Middletown in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Middletown
"Middle of What?"
| | The Road That Built The Nation | |
Noted for the tall white spire of the Zion Lutheran Church, Middletown has been framed by its picturesque valley for over two centuries. German Protestants, fleeing persecution in Europe, founded the community before the American Revolution. Michael Jesserong, who laid out the town, named it Middletown as he sold four lots to Conrad Crone in 1768. No one is sure what the name means. Perhaps it refers to the community as the center of its own Middletown Valley, midway between South Mountain and Braddock Heights.
That valley, with its rich agriculture, gave the town a ready market from the start. When the National Road came through in the early 1800s, Middletown became a welcome respite between two steep mountain ridges. Harness, blacksmith and carriage shops joined the taverns and hotels that serviced the parade of travelers passing on Main Street. Locals began to refer to their streets as "the main road from Baltimore to the western states." The "main road" also brought several Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War. Middletown was ransomed from Confederate General Jubal Early in 1864 for the grand sum of
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[Caption:]
The white Zion Lutheran Church has been the signature structure in Middletown since it was built in 1859. At the time of this photo, Main Street, the National Pike, cut a wide, muddy swath through town.
Erected by America's Byways; Maryland Heritage Areas Authority.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the The Historic National Road series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1768.
Location. 39° 26.636′ N, 77° 32.761′ W. Marker is in Middletown, Maryland, in Frederick County. It is on West Main Street (Alternate U.S. 40) west of Garage Drive, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 17 West Main Street, Middletown MD 21769, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Central Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 13 West Main Street (here, next to this marker); 31 West Main Street (a few steps from this marker); Main's Ice Cream Factory (a few steps from this marker); Valley Savings Bank (a few steps from this marker); 16-18 West Main Street (a few steps from this marker); Clovinger House (within shouting distance of this marker); 8 West Main Street (within shouting distance of this marker); The Coblentz-Long Building (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Middletown.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker. There are differences in the subtitles and the attributed erecting organizations.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 28, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 205 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 28, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
