Historical Society of Carroll County

06/19/2026

From our collection:
A photograph of the loom house that was once located behind the Shellman House. In the time of slavery Jacob Sherman’s slaves used the house for residence and for weaving household linen. Donated to the Society by Paul Reese in 1941.

Our site states...
Print, photographic. Image of loom house, an outbuilding behind the Shellman house, Westminster, Maryland, by photographer Mortimer Foster. Dated 1890(?). Reverse side handwritten in ink: "Old Loom House which stood in the r[ear] of the Shellman residence where, in slave days, [the] slaves of Jacob Sherman wove the household linens. P.R. Photograph by Mortimer Foster, distinguished architect. Senior member of the firm Foster, ___, and ___, New York City." Another label says "Old Loom House which formerly stood in the garden of the 'Shellman House'. Jacob Sherman’s slaves used the house for weaving household linen. Paul Reese, a relative of the Shellmans and perhaps the city’s first professional architect, is shown to the right wearing white trousers. Photo c. 1890 Courtesy of Historical Society of Carroll County." Photo shows a log structure in foreground with trees and part of the Shellman House in the background. Paul Reese and a small African-American child are outside the Loom House. Overall size 7" x 9"; image size 4.5" x 6.5".

06/19/2026

Photo credits:
Austin History Center. “Emancipation Day Celebration, June 19, 1900 Held in ‘East Woods’ on East 24th Street in Austin.” National Museum of African American History & Culture, 19 June 1900, nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth.

Becker, Ralph E. “Copy of Emacipation Proclamation Engraving by R. a. Dimmick in 1864.” National Museum of African American History & Culture, 1864, nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth.

06/18/2026

DOBBIN HOUSE TAVERN ANNOUNCES GROUNDBREAKING FOR “DOBBIN HOUSE SQUARE”, AN OUTDOOR COLONIAL EDUCATIONAL MUSEUM AND PARK

Gettysburg, PA (June 11, 2026) – In celebration of the 250th birthday of one of Gettysburg’s cherished landmarks, the 1776 Dobbin House Tavern, we are pleased to announce the start of Dobbin House Square, a public welcoming space for education, reflection, and community gathering, with a grand opening planned for August 26 - 30, 2026.

The Dobbin House will host a public groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., marking the official announcement of the park. The ceremony will take place near the project site, 89 Steinwehr Ave, Gettysburg. Community members, area businesses, public officials and members of the public are invited to attend. Guests include Borough Manager, Charles Gable; Gettysburg History Historian, Tim Smith; Steinwehr Avenue Business Improvement District Board Member, Marci Cropp; and Project Manager of Conewago Construction, Ray Menges.

Along with open space for public events along Steinwehr Avenue, Dobbin House Square will ensure this historic area continues to inspire future generations with five life-size “Charters of Freedom” settings- the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, Civil Rights Amendments and the Gettysburg Address, www.chartersoffreedom.com, and a Pennsylvania semiquincentennial, life-size Liberty Bell, www.america250pa.org//PPE:_Semiquin_Bells. These outdoor settings will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will be free for Gettysburg residents and visitors. The park is dedicated to preserving the past while investing in its future. It will strengthen pedestrian flow to the businesses along the avenue and enhance the overall visitor experience to Gettysburg.

Dobbin House Square is located next to the oldest building in Gettysburg, the Dobbin House, built in 1776. With the exact same age as the United States of America, both are celebrating their 250th birthdays in 2026. The Dobbin House was built by Rev. Alexander Dobbin, one of the earliest settlers in this area. It is now a popular dining, lodging and shopping establishment.

The Dobbin House and the accompanying park are on Steinwehr Avenue in Gettysburg. The street is conveniently located directly in the center of the surrounding Gettysburg National Military Park and includes one of the entrances to the Gettysburg National Cemetery, where President Lincoln gave the famous “Gettysburg Address”. Hotels and bed and breakfast lodging, a variety of dining venues, historic Battle of Gettysburg museums, and boutiques, shops and artist studios make the avenue the ideal place to stay for exploration of Gettysburg and Adams County.

Our thanks to Conewago Construction Company for providing the ceremonial shovels!

For more information about the Dobbin House Tavern, visit: https://www.dobbinhouse.com.

For additional information about the park and groundbreaking, contact Chris Charney at [email protected], 717-334-2100 x124

Dobbin House Tavern

06/18/2026

*All information HSCC has on the location is under the "Our site states..." of this post from our online collections database. If you have any questions or information you are welcome to contact us at [email protected]*

From our collection:
A photograph from the 1937 Carroll County Centennial Parade of the B.F. Shriver of "The B.F. Shriver Co. Canners and Farmers." float. Donated to the Society in 1987 by Mike Preston.

Our site states...
Print, photographic. Carroll County Centennial Parade, B.F. Shriver float. June 1937. B/W photograph. Float covered in dark paper, with a rounded front and a white fringe along the bottom. The front of the float has a cornocopia with flowers coming out it. The side of the cornocopia reads "Canned Vegetables" There is a white round hump in the center with a hole in it so the driver can see. There is a design on the side of the hump with what appears to be vegetables.There are two young girls in white dresses sitting behind the hump. There is a tall panel at the center of two columns at the back of the float in front of which a woman in a white dress with a hat is standing. The side of the float reads "The B.F. Shriver Co. Canners and Farmers." There are people gathered on either side of the road to watch the parade. There is large house with a turret on the far side of the street with people sitting on the porch roof watching. 5" x 7"

06/17/2026

06/17/2026

*All information HSCC has on the location is under the "Our site states..." of this post from our online collections database. If you have any questions or information you are welcome to contact our us at [email protected]*

From our collection:
A photograph of the June 17, 1905, Western Maryland Railroad wreck that was located near Patapsco, Maryland. Donated to the Society in 1955 by the Carroll County Commissioners.

Our site states...
Print, photographic. B/W silver gelatin print, mounted on black board, 8" x 10". Image measures 4.75" x 6.5"; shows the Western Maryland Railroad accident near Patapsco, Maryland, June, 1905. Image shows 3 damaged locomotives, on their sides and off the tracks; there is a large crane at left side and a large crowd watching the clean-up work. Stamped "Collection of J. Leland Jordan". Written on back is "from Louise Matthews Mar-3-43 Patapsco train wreck June 17, 1905".

06/16/2026

Interested in purchasing one if these commemorative coins to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the US? We are selling them for $10 at HSCC but other sites are selling them as well. We are open Wednesday-Friday 11 am-4 pm. We are closed Friday, June 19th for the holiday, though.

Contact us at [email protected] with any questions.

06/16/2026

We just had an inquiry about this picture by Wilson Studio. Any clue where this is? The marker says 155.

06/16/2026

Call to action ... Do you think you would be a good tour guide? Check out the flyer and let us know if it's something you would be interested helping the Historical Society with!

06/16/2026

It’s a packed house today for our Box Lunch Talk! Thank you to everyone who attended and to our staff and volunteers for helping. Thank you to Rick & Debbie Barrick for sponsoring today’s talk. Last but not least, thank you to Steve Carney for the informative and historic talk!!! Enjoy these pictures and stay tuned in the next few weeks for the recording of the talk.