The Historical Signs

The Project will chronicle the connections our area has to the Nation’s major conflicts through  the potential development and installation of historical signs around the County. Each sign will have content based around the connection of Garrett County to one of these wars, and will be located generally in an area that aligns with the content. (Locations are proposed and not final)

French& Indian War – “A Doomed Campaign Forges the Father of a Nation” Braddock’s March (and Retreat) follows the general route of US Rt 40 through the northern part of the County and involved George Washington as a British army officer (Sign location: Rt 40 TBD)

Revolutionary War – “Before There Was a County—or a Country: Garrett County’s Revolutionary War Roots ” lots awarded to soldiers from MD form the basis of most property boundaries in the County today (Sign location: Accident Legion)

War of 1812 – “Brawling for Rank” Meshach Browning’s interesting account of how NCOs were selected in that time. This is a short little tale and would need maybe more behind it. Possibly could include something on Col McHenry as well. (Sign location: McHenry Community Park)

Civil War – “The Battle for ‘Lincoln’s Lifelife’ comes to Garrett County” the Confederacy’s Jones-Imboden Raid penetrated through Garrett Co with some minor damage to the B&O Railroad (Sign location: Deer Park VFW)

World War I –  “Sending Our Sons (and daughters) Overseas” Still working on this, but there are some interesting tales of citizen support to servicemembers including a fundraiser to buy a Victrola record player for troops in training. There may also be an interesting stories of African American soldiers from Garrett Co and a nurse. (Sign location: TBD)

World War II –  “Fueling the Arsenal of Democracy” – a look at coal production in Garrett County during this period, focusing on Kitzmiller (Sign location: Kitzmiller)

Vietnam War –  “The Highly Decorated USS Garrett County” the USS Garrett County was originally commissioned in WW2, but actually saw more service in Vietnam than WW2. During her lifetime, she has highly decorated, earning 9 battle stars, an impressive total for a non-capital ship (Sign location: Oakland Legion)

Cold War –  “Broken Arrow on Big Savage” The Buzz14 crash- a B52 bomber armed with nuclear weapons – occurred over Savage Mountain in Garrett County on a snowy January night. (Sign location: Grantsville Legion)

Modern wars – “Keeping the Tip of the Spear Sharp from Mountain Maryland” local contactors have filled interesting and niche military contracting roles (Sign location: Friendsville)