Post by Pat (Friend) Thompson on Jul 21, 2008 15:57:06 GMT -5
Museum Acquires Railroad Artifact
Glades Star (Garrett County Historical Society)
Oakland, Garrett Co., Maryland
By W. W. Price
June 1970
An artifact manufactured one hundred and twenty six years ago and only recently unearthed at Mount Savage, Maryland, has been presented to the Garrett County Historical Museum at Oakland. The artifact is a piece cut from one of the first wrought iron rails produced in the United States of America at the Old Rail Furnace established by the Mount Savage Iron Works. There, in 1844, the first wrought iron rails were produced. This was a very important achievement that contributed to the development of the American railway system. And it was of particular interest to know that the Old Rail Furnace site was in Allegany County. At that time, Allegany County included all of what is now Garrett County in Western Maryland.
The Museum’s unusual acquisition resulted from the friendly interest in its existence and the cooperation of railroad men who are employed by the Western Maryland Railway Company and the C&O/B&O Railroad Company. The original Mount Savage rail that is represented was discovered by Mr. Henry Hoffman, B&B foreman for the Western Maryland, in the old Mount Savage Bridge and given by him to Train Master, Mr. M. C. DelSignore, of the Western Maryland Company. Mr. DelSignore, learning of the museum through his friend, Mr. Thomas S. Gifford, Jr., of the C& O/B&O Rules Committee, gave the artifact to Mr. Gifford as a presentation for the local museum. Mr. Gifford is a former resident of Terra Alta, WV. This is a picture of the Mount Savage Iron Furnace.
Glades Star (Garrett County Historical Society)
Oakland, Garrett Co., Maryland
By W. W. Price
June 1970
An artifact manufactured one hundred and twenty six years ago and only recently unearthed at Mount Savage, Maryland, has been presented to the Garrett County Historical Museum at Oakland. The artifact is a piece cut from one of the first wrought iron rails produced in the United States of America at the Old Rail Furnace established by the Mount Savage Iron Works. There, in 1844, the first wrought iron rails were produced. This was a very important achievement that contributed to the development of the American railway system. And it was of particular interest to know that the Old Rail Furnace site was in Allegany County. At that time, Allegany County included all of what is now Garrett County in Western Maryland.
The Museum’s unusual acquisition resulted from the friendly interest in its existence and the cooperation of railroad men who are employed by the Western Maryland Railway Company and the C&O/B&O Railroad Company. The original Mount Savage rail that is represented was discovered by Mr. Henry Hoffman, B&B foreman for the Western Maryland, in the old Mount Savage Bridge and given by him to Train Master, Mr. M. C. DelSignore, of the Western Maryland Company. Mr. DelSignore, learning of the museum through his friend, Mr. Thomas S. Gifford, Jr., of the C& O/B&O Rules Committee, gave the artifact to Mr. Gifford as a presentation for the local museum. Mr. Gifford is a former resident of Terra Alta, WV. This is a picture of the Mount Savage Iron Furnace.