Hagerstown

Images of America: Maryland

by Mary H. Rubin

Lying just north of the Potomac River in the heart of the fertile Cumberland Valley, Hagerstown, Maryland has been at the crossroads of history and commerce since its founding in 1762. Nestled between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, the city sits on a north-south path that migration, war, and commerce have traveled for centuries, while the nearby Potomac River carves out a natural path that served as a gateway to the American West. This fortunate geography influenced the growth and development of Hagerstown, the seat of Washington County, and also earned it the nickname “Hub City.” The unique story of Hagerstown, captured in this volume of vintage photographs, includes not only the tales of the Civil War, the coming of the railroad, and the C&O Canal, but of the men and women who built a community and made it home. Through their perseverance and spirit, the city took shape—businesses were established, schools, hospitals, and churches erected, and neighborhoods formed. From Alsatia Mummer’s parades and the Great Hagerstown Fair to the bygone days when trolleys rolled through town, the heritage of this singular city is recalled and honored in this engaging tribute.

128 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2001