The Cushwa Warehouse was constructed circa 1800. By the late 1830s, the warehouse's main commodity was coal which was sold in the local economy and for transport down to Georgetown where there was a huge demand. The building has seen multiple floods, recessions, and even Civil War battles during its time on the side of the canal.
During most of the canal operating years this canal wharf area was known as Sharpsburg Landing, as it was only 1.7 miles from downtown Sharpsburg—closer by nearly one and a half miles than was Lock 38 at the crossing to Shepherdstown. A swinging pedestrian bridge crossed the canal here, built high enough to allow the passage of boats underneath. The wharf on the berm side served as a coal depot along with the Snyder warehouse used to store coal, grain, and other cargos that had arrived or would be shipped by the canal.
This photograph was taken by Joel L. Griffith of Cumberland, Maryland during one of his many excursions down the C&O Canal with the Shawnee Canoe Club in 1904. The Round Top Cement Mill had recently burned to the ground in 1903 and had not been rebuilt by the time of this picture. The mill was rebuilt but would close due to financial hardship in 1909.
ROBERT BRIDGES CHAS. W. HENDERSON
Hancock, Md. May 5, 1882
Mr. Victor Cushwa
BOUGHT OF
BRIDGES & HENDERSON,
MANUFACTURERS OF
“ROUND TOP” CEMENT
and “ROUND TOP” SELENITIC CEMENT
Terms
485 Bbls of R. T. Cement 1.12 $545.62
Round Top Cement Mill c. 1871. Smoke is coming from the limestone kilns that were housed under a wood and possibly metal awning to keep out the weather. The line stretched across the water is a cable that transported the packed cement barrels to the B & O Railroad for transport.
Post operations view of the Round Top Cement Mill. By the time this picture was taken the mill had been rebuilt after its third fire which destroyed the whole mill in 1903. However, the company was not able to recover financially after rebuilding the mill and Round Top Cement Mill closed in 1909.
Close up view of the Round Top Cement Mill. Wooden structure on the upper right is where the limestone kilns were housed. The kilns which could get upwards of 1832°F in order to fire the limestone to make quicklime. The use of wood to shelter the kilns caused the Mill to burn to the ground three different times before it closed in the early 20th century. Men who worked at the cement mill used the towpath to get to work and crossed the canal on the foot bridge seen in the foreground.
Cement, Cement
WE are the SOLE AGENTS for Hagerstown and vicinity, for the
Round Top Cement,
manufactured near Hancock, Md., and have now on hand, a quantity for sale, at wholesale or retail.—
Also, TAR in Half Barrels.
April 8, 1863.
D. ZELLER & CO.
Greencastle Pilot, please copy-.
BRIDGES & HENDERSON,
MANUFACTURERS OF THE
CELEBRATED “ROUND TOP” HYDRAULIC CEMENT
ROBERT BRIDGES
CHARLES W. HENDERSON
Hancock, Md. 3/20/1886
Geo. Dittmeyer Esq.
Dear Sir
Your letter received inquiring about lumber. We think you can get everything in that way from us. Joist and ? can have sawed for you any size. One inch yellow pine lumber we have quite a quantity in hand. Will deliver it at Harpersferry at $14.50 fourteen dollars and fifty cents.
Respectfully
Bridges and Henderson
TRUSTEE'S SALE
VALUABLE REAL ESTATE!
BY VIRTUE OF A DECREE of Washington County Court, sitting as a Court of Equity, the undersigned having been appointed Trustee to sell the Real Estate of Denton J. McCoy, deceased, will offer at public sale, in front of D. Flory’s Tavern, in the town of Clearspring, at 2 o'clock P. M .
On Saturday the 21st day of February next the following described Valuable Real Estate, to wit
280 ACRES OF GOOD LAND