Oakland in Garrett County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Tradition of Washington Spring
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 17, 2020
In late September 1784, George Washington, Bushrod Washington, Dr. James Craik and his son William were returning from a trip to Pennsylvania riding south over the McCullough's Pack Horse Path. On the night of September 25th, they were caught in a heavy rainstorm in what is now the Wilderness Area of Herrington Manor State Park. Washington recorded in his diary that"... It rained so hard that the group couldn't even get a campfire started."
The next morning they headed south again stopping for water at the spring that now bears Washington's name before continuing on to John Friend's cabin 1 1/4 miles away.
When the Oakland Hotel was built by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1875, a walking path was laid out to Washington Spring. The spring was enclosed in stone work and a small roof was built above it. Over the years, famous people strolled over the path and duplicated George Washington's act of taking a refreshing drink of water from the spring.
Shelly Upole, a local chainsaw carver, is posed with a bust of George Washington. Look for her other woodland creations that can be found along McCullough's Pack Horse Path. She has collected many arrowheads left behind by her Indian forefathers from the Iroquois nation.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O), the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington, the George Washington Slept Here, and the Maryland, Town of Oakland series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is September 26, 1784.
Location. 39° 24.707′ N, 79° 24.963′ W. Marker is in Oakland, Maryland, in Garrett County. Marker can be reached from Oak Street. Marker is on the Oakland Town Trail along the southeast bank of the Little Youghiogheny just east of where the trail crosses the river on the Oakland Rosedale Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oakland MD 21550, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Site of Oakland Hotel (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Oakland Hotel (approx. 0.3 miles away); Garrett County Courthouse (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Kildow Mill (approx. 0.4 miles away); 1920 Baldwin Steam Locomotive (approx. 0.4 miles away); MaryLandscapes (approx. 0.4 miles away); 1955 B&O Railroad Caboose (approx. 0.4 miles away); Our Benefactors (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oakland.
Additional commentary.
1. Washington Spring
{From the Railroad Station} "Follow the path to the right to the spring house, a quarter of a mile away. This spring is called the Washington, as it never has been successfully denied that Gen. George Washington did not drink of this spring when surveying land in Western Maryland." -- Illustrated Guide to Oakland; walks, drives, excursions, The Oakland Club, 1900.
— Submitted September 25, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 18, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 780 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 18, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on September 25, 2013, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.