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Let's explore the history of Cumberland together!
The city of Cumberland was known for a few critical economic activities: coal and its transportation by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and, of course, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Both of them are played a significant role in the history of our house and, of course, the "Queen City" - Cumberland. I spent a whole week unraveling the history of that place and gladly speaking about it more closely.
Roman Morozov
Owner of the Dacha
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) is the oldest railroad in the country, with its first section opening in 1830. Merchants from the city of Baltimore, which had benefited to some extent from the construction of the National Road early in the century, wanted to continue to compete for trade with trans-Appalachian settlers with the Albany-Schenectady Turnpike built in 1797 and the newly constructed Erie Canal, opened in 1825, (both of which served New York City), another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania (which would have connected Philadelphia and Pittsburgh), the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O, which connected to the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., although it never reached Ohio), and the James River Canal, which directed traffic toward Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia. At first, the B&O was located entirely in the state of Maryland, its original line extending from the port of Baltimore west to Sandy Hook (opened in 1834). There it connected with Harper's Ferry (by boat, then by the Wager Bridge) across the Potomac into Virginia and the navigable Shenandoah River.
For the full map of the road, see below.
For the full map of the road, see below.
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad map, 1891
Western Maryland Gold bond, issued for financing the business
Coal hopper cars of the C&P and Consolidation Coal Co. at the western terminus of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Cumberland, early 20th century.
Last but not least about railroads, lol.
The Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad (C&P) was an American railroad that operated in Western Maryland. Primarily a coal hauler, it was owned by the Consolidation Coal Company and was purchased by the Western Maryland Railway (WM) in 1944.
The line ran from Cumberland, Maryland to Piedmont, West Virginia, at both points interchanging with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The railroad's shops were located at Mount Savage, Maryland, also the location of its headquarters. On the way to Piedmont, the line passed through (and under) Frostburg, Maryland, where the C&P station stands today as the western terminus of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. You definitely must visit that scenic road. They offered really good options with dinner and lunch on the board.
Fun fact: The first iron rail rolled in the United States was produced at Mt. Savage in 1844 and this is the first railroad that used the iron rail that was produced within the country, having to rely on British rail beforehand.
The Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad (C&P) was an American railroad that operated in Western Maryland. Primarily a coal hauler, it was owned by the Consolidation Coal Company and was purchased by the Western Maryland Railway (WM) in 1944.
The line ran from Cumberland, Maryland to Piedmont, West Virginia, at both points interchanging with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The railroad's shops were located at Mount Savage, Maryland, also the location of its headquarters. On the way to Piedmont, the line passed through (and under) Frostburg, Maryland, where the C&P station stands today as the western terminus of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. You definitely must visit that scenic road. They offered really good options with dinner and lunch on the board.
Fun fact: The first iron rail rolled in the United States was produced at Mt. Savage in 1844 and this is the first railroad that used the iron rail that was produced within the country, having to rely on British rail beforehand.
The Maryland and New York Coal and Iron Company was incorporated in 1837, and it acquired land north of Frostburg, Maryland. The company, led by Samuel Swartwout, a New York land speculator, renamed this area as the town of Mount Savage and made plans to establish an iron works. After raising funds from investors, the company built two blast furnaces in 1840, using coke as fuel. It built a rolling mill in 1843 specifically to manufacture rails. Production of bridge rails, with an inverted "U"-shape and weighing 42 lb/yd, began in 1844. Some of the initial rail production was used to build a railroad line to Cumberland, Maryland to connect with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O). The company also manufactured 50 lb/yd "T"-shaped rails for the Fall River Railroad in Massachusetts, and sold rails to the B&O. Production in 1845 was about 200 tons per week.
The facilities were acquired by the Consolidation Coal Company in 1864
The facilities were acquired by the Consolidation Coal Company in 1864
Consol Energy was originally created in 1860 as the Consolidation Coal Company after several small mining companies in Western Maryland decided to combine their operations. The company was formally established in 1864 and headquartered in Cumberland, Maryland for the first 85 years (1864–1945), where the company became the largest bituminous coal company in the eastern United States.
Western Maryland's coal production rose about 1 million short tons in 1865, exceeded 4 million short tons by the turn of the century, and reached an all-time high of about 6 million short tons in 1907.
Western Maryland's coal production rose about 1 million short tons in 1865, exceeded 4 million short tons by the turn of the century, and reached an all-time high of about 6 million short tons in 1907.
Table of Cumberland Coal Trade Production 1865
Another key economy part was C&O Canal - the place which you can visit by the walk or use your bicycle: only 2-5 min and you will be on a trail that follows the old path and maintained under the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
Roman Morozov
Owner of the Dacha
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, abbreviated as the C&O Canal and occasionally called the "Grand Old Ditch," operated from 1831 until 1924 along the Potomac River between Washington, D.C., and Cumberland, Maryland. It replaced the Potomac Canal, shut down entirely in 1828, and could operate during months when the water level was too low for the former canal. The canal's principal cargo was coal from the Allegheny Mountains.
Construction on the 184.5-mile (296.9 km) canal began in 1828 and ended in 1850 with the completion of a 50-mile (80 km) stretch to Cumberland, although the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad had already reached Cumberland in 1842. Rising and falling over an elevation change of 605 feet (184 meters) required the construction of 74 canal locks, 11 aqueducts to cross major streams, more than 240 culverts to cross smaller streams, and the 3,118 ft (950 m) Paw Paw Tunnel. A planned section of the Ohio River at Pittsburgh was never built.
Please check the video about the Canal below.
Construction on the 184.5-mile (296.9 km) canal began in 1828 and ended in 1850 with the completion of a 50-mile (80 km) stretch to Cumberland, although the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad had already reached Cumberland in 1842. Rising and falling over an elevation change of 605 feet (184 meters) required the construction of 74 canal locks, 11 aqueducts to cross major streams, more than 240 culverts to cross smaller streams, and the 3,118 ft (950 m) Paw Paw Tunnel. A planned section of the Ohio River at Pittsburgh was never built.
Please check the video about the Canal below.
The Dacha BNB was built with a specific purpose in mind - to serve as a reminder of the rich history that surrounds it. This unique and modern house was designed to pay homage to its past as a resting place for railway workers transporting coal. The house's design reflects this legacy with railway accents and a color scheme that predominantly features black and matte tones. This attention to detail is meant to transport guests back in time and give them a sense of the history that has shaped this beautiful corner of Cumberland. Guests can experience a truly unique and historically rich travel experience by staying at The Dacha.