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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST (Historic Sites Survey) var.d. MSA SE16-6 Image No: se16-6-0270 Enlarge and print image (71K) |
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, MARYLAND HISTORICAL TRUST (Historic Sites Survey) var.d. MSA SE16-6 Image No: se16-6-0270 Enlarge and print image (71K) |
| NFS Form 1 0-900-a (8-86) OMB Approval No. 1 024-001 8 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Continuation Sheet Section 8 Page 5 The Stonebraker & Harbaugh, Shafer Building Name of Property Frederick Co., Maryland County and State The merchantile firm of Stonebraker & Harbaugh appears to have operated with George Stonebraker as a purchasing agent in Baltimore, while Samuel G. Harbaugh managed the retail business in Middletown. The undoubtedly busy corner of Main and Jefferson Streets (Main Street being the turnpike road and Jefferson Street the road to Jefferson, Maryland) would have been a prime location for such a business. According to local newspaper accounts, Mssrs. Stonebraker and Harbaugh constructed the "large brick building on the corner of Main and Keller's [Jefferson] streets" now standing on Lot 25 in the year 1830.10 The building served not only in the capacity of a commercial business, but also as the elegant home of Samuel Harbaugh and his family. Following George Stonebraker's death, his will devised his interest in the jointly owned Middletown property to Catherine Harbaugh, wife of Samuel G. Harbaugh.11 The Harbaugh family lived and worked in Middletown more than twenty years. Mr. Harbaugh's service to the community of Middletown included his commercial business, as the first town clerk in 1834, was a prominent member of the Lutheran church, and was for 25 years the superintendent of a joint Lutheran-Reformed church Sunday school.12 In 1853, Samuel and Catherine Harbaugh followed many other western Marylanders west to Ohio.13 In August of 1858, the Harbaughs, "of Clark County, Ohio," sold the substantial residential and commercial property in Middletown to Peter Shafer, Sr. for $6,000 (Deed Book BGF 3, page 246). Although the Harbaugh family had been in Ohio for up to five years before the sale, it appears the store continued to operate, perhaps under a lease agreement. The 1858 Isaac Bond map of Frederick County, Middletown insert, shows a 'store' at the corner location (see attached copy). Peter Shafer, Sr. was listed on Lot 25 of the Middletown map in the 1872 Atlas of Frederick County, Maryland, showing a house and commercial building. Shafer, a wealthy retired farmer, left his valley farm to live in the elegant Middletown house on the town square, while renting out the commercial rooms.14 He was reportedly known as 'Marsa' Pete for his history of slave ownership.15 In a January 10, 1860 deed of manumission to "Sundry Negroes" Peter Shafer freed four slaves, their freedom beginning in 1865 for Virginia, age 16, and Levi, age 24; eight year old Jeanette was to be freed in 1874 and two year old Wesley in 1882; any children of the female slaves were to serve until the age of 25 (Deed Book BGF 5, page 126). reference. 10 As cited in Rhoderick, p. 240. 1 ' Referenced in Deed Book BGF 3, page 246; no date is given for George Stonebraker's death in this n Rhoderick, p. 240. 13 From Samuel G. Harbaugh obituary, 1889, Valley Register, as cited in Rhoderick, p. 240. M Rhoderick, p. 243. 15 Rhoderick, p. 241. |