A number of people have asked me about the history of the large granite memorial at the intersection of West Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, an area that old-timers refer to as "The Forks."

In recent months, the city has refurbished the area around the monument. This has created some added interest.

The monument, known as the Westminster War Memorial, was dedicated Sunday, Dec. 11, 1949. The occasion was marked by a large number of distinguished dignitaries and with a parade. But the placement of the memorial at The Forks has an interesting back story that has long been forgotten.

On that December day in 1949, a parade formed at Willis and Court streets and proceeded to The Forks.

In recent times, parades in Westminster form on Pennsylvania Avenue and always march east. But that's a relatively new phenomenon. For much of Westminster's history, parades marched west to The Forks because it was considered the center of town. Community functions now held at Locust Lane were historically held at The Forks, which helps explain why the Westminster War Memorial was placed there. But that was actually a compromise between two competing -- and once totally separate -- communities.

Let me explain.

The initial incorporation of the city in 1819 brought together five hamlets under the name of Westminster. As the city grew westward, a series of annexations drew it toward an area that was known as Irishtown -- a thriving suburb with its own identity, business district and stately homes -- in the area we now know as Pennsylvania Avenue.

Irishtown formed after the railroad came to town, and business owners were able to move out from living above their businesses in old Westminster and into large homes and businesses "outside" of the city in this new community.

By the dawn of 1900, Westminster was divided into three settlements: Dead End, The Forks, and Irishtown.

The Forks began to grow, and other areas became a bit jealous, or threatened.

An Aug. 8, 1924, article in the out-of-print American Sentinel newspaper noted that, "A number of merchants began business at 'The Forks.'

"A large hotel ... was built, and a business rivalry began between Dead End and The Forks. The increased number of stores ... (made) The Forks ... (the) prestige as a business center of Westminster."

To call it a rivalry was to be polite. If residents of those days could come back from the dead and talk, they would tell you that in the end, old Westminster won.

Why? Well, the Forks and Irishtown area became wealthy, but much of the city's leadership came from old Westminster -- it held the power.

On Nov. 6, 1979, that old Westminster leadership essentially outlawed the opening of new businesses on West Main Street and Pennsylvania Avenue by way of zoning. Some would say out of spite. Others would say it was to remove the competition.

Pennsylvania Avenue never recovered.

When he's not praying for peace in our time, Kevin Dayhoff can be reached at kevindayhoff@gmail.com.

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