The Potomac League was a minor league baseball league that played a partial season as a Class D level league in 1916. The Potomac League featured four teams based in West Virginia and Maryland . The Potomac League permanently folded on August 16, 1916 with the Frostburg Demons in first place.
95-642: Cumberland, Maryland resident Colonel Nelson W. Russler and Cumberland attorney Fuller Barnard Jr. laid the groundwork the Potomac League at a meeting held in February, 1916. Charles Boyer, president of the Blue Ridge League organized a group of businessmen to garner interest in fielding a league in the area. One year earlier, Cumberland had sought entry into the 1915 Blue Ridge League , but were unsuccessful due to distance. Fuller Bernard became
190-576: A Native American Romeo and Juliet legend. The tale tells how a jilted lover met his end by jumping off this ledge. Today, the rocks high above the water provide extensive views of the Allegheny Mountains . Lover's Leap has been frequently romanticized by postcard pictures of this valley, including those taken by George Steward in 1950 and published in the 1953 book U.S. 40 . Lover's Leap is 1,652 feet (504 m) above sea level and made up of oddly squared projections of rock, from its top, all
285-519: A colored YMCA on Independence Street, and was named the Mary Hoye school. In 1923 a new school for blacks was built on Frederick Street. In 1941 an election was held of students and faculty, and the school was renamed George Washington Carver School . In addition to serving the local population, many black people from surrounding areas in West Virginia sent their children to Carver because of
380-607: A gasoline tanker descending into downtown Cumberland from the east attempted to exit the freeway at exit 43D, Maryland Avenue. The tanker went out of control and overturned as the driver tried to go around the sharp turn at the exit. Gasoline began to leak from the damaged tanker, forcing the evacuation of a three-block area of Cumberland. Approximately 30 minutes later, the tanker exploded, setting eight houses on fire. The fire caused an estimated $ 250,000 in damages (equivalent to $ 500,000 in 2023 ) and prompted MDSHA to place signs prohibiting hazardous materials trucks from exiting at
475-595: A historical outfitting and staging point for westward emigrant trail migrations throughout the first half of the 1800s. In this role, it supported the settlement of the Ohio Country and the lands in that latitude of the Louisiana Purchase . It also became an industrial center, served by major roads, railroads, and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal , which connected Cumberland to Washington, D.C. and
570-609: A junction with Interstate 79 . US 40 heads northwestward into southern Pennsylvania . U.S. Route 220 also passes through Cumberland, mostly concurrent with I-68 and US 40. However, near the city limits on either end of its route through the city, US 220 diverges north and south from I-68 and US 40. To the north, US 220 heads for Bedford , Pennsylvania, while southwards, it reaches Keyser . Other significant roads serving Cumberland include U.S. Route 40 Alternate , Maryland Route 51 , Maryland Route 61 , Maryland Route 639 and Maryland Route 807 . The primary public transportation in
665-511: A male householder with no wife present, and 46.0% were non-families. 38.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age in the city was 41.4 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.1% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 19.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of
760-545: A profit. On July 23, 1916, the Lonaconing Giants franchise folded. This left the Potomac League with three teams and the schedule was rearranged for the season to continue. On August 16, 1916, the first place Frostburg Demons franchise folded due to financial reasons. This forced the Potomac League to permanently fold. The final Potomac League standings were led by the Frostburg Demons, who folded with
855-618: A range of temperatures significantly lower than those in the central and eastern part of Maryland, mostly in the form of depressed nighttime lows. The region has four distinct seasons, with hot, humid summers, and moderate winters (compared to surrounding communities, Cumberland receives milder winters and less snow). Monthly daily mean temperatures range from 31.9 °F (−0.1 °C) in January to 76.8 °F (24.9 °C) in July, with temperatures exceeding 90 °F (32 °C) on 34.5 days of
950-564: A record of 33–25. Frostburg was 6.0 games ahead of the second place Lonaconing Giants (26–18), followed by the Piedmont Drybugs (26–30) and Cumberland Colts (23–35). Following the 1916 season, the Potomac League franchises of Cumberland and Piedmont continued in minor league baseball. Cumberland became a member of the Class D level Blue Ridge League in 1917 and played through 1932. Piedmont, also known as Piedmont/Westernport, played in
1045-748: A ridge that the freeway crosses. In Allegany County, the freeway crosses the Allegheny Front , where, from Savage Mountain to LaVale, the highway drops in elevation by 1,800 feet (550 m) in a distance of nine miles (14 km). The traffic density on I-68 in Garrett County is rather sparse compared to that of Allegany County. At the Maryland–West Virginia state line, there is an AADT of 11,581 vehicles per day. This density increases to its highest point in Garrett County at exit 22, where US 219 leaves I-68, at 19,551. At
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#17327910455321140-605: A road that extended from Cumberland to Vandalia, Illinois . Upon the establishment of the U.S. Numbered Highway System in 1926, the route of the National Road became part of US 40. In the early 1960s, as the Interstate Highway System was being built throughout the U.S., east–west travel through western Maryland was difficult, as US 40, the predecessor to I-68, was a two-lane country road with steep grades and hairpin turns. In Cumberland ,
1235-573: A toll road be built along this corridor. In 2003, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) approved the extension, paving the way for federal funding and for the road to become part of the National Highway System on completion. The project, however, ran into problems due to lack of funds, and, in 2008, West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin suggested dropping the project altogether, making construction of
1330-551: A turning point, as it was the last major manufacturing plant in the city limits to close its doors. The population of the city has continued to decline since 1990, with the 2010 census population of 20,859 the lowest since the 1900 census. As of the census of 2010, there were 20,859 people, 9,223 households, and 4,982 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,069.3 inhabitants per square mile (799.0/km ). There were 10,914 housing units at an average density of 1,082.7 per square mile (418.0/km ). The racial makeup of
1425-523: A westward extension of I-68 unlikely in the near future. In 2014, Marshall County officials brought the extension of I-68 up again as a way for oil companies to have easier access to drill into the area, likely by fracking . Much like the second leg of PA 576 (Southern Beltway) in the Pittsburgh area, an extension of I-68 is being spurred in response to the Marcellus natural gas trend . If
1520-427: Is Ray Morriss, who was elected in 2018 after defeating two-term incumbent Brian Grim. The current city council members are Eugene T. Frazier, Richard J. "Rock" Cioni, Laurie P. Marchini, and James Furstenberg. The city council holds public meetings twice per month. In fiscal year 2021, the city government recognized $ 46.4 million in revenue, and it incurred $ 42.2 million of expenses. During that period,
1615-613: Is WFWM, at Frostburg, Maryland. Allegany Magazine is a recent media addition. The Cumberland Times-News is the area's daily newspaper. Water and sewer service is supplied by the City of Cumberland. The municipal watershed is located to the north within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Water is drawn from two lakes on city land, Gordon and Koon. Electricity service is supplied by the Potomac Edison Company , which
1710-430: Is a compact notched valley that Wills Creek has carved into Wills Mountain . Inventor Frederick John Bahr bought Wills Mountain and built his log cabin on top. The National Road ( U.S. Route 40 ) and a number of railroad lines pass through this steep, narrow, and rocky river valley on the edge of Cumberland. On the northeast side of Wills Mountain, sits a rocky outcropping known as Lover's Leap . The name comes from
1805-697: Is a unit of FirstEnergy , while natural gas service is supplied by Columbia Gas of Maryland . There was once a working oil well that pumped crude oil from a location near the Fruit Bowl in the Cumberland Narrows. Hospitals include UPMC Western Maryland and Thomas B. Finan Center . The Greater Cumberland Regional Airport (Airport-ID: CBE) provides local air transportation to the Cumberland area, located in Wiley Ford , West Virginia , to
1900-405: Is located at Canal Place , the western terminus of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal , and intersection of the railroad, canal, and Allegheny Highlands Trail of Maryland . Allegany Museum exhibits include local prehistoric life, the Cumberland glassware industry, Kelly Springfield Tire Company, MeadWestvaco, the Cumberland brewing industry, and folk art on the building's second floor. The Narrows
1995-564: Is located downtown at Queen City Drive and East Harrison Street. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad operates steam and diesel excursion trains from Cumberland to Frostburg and back. CSX had a large hump yard for full service to Pittsburgh over Sand patch grade to the west, the Grafton, West Virginia , line to the south, & the Baltimore, Maryland , line to the east. The webcomic The Adventures of Dr. McNinja by Christopher Hastings
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#17327910455322090-610: Is maintained, allowing travel by foot, horse or bicycle between Cumberland and Washington, D.C. , a distance of approximately 185 miles (298 km). In recent years, a separate trail/path extension, called the Great Allegheny Passage , has been developed that leads to Pittsburgh as its western terminus. Cumberland is the only city of at least 20,000 residents, outside of the Pittsburgh and DC metro areas, that lies on this combined 300+ mile stretch. According to
2185-497: Is now a national historical park . Today, Interstate 68 bisects the town. Industry declined after World War II , leading urban, business, and technological development in the state to be concentrated in eastern coastal cities. Today, the Cumberland metropolitan area is one of the poorest in the United States, ranking 305th out of 318 metropolitan areas in per capita income. Cumberland was named by English colonists after
2280-1008: Is one of the oldest surviving synagogue buildings in the United States. Also of note are the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Terminus at Canal Place, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, the Allegheny Highlands Trail of Maryland, the Cumberland Masonic Temple, the Allegany Arts Council, Rocky Gap State Park, Cumberland Narrows along Wills Creek, on Alternate U.S. 40. Cumberland's has Council–manager government composed of an elected mayor, four elected city council members, and an appointed city administrator. Cumberland's current mayor
2375-608: Is represented in the House of Representatives by Democrat David Trone , and is represented by Maryland's two Senators , Democrats Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen , the former of which operates a field office in Downtown Cumberland. In 1864 the state legislature provided funds, and a structure for obtaining local funds from taxes and private donations for the purpose of funding schools for Negroes. The first public school for African-Americans in Cumberland operated in
2470-623: Is set in part in a fictionalized version of Cumberland. Interstate 68 Interstate 68 ( I-68 ) is a 113.15-mile (182.10 km) Interstate Highway in the U.S. states of West Virginia and Maryland , connecting I-79 in Morgantown, West Virginia , east to I-70 in Hancock, Maryland . I-68 is also Corridor E of the Appalachian Development Highway System (ADHS). From 1965 until
2565-920: Is under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Baltimore , and is partially run by the School Sisters of Notre Dame . Lighthouse Christian Academy is a K-12 Christian school, co-located with the Central Assembly of God church on Bedford Street on the north edge of the city's limits. Approximately 39,000 people hold library cards in Allegany County, with libraries such as Washington Street Library and Lavale Public Library and several others. Cumberland has several media outlets; most carry some form of satellite programming. WCBC-AM and WFRB-FM have some local news content, but do not have reporters collecting it. The closest public radio station
2660-679: The Appalachian Mountains . The control cities —the cities officially chosen to be the destinations shown on guide signs—for I-68 are Morgantown, Cumberland , and Hancock. I-68 is the main route connecting Western Maryland to the rest of Maryland. I-68 is also advertised to drivers on I-70 and I-270 as an "alternate route to Ohio and points west" by MDSHA . I-68 begins at exit 148 on I-79 near Morgantown and runs eastward, meeting with US 119 one mile (1.6 km) east of its terminus at I-79. I-68 turns northeastward, curving around Morgantown, with four interchanges in
2755-580: The Maryland State Highway Administration (MDSHA) ran south of US 40. This corridor would have bypassed towns in eastern Allegany County, such as Flintstone , leaving them without access to the freeway, and would have passed directly through Green Ridge State Forest , the largest state forest in Maryland. This proposed corridor provoked strong opposition, largely due to the environmental damage that would be caused by
2850-529: The Pennsylvania Turnpike for westbound traffic from Washington DC and Baltimore . Various West Virginia officials have proposed extending the highway westward to the Ohio River valley, ending in either Moundsville , or Wheeling , West Virginia. An extension to Moundsville was approved by federal officials at one point but shelved due to funding problems. Prior to the construction of
2945-719: The Potomac Highlands of West Virginia . It is the primary city of the Cumberland metropolitan area , which had 95,044 residents in 2020. Historically, Cumberland was known as the "Queen City" as it was once the second largest in the state. Because of its strategic location on what became known as the Cumberland Road through the Appalachians , after the American Revolution it served as
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3040-525: The US ;220 exit and to 40 mph (64 km/h) in downtown Cumberland. This drop in the speed limit is due to several factors, including heavy congestion, closely spaced interchanges, and a sharp curve in the road, known locally as "Moose Curve", located at the bottom of Haystack Mountain. This section of the highway was originally built in the 1960s as the Cumberland Thruway, a bypass to
3135-491: The United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 10.15 square miles (26.29 km ), of which 10.08 square miles (26.11 km ) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km ) is water. Cumberland lies at the beginning of the transition from a humid continental climate ( Köppen Dfa ) to a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ), although bearing far more characteristics of the former, with
3230-758: The 1850s, many black fugitives reached their final stop on the Underground Railroad beneath the floor of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church. A maze of tunnels beneath and an abolitionist pastor above provided refuge before the final five mile trip to freedom in Pennsylvania. The surrounding hillsides were mined for coal and iron ore, and harvested for timber that helped supply the Industrial Revolution . The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal had its western terminus here; it
3325-526: The 1918 Blue Ridge League. 1916 Potomac League Lonaconing disbanded July 23. The league disbanded August 16 Potomac League - Baseball Reference Cumberland, Maryland Cumberland is a city in and the county seat of Allegany County, Maryland , United States. At the 2020 census , the city had a population of 19,075. Located on the Potomac River , Cumberland is a regional business and commercial center for Western Maryland and
3420-514: The Allegany County line, the traffic density decreases slightly to 18,408. In Allegany County, the vehicle count increases to 28,861 in LaVale and to the freeway's peak of 46,191 at the first US 220 interchange (exit 42) in Cumberland. East of Cumberland, the vehicle count decreases to 16,551 at Martins Mountain and stays nearly constant to the eastern terminus of I-68 in Hancock . After entering Allegany County, I-68 bypasses Frostburg to
3515-885: The Arteco Gallery and Institute for Creative Enterprise, Windsor Hall, the Gilchrist Museum of the Arts, the Gordon-Roberts House, the Graphicus Atelier print-making studio, and a variety of retail and specialty stores. Seasonal events include the Cumberland Comes Alive music series, Saturday Arts Walks, and the annual Mountain Maryland Artists' Studio Tour. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
3610-637: The Cheat River Canyon, where there is a truck escape ramp . The peak traffic density in terms of annual average daily traffic (AADT) on I-68 in West Virginia is 32,900 vehicles per day at the interchange with I-79 in Morgantown. The traffic gradually decreases further eastward, reaching a low point at 14,600 vehicles per day at the Hazelton exit. After entering Garrett County, I-68 continues its run through rural areas, crossing
3705-489: The City of Cumberland is bus service provided by Allegany County Transit . This service consists of five scheduled routes that reach most areas of the city and provide access to most public facilities. Amtrak , the national passenger rail system, provides intercity service to Cumberland via the Capitol Limited , which runs between Washington Union Station , and Union Station Chicago . The Cumberland Amtrak Station
3800-661: The Cumberland Metro as having the 6th-lowest cost of living in the US, based on an index of cost of housing, utilities, transportation and other expenditures. In 2007, The Baltimore Sun newspaper, citing the National Association of Realtors figures on home prices, stated that while most areas were stagnant, Cumberland home prices were rising by more than 17%, the highest in the country. In July 2007, The Washington Post writer Stephanie Cavanaugh wrote that
3895-467: The Maryland Avenue exit. On May 23, 2003, poor visibility due to fog was a major contributing factor to an 85-vehicle pileup on I-68 on Savage Mountain west of Frostburg . Two people were killed and nearly 100 people were injured. Because of the extent of the wreckage on the road, I-68 remained blocked for 24 hours while the wreckage was cleared. In the aftermath of the pileup,
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3990-439: The Morgantown area, the portion of Preston County that I-68 crosses is more rural, with the only town along the route being Bruceton Mills . In Bruceton Mills, I-68 meets WV 26 . I-68 meets CR 5 (Hazelton Road) at its last exit before entering Garrett County, Maryland. The region of West Virginia through which the freeway passes is rural and mountainous. There are several sections that have steep grades, especially near
4085-464: The Morgantown area—I-79, US 119, WV 7 , and CR 857 (Cheat Road). Leaving the Morgantown area, I-68 again runs eastward, intersecting WV 43 , which provides access to Cheat Lake and Uniontown, Pennsylvania . Near this interchange, I-68 passes over Cheat Lake and climbs a steep ascent out of Cheat Canyon . Entering Preston County, the route intersect CR 73/12, which provides access to Coopers Rock State Forest . In contrast to
4180-571: The National Freeway to run northward toward Meyersdale, Pennsylvania , while I-68 continues eastward, crossing the Eastern Continental Divide and Savage Mountain before entering Allegany County. The section of I-68 west of Dans Mountain in Allegany County is located in the Allegheny Mountains , characterized in Garrett County by a series of uphill and downhill stretches along the freeway, each corresponding to
4275-702: The Potomac League president. The Potomac League formed for the 1916 season as a Class D level minor league. The Potomac League featured four charter teams. The Cumberland, Maryland based Cumberland Colts , the Frostburg, Maryland based Frostburg Demons , the Lonaconing, Maryland ] based Lonaconing Giants and the Piedmont Drybugs , based in Piedmont, West Virginia , were the four league franchises. The Potomac League began play on May 3, 1916. In
4370-529: The US ;50 freeway would not be helpful to drivers since about half the freeway already had two route designations (US 50 and US 301 ) and drivers on the freeway were already familiar with the US 50 designation. This made the designation to be applied to that freeway more flexible, and so, in 1989, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO),
4465-492: The West Virginia portion and a 14-mile (23 km) portion from the West Virginia state line to Keysers Ridge in Maryland opened, followed by the remainder of the freeway in Garrett County on August 13, 1976. In the 1980s, the focus of construction shifted to the east of Cumberland, where a 19-mile (31 km) section of the road still had not been completed. The first corridor for the construction to be approved by
4560-612: The West Virginia state line came to $ 126 million (equivalent to $ 525 million in 2023 ); the portion between Cumberland and Sideling Hill cost $ 182 million (equivalent to $ 363 million in 2023 ); and the section at Sideling Hill cost $ 44 million (equivalent to $ 87.8 million in 2023 ). Much of the work in building the freeway was completed during the 1970s, with US 48 opened from Vocke Road in LaVale to MD 36 in Frostburg on October 12, 1973, and to MD 546 on November 1, 1974. On November 15, 1975,
4655-482: The bottom of the valley. The freeway runs along the hillside above US 40 Alt. in the valley formed by Braddock Run. Entering LaVale, I-68 has exits to US 40 Alt. and MD 658 (signed southbound as US 220 Truck ). I-68 ascends Haystack Mountain , entering the city of Cumberland . This is the most congested section of the highway in Maryland. The speed limit on the highway drops from 70 mph (110 km/h) in LaVale to 55 mph (89 km/h) until
4750-585: The change in its route number, the US 48 designation was removed. In 2002, AASHTO approved the establishment of a new US 48 , this time for the Corridor H highway from Weston, West Virginia , to Strasburg, Virginia . This marks the third time that the US 48 number has been assigned to a highway, the first use being for a highway in California that existed in the 1920s. Numerous accidents and incidents have occurred on I-68. On June 1, 1991,
4845-602: The city government employed 234 people. In the Maryland Senate , Cumberland is represented by Republican Mike McKay of District 1. In the Maryland House of Delegates , the entirety of the city of Cumberland, plus much of northwestern Allegany County, is represented by Republican and House Minority Leader Jason Buckel of District 1B. Cumberland is located in Maryland's 6th congressional district , and
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#17327910455324940-570: The city in an east–west direction, as does Alternate U.S. 40 , the Old National Road . U.S. Highway 220 runs north–south. Parts of Wills Mountain , Haystack Mountain , and Shriver Ridge are also within the city limits. Opposite Cumberland along the Potomac River is Ridgeley, West Virginia . The abandoned Chesapeake and Ohio Canal is now part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park . The canal 's towpath
5035-401: The city lost many jobs. As a result, its population has declined by nearly half, from 39,483 in the 1940 census to fewer than 20,000 today. Cumberland is in the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians at the junction of the North Branch Potomac River and Wills Creek . The majority of the land within the city lies in a valley created by the junction of these two streams. Interstate 68 runs through
5130-419: The city of Cumberland include John Humbird Elementary, South Penn Elementary, and West Side Elementary. Some students residing in the North End of Cumberland may attend Northeast Elementary School, which sits just outside city limits in the neighborhood of Bowmans Addition . Cumberland is home to two parochial schools . Bishop Walsh School is a K-12 Catholic school, located atop Haystack Mountain. The school
5225-441: The city was 47.0% male and 53.0% female. The top employers in Cumberland are as follows. Located at the Western Maryland Railway Station is the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad . Located in Cumberland's arts and entertainment district is Saville Gallery, the Allegany Museum, the Cumberland Theatre, the Arts at Canal Place Cooperative Gallery, the New Embassy Theatre, the Cumberland Music Academy, MettleArts Studio and Foundry,
5320-452: The city was 89.4% White , 6.4% African American , 0.2% Native American , 0.9% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 0.3% from other races , and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.2% of the population. There were 9,223 households, of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.0% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had
5415-464: The eastern end of the Washington Street Historic District, is one of Maryland's most outstanding examples of early Gothic Revival architecture . The Allegany County Courthouse dominates the city's skyline. It was designed in 1893 by local architect Wright Butler . The Queen City Hotel was built by the B&O during the 1870s. The battle to preserve it was lost when the building was demolished in 1972. Temple B'er Chayim's 1865 Gothic Revival building
5510-516: The eastern part of the city. These schools are fed into by two middle schools, serving grades 6-8, also located in the city. Due to zoning, students attending Braddock Middle School, located on Holland Street on the city's North End, will generally attend Allegany, while students attending Washington Middle School, located on Massachusetts Avenue in the southeastern corner of the city, will generally attend Fort Hill. Public elementary schools serving students from pre-kindergarten through 5th grade located in
5605-537: The extension were to be built, it would also include a widening of WV 2 to four lanes and would cost an estimated $ 5 million per mile ($ 3.1 million/km). It is expected that the project would be divided into two legs, first from Morgantown to Cameron and then Cameron to Moundsville. Others have proposed extending I-68 to Wheeling, West Virginia , and connecting it with I-470 . I-68 spans 113.15 miles (182.10 km), connecting I-79 in Morgantown, West Virginia , to I-70 in Hancock, Maryland , across
5700-461: The first sections of what would become I-68, the Cumberland Thruway, on June 10, 1965. This portion of the highway, which consists of a mile-long (1.6 km) elevated bridge, was completed and opened to the public on December 5, 1966. The elevated highway connected Lee Street in west Cumberland to Maryland Avenue in east Cumberland, providing a quicker path for motorists traveling through the town on US 40 and US 220 . The Cumberland Thruway
5795-402: The freeway from Morgantown to Hancock, several different routes carried traffic across the region. West Virginia Route 73 (WV 73) extended from Bridgeport to Bruceton Mills , serving regions now served by I-79 (Bridgeport to Morgantown) and I-68 (Morgantown to Bruceton Mills). After the I-68 freeway, then known as US 48, was completed in West Virginia, the WV 73 designation
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#17327910455325890-421: The freeway's construction was completed in 1991, it was designated as U.S. Route 48 ( US 48 ). In Maryland, the highway is known as the National Freeway , an homage to the historic National Road , which I-68 parallels between Keysers Ridge and Hancock. The freeway mainly spans rural areas and crosses numerous mountain ridges along its route. A road cut at Sideling Hill exposed geological features of
5985-417: The great quality of living in Cumberland had attracted many urbanites to the area. Population trends Population decline from 1950 to 1990 was due to a string of industrial plant closures. Plants such as Pittsburgh Plate Glass , Allegany Munitions and Celanese closed down and relocated as part of widespread industrial restructuring after WWII. The 1987 closure of the Kelly Springfield Tire Plant marked
6080-513: The inadequate local facilities. The schools were integrated in 1955, when 54 African American children attended the white schools. In 1956, 3 black students became the first to graduate from Allegany County's newly integrated schools. The offices of Allegany County Public Schools are located in Cumberland. Two public high schools serving grades 9-12 are located in the city: Allegany High School , located on Seton Drive atop Haystack Mountain, and Fort Hill High School , located on Greenway Avenue in
6175-450: The low overpass in Ridgeley. At exit 44 in east Cumberland, US 40 Alt. meets the freeway and ends, and, at exit 46, US 220 leaves I-68 and runs northward toward Bedford, Pennsylvania . I-68 continues across northeastern Allegany County, passing Rocky Gap State Park near exit 50. In northeastern Allegany County, the former US 40 bypassed by I-68 is designated as MD 144 , with several exits from I-68 along
6270-403: The main highway due to the construction of the new alignment in the 1980s, leading to protests when then-Governor Harry Hughes visited the Sideling Hill road cut when it was opened. In the 1990s, there was discussion about a future westward extension to I-68. Such an extension would connect the western terminus of I-68 in Morgantown to WV 2 in Moundsville . A 1989 proposal had suggested
6365-455: The median family income was $ 34,500. Males had a median income of $ 29,484 versus $ 20,004 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 15,813. About 15.3% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line , including 29.4% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over. The Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area ranked 305th out of 318 metropolitan areas in per capita income. In 2007, Forbes ranked
6460-414: The mountain and has become a tourist attraction. US 219 and US 220 overlap I-68 in Garrett County and Cumberland , respectively, and US 40 overlaps with the freeway from Keysers Ridge to the eastern end of the freeway at Hancock. The construction of I-68 began in 1965 and continued for over 25 years, with completion on August 2, 1991. While the road was under construction, it
6555-399: The northern part of the county. The terrain through this area consists of ridges that extend from southwest to northeast, with I-68 crossing the ridges through its east–west run. The first exit in Maryland is at MD 42 in Friendsville . I-68 ascends Keysers Ridge , where it meets US 40 and US 219 , both of which join the highway at Keysers Ridge. The roadway that used to be
6650-419: The organization composed of the various state departments of transportation that decides route numbering in the U.S., approved MDSHA's request to renumber the US 50 freeway from I-68 to I-595 . That same year, AASHTO approved changing US 48's designation to I-68. This change took effect upon the completion of the last section of the National Freeway on August 2, 1991. With the completion of I-68 and
6745-717: The original path of US 40 through Cumberland. Until 2008, signs at exit 43A in downtown Cumberland labeled the exit as providing access to WV 28 Alt. Because of this, many truckers used this exit to get to WV 28 . This created problems on WV 28 Alt. in Ridgeley, West Virginia , as trucks became stuck under a low railroad overpass, blocking traffic through Ridgeley. To reduce this problem, MDSHA removed references to WV 28 Alt. from guide signs for exit 43A and placed warning signs in Cumberland and on I-68 approaching Cumberland advising truckers to instead use exit 43B to MD 51 , which allows them to connect to WV 28 via Virginia Avenue, bypassing
6840-463: The question of how to deal with fog in the future was discussed. Though the cost of a fog warning system can be considerable, MDSHA installed such a system in 2005 at a cost of $ 230,000 (equivalent to $ 340,000 in 2023 ). The system alerts drivers when visibility drops below 1,000 feet (300 m). One of the arguments in favor of the construction of I-68 was that the freeway would improve the poor economic conditions in western Maryland. The economy of
6935-550: The region's leading citizens including the president of the C&;O Canal. Significant public buildings include the Allegany County Courthouse, Allegany County Library, and Emmanuel Episcopal Church, located on the site of Fort Cumberland. It features Gothic Revival architecture with three large Tiffany windows, fort tunnels, and ammunition magazine cellars. The 1850 Emmanuel Episcopal Church , standing at
7030-520: The road construction in Green Ridge State Forest. Environmental groups sued MDSHA in order to halt the planned construction, but the court ruled in favor of the state highway administration. In 1984, however, MDSHA reversed its earlier decision and chose an alignment that closely paralleled US 40, passing through Flintstone and to the north of Green Ridge State Forest. Construction on the final section of I-68 began May 25, 1987, and
7125-423: The route. I-68 crosses several mountain ridges along this section of the highway, including Martins Mountain, Town Hill, and Green Ridge, and the highway passes through Green Ridge State Forest . East of Green Ridge State Forest, MD 144 ends at US 40 Scenic , another former section of US 40. I-68 crosses into Washington County at Sideling Hill Creek and ascends Sideling Hill . The road cut that
7220-849: The son of King George II , Prince William, the Duke of Cumberland . It is built on the site of the mid-18th century Fort Cumberland , the starting point for British General Edward Braddock 's ill-fated attack on the French stronghold of Fort Duquesne (present-day Pittsburgh) during the French and Indian War , the North American front of the Seven Years' War between the French and the British. (See Braddock expedition .) This area had been settled for thousands of years by indigenous peoples. The fort
7315-537: The south of the Potomac River. Mexico Farms Airport (Airport-ID: 1W3) is also in Cumberland. Several primary highways serve Cumberland. The most prominent of these is Interstate 68 , which runs concurrent with U.S. Route 40 through the city. I-68 and US 40 head eastward to Hancock , where they junction with Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 522 . To the west, I-68 and US 40 separate in Keysers Ridge , with I-68 continuing west to Morgantown , West Virginia and
7410-487: The south, with two exits, one to Midlothian Road (unsigned MD 736 ) and one to MD 36 . Near the MD ;36 exit is God's Ark of Safety church, which is known for its attempt to build a replica of Noah's Ark . This replica, which currently consists of a steel frame, can be seen from I-68. East of Frostburg, I-68 crosses a bridge above Spruce Hollow near Clarysville , passing over MD 55 , which runs along
7505-497: The state line and meeting US 40 north of the border. From there, eastbound traffic would follow US 40 into Maryland. I-68 now parallels US 40 through western Maryland. US 40 followed the route of the National Road through Pennsylvania and Maryland. The National Road was the first federally funded road built in the U.S., authorized by Congress in 1806. Construction lasted from 1811 to 1837, establishing
7600-457: The surface alignment of US 40 parallels I-68 to Cumberland and is now designated as US 40 Alt. I-68 crosses Negro Mountain , which was the highest point along the historic National Road that the freeway parallels east of Keysers Ridge. This is the source of the name of the freeway in Maryland: the National Freeway. Three miles (4.8 km) east of Grantsville , US 219 leaves
7695-622: The surrounding area has improved since the construction of the freeway, especially in Garrett County , where the freeway opened up the county to tourism from Washington DC and Baltimore . Correspondingly, Garrett County saw a sharp increase in population and employment during and after the construction of the road, with full- and part-time employment increasing from 8,868 in 1976 to 15,334 in 1991. Economic difficulties, however, remain in Allegany and Garrett counties. There were concerns over loss of customers to businesses that have been cut off from
7790-510: The time, there were no freeways along the corridor, though construction on the Cumberland Thruway began that year. It was this corridor that would eventually become I-68. The construction of Corridor E, which was also designated as US 48, took over 20 years and hundreds of millions of dollars to complete. The cost of completing the freeway in West Virginia has been estimated at $ 113 million (equivalent to $ 471 million in 2023 ). The cost of building I-68 from Cumberland to
7885-482: The traffic situation was particularly problematic, as the usage of US 40 exceeded the capacity of the city's narrow streets. Traffic following US 40 through Cumberland entered through the Cumberland Narrows and followed Henderson Avenue to Baltimore Avenue. After the construction of I-68, this route through Cumberland became US 40 Alternate (US 40 Alt.). Construction began on one of
7980-412: The two opening day games, Frostburg and Cumberland played at Cumberland's South End Park, with Cumberland winning 2–0, and 1,500 in attendance. Piedmont and Lonaconing played at Lonaconing Park, with Piedmont winning 5–0. For the season, the league had two umpires, one for each game, Doll Derr and Thomas McNamara. The Potomac League struggled financially, as Cumberland was the only league franchise turning
8075-557: The way down to the National Highway (U.S. Rte. 40) below. The City of Cumberland and the neighboring states of Pennsylvania and West Virginia may be seen from this point. Some of Cumberland's most architecturally significant homes are located in the Washington Street Historic District . Considered the elite residential area when the city was at its economic peak, Washington Street was home to
8170-433: The year and dipping to 10 °F (−12 °C) or below on 7 nights per winter. Average seasonal snowfall totals 30.3 inches (77 cm). The record high is 109 °F (43 °C) set in July 1936 and August 1918, both of which are state record highs, while the record low is −14 °F (−26 °C) set at the current site on January 18–19 1994 and January 20–21, 1985 . The median household income $ 25,142, and
8265-461: Was a key road, railroad and canal junction. It became the second-largest city in Maryland after the port city of Baltimore. It was nicknamed "The Queen City". Cumberland was the terminus, and namesake, of the Cumberland Road (begun in 1811) that extended westward to the Ohio River at Wheeling, West Virginia . This was the first portion of what would be constructed as the National Road , which eventually reached Ohio , Indiana , and Illinois . In
8360-501: Was built into Sideling Hill for I-68 can be seen for several miles in each direction and has become a tourist attraction as a result of the geologic structure exposed by the road cut. On the east side of Sideling Hill, I-68 again interchanges with US 40 Scenic, at its eastern terminus at Woodmont Road. Here, US 40 Scenic ends at a section of MD 144 separate from the section further west. Four miles (6.4 km) east of this interchange, I-68 ends at I-70 and US 522 in
8455-550: Was built to improve the movement of goods between the Midwest and Washington, DC, the eastern terminus. Construction of railroads superseded use of the canal, as trains were faster and could carry more freight. The city developed as a major manufacturing center, with industries in glass, breweries, fabrics, tires, and tinplate. With the restructuring of heavy industry in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states following World War II,
8550-458: Was completed on August 2, 1991. Though the National Freeway was designated as US 48, as the completion of the freeway neared, the possibility of the freeway being designated as an Interstate Highway came up. In the 1980s, the project to improve US 50 between Washington DC and Annapolis to Interstate Highway standards had been assigned the designation of I-68. MDSHA, however, later concluded that adding additional route shields to
8645-561: Was developed along the Great Indian Warpath which tribes used to travel the backcountry. Cumberland also served as an outpost of Colonel George Washington during the French and Indian War, and his first military headquarters was built here. Washington returned as President of the United States in 1794 to Cumberland to review troops assembled to thwart the Whiskey Rebellion . During the 19th century, Cumberland
8740-544: Was extended to US 220 and then to Vocke Road ( Maryland Route 658 , or MD 658) by 1970. Problems quickly emerged with the highway, especially near an area called "Moose Curve". At Moose Curve, the road curves sharply at the bottom of Haystack Mountain , and traffic accidents are common. In 1965, the Appalachian Development Act was passed, authorizing the establishment of the ADHS , which
8835-478: Was meant to provide access to areas throughout the Appalachian Mountains that were not previously served by the Interstate Highway System. A set of corridors was defined, comprising 3,090 miles (4,970 km) of highways from New York to Mississippi . Corridor E in this system was defined to have endpoints at I-79 in Morgantown, West Virginia , and I-70 in Hancock, Maryland . At
8930-497: Was predicted that economic conditions would improve along the corridor for the five counties connected by I-68: Allegany , Garrett, and Washington in Maryland and Preston and Monongalia in West Virginia. The two largest cities connected by the highway are Morgantown, West Virginia, and Cumberland, Maryland. Although the freeway serves no major metropolitan areas, it provides a major transportation route in western Maryland and northern West Virginia and also provides an alternative to
9025-408: Was removed. Portions of the road still exist as County Route 73 (CR 73), CR 73/73, and CR 857. Between I-68's exit 10 at Cheat Lake and exit 15 at Coopers Rock , I-68 was largely built directly over old WV 73's roadbed. At Bruceton Mills, WV 73 ended at WV 26 , which, from there, runs northeast into Pennsylvania, becoming Pennsylvania Route 281 at
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