Middletown Daily Photo: Civil War Sign

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Civil War Sign

I have taken many pictures of this sign but this is a slight different angle.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: I enlarged the picture so I could read the sign. It is unique to me so I was surprised to learn that General Early actually collected a $1500 ransom. I assume for not burning the place down. ?; March 20, 2011 at 7:48 AM
Bernie said...: Good question. I'm not sure. I do know that the church across the street (and in the background in yesterday's post) was used as a medical facility by both Union and Confederate forces at various times. South Mountain is just west of town (visible in many photos I've taken) and the battle site is about 20 minutes away (by today's transportation and roads).; March 20, 2011 at 10:52 AM

About Middletown

Middletown, Maryland was founded in 1767 and is said to be named either for its position midway between South Mountain and the Catoctin Mountains or its central location between the larger Maryland cities of Frederick and Hagerstown. A few years earlier, a visiting surveyor and future “Father of our Country” George Washington referred to Middletown Valley as one of the most beautiful places he had ever seen.

The town was incorporated in 1833. After the Civil War battles of South Mountain and Antietam, Middletown churches served as hospitals for both Union and Confederate soldiers.

Today Middletown boasts a delicate balance of old and new. Instead of a Mayor, the town leader is a Burgess. Some of the buildings were built in the 1700s and 1800s. There are large Victorian homes as well as the typical cookie-cutter subdivisions that dot the edge of the Washington DC commuter exurbs.

The only franchise restaurant in town is a Subway; the only Starbucks is inside the Safeway.

If you really want to understand what small-town America feels like, visit Middletown during the Independence Day festivities and fireworks at Middletown Park, the Volunteer Fire Department’s annual mid-July Carnival or the Middletown Heritage Festival held in the fall.