Near Hancock in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Round Top Sand Company
Western Maryland Rail Trail
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, July 24, 2016
1. Round Top Sand Company Marker
The Round Top Sand Company and the Maryland Glass Company mined sand in this area during the early 1900's. On the ridge overlooking this area lies a thick bed of Oriskany Sandstone. This sedimentary rock formation yielded a fine, white sand that was suitable for glass manufacture. A unique structure was designed and built in 1919 to move sand that was mined on the ridge to the Western Maryland Railway, 60 feet below. This structure, including two 6" diameter pipes, was supported by a cable system. A slurry of sand and water was pumped through the pipes into a large storage tank. The sand was then transferred from the storage tank onto railroad cars located on a siding track.
Erected by Western Maryland Rail Trail.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.
Location. 39° 40.6′ N, 78° 13.799′ W. Marker is near Hancock, Maryland, in Washington County. It can be reached from the intersection of Locker Road and Berm Road, on the right when traveling south. Located on the Western Maryland Rail Trail.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Baltimore Metro Region and in Western Maryland. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. 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.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Round Top Heritage Area (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Round Top Cement Mill (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Round Top Cement Mill (approx. 0.2 miles away); Round Top Geology (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lovers' Leap (approx. 1.9 miles away in West Virginia); Skirmish at Sir Johns Run (approx. 1.9 miles away in West Virginia); Old Mr. Flints Home (approx. 2 miles away); National Pike Toll House (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hancock.
via Maryland Department of Natural Resources, unknown
2. Western Maryland Rail Trail
Maryland Department of Natural Resources website entry
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, July 24, 2016
3. Western Maryland Rail Trail (WMRT)
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, July 24, 2016
4. Round Top Sand Company Ruins
Credits. This page was last revised on April 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 26, 2016, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 646 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 26, 2016, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 2. submitted on April 20, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3, 4. submitted on July 26, 2016, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.
