The society was founded in 1937 and bought the house in 1954. The house became the repository for local artifacts, many of which are on display in the house.

The Gordon-Roberts House has been the headquarters of the Allegany Historical Society since 1954.

Official website for the Gordon-Roberts House

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The Gordon-Roberts House is a historic home built in 1867 by Josiah Hance Gordon. The house, which was designed in the Second Empire style, is the headquarters of the Allegany County Historical Society. Visitors can tour the the houses' three floors and see what it looked like for the two families that lived there - the Gordons and Roberts. The society also owns and operates the Union Grove Schoolhouse and the F. Brooke Whiting House &amp; Museum.

Gordon-Roberts House (Allegany Historical Society)

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This short walk through the heart of historic Cumberland starts at a historic home that was built in 1867 and is now home to the Allegany County Historical Society. The tour includes historic buildings such as the home of the Allegany County Academy (now the location of a public library) as well as churches and synagogues. Highlights of this short walking tour include the Alleghany Museum and the Visitors Center for Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park where visitors can learn even more about the history of Cumberland and the surrounding area. 

In 1798, Maryland’s General Assembly enacted legislation that created western Maryland’s first public school.1 The act allowed for the purchase of one acre of land, established a board of visitors to run the school, and provided financial support from the State amounting to $200 annual.2 The school’s first building was a single story brick structure located on the current site of The Shrine of Saints Peter and Paul, at 125 Fayette Street.3    In 1849, private funds were raised for the construction of a new building for the academy. At a final cost of $5,000 the new school opened on June 8, 1850. At this time the school calendar ran for eleven months with a one month break in August.4 By the 1890’s, the school became a military style academy, students wear uniforms and drilled.5 Allegany County Academy had already established a football team by 1896. One player, Sol Metzger, went on to play for the University of Pennsylvania, and served head coaching stints at West Virginia University, Washington and Jefferson, and the University of Pennsylvania. He later became a sports writer.6    Allegany County Academy closed in 1929.7 The Allegany County Academy building was leased by the Allegany County Commissioners in 1934 for the purpose of relocating the county’s library to the site and opened officially on June 19, 1934.8 Now a branch of the Allegany County Library System, the Washington Street Library received a 1.2 million dollar renovation in 2005.9   At one time the Allegany County Academy was connected to the Emmanuel Episcopal Church by a steam line tunnel. An escaped slave named Samuel Denison was employed by both the church and the academy. Denison, along with the church's Rector and other abolitionists, escorted runaway slaves through the tunnel system that stretched under the church, the church's rectory, and the Allegany County Academy. Runaways were then escorted to freedom across the Mason-Dixon line into Pennsylvania.10 Maryland was a slave state, so the work was extremely dangerous.

    In 1798, Allegany County, Maryland moved to establish its first public school. Originally named the “Visitors of Allegany County School”, the school was eventually named the Allegany Academy. Remaining open for more than 100 years, the school operated in two locations. Though the academy closed in 1929, its final location became the home of the Cumberland Free Public Library in 1934. It is now the Washington Street Library, a branch of the Allegany County Library System. 

Allegany County Academy

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The area’s first Anglican service was likely held in 1749.1 In
1800, the U.S. government sold Fort Cumberland to the Episcopalian and Presbyterian
congregates.2 Cumberland’s first Episcopal church building was conceived in
1803, because of legal issues concerning the property the building and services
were not conducted there until 1830. The building’s construction was a collaborative
effort between Episcopalians and Presbyterians and was located on the site of
the current Emmanuel Episcopal site. Until the church’s completion,
Episcopalians used the Lutheran Church building for their services.3

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cumberland’s
Episcopal community continued to grow and in 1849, the congregation began
construction of a new building. In 1851, the new building was completed.
Designed by John Notman of Philadelphia, the building’s architecture is the Medieval
English Gothic style.4&nbsp;&nbsp;Louis Comfort
Tiffany designed many new features for the church in 1905. The congregation
added Tiffany’s designs to the building between 1905 and 1923. Tiffany’s work
included, but was not limited to stained glass.5 Henry Holiday, Charles
Goodhue, and McGill Mackell also contributed works of stained glass.6

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; A runaway slave
from Mississippi, named Samuel Denison, came to Cumberland in the 1850’s.
Denison and Emmanuel’s Rector, Reverend David Hillhouse Buel, worked together
to move escaped slave through Maryland and on to freedom. Old Fort Cumberland’s
earthworks provide a tunnel system under the church and its rectory, through
which Denison escorted runaway slaves after they had crossed the Potomac River
and hidden temporarily in the Shanty Town of lower Cumberland.7 Cumberland’s
Shanty Town residents were very poor and the area was not racially segregated,
providing a natural place to hide.8 The runaways first stopped under the church
where they received aid from abolitionists. Denison then escorted them through
a steam line tunnel through the basement of the Allegany County Academy, where
he also worked as a custodian, and on to the cellar of Emmanuel’s Rectory. The
Rectory’s cellar was located in a little seen area of town; from there the
runaways were spirited on to Pennsylvania.9

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Emmanuel
Episcopal Church is active and continues to service the city of Cumberland.
Emmanuel Church is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. The church allows
self-guided tours of the stained glass; the church also offers guided tours of
the tunnels. Make contact with the church in order to arrange a tour. Emmanuel
Episcopal Church is part of the Washington Street Historic District, which is
on the National Register of Historic Places.

     With its consecration in 1851, the cornerstone being laid in 1849, Emmanuel Episcopal Church became the center of western Maryland’s Emmanuel Parish. The new building being constructed above the former site of Fort Cumberland, whose earthworks remained under the building. The earthworks created tunnels that were later used to conceal escaped slaves as part of the Underground Railroad. Emmanuel Parish established many other churches throughout the region, including churches in western Maryland and in what is now Romney and Moorefield, West Virginia. Visitors can view the churches many works of art including stained glass windows by taking a self-guided tour.

Emmanuel Parish of The Episcopal Church

&nbsp; &nbsp; The Chesapeake &amp; Ohio Canal National Historic Park runs along the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, MD, the length of the canal. According to the National Park Service, the park's goal is to "[Preserve] America’s early transportation history." The park was founded in 1961 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Parts of the park are joined with Harpers Ferry National Park and Historic Park and a part of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in West Virginia. The park has visitor centers which offer&nbsp;several interactive exhibits. These help&nbsp;visitors to learn about the daily lives of canal families. Maps and other geographical exhibits help to educate visitors on the span of the canal and its significance.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Construction of the Chesapeake &amp; Ohio Canal was completed in October of 1850. It was 184.5 miles long and connected Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, MD. Smaller sections of the canal opened in 1831, 1834, and 1839 as they were completed. The canal was built to make enable more efficient transportation along the Potomac River. The route was an important means of passing through the Appalachian mountains and making the region more accessible for trade.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; The first attempt improving the route along the Potomac was begun in 1749 by the Ohio Company of Virginia which built trails and roads. The Potomac company, founded by George Washington in 1772, began building small canals on either side of the river several places to bypass obstacles like the Great Falls in 1784. The project was not completed until 1802, three years after the death of President Washington. Though the canal was a success for the Potomac Company, there were still several issues involving weather and size that made navigating the river risky.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; In the 1820s, plans for a new, larger canal were started. The rights to the canal were given the Chesapeake &amp; Ohio Canal Company which was still a new business&nbsp;at the time. The project was nicknamed the "Great National Project" and construction was begun in 1828. This same year work began on the Baltimore &amp; Ohio Railroad. Both projects are indicative of the push for better transportation at the time. Lawsuits, supply shortages, and strikes delayed the construction of the canal significantly. Though the canal was largely a massive commercial&nbsp;success, a flood in 1889 severely damaged the structure causing the C&amp;O company to go bankrupt. It was taken over by the B&amp;O Railroad company who repaired it. The property was once again a success until a second major flood again destroyed it in 1924.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;The canal was abandoned until purchased by the federal government in 1938. Planning began to convert the canal to a park immediately after. Though delayed in the 1950s by proposals to turn the property into a highway, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas helped to redirect the project back towards a national park. Justice Douglas's committee helped lead to the creation of the park as it is today. Today the park is a popular tourist destination that offers a variety of historical and recreational activities. The nature of the property makes it very popular with distance cyclists, hikers, and runners. Major canal structures are still in place at Williamsport and can be viewed by visitors.&nbsp;

The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park and Cumberland Visitor Center was created in 1961. Housed in the historic 1913 Western Maryland Railway Station, the Cumberland Visitor Center provides information about the history of the C&O Canal; this center is one of several in the park. Construction of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal was completed in October of 1850. It was 184.5 miles long and connected Washington, D.C. to Cumberland, MD. A flood in 1889 severely damaged the structure causing the C&O company to go bankrupt. It was taken over by the B&O Railroad company who repaired it. The property was once again a success until a second major flood again destroyed it in 1924. It was abandoned until bought by the federal government in 1938. 

C&O Canal National Historical Park and Visitors Museum

Focusing on the counties of Allegany and Garret in Maryland, Mineral in West Virginia, and Bedford and Somerset in Pennsylvania, the Allegany Museum displays the region’s rich history. The artifacts stored in the museum tell about a region whose history ranges from Native American, through the Colonial / Revolutionary era to the Industrial Revolution / Modern world. Allegany’s contributions toward the culture during each era, and each era’s influences about the region are on display. America’s frontier, westward expansion, Civil War, and Industrial development are prominent to the region’s growth.    The Museum occasionally displays special exhibits; one example was an exhibit on the Saint Patrick’s Day Flood of 1937. Survivor accounts, film, and artifacts detailed the story. The Museum also provides teaching materials for classroom use. Archaeological research is also supported by the Museum; the Museum and local residents are excavating a 19th century farm property that sets along the Potomac River. Researchers are examining settlement at the site through pre-history.1 Museum artifacts tell of the region’s industrial past, a past that included a once thriving brewing industry, glass works, and tire production. Cumberland was on the nation’s first federally funded highway, one of its early canals, and an important railroad center.2    Located in the former Federal Court House Building, renovated to accommodate the museum’s needs; the museum is part of Cumberland’s Heritage Association. A Ballroom now occupies the space that housed the building’s courtroom. The Association includes the C&amp;O Canal National Park, the Gilchrest Museum, the Emmanuel Episcopal Church, the Gordon-Roberts House, and the Western Maryland Railroad Station.3 The Museum also operates the Thrasher Carriage Collection and does not depend on governmental support for daily operations.4

Covering the area’s history from the Ice Age to the Industrial Age, Cumberland’s Allegany Museum displays all areas of historic interest. Rich in native and colonial history, the Allegany region has deep ties to the nation’s birth. Cumberland was one of America’s first transportation hubs. The C&amp;O Canal and Railroads figure prominently in the region’s history. Many industrial enterprises called Cumberland and the Allegany area home. Exhibits include Pre-History and First Residents, George Washington, Transportation and American Expansion, Civil War and The Industrial Revolution, the Thrasher Carriage Collection, and Art and Design.

Allegany Museum

According to National Park Service-U.S Department of Interior, the first Jewish resident was recorded in Cumberland in 1816. However, this region had not been officially established yet. And according to the B’er Chayim Temple’s History, in 1853, twelve Jewish families were recorded living in Cumberland. The population at that time was 6,510. The number of population was big enough to warrant permission to establish a congregation. On May 23, 1853, the Congregation B'er&nbsp;Chayim which means "Well of Life" was incorporated by the Maryland Legislature (1). "The congregation was orthodox when the temple was built, although it is now a Reform congregation"(2).During its construction for the next 15 years, the B’er Chayim Temple’s services&nbsp;were at held many locations in and around Downtown Cumberland(4). The property for the temple was obtained on the corner of South Centre St. and Union Street in 1865. In 1867, the B’er Chayim's construction was completed and its cost is $7,427.02.In 1899, the congregation made a decision to purchase the lot adjoining the rear of the temple and constructed a building which served as a parsonage. It was used for many purposes as well such as a social hall, offices for the local Board of Education, and currently&nbsp;as the Rabbi’s office and Sunday school(4).&nbsp;&nbsp;Throughout the years, the building underwent several renovations, including&nbsp;switching from gas to electric lights, upgrading the staircases, and enlarging the bimah. Moreover, the 1882 organ was replaced in 1908 and again in 1924, the&nbsp;pot-bellied stove was replaced by furnaces,&nbsp; a kitchen was added on the first floor, and a new front entrance was added(4). Based on the records, the major renovations took place in 1928 with the presence of the Diamond Jubilee. The second major renovation took place in 1953, which marked the 100 anniversary of The B’er Chayim Temple. The new installation of memorial stained glass windows was a brilliant design. Currently, after nearly 11 months of renovation, the 147-year-old temple made further changes to make the building handicap accessible(4).







Today, the B’er Chayim Temple is one of the oldest congregations in Maryland and its 1865 building is one of the oldest synagogue buildings in the United States"(2). The temple has become a center of Jewish life for the region and an active and thriving congregation.&nbsp;

According to the Mountain Site of Maryland, B'er Chayim is currently a member of the Union of Reform Jews. The history of affiliations has varied over the years, however, ranging from Orthodox when first chartered in 1853, through classical reform in the late 1800 and early 1900s, and finally merging with Beth Jacob Synagogue (a Conservative Shul) in 1998. The current services are respectful of each tradition, with traditional services being held on festivals and Shabbat, incorporating both conservative and reform styles of worship. In 1975, the B'er Chayim Temple was listed on National Register of Historic Places. 

Cumberland Maryland Walking Tour

Gordon-Roberts House (Allegany Historical Society)

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information