Near Hancock in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Apple Industry
Western Maryland Rail Trail
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, July 24, 2016
1. The Apple Industry Marker
For well over one hundred years the Hancock area has been at the heart of the Maryland Apple Industry. At the first part of the 20th Century, the gently rolling hills and vast open territories hosted over twelve major orchards. Some of the more noteworthy companies included J.A. Cohill, R.M. Daniels, John T. Mason, Glenn Allen, The Marvania Orchards and the Ridgefield Fruit Farms.
One of the largest producers, the American Fruit Growers, once claimed to have harvested 75,000 barrels of apples annually.
At this site, you can see the remains of a foundation that once was a packing shed. Typical construction was a wood framed and sided structure resting on a stone or concrete foundation. This packing shed was located next to a siding track, where apples could be sorted, packed, and loaded onto waiting freight cars.
Today, the apple industry in the Hancock area, as well as the Western Maryland Railway, is a memory of times past, but not forgotten.
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Harvest time at the Brook Farm on Roundtop Road
Harvest time at the Cohill Orchard near Hancock
Erected by Western Maryland Rail Trail.
Topics.
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Location. 39° 38.894′ N, 78° 14.984′ W. Marker is near Hancock, Maryland, in Washington County. It can be reached from the intersection of Willow Road and Seavolt Road, on the left when traveling south. Located on the Western Maryland Rail Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Hancock MD 21750, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Skirmish at Sir Johns Run (approx. 0.7 miles away in West Virginia); America's Military Anniversary (approx.
Photographed by Bernard Fisher, July 24, 2016
2. Western Maryland Rail Trail (WMRT)
Also see . . . Western Maryland Rail Trail. State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources website entry (Submitted on July 26, 2016.)
Photographed by Preston P Piper Jr, March 24, 2026
3. Cohill Station
Original site of the apple packing shed beside the Western Md Railway track (now a trail). Concrete remnants are ahead.
Photographed by Preston P Piper Jr, March 24, 2026
4. The Apple Industry Marker
Cohill Station packing shed concrete remnants at the WMRT mile ~16.5 site left of the marker & gate. Western Md Railway ran past here picking up apples for transport. Search for George Cohill's article for more information. Cohill Orchards.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 26, 2016, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 874 times since then and 72 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 26, 2016, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 3. submitted on March 26, 2026, by Preston P Piper Jr of Martinsburg, West Virginia. 4. submitted on March 27, 2026, by Preston P Piper Jr of Martinsburg, West Virginia.
