Frederick in Frederick County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
A Crossroads of American History
The Frederick Square Corner
Photographed By Craig Swain, September 3, 2007
1. A Crossroads of American History Marker
The Square Corner, at the intersection of Patrick and Market Streets, has long been the commercial and financial heart of Frederick. It is here that the National Road meets several important north-south roads that lead to Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The Square Corner has witnessed both dramatic and ordinary events for over two hundred and fifty years. British, Hessian, and Tory prisoners marched through town during the Revolutionary War, while Union and Confederate armies marched through as they headed to fateful collisions at Sharpsburg and Gettysburg during the Civil War. Conestoga freight wagons and “Concord” stagecoaches rolled west on the National Road, while in recent times, presidential motorcades passed through on their way to the nearby retreat in the Catoctin Mountains.Erected by America's ByWays.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the The Historic National Road series list.
Location. 39° 24.843′ N,
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Arts & Entertainment (a few steps from this marker); Market & Patrick Streets (within shouting distance of this marker); The Weinberg Center (within shouting distance of this marker); The News (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); 1862 Antietam Campaign (about 400 feet away); Hospitals in Frederick (about 400 feet away); A Good Night's Rest (about 400 feet away); One Vast Hospital (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Frederick.
More about this marker. Three photographs illustrate the crossroads. On the lower left is a photograph captioned, “By the 1890s, brick had replaced dirt on road surfaces. Trolley tracks and power lines crisscrossed the Square Corner as Guilded Age technology came to Frederick.”
In the lower center, “A Hagerstown & Frederick trolley car rumbles through the Square Corner in 1911. The electric railway made travel convenient from Frederick to other rural communities farther west and north.”
On the lower right, “The prime real estate at the Square Corner has always called for memorable architecture. The massive Farmers and Mechanics Bank Building still dominates a corner of the intersection. Many of the old buildings in the well preserved downtown have survived with new uses.”
The background of the marker is the “National Road at Fairview Inn,” the standard for the series.
Photographed By Craig Swain, September 3, 2007
2. The Crossroads
The marker stands in front what is now the Citizens National Bank.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, September 23, 2015
3. Gilded Age Technology
By the 1890s, brick had replaced dirt on road surfaces, Trolley tracks and power lines crisscrossed the Square Corner as Gilded Age technology came to Frederick.Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 21, 2017
4. Hagerstown and Frederick Trolley
A Hagerstown & Frederick Trolley car rumbles through the Square Corner in 1911. The electric railway made travel convenient from Frederick to other rural communities farther west and north.Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 21, 2017
5. Farmers and Mechanics Bank
The Prime real estate at the Square Corner has always called for memorable architecture. The massive Farmers and Mechanics Bank Building still dominates a corner of the intersection. Many of the old buildings in the well preserved downtown have survived with new uses.Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 21, 2017
6. The Square Corner
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 21, 2017
7. W. Patrick St. and N. Market St.
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, May 21, 2017
8. Corn and Caducei
Decorative elements on the Farmers and Mechanics Bank.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 14, 2017. It was originally submitted on September 28, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,911 times since then and 65 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 28, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 29, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 6, 7, 8. submitted on June 2, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.
