Friendsville Newsletter
September 2023
Notice of Public Hearing ~ July 23, 2024
The Town of Friendsville will conduct a Public Hearing on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, to present the Friendsville’s Comprehensive Plan. This event will take place at the Friendsville Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department, Inc. located at 122 Walnut Street, Friendsville, MD 21531 starting at 6:00 p.m. This plan was funded under the Maryland Community Development Block Grant Program which is a federally funded program designed to assist governments with activities directed toward neighborhood and housing revitalization, economic development, and improved community facilities and services.
Efforts will be made to accommodate the disabled and non-English speaking residents with 10 days advance notice to Wanda Guard 301.746.5919.
By authority of Mayor Spencer R. Schlosnagle
Town of Friendsville
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BINGO Night Alert! ~ August 3, 2024
Join us for BINGO at the Friendsville Volunteer Rescue & Fire Department on August 3, 2024!
Bring your friends, family, and neighbors for fun, prizes, and community spirit. Don't miss out on the chance to shout "BINGO!" and win big!
Refreshments and snacks will be available for purchase. All proceeds go towards supporting our local rescue and fire services.
Come early to get a good seat and your lucky cards. Visit Friendsville VFRD Special Events Committee Facebook page for additional details.
Floatilla Water Parade, Friday August 16th, 2024
"The Friendsville Days committee would like to invite you to come get wet and wild as we kick off the annual Friendsville Days Celebration with the Floatilla
Water Parade, Friday August 16th, 2024!
This is your opportunity to create your very own craft to float down the Youghiogheny River, from the Maple Street bridge to Friendsville Park. Awards will be given for most creative floats and best costumes. Some of the categories include Best use of Natural Materials, Best use of Recycled Materials, most Creative, Silly, Classy Float, and Best costume. Rules for entry
Craft must be able to float safely down the river.
Craft must be respectful (i.e. no hate symbols, family friendly themes) Remember there are some class I/II rapids, fast moving water and some shallow spots, so build your craft appropriately. Participants must be 14 years of age or older and have a parent sign waiver if under 18. If participants or vessels are deemed unfit, we have the right to disqualify the craft from entering the Flotilla. If you have any questions or want to stay up to date on all the amazing things coming to Friendsville Days this year please follow us on Facebook at Friendsville days or on Instagram at @friendsvilledays
Any questions about the Floatilla, please contact Ryan Ayers at Ryanayers330@yahoo.com "
2024-2025 School Calendar
Garrett County Public Schools
Building Strong Partnerships: Fostering Education and Collaboration Among Garrett County Schools, Families, and Communities.
Friendsville Elementary School
We invite you to explore the school website, where you can access a wealth of information and resources designed to keep you informed about your child's education and our school community.
Garrett County Schools of Yesteryears
Boys and girls in the 1800’s did not have an easy time acquiring even a little education. Children rode horses or walked to school and often traveled three to five miles. Most students did not have necessary school supplies or the money to buy them.
E. E. Enlow, who attended Elder Hill School, remembered that he worked for a neighbor chopping down corn an entire day for 25 cents to buy his slate tablet and to obtain a book to study grammar he traded his old Barlow knife.
School days were centered on farm life and average school year was 78 to 120 days. Children of farm families were needed at home to work in the fields. Only the basic education such as reading, writing and math was taught. School was ended when pupils reached the 8th grade.
Between 1824 and 1939 Garrett County School District Number 2 operated thirteen schools in Friendsville, Maryland.
ELDER HILL 1875 SCHOOL 1
Elder Hill School was built on the east side of Route 42. The school was very basic, with light from two windows on either side of the room, un-backed benches and heated by a coal stove near the center of the room. Elder Hill School was closed the by Board in the 1929-30 school years.
Surnames of students were Coddington, List, Enlow, Schroyer, Lytle, Dewitt, Fike and Thomas. Some of the teachers’ names included Eliza Frazee, Daniel Umbel, Leslie Friend, Artie Friend and Lena Nicklow.
FRIENDSVILLE SCHOOL 2
In 1891 the board purchased a lot on Water Street from John and Priscilla Gary and a two room school was built. The school had 101 students and 3 teachers. The school evolved into ten rooms that served the community until 1976 and then the new school was built.
Surnames of students were Enlow, Friend, Savage, Black, Custer, Fox, Guard, Lytle, McClough, Selby, Sines and Welch. Some of the teachers’ names were Herman Umbel, John Steele, Odesa Friend and Jane Fox.
SELBYSPORT SCHOOL 3
Selbysport School was built in 1824 on Morgantown Road on land bought from Hiram and Rebecca Frazee. In 1872 Jacob and Nancy Kessler sold a lot to the school board and the new Selbysport School was then built in 1892. In 1935 Frank and Flora Frazee donated land behind the school to be used as a playground. The school closed in 1943 and was then sold to Earl and Naomi Bowser.
Surnames of students were Camp, Faucet, Frazee, Grove, Hileman, Layton, Nicklow, Schlossnagle, Selby, Bowser, Murphy and Riley. Some of the teachers’ names included Dorsey Guard, Vernie Rush, Wesley Fike and Mary Selby.
FRAZEE RIDGE SCHOOL 4
The school was built in 1869 on land donated by John and Elizabeth Frazee it was located on the east side of Frazee Road and the Pennsylvania line. It was permanently closed at the end of the 1929 school year due to low attendance.
Surnames of students were Frazee, Custer, Liston, Guard, Lowdermilk and Sirbaugh.
Some of the teachers’ names included George Frazee, Jasper Fike, Roy Umbel and Daniel Sisler.
RUSH SCHOOL 5
Rush School was established in 1868 five years before Garrett became a County. In 1868 Allegany County Commission paid James and Sabrina Rush for the land and for the existing school building. The new Rush school was built in 1905 by John Myers. In 1931 Rush was one of eleven schools closed. Students were merged into the Friendsville School.
Surnames of students were Christ, Hoff, Humberson, Myers and Thayer. Some of the teachers’ names included Ada Friend, Bina Rush, Susan Rumbaugh and Westley Fike.
SANDS SPRINGS SCHOOL 6
In 1874 Ezra and Maria Savage provided a lot for T. W. Frost to build the school. Sand Springs closed in 1945 at which time Emmett Friend began transporting students to Friendsville.
Surnames of Students were Conneway, Fike, Friend, Frantz, Hinebaugh, Huff, Humberson, Sines and Thomas. Some of the teachers’ names included H. H. Friend, J. A. Fike, Ida Dewitt, Jasper Friend and Roy Umbel.
IRA FRIEND/McCABE SCHOOL 7
In 1870 Ira and Clara Bell Friend donated land to build the school. The Ira Friend School served the area for approximately twenty years. In 1891 William and Elizabeth Friend donated a lot at the corner of Noah Frazee and Wakefield Roads for the new McCabe School. Carl Wakefield remembered the school had oil lamps on the wall and approximately 30 seats surround a pot belly stove.
Surnames of Students were Friend, Riley, Kelly, Smith, Wakefield, Fearer, Fike, Sisler and Teets.
Some of the teachers’ names included Milton Fike, Merle Frantz and George Savage.
ASHER GLADE SCHOOL 8
Asher Glade was built on land donated by Isaac and Mary Umbel. It was located on the west side of today’s Route 42, just north of Myers Road intersection. The school operated until 1941, at which time Emmer friend transported the Asher Glade students to Friendsville.
Surnames of students were Barnphouse, Maust, Thomas, Umbel, Conway, Fearer, Fike, Frantz, Humberson and Myers. Some of the teachers’ names included W. W. Griffith, George Frazee, Ada Friend, Alburn Fike and Burna Savage.
BLOOMING ROSE SCHOOL 9
The school was built in 1906 on land conveyed to the School Board by George and Mary Myers. George Savage constructed the 20x30 foot school building . The life span of Blooming Rose School was terminated after twenty years due to impending construction of Route 68. Clarence Nicklow transported students to Friendsville.
Surnames of Students were Frantz, Dixon, Frazee, Hinebaugh, Hook, Savage and VanSickle.
Some of the teachers’ names included Jacob Welsh, Letta Friend and Gertrude Beachy.
JOHN FRIEND SCHOOL 10
In 1893 land was provided by John and Civilla Friend southeast of Blooming Rose Road. The school closed in 1929. Ethel Friend purchased the property in 1931.
MANORLAND/KRUG/KENDALL SCHOOL 11
Yough Manor Land Company transferred land to the School Board to build the 30x21 foot Krug School. There were forty pupils enrolled in 1899.
In 1903, through the efforts of the B&O Railroad, a Post Office was established at Krug and the town renamed Kendall. Five years later Kendall School was closed and the materials were used to build Trap Run School.
MILL RUN SCHOOL 12
The school was located on Mill Run Road just west of Friendsville/Addison Road. Yost and Rebecca Schrock conveyed the land to John Fike Trustee. Enrollment averaged thirty three students. The school closed in early 1940 and was sold to Ernest Griffith.
Surnames of students were Fike, Frazee, Garlize, Grove, Vitez, Guard and Hilman. Some of the teachers’ names included D. A. Friend, John Knapp, Vespie Fike and Grace Coddington.
TRAP RUN SCHOOL 13
Before Trap Run School was built Milton Friend hauled students from Trap Run to the McCabe School. In 1915 Ella VanSickle deeded land just north of White Rock Crosscut Road. The school opened in 1916. The Trap Run School closed in 1939. Leslie Savage transported the students to the Friendsville School.
Surnames of students were Friend, Savage, Thomas, Liphold and VanSickle. Some of the teachers’ names included Arch Friend, Milton Fike, Chauncey Friend and Merle Hamill.
REFERENCE: ‘Garrett County Schools of Yesteryears’ written by Alice Feather Eary and
Jean Williams Gross. Available for viewing at the Friendsville Library or
the Friends Family Museum.
Article and photos provided by Friend Family Association.
Maryland Food Bank ~ July 10, 2024
Join us for a convenient solution to your grocery needs with the Maryland Food Bank's MOBILE MARKET! We extend a warm invitation to everyone to partake in this opportunity to access nourishing food items and valuable resources. On these special days, we offer a selection of boxed dry goods and the freedom to choose your own fresh produce, all while supplies last. It's all completely free, both the food and the resources, as we aim to deliver hope and support to our neighbors in need. Don't miss out! Visit us on the second Wednesday of each month between 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM at the Ruth Enlow Library of Friendsville, located at 315 Chestnut St, Friendsville, MD 21531. Let us make your day brighter with our one-stop-shop for your essential needs.
Pressed Flower Lanterns ~ July 13, 2024
Add a cozy glow and a bit of whimsy to your home or outdoor space! Join us at the Friendsville Library to create one of these enchanting pressed flower lanterns of your own! All materials will be provided.
To register, please contact the Friendsville Library at 301-746-5663 or email Melissa Custer at melissa@relib.net
Nature Wanderers: An Introduction to Adventure! ~ July 16, 2024
Nature is full of wonderful adventures just waiting for us to explore! Learn more about the exciting activities of hiking, camping, and kayaking through this fun-filled outdoor adventure program. You’ll even receive your own S’mores kit to enjoy at your next outdoor adventure!
Register for this program and all Summer Reading Club events at: https://www.relib.net/src-register
Culinary Connections Cookbook Club - August 7, 2024
If you enjoy cooking, trying new recipes, and eating with friends...then this is the book club for you! It's Friendsville Library's new Culinary Connections Cookbook Club! Join us on the 1st Wednesday of each month at 6pm. Each participant will choose a recipe from a selection of cookbooks to prepare at home and bring to share at the next meeting. We'll have fun trying new foods, discussing our culinary successes (or disasters), and sharing cooking techniques and tips. We'll have a different theme each month and a prize will be awarded at each meeting for the tastiest dish!
