The City of Westminster has recently been working to form a group to study the Pennsylvania Avenue of town.

In that context, it's interesting that back on Aug. 8, 1924, the editor of the now-defunct newspaper, The American Sentinel, wrote an article about the renaissance of the area on the west end of Westminster known as "The Forks."

The 1924 article was titled, "The Forks Regaining Its Old Prestige."

According to historian Jay Graybeal, who wrote a column about the article in 1999 for the Historical Society of Carroll County, it was the demolition of an old general store at the forks of Pennsylvania Avenue and West Main Street that so excited the editor.

"The old frame store and dwelling at The Forks ... has been razed by Mr. Roy Shipley, a recent purchaser," the article read. "The old building had quite a history and was one of the landmarks of this city."

An old photo in my collection reveals what must have been a large structure with an elegant fountain in the front. The sign above the front porch identifies the store as "Geo. R. Grumbine Groceries and Provisions."

Growing up in Westminster in the 1950s and '60s, and especially in this area of town, I recall Pennsylvania Avenue as an elegant and thriving mixed-use residential and business section of town. The Forks was generally considered the "center of town."

And it was a memorable, unifying force in the community. As late as the 1950s directions were still given that cited the location of store, such as "just up the street from where Grumbine's used to be ..."

I'm sure that was helpful to visitors.

The west end of Westminster is rich with history and tradition. It was annexed by Westminster way back in 1825. At that time, that section was known as "Logsdon's Tavern" -- last of the original five towns that were ultimately consolidated into what we now know as Westminster.

Many who follow the happenings of Carroll County government may find it of interest that the Carroll County public information administrator, Vivian Laxton, is a descendent of the Logsdon family that helped form the foundation of what we now know as Westminster -- and whose roots pre-date before Carroll County was a county.

In 1825, what we know from history as Logsdon's Tavern was actually a part of Frederick County. (We won't hold that against you, Vivian.)

The 1924 Sentinel article gives us a great deal of additional insight into the history of this area of Westminster, and the fact that parts of town were then still considered their own enclaves:

"For quite a number of years before the Civil War," the article notes, "Westminster was divided into three distinct settlements known as Dead End, The Forks, and Irishtown."

Carroll first 'shire-reeve'

Last week's trivia question asked readers to identify the first "shire-reeve" of Carroll County, a.k.a. the first sheriff after the county was formed in 1837.

Apparently it was a hard question -- only Ruth Anderson and Westminster Councilwoman Suzanne Albert knew that none other than Nicholas Kelly was elected by the people to a two-year term as the first sheriff of Carroll County on March 20, 1837.

Councilwoman Albert adds another Sunday Carroll Eagle mug to her collection. (Almost enough for a fancy party.)

This week's history trivia quiz might be equally difficult. For some background, let's go to Nancy Warner's book, "Carroll County Maryland, A History 1837-1976."

Several of the original land grants which would later be included in the city of Westminster were: White's Level, 169 acres, to John White in 1733; Fanny's Meadow, to James Wells in 1741; Bond's Meadow, 1,915 acres, to John Ridgely and Brown's Delight, 350 acres to George Brown, both in 1753.

Also worth noting is that William Winchester, who founded Westminster in 1764, purchased White's Level on July 19, 1754 for 150 pounds. So here's the question: In what Maryland county was White's Level, patented in 1733, initially situated?

I'll give you a hint; it was not Frederick County.

Think you know? Drop me an e-mail at kdayhoff@carr.org with Sunday Carroll Eagle in the subject line.

When he is not lifting "the forks," Kevin Dayhoff can be reached at kdayhoff@carr.org.

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