African Americans History

The Pine Avenue playground once had a swimming pool prior to its being filled in and covered over.
The young girl on the right is Mayola Banks.
The man in the background on the bicycle is Alonzo "Bub" Peck.

The Pine Avenue swimming pool opened on August 12, 1933. The following newspaper article from the Cumberland Evening Times, August 13, 1933 gives the background on its opening. This article appeared recently in a local history discussion thread on the Cumberland Chat website and was posted by "Maeve":

The Shawnee Indians once lived in the hills surrounding Oldtown, Maryland, located in the southeastern portion of present-day Allegany County. This was near the junction of the North and South Branches of the Potomac River.

CUMBERLAND — Negro Mountain might get a new name, but there’s doubt whether it should be Nemesis.

The recently introduced House Joint Resolution 12 calls for the establishment of a commission to inform Maryland’s governor, General Assembly, state archives, geological survey and Department of Natural Resources of a new name for Negro Mountain by the end of the year.

The resolution would establish a commission to rename the Garrett County peak that occupies a 30-mile stretch of the Alleghenies from Deep Creek Lake north to the Casselman River in Pennsylvania.

Negro Mountain Signs Removed

In early August 2019 a Garrett County, Maryland resident contacted the author of this page and noted that the name and elevation signs identifying Negro Mountain had been removed from both Interstate 68 as well as U.S. Route 40/National Road. On August 19, 2019 this writer drove to Negro Mountain and confirmed the missing signs. It should be noted the name of the mountain has not been changed.

Negro Mountain: New Insight on Name

Senators: Local mountains need new names. Western Maryland representatives don’t support push to change Negro, Polish.

CUMBERLAND — Two local mountains need new names, a group of state senators say, and they want a commission created to select new monikers for Negro Mountain and Polish Mountain which “reflect more accurately the history and culture of the region within which they are located.”

Board Opposes Name Change For Negro Mountain

The Garrett County Board of Commissioners voiced their opposition this week to a proposed name change for Negro Mountain.

The commissioners' statement was in response to a letter they received this spring from the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The letter stated that a new name, "Black Hero Mountain," had been proposed for Negro Mountain. The letter also requested the opinion of the county on such a name change.

NEGRO MOUNTAIN

COL. THOMAS CRESAP made his home at Skipton or Shawnee Oldtown on the Potomac. One night the settlement was attacked by Indians; the settlers defended themselves until morning when the red men withdrew, but a family had been murdered and some horses stolen. Col. Cresap ordered his men to prepare to pursue the fleeing savages.

The most commonly accepted historical account as to how Negro Mountain received its name can be traced to the 1750s. Colonel Thomas Cresap and his black body-servant, "Nemesis", were tracking a group of American Indians who some say had attacked a settlement near present-day Oldtown in Allegany County. It was said a family had been murdered and horses stolen. Others write Nemesis was requested to accompany a ranging party that regularly scouted the frontier in order to protect homes from attack. Either way, Nemesis had a premonition he would not return.

Downtown adds Midtown Pub & Grille to lineup

MARIA SMITH

CUMBERLAND — George Meade looks around the building and notes it's plenty big enough to hold talent showcases, comedy nights or any other type of entertainment.

"We're going to give it a try," he said.

The place is 22-24 N. Mechanic St. and the name now is the Midtown Pub & Grille.

Meade said if all the inspections were completed Friday, the plan was to open that night. Either way, a grand opening is scheduled for June 9.