CHAPTER 2
Table of Contents

Municipality

    Until 1890, Brunswick was still called Berlin and was a village of around 300 people. The natural crossroad of transportation in a valley between Catoctin and South Mountains with the Potomac River transecting it caused a small settlement to grow. The C&O Canal stimulated some economy, and the railroad even left a section gang here. By 1834 both had reached Berlin, a town with a Post Office. When the river depth was right, there was even seasonal rafting of products downstream. Farms were raising enough products to have a surplus; therefore a flour mill proved able to be profitable. But when the railroad decided to move its yards from Martinsburg to Berlin, the village was changed forever. Incorporated on April 8, 1890, the State Legislature approved Section 28, Chapter 577, Laws of Maryland. On August 4 of that year, John L. Jordan was elected the first mayor of Brunswick, along with the new councilmen. The following decade saw a boom town increase its population ten times, requiring careful control of safety and sanitation, as shown by restrictions in the early deeds. Minute books and Ordinance books kept from the beginning reveal a careful consideration of problems and workable solutions. Over the years a number of commissions were developed, giving more citizen input; today there are the following: Utilities, Planning & Zoning, Recreation, and His tory. Mayor and Council met every month, and for almost a century there was the office of "clerk, treasurer, and tax collector." In November 1989, this office was abolished and replaced by a "town administrator" and a "town treasurer." The new officer was responsible for the keeping of records, assisting the mayor in developing and executing administrative policies, advising on per 18 sonnel matters, coordinating economic and community development programs, assisting in budget preparation, supervising the expenditure of town funds, maintain an accounting system, collecting taxes and other revenues, and other duties. A grants administrator and special events administrator have also been added. The mayor and councilmen receive a small stipend for their work, $400t month for the former and $150/month for each councilman.
W - M M M

    With the incorporation of the town and the installation of a municipal government, the enactment of regulations to govern the new community followed. Some of these ordinances reflect the concerns of the mayor and council in the first years.

No. 1, October 5, 1892

1. Provides for the creation of a police department.
3. Forbids profane and abusive language in public places.
4. Prohibits gambling within town limits.
5. Prohibits throwning stones or other missiles.
6. Prohibits interference with religious services.
7.-1. Bailiff or under-bailiff may deputize any citizen to assist.
   -2. Person refusing to be deputized to be fined.
8.-1. Prohibits distributing intoxicants in public.
   -3. Prohibits drinking intoxicants on streets or alleys.
   -4. Provides fines—one to five dollars—and confinement in the county jail or town jail, not     to exceed ten days or until payment of fine.
   -5. Provides fine of one to ten dollars or jail for conviction of drunkeness.

No. 2, Same Date

1. Forbids slaughter houses in town.
2. Forbids emptying water and/or waste on public streets alleys.
3. Orders the disposal of dead animals.
(4 and 5 missing)
6. Prohibits encroachment of structures and fences on streets and alleys.
7. Prohibits draining of offensive matter from stables and manufacturing establishments into public streets or the river.
8. Requires permit to store or deposit within town limits any fertilizing agent, penalty for failure to comply being fines or imprisonment.

No. 3, Same Date

The seven articles provide tax or license fee for specific cases.

No. 4, November 7, 1892

Twelve articles list requirements for license or ex emption for specific businesses or forms of recreation.

No. 5, December 23, 1892. Lovettsville and Berlin Bridge Company authorized to construct and maintain approaches to their bridge through and over specified streets.

No. 6, June 6, 1893.
Provides for the care of cattle, sheep, hogs, goats within the town.

No. 7, August 5, 1893. Provides building regulations.

No. 8, October 3, 1893. Directs turning in all collected money to town clerk.

No. 9, April 23, 1894. Provides for tax collection.

No. 10, (Same date). Orders special elections for issuing water and street improvement bonds.

No.11, April 2,1895. Amends licensing ordinances. No. 12, June 1, 1894. Divides the town into three wards.

No. 13, July 17, 1894. Designates location of polls and sets voting regulations.

No.14, August 10,1894. Orders issue of $25 bonds for street improvements.

No. 15, September 6, 1894. Sets tax levy for 1894.

No. 16, September 14, 1894. Regulates disposition of funds received from sale of street improvement bonds.

No. 17, October 9, 1894. Regulates material for sidewalks and manner of constructing.

No.18, April 2,1895. Provides street improvement boards.

No. 19, May 2, 1895. Accepts donation of certain streets, alleys, etc., and a park from the Real Estate and Improvement Company of Baltimore. Reference is made to water pipes.

No. 20, July 2, 1895. Sets rules of order, repealed and reenacted May 5, 1896.

No. 21, July 1, 1895. Provides protection for fire apparatus.

No. 22, October 1, 1895. Sets grade of "A" Street.

No.23, April 21,1896. Provides street improvement board.

No. 30-35, January 11, 1898. Deal with health matters.

No. 31, July 5, 1898. Sets penalty for gambling.

No. 42, October 1, 1901. Sets liquor ordinance.

No.43, October 1,1902. Deals with street improvement board.

No. 44, June 3, 1902. Deals with placing telephone wires.

No. 45, April 4, 1905. Deals with regulations to be followed by Harpers Ferry Light and Power Company in erecting poles, stringing wire, etc.

Source: Brunswick Ordinance Books 1892 to 1990. The books of ordinances are kept in the mayor's office and are available for inspechon on request.

W-ERF, WHH

    City Hall, or the Municipal Building, as it is also called, has had several locations, although the precise spots have not yet become clear.
There is a reference to old City Hall as being on the west side of Middle Street, now Maryland Avenue, and south of the first railroad track, in what we have come to call "old Berlin."
Later there is reference to an official building near Red Men's Hall. This would be near the Brunswick Museum. It could, however, be referring to the first location cited above, because the present home of Gunther's Auction had been deeded to the Red Men in 1873, before they build on Potomac Street in 1904.

    Only lengthy research of land deeds in the Court House will solve this question.

    City Hall on "A" Street housed the city jail and police station for many years. In 1981 it was moved to Brunswick Street and Central Avenue, where the Souder and Chick Dairy used to be. This department has a chief, nine uniformed policemen, and nine cruisers, all of which are fully equipped plus radio units from State Police and their own local units.

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    The following is a paragraph from an article appearing in The Blade Times, March 4,1920:

"A bill was read from City Engineer Humm for the amount of $96, due him for drawing a map of Brunswick, during the administration of Dr. A. G. Horine as mayor,19061914. The map has only recently been completed and has already been of much value to the town. Mr. Moler offered a motion that the bill be paid, with the understanding that additional maps may be had, if needed."

    Meanwhile, the map has proved to be a helpful tool to the researchers at BHC; and the Town of Brunswick, a surveyor and others have had copies made of the plat.

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    Cisterns, private wells and a centrally located "town well" were the main sources of water in the community of Berlin / Brunswick in the very early years. In 1921 a pump house wasbuilt on Petersville Road and connected to a 50,000-gallon wood storage tank built at North Maple Avenue and West "F" Street.

    During this same period, river water was pumped to a wooden "water tub" on New York Hill at 9th and Park Avenues, this water being used only for fire protection and washing. These systems were abandoned in the late 1920's; land was bought in 20 1922 for a three-million gallon reservoir that was completed on Souder Road. This was the last leg in building a gravity water system which included the development of Cool, Stevens, and Painter Springs in Virginia and the construction of a collector-pipeline from the springs to and across the Potomac River at Knoxville and then to Brunswick and into the Reservoir. In 1932 the system was expanded by developing the Yourtee Springs in Washington County, Maryland. Dependence on the four springs continued until 1966 when it became evident that an additional water supply was needed. The logical source was the Potomac River. Fortunately, the Raw Water Pumping Station, owned by the B&O RR, was available and on July 1, 1967, it was transferred to the Mayor and Council of Brunswick. The second feature in the creation of a new potabl water supply was the Water Treatment Plant which was built on the South side of Potomac Street. The raw water is furnished by the Raw Water Pumping Station on the banks of the Potomac River, and potable water from the Water Treatment Plant is pumped into the system and to the existing 3million gallon reservoir where it serves both the gravity zone and the suction chamber for the Souder Road Pumping Station.

    In September 1988, the town received a $1.3 million loan from the Farmers Home Administration for water system improvements; the 40-year loan was set up on a 7.5 per cent interest rate. In October 1987, the town received a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant, just about half the amount requested. The water system, which had originally been installed in the 1930's without a comprehensive plan, was in dire need of repair and modernization. So, in June of 1989 the improvements to the water system continued. The reservoir on Souder Road had been drained and cracks repaired, but the new cover is credited for saving the town approximately $400 a month as well as enhancing water quality.

    Cleaning, repairing, and covering the reservoir was the first part of a multi-phased plan to improve the water in Brunswick. Draining, sandblasting and painting the elevated tank is next on the agenda— reservoir and tank could not be done at the same time. The tank had not been refurbished since it was constructed in the 1960's. A new intake system allowing Brunswick to pump more river water went on stream in June 1989 and will provide a more efficient system.

      Earlier in the twentieth century John Sennett was in charge of streets and water, as John Mills, Casey Wynkoop, and Jack Brawner, who followed Sennett, have been. Today David Moler is in charge of Streets and Parks Department and Water and Sewer Distribution; Kevin Brawner is Supervisor of Water and WasteWaterOperations (managerof the water and waste water plants). The headquarters for this phase of city business has been at the Municipal storage building on Petersville Road below Wenner's Hill, where vehicles and heavy supplies are stored and the pump used to operate.

S - Kevin Brawner

W-BLC

    The minutes of Brunswick Council meetings indicate that an application was first introduced in September 1935 and a motion to employ Whitman, Reckord and Smith of Baltimore at a cost of $150,000 was adopted.
 
    The town would file an application with the Works Progress Administration for funds for the project; Brunswick's contribution was not to exceed $45,000.
 
    The B&O granted permission for sewer lines to be placed along its right of way. Sewer bonds to cover Brunswick's share were to carry an interest rate of 4 O and were to be dated March 1,1937. Life of the bond was to be decided by City Attorney Rohrback according to the ordinance.

    Ordinance No. 151 was the original ordinance and Ordinance No.152, known as Brunswick Sewer Bonds of 1937, covered issuance and sale of Sewer Bonds, May 4, 1937. Maturity date was set at May 1, 1957.

    Eventually the town acquired a "ditch digger" which was about the size of a large power shovel but with the bucket turned toward the operator, like today's backhoes. "Sonny" Cannon learned the intricacies of operating the machine and dug the trenches for the sewer lines throughout the city.

S- Ernestine Phillips
W-BLC

    For more detail, see subdivision map of 1915 by William C. Humm or Arthur Lutman's map of 21 Leonard Smith's 1789 platting of Berlin. Streets of new developments are not included.

I.     BERLIN (Walnut St/alley beside Fire Hall, to "B" St., Petersville Rd., Martin's Creek, to    railroad. No comparable streets on railroad)

EAST-WEST STREETS from South to North Water, Railroad St. High, Upper, Potomac St.

NORTH-SOUTH STREETS from West to East First St. Bridge St., Virginia Ave. Second St., Middle St., Maryland Ave. Third St., Maple Ave.

II.     WEST OF PETERSVILLE ROAD (W. W. WENNER SUBDIVISION)

EAST-WEST STREETS from South to North Water, Railroad, Walnut St. Wenner, Potomac St. Brunswick St. Front, "B" St. Waltman, "C" St. Madison St. (top of Delaware Ave.) Greenwood St. (west off Petersville Rd.)

NORTH-SOUTH STREETS from West to East Central Ave. Fourth Ave., Florida Ave. Third Ave., Georgia Ave. Second Ave., Dayton Ave. First Ave., Delaware Ave.

III.     PETERSVILLE ROAD to Second Avenue (C.W. WENNER FARM: "B" St. to Souder Rd.; Petersville Rd. to Second Ave.)

EAST-WEST STREET from South to North Potomac St. /tA,, St. First St., "B" St. Second St., "C" St. Third St., "D" St. Fourth St., "E" St. Fifth St., "F" St. Sixth St., "G" St. Seventh St., "H" St. Eighth St., "I" St. Ninth St., "J" St. 12th and Thirteenth St., ran out of land at 2nd Ave. County Road, Souder Road Center St., (east off Petersville Road)

NORTH-SOUTH STREETS from West to East Petersville Road Maple Ave. First Ave. Second Ave., Henry St., Linden Ave. (seg- ments) (later, 2nd Ave. from Potomac St. to County (Souder) Rd.) Chestnut St., Charles St., Montgomery St., (Sub-division names have replaced them.) IV

SECOND AVENUE TO COUNTY ROAD (well beyond 10th Ave., non-existent today) EAST-West STREETS from South to North Potomac St. "A" St. "B" St. "C" St. Park Ave. "D" St. "E" St. "F" St. "G" St. "H" St. County Rd., Souder Road

NORTH-SOUTH STREETS from West to East Second Ave. to Thirteenth St. Terrace Ave. (a semi-circle) Third Ave. Fourth Ave. Fifth Ave. through (Tenth) then skip to Thirteenth Ave. Park Ave. (through Brunswick Park only; rest, County Rd. Park Ave. turns right and runs up to Ninth; now Gum Spring Hollow Rd. through to "H" St.)

W -MMM 22

    There was a time when Maryland Avenue ended at the edge of the lots of the last houses there, 14 and 17 North Maryland Avenue, before a street was laid through to Petersville Road. Gretchen Jane Moler Rollison lived at No. 14. The neighborhood youngsters played on the property extending through this expanse and on the lawn that drifted from the Jordan House to Potomac Street (Fast Eddie's fills that lawn today).

    Before the completion of Maryland Avenue, the street would be blocked off for carnivals, dances, and street parties to be held on the paved portion. Large carnivals with ferris wheels were set up on the undeveloped area where the bridge approach is now located. The Lions Club's Halloween parties were also held there.

    Maryland Avenue was concreted from Potomac Street to Petersville Road in the rrud-thirties. (During this same time, the town concreted both sides of South Maryland Avenue and Wenner's Hill, leaving a middle width of dirt road for horse traffic.)
    The street bed at Moler-Rollison's was so high that just one step from the porch put you on the ground with your elbow on the bannister. There was an alley past No. 17, where a car could go up and turn around behind Mrs. Shafer's stables (Virg nia Avenue). Four or so large elm trees lined Maryland Avenue from Moler's to Potomac Street.

    Gretchen Jane Rollison remembers when her father pushed her in a wheelbarrow from their house, down Maryland Avenue, over the crossing in front of Gross's store to the mill to buy 100 pounds of flour. (She had to walk back.) S - Gretchen Jane Moler Rollison W-MMM
 

The first ordinance in Brunswick controlling cattle, sheep, and other animals was passed on June 6, 1893.

The town council granted permission on October 17, 1935 to the Recreation Committee to erect a building in City Park. This was to be built under a National Youth Administration (N.Y.A.) program. Rev. Mark Jenkins of Grace Episcopal church outlined the proposed plans to the Council.

The first child born in Brunswick was Martha Brunswick Sigafoose (VanOsdale) on May 11, 1890.

The first twins born in Brunswick were Lula Brunswick and Luther Brunswick Darr on April 24, 1891. Large blocks of limestone outlining City Park along Gum Spring Hollow Road were once a part of the piers of the old iron truss bridge of 1893 to 1955.

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5/21/07