Fort Ritchie in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Lakeside Hall

The Officer's Club

Photographed by Tom Bosse, September 14, 2025

1. Lakeside Hall Marker

Inscription. The Officer's Club House at Fort Richie has offered thousands of visitors an overnight stay, a place to relax, have a celebration, or enjoy a refreshing drink. Sitting resolutely on the shore of Lake Royer, the building has, for the most part, retained the same architectural appearance since 1927. [Caption]: Soldiers often wrote of their experiences in and around Lakeside in their letters home to family members. May 18, 1943, Ritchie Boy Adolph Baker wrote, "The Lake which is only a couple hundred yards away from my room may be good for swimming. If so, my morale will rise immensely." [Caption]: One of the first photos of Lakeside Hall C. 1928. [Caption]: Banquet held during the command of Colonel George Rhyne (1965-1968). [Caption]: The event hall has maintained a popular appeal for decades. [Caption]: The creation of this signage was made possible by contributions from Delaplaine Foundation, Inc.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical date for this entry is May 18, 1943.

Location. 39° 42.568′ N, 77° 29.684′ W. Marker is in Fort Ritchie, Maryland, in

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Washington County. It is on Lake Royer Drive, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cascade MD 21719, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Western Maryland.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in 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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Ice Lakes (a few steps from this marker); D-Day Anniversary (approx. 0.2 miles away); WW II Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Military Intelligence Training Center (approx. ¼ mile away); Robert F. Barrick Memorial Library (approx. ¼ mile away); War Returns to South Mountain (approx. 0.9 miles away); Old Trolley Line (approx. one mile away in Pennsylvania); Dr. Henry Harbaugh (approx. 2 miles away in Pennsylvania). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Ritchie.

Also see . . . Fort Ritchie.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, September 14, 2025

2. Lakeside Hall Marker

(Submitted on December 6, 2025, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Lakeside Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, September 14, 2025

3. Lakeside Hall

Historic Fort Ritchie image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, September 14, 2025

4. Historic Fort Ritchie

Credits. This page was last revised on December 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 6, 2025, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 60 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 6, 2025, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.