Western Maryland is Completely Different from Its East | Cumberland, MD
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- čas přidán 25. 02. 2022
- If you headed on a trip to the state of Maryland, where would you visit? Perhaps you'd relax by the beaches at the eastern shore, or maybe you'd absorb some history and culture around the city centers of DC, Baltimore or Annapolis? Sadly enough, the western region of the Old Line State is flat-out ignored by most travelers and doesn't get enough praise. Compared to the flat farms and swampland containing most of this state's territory, Maryland's western panhandle is made up of impressive mountain ridges and valleys, isolated away from the rest of the state. This is by no means a barrier to our exploration as we make this our next stop along the Appalachian Adventure. As settlers from the east began to move westward into Appalachia country, the mountainous geography imposed quite a challenge for progress. However, right near the present-day city of Cumberland existed a wide gap which allowed easy access through what would otherwise be steep mountain terrain. Canals, rails, and a federally-established toll road all called Cumberland a significant resting ground as these increasingly faster means of connecting the growing nation's far reaches were developed. As a result, this settlement grew to become the 2nd largest city in all of Maryland for a time and supplied the United States with important natural resources and manufactured goods through the 19th and into the 20th century. With a fast declining population and sparse economic opportunity here, the glory days of Cumberland are over, but that doesn't mean we can't learn about the grand legacy this location had upon the rest of this country.
Location Covered: Cumberland, MD ✅
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Born and raised here.. first 20 yrs. of my life. Living in Carolina now, I still visit Cumberland annually. A very significant place historically in the early years of our country. I wouldn't trade my childhood growing up in Cumberland for anything. Thanks for show-casing this beautiful part of MD.
I spent the first 12 years of my life there.. born at Memorial Hospital. I can't imagine growing up anywhere else. Lots of extended family and friendly folks!
Well said
Same here 216 south st. Moved to FL at 12.@formerx
At around the 8:00 mark, the downtown mall is now all torn up. They leveled the fountains and are making the downtown mall accessible to cars now. Bricks, fountains, benches, concrete planters containing all of the trees and plants that made it beautiful are all gone now. Buildings/businesses are still there and accessable by foot but everything that made the mall beautiful has been leveled.
WTF seriously, that sounds like the exact opposite of what most towns are trying to do. That looked so nice in the video. How sad. Why on earth would they do that.
@@jhileman I agree. A long time ago (30 yrs or so) the downtown mall was accessible by both vehicles and by foot. They used the original bricks as the road. Then they closed it off to vehicles and made it foot traffic only. Now they want to go back to vehicle and foot traffic and have completely destroyed everything in the name of it. At the one end, there was a big beautiful fountain with a covered patio and benches for people to sit and relax on. They removed it in favor of public restrooms. Iirc the reason is due to "crime and drug use" that occurred in the small alleys. Which this doesn't solve because they alleys are still there and will continue to exist. I'm all for the installation of public restrooms in an area with lots of foot traffic but to destroy a beautiful piece of work to put it in doesn't make sense. There's places around here that have been completely leveled to make room for small plazas and new buildings and businesses that were probably more than old enough to be in the national historic registry but the city bought them up and leveled them. Not far from where the leveled buildings were is a huge open lot with stores and stuff next it that the city could've possibly bought from the railroad and built these new buildings in that area. If you go on google earth and put in this location, 39°38'53"N 78°45'23"W most of the houses are now gone. If you put in this location, 39°38'39"N 78°45'34"W it's a huge open lot that could be used for what they're building in place of the houses they've torn down amd they'd still have plenty of room left over.
@@jhilemanthey're tearing it up to redo the water. It's apparently been untouched for nearly 100 years. It's still incredibly sad to know that what is showcased in this video will likely not be a reality again but I have a little faith. I don't believe the beautiful waterfall will come back as those will be bathrooms I believe. They're also opening up one lane of traffic to go through there.
Thanks for showcasing my hometown. I took my prom pictures at the train station. I also remember going to the canal and visiting the canal boat replica during heritage days as a kid. Also in the church behind the President Washington's Cabin building, they have a basement where they do spooky stuff for Halloween. There is not much left to do in this town but it is very beautiful in it's own way.
With all you’ve mentioned, there must be countless places within these smaller destinations which hold immeasurable sentimental value for the inhabitants and townsfolk! Glad to know what a small isolated town like Cumberland means to its people.
I would love to check out that place during Halloween
Man was born there in 95 and always wondered what it's like now, drove through a few years ago for my dad's funeral but that's it. Remember the schools and all
I could see this town having a resurgence. It has Amtrak and interstate highways and is a major point on the C&O rail trail. With housing costs across the country in metro areas being so unaffordable, towns like Cumberland that are farther out of urban areas but have transportation infrastructure have a chance to grow, especially if telecommuting stays as popular as it is and people are not tied to live near their employer. Even if your employer was in the DC metro area and you had to go into the office a couple times a month that is very doable in Cumberland. Daily or weekly commutes to the DC area would be tough however from way out there.
You have a solid set of points. Naturally wishing the best for Cumberland while also acknowledging its current constraints seen today. Thanks for sharing!
Growing up in this area saying that we have transportation infrastructure is an understatement. We used to be the gateway to the west, whether it be the port, the rail roads, or the various highways and the interstate we can get pretty much anywhere in the country from here.
You'd make an excellent tour guide!! Your curious fascination comes across + clear communication.
Very much flattering to hear. In a way, this channel is sort of my own little “tour service” on the internet. Thank you for the kind sentiments!
@@TheCoverageProject You're welcome! Great to see people in their zone of genius like that!
Video was well done. I was raised here also but lived in DC suburbs and Southern Maryland most of my life. I didn't know at that time but I was extremely fortunate to have been there. My late father's home town.
Yes it is different that's what makes Maryland such a great state. It has everything fairly close
Western Maryland will separate soon and will join in West Virginia
Wonderfully edited, as you did wonders showcasing my/our Hometown of Cumberland, and the way it is today. So much forgotten history of the what was know as the Queen City of Maryland. Have a wonderful day 👍 💥⚡️💯.
Thank you very much! Pleased as always to meet the joy that this type of content brings to people from smaller areas across the country.
Great video, I biked along the Ohio/Chesapeake canal tow path a little bit east of Harpers Ferry all the way to DC, about 40 years ago. It was quiet like that almost all the way to DC back then, but I am sure there have been many changes.
Great video!!
Thanks! The towpath trail seemed like a fun and adventurous way to spend time on a bike, from what I gleaned
Yeah, the pan handle of MD is both culturally and geographically much different than the east. Wonderful place to live though :)
I often think to myself just how interesting certain states like Maryland are. Holds much of American cultural/geographic diversity in a bite-size area
@@TheCoverageProject MD is nicknamed “America in miniature” I think
Such an informative video! I plan to visit Cumberland for a little weekend getaway with my husband, we live in central MD and we had been in Cumberland before, but just to visit the lake Habeeb, never been to downtown. Anyway, I love to know the history from the towns I visit and this video was wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge about it.
You’re very welcome, I love sharing with others an appreciation for learning about history and culture!
I went to Rocky Gap to play golf and get away for a weekend and was very disappointed. The golf course was beautiful if that is your thing. But the rest of it was bad...the food, the rooms were kinda dingy.
I’d always stop by Cumberland on my way to deep creek.
Really enjoyed the video 😊. Just moved to Maryland and was considering taking a quick weekend trip here, this video sold me on the idea. Very informative.
What a honor it is for me to hear that! Love when I can inspire others to go to certain “off the beaten path” locations
*Current resident. Our town used to be the second largest in the state - that's why its nickname is the Queen City.
*Just visited the source of the Potomac River called Fairfax Stone. Of course, there are those who feel the Potomac Stone is the source but maybe they are the start of each branch.
*You are walking on the towpath of the C&O Canal. It meets up with the Great Allegheny Passage that goes all the way to Pittsburgh. I live in the Narrows.
*We have alot of our festivals and events down at Canal Place. In fact, the more popular event is called Rock the Mountains. It will be having its 4th year this 2024. We have actually had some fairly big names play here: Quiet Riot, Taproot, and Nonpoint.
*The train station primarily services those who want to take local train rides led by a classic steam engine. However, on the other side of town is where you can board the Amtrack.
*Yes. Cumberland is the beginning of the National Road. There is an eastern expansion towards Baltimore and then it continues west to the end at Wheeling, WV
Terrific information from a knowledgeable source! Glad to have you stop by for a view and commentary contribution.
Great podcast
Great video, PFT Commenter.
Where are all the people?
It wasn’t a very active day when I visited. Hardly saw many folks out and around.
Thought the same, kind of Twilight Zone-like.
Be careful old people gossip a lot in Cumberland!
Thanks for sharing this. Where I was born and raised. I believe the trains shown here are display and the ones running come from the yard in wv and it runs to Frostburg just recently got the old one back up and running so it's a big deal !!
Great insight! Some things simply aren't immediately known from a one day visit, wonderful to hear that some of the trains are in fact still in action!
There are no trains running from WV to Frostburg. The trains run from Cumberland to Frostburg and always have.
Cumberland was once called the Queen City, in the day it was nearly equivalent to Baltimore.
This place had tremendous potential in the days before the automobile; one of THE starting points for many backcountry westward routes in early American times
Can't get closer to Hell, than Cumberland, you have arrived!
Cumberland has one of the highest crime rates for a town its size as it empties out and shrinks.
That downtown area is all but gone. You need to come back and tape the new downtown area. That's not quite finished yet.
I want to retire to Cumberland. I have lived in Los Angeles for 35 years and I dream of retire there.
It is quite the contrast to a big urban area, Cumberland must be an attractive destination for those looking for quieter places to live!
Ok, so I'm not the lobby person who's has that thought. I think of this everytime I drive through Cumberland.
Why???
Oh man I love LA ... even though it has it's dirty parts it is such a great place. I use to have a home in San Diego and would visit Orange County to play golf w/ a few friends. I hope to go back one day but the CA taxes are worse than here in the DC area.. 😞
Hi bro! Iam your old subscriber and a guy who spoke with you on discord long time ago.
Please make a video conversation of what is happening now against Russia and Ukraine.
Love your videos ❤️🇺🇦
Very appreciative for the long lasting support! Although the conflict going on is of course quite important and deserves attention, I try not to touch on current events already covered all throughout other media. Plenty of others are way more knowledgeable about today’s affairs than I’d be, and I find it more fulfilling to create content upon the lesser touched cultural topics of this world.
@@TheCoverageProject that thoughtful, well worded reply (and great video) just got you a sub!
It's still pretty bad with the drugs....I miss living in Cumberland..but it was way back in (94) ... sadly over the years I watched as my hometown has been eaten up with drugs.. & homelessness... Some of the areas haven't been touched in years...a lot of empty buildings need to be tore down...and others need to be fixed .. so sad to see how bad its gotten... When the city does upgrades ppl can't leave it alone..(mainly kids) they go behind and destroy
I wish ppl could respect other ppls hard work
How unfortunate to hear. Sadly a tale that’s all too common nowadays in these American towns. After spending a day here in Cumberland I wish only the best for this forgotten gem of a destination
Is Cumberland a good place to raise a family? I live in eastern Maryland.
No
@@dalesmith2019 is it better than Hagerstown?
@@ShonTolliverMusic everything is better than Hagerstown
@@onesabez can confirm as hagerstown resident
@@spencerricketts8025 lol I'm a lil east in Frederick.
What’s a Moun-N??? 🤦🏼♀️.
Its Slumberland..and those views are West Virginia moutains you showed. Im highly surprised that no homeless people was filmed during this.. Theres no bragging
I love the Appalachian towns!
I agree, critically underrated settlements of the country with some great rustic charm.
Ps Washington usually stayed at Centerville pa when he came to cumberland the few times he did
Huh
Delmarva is #1
All us 'William Cooper' patriots are going to make Cumberland Maryland our home and base in 2026. I hope to see you there.
Yea western Maryland is different than the rest of Maryland. For one we should be part of west Virginia. I'm born and raised in green ridge state forest in flintstone my entire life.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Maryland sux!!!
You’re saying you should be part of one of the dumbest, poorest, trashiest states in the US.
@@beekeeper7535 You’re a piece of shit. I hope your head gets a second amendment to it.
@@SB-ez3dw not Maryland!!!
Great video! The mountain range is pronounced app-uh-latch-an. With a "ch" sound instead of "sh".
Duly noted! Coming from the northeast it’s always been with me to pronounce it as “sh”. Glad you enjoyed the content!
All pronunciations are accepted and accurate.
There is no latch in Appalachian.
I'm more annoyed with dropping the "t" in mountains.
I wish Josh Kelty was an advocate against domestic violence rather than an advocate of domestic violence. I wish he would do his job rather than abuse his position to get men off!
used to be the biggest city in maryland now just the biggest city in western md lol
Yeah sometimes the world just happens that way haha. Tides of history allow for places all across the world to experience booms and busts, impressive rises and tragic falls
Amazing all but the homeless camp that stretches almost to oldtown🤦
I was born in Cumberland in the 60s. It is so wicked and evil I fled in 1978. Beautiful but not a place for human beings. You would have loved it in the 60s. I can almost recognize as my hometown. Sadly incest, pedophilia and corruption is what holds it together in modern times. Thanks for posting this, you did a good job,
Oh, didn’t realize it had a bad rap from the perspective of locals. I’m sure there’s possible silver linings for its touristic potential, which could always bring the reputation back up. Thanks for your insight and support!
That is sad to hear about my birthplace. I was born in Cumberland in 1965 my family left 2 yrs later as my Dad got a job out west in Phoenix, Arizona. I have visited one time , seeing all the historical sites around the Cumberland area and the mountain scenery. The young man did a job with his presentation of Cumberland, MD.
That sounds like a lot of Qanon nonsense. If you’d rather deal with reality, the opioid epidemic is the biggest problem in the Appalachian region.
Drugs... I ain't fuckin my cus.. but we are on drugs 🤷🏼♂️😏😂
@@terrywhortonjr296 Peace to you. Praying you get the victory and recover to thriving. I made it so can you .Blessings all over you and yours. Let the windows of heaven open and flood you with cure, remedy and abundance. Thank you. I appreciate you .
this guy looks to be in his mid early to mid 20s, and cannot properly pronounce the word "mouNTain"......
Why is the letter "T" so difficult for those of a certain age to annunciate? Their deficiency is very annoying!
it's the masses of low average intelligence individuals merely repeating speech patterns they hear on tv 24 hours a day. watch how some word or pronunciation gets said a million times on a news show, reality shows, etc.. and then see how it catches on in the way the general masses speak. the not pronouncing "t" is 100% new york monkey "baby small child" talk. that's where it started and has caught on thru mass media.
Ikr??? Sounds like one of those goofy young girls that can’t pronounce anything right. Moun-ENS. LORD.
@@raymondhunt751 it's black English, don't know how he picked it.
Western Md. or Cumberland in particular is a dump. And the Potomac River in these parts looks more like a creek. I have been to these parts a few times and really no reason to go back. I use to ski at Deep Creek but the mountains are puny plus the food sucks in these parts..
maybe it's cleaner thes days, but once as a kid i went with my cousin down to cumberland to go fishing in the potomac.
i got bit by leeches.
Oakland is a beautiful region to visit.
West Virginia is so much better than Maryland!!!!
If you’re a fan of West Virginia, I also agree that it’s a great area. I have plenty of content throughout the state
@@TheCoverageProject Maryland is over taxed and crowded!!!
@@johnd9402 agreed
Huh