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Western Maryland Railroad Collection 1857-1961, MS. 2190
Maryland Historical Society
Library of Maryland History
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(Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data
Services, March 1999.) Western Maryland Railroad Collection,
1857-1961
Contact Information:
Western Maryland
Railroad Collection, 1857-1961
Maryland Historical Society
Maryland Historical Society
Manuscripts Department
Maryland Historical Society Library
201 West Monument Street
Baltimore MD 21201-4674
410.685.3750
Fax: 410.385.2105
library@mdhs.org
www.mdhs.org
Descriptive Summary
Western Maryland Railroad Collection, 1857-1961
MS 2190
Maryland Historical Society
Baltimore MD 21201-4674
Scope
and Content Note
Records of the Western Maryland Railroad Company and its nineteen subsidiaries in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia provide detailed information on railroad management, particularly in the 1860s through the 1880s; account books document the twentieth century. Chartered as the Baltimore, Carroll and Frederick Rail Road Company in 1852, it became the Western Maryland Rail Road Company the next year. Largely a freight line, it extended through Western Maryland, terminating at the C & O Canal at Williamsport in 1873. Additional records were acquired in its takeover of railroad companies in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The largest, most cohesive records are those of the WMRR Co. itself. They contain correspondence, legal and financial papers, bills and receipts, bond coupons, and a certificate record book for 1858-1919; the collection is strongest in the late 1870s and 1880s. Correspondence, 1858-1919, includes letters to and from A.K. Syester, WMRR attorney for Frederick and Washington counties; George Bokee and William Keyser on delinquent stock payments, rights of way, damage claims and court cases. Financial topics concern leases, costs of new lines, including rail, ties, land, and engine purchases, contractor's claims and bills, funds from Baltimore City, bonds and accounts, salaries and wages, and the building of stations, warehouses, and a watertower. Legal papers, 1857-1909, consist of construction contracts, settlement proposals for contract disputes, court cases for damages and legal disputes, and powers of attorney and stock transfers from the Hanover Branch RR Co. Financial papers, 1860-1955, cover work estimates for contracts, furniture lists, tonnage classification charts, a record of cash accounts, and a ledger for 1896-1900. Other papers of financial interest include detailed bills and receipts, and bond coupons and bank drafts, mostly for the late 1870s. Miscellaneous papers of the WMRR contain minutes of an 1869 Board of Directors meeting, a list of stockholders (1860s?), a report of trains running from 1876, undated track statistics, rough maps of Baltimore, and a topographical map of the Maryland-Pennsylvania border. Documents (1903-1910) relating to the WMRR's 1910 takeover of the Baltimore Fidelity Warehouse Co. include by-laws, certificate of incorporation, land deeds, an insurance policy, improvement contracts, and a mortgage agreement. A certificate of incorporation and title abstract relate to its predecessor, the Hazard Wharf Co. Correspondence and documents of the smaller railroads are more varied, covering the same range as WMRR records. West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway Co. has monthly ledgers of agents and conductors, 1892-1902, and a complete set of vouchers for 1892. George's Creek and Cumberland Railroad Co. records contain cash accounts, 1916-1917, a monthly record of vouchers 1880-1882; wage records 1880-1881, vouchers bills, promisary notes, checks, 1879-1880; documents on accounts for 1906-1907, and correspondence and security reports of the company's sinking fund, 1885-1910. The Bachman Valley Railroad Co. records, mostly financial, date from the early 1870s, and include bills, receipts, accounts, payroll lists and wages, stock certificates, and correspondence. Extensive construction vouchers, 1910-1917, form the bulk of the Connellsville and State Line Railway Company, along with correspondence, 1907-1910, a 1906 report and cost estimate, a 1906-1907 right of way report, and cash accounts for 1916-1917. Finally, the Piedmont & Cumberland Railway Co. contributes payroll vouchers, 1886, and construction payrolls for 1887. Forty-seven volumes of record books are also of importance; thirty-three are for the WMRR-bill books, 1863-1870; voucher records of motive power, 1866-1870; maintenance of way and cars, 1866-1870, construction accounts 1866-1870; equipment, 1867-1870 and transportation, 1866-1870; and cash boxes 1903-1905, and 1953-1959. Also, record books of invoices and receipts, 1936-1946, and two volumes attributed to the WMRR Co., a rent book, 1901-1904, and a land tax record book, 1907-1910. Real estate records of four West Virginia coal companies, 1872-1905, are recorded in five volumes. Refer to the container list for lists of documents and volumes from the less cohesive series belonging to other railroads in the WMRR collection.
Container List
Box 1 Western Maryland Railroad Company Correspondence, Feb. 1858-April 1871 Box 2 Correspondence, May-Dec. 1871 Box 3 Correspondence, Feb. 1872-Dec. 1881 Box 4 Correspondence, Jan. 1882-Sept. 1919, n.d. Legal Papers, 1857-1909, n.d. Box 5 Financial Papers, 1860-1955, n.d. Miscellaneous, 1869-1913, n.d. Box 6 Bills and Receipts, 1861-1889 Box 7 Receipts, for Commissions, 1878 Bank Drafts, 1878 Bond Coupons, 1879-1880, 1883, 1893 Box 8 Coupons, 1869-1880 Certificate Record Book, 1879 List of Funded Coupons, 1870-1873 Box 9 Baltimore Fidelity Warehouse Company Correspondence, 1910-1911 Certificate of Incorporation, 1903 By-laws, 1903 Insurance Policy, 1908 Lease, 1908 Land deed, 1909 Organization Report, 1910 Bond Certificate and Notice, 1910 Improvement Contracts, 1910 Mortgage Agreements, 1910 Abstract of 1792 title, n.d. Certificate of Incorporation, n.d. Box 10 West Virginia Central & Pittsburg Railway Co. Railway Account with Hambleton & Co., 1892 Agents and Conductors Monthly Ledgers, 1892-1897 Box 11 Agents and Conductors Monthly Ledgers, 1898-1902 Box 12 Vouchers, June-November 1892 Box 13 George's Creek and Cumberland Railroad Co. Documents pertaining to adjustment of accounts, 1906-1907, 1916-1917. Box 14 Promisory Notes, 1878-1879 Checks, 1879 Miscellaneous Bills, 1879 Cash Vouchers, 1880 Receipts, 1878, 1880 Wages, December 1880-January 1881 Monthly Voucher Records, June 1880-March 1882 Box 15 Monthly Voucher Records, April 1882-December 1882 Sinking Fund, Correspondence and Securities Reports, 1885-1910. Box 16 Hanover Junction, Hanover & Gettysburg Railroad Court proceedings, re: formation of Hanover Junction, Hanover & Gettysburg Railroad Co., n.d. [1886?] Powers of Attorney, 1886 Stock Certificates, 1882-1886 Baltimore and Harrisburg Railway Co. Contract forming the B & H Railway Co., 1886 Stock Certificates, 1886 Correspondence, 1886 Merger Contracts, 1886 Power of Attorney, 1886 Bids on Bonds, 1886 Notes on Western extension, 1888 Lists of Stockholders, 1894-1897, 1902 Election of Officers, 1900-1902 Correspondence, 1902 Baltimore & Hanover Railroad Co. Stock Certificate, 1879-1886 Hanover Branch Railroad Co. Stock Certificates, 1850-1860 Power of Attorney, 1852, 1853 Receipts, 1872 Box 17 The Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad Check, 1878 Freight Bills, 1878 New York & Baltimore Transportation Line Freight Receipts, 1878 Pennsylvania Railroad Company Freight Bill & Checks, 1878 Baltimore & Cumberland Valley Railway Co. Mortgage, 1879 Correspondence, 1880 Court Proceedings, [1880?] Unidentified geological survey, 1894 Somerset Coal Railway Cash Accounts, 1916-1920 Williamsport, Nessle & Martinsburg Railway Co. Cash Accounts, 1916-1919 Fairmont & Bingamon Railway Co. Cash Accounts, 1915-1920 Fairmont, Helen's Run Railway Co. Cash Accounts, 1916-1918 Box 18 Frederick and Pennsylvania Line Railroad Co. Correspondence, 1861, 1869-72, 1876 re: the sale of bonds Box 19 Bachman Valley Railroad Co. List of Subscribers, n.d. Receipts (re: Building Original Line), 1870-1873 Receipts (to Hanover Branch Railroad Co.), 1872-1873 Bills (to Hanover Branch Railroad Co.), 1872 Accounts (Bachman Valley RR. of PA. and Bachman Valley RR of MD), 1872 Memorandum, 1872 Drafts, 1872; 1873 Election of Directors, 1872-1873 Wages, 1872-1873 Payroll, 1873 Correspondence, 1874 Receipts, 1874 PA Taxes on Loan, 1874 PA Taxes on Stocks, 1874 Contract, 1874 Stock Certificates, 1870-1880 Correspondence, 1884; 1886 Connellsville & State Line Railway Co. Correspondence, 1907, 1910 Final Report and Cost Estimate-Uniontown & Wheeling Short Line, 1906 Right of Way Report, 1906-1907 Cash Accounts, 1916-1917 Box 20 Construction Vouchers, February-March, May-August 1910 Box 21 Construction Vouchers, July 1915-January 1917, June 1917 Box 22 Piedmont & Cumberland Railway Co. Payroll Vouchers, April-December 1886 Box 23 Construction Payrolls, January-August 1887 Oversize Western MD RR Co. Guaranteed Mortgage Bonds, 1870 RECORD BOOKS Vol. 1 Western Maryland Rail Road 1863-64 “Bill Book 1” January 1863-September 1864. Vol. 2 Western Maryland Rail Road 1864-66 “Bill Book 2” October 1864-January 1866. Vol. 3 Western Maryland Rail Road 1866-69 “Bill Book 3” February 1866-May 1869. Vol. 4 Western Maryland Rail Road 1869-70 “Bill Book” May 1869-July 1870. Vol. 5 Western Maryland Rail Road 1866-68 “Record of Motive Power Vouchers” October 1866-September 1868. Vol. 6 Western Maryland Rail Road 1868-69 “Record of Motive Power Vouchers” October 1868-November 1869. Vol. 7 Western Maryland Rail Road 1869-70 “Record of Motive Power Vouchers” December 1869-July 1870. Vol. 8 Western Maryland Rail Road 1866-68 “Record of Maintenance of Way Vouchers” October 1866-September 1868. Vol. 9 Western Maryland Rail Road 1868-70 “Record of Maintenance of Way Vouchers” October 1868-April 1870. Vol. 10 Western Maryland Rail Road 1870 “Record of Maintenance of Way Vouchers” May 1870-July 1870. Vol. 11 Western Maryland Rail Road 1866-68 “Record of Maintenance of Cars Vouchers” October 1866-September 1868. Vol. 12 Western Maryland Rail Road 1868-70 “Record of Maintenance of Cars Vouchers” October 1868-July 1870. Vol. 13 Western Maryland Rail Road 1866-70 “Construction Account” [Vouchers] October 1866-May 1870. Vol. 14 Western Maryland Rail Road 1867-70 “Record of Equipment Vouchers” December 1867-May 1870. Vol. 15 Western Maryland Rail Road 1866-69 “Record of Transportation Vouchers” October 1866-June 1869. Vol. 16 Western Maryland Rail Road 1869-70 “Record of Transportation Vouchers” July 1869-July 1870. Vol. 17 [Western Maryland Rail Road?] 1903-4 Cash book, March 1903-September 1904. Vol. 18 [Western Maryland Rail Road?] 1904-5 Cash book, September 1904-December 1905. Vol. 19 Western Maryland Railway Company 1953-54 Cash book, April 1953-April 1954. Vol. 20 Western Maryland Railway Company 1954-55 Cash book, April 1954-April 1955. Vol. 21 Western Maryland Railway Company 1955-56 Cash book, April 1955-April 1956. Vol. 22 Western Maryland Railway Company 1956-57 Cash book, April 1956-March 1957. Vol. 23 Western Maryland Railway Company 1957-58 Cash book, March 1957-February 1958. Vol. 24 Western Maryland Railway Company 1959 Cash book, February 1959-December 1959. Vol. 25 Western Maryland Railway Company 1927-30 Record of invoices and receipts, June 1927-November 1930. Vol. 26 Western Maryland Railway Company 1936-42 Record of invoices and receipts, November 1936-May 1942. Vol. 27 Western Maryland Railway Company 1942-46 Record of invoices and receipts, June 1942-August 1946. Vol. 28 [Western Maryland Rail Road?] 1901-4 Rent book, September 1901-June 1904. Vol. 29 [Western Maryland Rail Road?] 1907-10 “Tax Record Book: Lots & Lands” (property in West Virginia and Maryland) 1907-10. Vol. 30 Western Maryland Railway Company n.d. “Main Line Book No. 1, Fulton to Owings Mills, Map 1 to 6.” Vol. 31 Western Maryland Railway Company n.d. “Main Line Book No. 2-3, Owings Mills to Graceham, Map 7 to 27.” Vol. 32 Western Maryland Rail Road; Western Maryland Rail Road Baltimore and Harrisburg Division 1857-1906 Land deeds and plat book, 1857-1906. Vol. 33 Western Maryland Railway Company 1950-61 Medical department ledger: record of causes of employees' deaths, January 1950-May 1961. Vol. 34 West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway Company 1900 Record book, Land department: lists land in Davis and Thomas, W.Va. and in Tucker County, Grant County, Mineral County, and Preston County, W.Va.; Allegany County and Garrett County, Maryland. 1900. Vol. 35 West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway Company 1901-2 “Lot Book”: lot description and prices of land in West Virginia, 1901, 1902. Vol. 36 West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway Company 1885-1904 “Elk Garden Leases” [West Virginia] 1885-1904. There is also an index to “Deeds & Leases in Mineral Co., W.Va.” 1905. Vol. 37 George's Creek and Cumberland Railroad Company 1907-9 “Trial Balances” monthly, February 1907-June 1909. Vol. 38 George's Creek and Cumberland Railroad Company 1907 Record of vouchers audited, January-February 1907. Vol. 39 Davis Coal and Coke Company 1893-1905 “Lot Book No. 1”: record of unidentified lots purchased, April 1893-February 1905. Vol. 40 H.G. D[avis] and Bro: 1885-90 “Real Estate Book, B-1”: record of unidentified lots purchased, 1885-90. Vol. 41 H.G. D[avis] C[oal] Company 1891-2 “Real Estate, B-2”: record of unidentified [UNK] purchased, 1891-92. Vol. 42 F[airfax?] C[oal] and C[oke] Company 1892-98 “Real Estate, Thomas”: record of lots purchased [?], Thomas, W. Va., 1892-98. Vol. 43 Coal Companies 1872-95 Record of land deeds and plats, 1872-95. Land was in West Virginia and Maryland and was deeded to: H. G. Davis Coal Company (1881-94) Fairfax Coal and Coke Company (1872-95) Henry Coal and Coke Company (1872-90) Davis and Elkins Coal Company (1872-94) Vol. 45 unidentified “Map Index.” Vol. 46 unidentified “Index of Deeds.” Vol. 47 unidentified index. RAILROADS ACQUIRED BY THE WESTERN MARYLAND RAIL ROAD Bachman Valley Rail Road Company Incorporated 1871 Merged into the Baltimore and Harrisburg Railway Company 1886 Baltimore and Harrisburg Railway Company Formed 1886 Through consolidation of: Hanover Junction, Hanover and Gettysburg Rail Road Co.; Bachman Valley Rail Road Co.; and Baltimore and Hanover Rail Road Co. Merged into Western Maryland Railway Co. 1917 Belington and Beaver Creek Railroad Company Incorporated 1899 Acquired by Western Maryland Rail Road Co. 1905 Connellsville and State Line Railway Company Incorporated 1910 Merged into Western Maryland Railway Co. 1917 Fairmont Bingamon Railway Company Incorporated 1916 Operated by Western Maryland Railway Co. 1917 Fairmont Helen's Run Railway Company Incorporated 1915 Operated by the Western Maryland Railway Co. 1916 Frederick and Pennsylvania Line Railroad Company George's Creek and Cumberland Railroad Company Incorporated 1876 Merged into Western Maryland Railway Co. 1917 Hanover Branch Rail Road Company Incorporated 1847 Merged into Hanover Junction, Hanover and Gettysburg Rail Road Company 1874 Hanover Junction, Hanover and Gettysburg Rail Road Company Formed 1874 through consolidation of: Susquehanna, Gettysburg and Potomac Railway Co. and Hanover Branch Rail Road Co. Merged into the Baltimore and Harrisburg Railway Co. 1886 Piedmont and Cumberland Railway Company (MD or WV?) Incorporated 1886 Acquired by Western Maryland Rail Road Co. 1905 Somerset Coal Railway Company Incorporated 1915 Operated by the Western Maryland Railway Co. 1915 West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway Company (MD?) Incorporated 1882 Acquired by Western Maryland Rail Road Co. 1905 Western Maryland Rail Road Company Incorporated 1852 The Western Maryland Railway Company Incorporated 1909 Purchased property of Western Maryland Rail Road Co. under foreclosure proceedings, 1909 Western Maryland Railway Company Formed 1917 Through consolidation of: The Western Maryland Railway Co., Baltimore and Harrisburg Railway Co., The Baltimore and Harrisburg Railway Company (Western Extension), The Baltimore and Harrisburg Railway Company (Eastern Extension), The Baltimore and Cumberland Valley Rail Road Company, Connellsville and State Line Railway Company, The George's Creek and Cumberland Railroad Company, The Pennsylvania Railroad Company (MD), The Baltimore and Cumberland Valley Railway Company. Williamsport, Nessle and Martinsburg Railway Company Incorporated 1913 Operated by The Western Maryland Railway Co. 1915 See following map for the location of these railroad lines.
