“Union Bridge Business Histories”

Carroll County Times article for 20 November 1994

By Jay A. Graybeal

Last Thursday evening the Historical Society held its Annual Dinner Meeting at the Union Bridge Volunteer Fire Department. The members enjoyed a delicious dinner prepared by the Women’s Auxiliary, remarks by local heritage groups and live entertainment by The Strawbridge Ensemble. The Society’s president, Jacob M. Yingling, unveiled the Society’s latest publication entitled Carroll Record Histories of Northwestern Carroll County Communities.

A century ago Union Bridge was a bustling market town which had grown rapidly following the coming of the Western Maryland Railroad in 1862. An unknown writer described the community in the Business Review and Directory, Northern, Western, Central and Southern Maryland published in 1892.
Union Bridge is situated on line of the Western Maryland R. R., with a population of six hundred people. Being amply provided with educational advantages, churches, good hotels and private boarding houses, while the mercantile enterprises being up to a high standing with a number of light manufacturing industries, with a railroad shop employing thirty hands, with express and telegraph offices and telephone service, a safe banking institution together with a live newspaper. The earliest inhabitants of the town and vicinity, being in a large proportion of originally Pennsylvanians, had the reputation elsewhere of being what is now often called “sentimentalists.” They believed that the inscription on that venerable old bell–“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof”–meant what it said, and in the darkest period of the time when our country was afflicted with the terrible curse of human slavery, our people here were always fearless and outspoken in their opposition thereto–and no human being was ever held in slavery on the soil of the town Union Bridge. Below will be found biographical sketches of the leading business enterprises of the town
 

M. E. Herbaugh
 

Millinery and Notions
The article avocations are by no means overlooked in Union Bridge and a representative house in the direction of millinery work is that under review. In 1878, Miss Herbaugh established here and carries a general line of millinery and fancy goods, hats and bonnets in cloth, felt and fur material, birds beads, flowers, feathers, ribbons, and a general line of millinery trimmings and ladies goods. The workrooms are well arranged and special attention is given to trimming and retrimming hats and bonnets into the latest metropolitan fashions. Personal attention is given and as an adept at this pursuit together with a native artistic skill, she is enabled to assure satisfaction to the most fastidious patron. The subject of this article was born in Carroll County, and is identified with the Methodist Protestant Church. As a business woman, is recognized as a reliable dealer.

 

Frank J. Shriner
 

Furniture and Undertaker
During the ancient Roman empire, the remains of the dead were consigned to flames of the sacred funeral pyre. In the wild Australian Islands, the body is placed in a hollow tree, there to slowly disintegrate, while in our own times and country the relict is placed in a casket and laid beneath the green sod of mother earth. As a funeral director, Mr. F. J. Shriner in 1890, succeeded the firm of P. H. Shriner & Son to the control of this business and conducts its affairs on the same liberal basis that has always characterized the house. He occupies a building 18 x 120 feet in dimensions. The entire premises are fitted out with improved wood working machinery, a large sand papering machine, lathes, circular and jog saws, planning mill, etc., these run by steam-power, which with the assistance of skilled help as occasion demands, every description of furniture and cabinet ware is turned out to order as well as repairing at reasonable prices. A general line of furniture is kept in stock. In the undertaking department a fine black hearse and dead wagon is used and a general line of shrouds, robes, mountings, coffins, caskets, etc., carried. Undertaking in all its branches is perpetrated and embalming done. Mr. Shriner in 1887, took a course of instruction from Prof. Clark, and holds a certificate for proficiency in this modern art of preserving the dead. A native of Carroll County. F. J. Shriner is identified with the Masonic Fraternity, and as a business man commands the influence of reputable dealers for this methods of integrity.

 

George P. Buckey
 

Banker and Broker
In a statistic review of the commercial and industrial enterprise of this country are disclosed many professions tributary to its growth and that most directly concomitant with the welfare of trade is its banking facilities. Union Bridge is favored in this direction by the enterprise of Mr. Geo. P. Buckey, who in 1884, founded this business and has since proven himself a convenience to the tradesmen and farmer, who heretofore was denied the advantages of this system of fiduciary exchange. Here is done a general banking and collection business on favorable terms. Every facility is at hand to cater to the best interests of the patron and if private worth and the possession of public esteem be guarantees of an able management and an enlightened policy they are exemplified in the conduct of this business. Mr. Buckey is a native of Frederick County. Thirty-two years ago he began the general merchandise business here. He later went into the grain business, erecting a large elevator and grain house. He is largely interested in realty here, and represents the 12 district of Carroll County as tax collector for the State and County, also collecting for the Fire Insurance Co. of Baltimore County, and the Grangers Mutual of Frederick County. As bank correspondents, connection is had with the Hanover National Bank of the city of New York; the Poeple’s, of Boston; First National of Westminster; and the Citizen’s National of Frederick.
The Union Bridge Chapter also included sketches of W. H. Perry, grocer; J. Traub & Bro., clothiers; J. Frank Baker, general merchandise, Mrs. J. L. Smith, millinery; William Wood, hardware; Reck & Smith, meat market; William H. Demmitt, dentist; Uriah Six & Son, bakery; Furney & Morningstar, fancy goods; J. G. Schnauffer, tonsorial artist; Jesse S. Whitmer, barber, G. T. Grumbine, stoves and tin; H. E. Little, baker; Joseph Wolfe, builder, Joseph I. Snader, agricultural implements and the Carroll News, edited by Edward Reisler.
Photo Caption: George P. Buckey, Union Bridge banker and broker, c. 1865. Historical Society of Carroll County Collection, gift of Mr. & Mrs. Paul Melichar, 1982.