: The Jail in the Gunter Hotel . “The antique hotel still has a jail in the basement, though the cockfighting ring is long gone.” Also at Roadside America. Lonaconing: Klotz Throwing Company . “A remarkable time capsule of American manufacturing deep in Maryland co...

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...

Previously, I listed the two Garrett County locations covered by Roadside America . The site has seven Washington County locations, though three no longer exist. Never fear, we will do better than that! Cautionary note: Some of this information I'm linking to is out of date, or was in error to begin with, as we shall see ... Boonsboro: Doug Bast’s House of History . " The museum's most talked-about relic is a shriveled human arm, displayed in a blood-red showcase, with a Civil War bullet lodged near where its elbow used to be." Boonsboro: White Frog Colony (Gone). " Anyone have further info on this one? Somebody's grandparents must have visited here on their honeymoon." Clear Spring: House of Hocus Pocus (Gone). " Knepper's House of Hocus Pocus was a roadside attraction ... . Closed in the 1960s." Hagerstown: Giant Coke Bottle . " Large Coca Cola bottle on the roof of a bottling building." Hagerstown: Giant Crab o...