By Ronda Wertman
Tribune Correspondent
WESTERNPORT – Bridges connect Mineral and Allegany counties, but the history shared by residents of both sides is intertwined.
Jack Fazenbaker of the Westernport Heritage Society recently welcomed members of the Mineral County Historical Society to the society’s exhibit “Westernport: Then and Now.”
Leading members down Westernport’s Main Street through pictures past and present, Fazenbaker brought up memories as residents recalled visiting the shops, eateries and more.
Fazenbaker explained that the Main Street display began as a program for the elementary school for Westernport’s 150th anniversary and has grown into a working exhibit.
Some of the highlights of the photo tour are the street car which ran from 1903 to 1923, and the cast iron fountain that sat at the intersection of Main Street and later at the school before being recycled for the war effort.
Over the years Main Street was home to a variety of businesses, including a shoe shop, barber shop, dry cleaner, bakery, confectionary, meat market, restaurants, theatre, newsstands, hotel and more.
At one time there were 12-13 bars on Main Street and the society display includes bottles from Melky Miller Whiskey, which was made in Garrett County and bottled in Westernport.
Fazenbaker pointed out that the library where residents were seated was formerly the site of Jimmy Ward’s Drug Store, Trenum’s Taxi and Western Auto.
In March, members of the Mineral County Historical Society will kick off their celebration of the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s birth with a presentation by Dr. Phillip Stone, president of Bridgewater College and founder of the Lincoln Society of Virginia.
Stone has written articles on Lincoln focusing on his family and his assassination. This program is set for 7 p.m. March 4 at the Janes United Methodist Church in Keyser.
The society’s other big event for March is the Nancy Hanks Symposium at Potomac State College.
A panel of experts will share their insight during the program entitled “The Life and Times of Nancy Hanks Lincoln: Mother of Abraham, Daughter of West Virginia.”
The symposium is open to the public and will get underway at 10 a.m. March 28 in the Davis Conference Center on the campus of Potomac State College of West Virginia University.
Reservations are required for the luncheon and may be made by calling President Ed McDonald at (304) 788-0129 or email at ed@eioproductions.com.
Westernport, Md. —
