Mechanicsville in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

“Three Notch Road”

Photographed by Rico Ramirez, November 23, 2024

1. "Three Notch Road" Marker

Inscription. A law of 1704 provides that “three notches of equal distance” marked on the trees indicated a road leading to a ferry. “Two notches with another notch a distance above the other two” a road to a court house. “a slip cut down the face of a tree near the ground” a road to a church.

Erected 1955 by Maryland Department of Transportation; Maryland Historical Trust.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Maryland Historical Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1704.

Location. 38° 24.655′ N, 76° 40.579′ W. Marker is in Mechanicsville, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. It is on Three Notch Road (Maryland Route 235) near Laurel Grove Road, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mechanicsville MD 20659, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Maryland.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in the Tidewater,

and in the Chesapeake Bay Region.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Three Notch Trail (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Three Notch Road (approx. 1.1 miles away); De La Brooke Manor (approx. 1.7 miles away); Tobacco Barns (approx. 1.7 miles away); Forest Hall (approx. 2½ miles away); Veterans of Helen Memorial

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(approx. 3 miles away); Extending the Rail (approx. 3.3 miles away); Village of Mechanicsville (approx. 4.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mechanicsville.

Also see . . . Maryland 235. — Wikipedia “Three Notch Road has been the main highway between northern St. Mary's County and Point Lookout since the colonial era. The highway was reconstructed as the modern MD 235 between 1923 and 1938.” (Submitted on March 19, 2015.)

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, January 9, 2015

2. "Three Notch Road" Marker

This is a former iteration of the marker with an identical inscription.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2008, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. This page has been viewed 4,499 times since then and 133 times this year. Last updated on December 3, 2024, by Rico Ramirez of Prince Frederick, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on December 3, 2024, by Rico Ramirez of Prince Frederick, Maryland. 2. submitted on March 19, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A wide shot of the marker and its surroundings. • Can you help?