The population of Union Bridge hovers around one thousand.   Union Bridge maintains the quiet, slow-paced charm of yesterday.  We're located about 40 miles from Baltimore or 60 miles from Washington, DC.  You can get driving directions from anywhere with.  To give you an idea of some of the sights in our town we'll take a "photo" driving tour. 

We'll start by driving south into Union Bridge from Maryland's Scenic Route 75 - just follow along on the map for the stops.   In Union Bridge, Route 75 is Main Street and it will be our reference throughout the tour.  (Just click on any of the images to get an enlarged view.)

The first service station you pass on the right you'll most days find our town mayor busy under the hood of a car, or stop in for gas and he’ll come out and say hi.

The memory of the Western Maryland Railway is kept alive at the Historical Society’s museum complex, housed in two 1902 railroad buildings.   Starting near Baltimore, the Western Maryland Rail Road in 1862 reached Union Bridge, its western terminus for the remainder of the Civil War.  Wounded soldiers were loaded into cars for transport to the hospitals in Baltimore on the track that you cross, known to this day as the Hospital Track.  Eventually, the railroad constructed a shop complex that employed several hundred people and was central to the economy of Union Bridge.  The Western Maryland is now gone and the line through Union Bridge is operated by a successful shortline, Maryland Midland Railway.  The two story museum building is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and houses an extensive collection of artifacts and memorabilia, a large photo archive, and an extensive railroader's library.  The Station is sponsored by the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society, Inc. and is open on Sunday's between May and October from 1:00-4:00pm.

At the only stoplight in town, you can turn left onto West Broadway and you will find the old firehouse.  It also has an interesting history which the current owner enjoys telling.  Sculptor, Jo Isrealson has renovated it into living quarters and a working studio which she has aptly named, Firehouse Studio.  Ms. Isrealson’s work can be seen here in the Firehouse Studio, at the Historic Oella Mill in Ellicott City, and at the Holt Center for the Arts in Baltimore.

Back on Main Street, continuing through town, the next block brings you to Locust Street.  East Locust Street, to the left, crosses the railroad spur which brings coal to the Lehigh Cement Plant.  At the top of the hill there is a fork in the road which splits into Ladiesburg Road and Quaker Hill Road.   Here stands  a plaque commemurating William Henry Rinehart, famous American sculptur, who was born near Union Bridge.  Fortunately for him, his father's farm included a marble quarry, where he was allowed to work as a stone cutter instead of plowing the fields.  He progressed quickly to master stone cutter and on then on to the largest stone cutting establishment in Baltimore.   In a short time he was recognized as a craftsman and artist and was given a studio and produced many fine carvings.  He studied at the Maryland Art Institute and continued his learning in Italy.

Ladiesburg Road, to the left, is the home to the Community Center and the recreation facilities.    A playground, baseball and softball field, tennis courts, and a little league field can all be found here. 

Continuing out Ladiesburg Road, Hard Lodging was the home of Mrs. Thema Shriner.  The brick residence was built in a Federal style on an exposed rock cliff in 1790 by Solomon Shephard.  The Shriner's worked for many years restoring the house to it's present condition.  The furnishings are a mixture of family antiques, heirlooms, and reproduction furniture.  It was donated to the Historical Society of Carroll County in 1983.   It is open by appointment through the Carroll County Historical Society.  During a previous house and garden tour, it was described as "a big old red brick house arising regally from a ledge of solid rock and protected at the back by a wooded hillside.  It is moated by the gleaming rails of the Maryland Midland and the snaking curves of the Little Pipe Creek."

Back at the fork, the right road is Quaker Hill Road, where the first house of worship was built.  The Pipe Creek Meeting House of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) was located here in 1772, the center of a Quaker settlement known as Pipe Creek.  The land was deeded by William Farquhar and his wife Ann.   It remained in good repair until 1931 when a fire destroyed much of its woodwork.   It was promptly rebuilt along lines similiar to the original. 

Turning right off of Main Street onto West Locust, will take you by the town’s current Fire Hall (built in 1967) and activity building.   It's here, in early June, where they hold the annual Fireman’s Carnival.  The post office is across the street and the town office building is two houses down.

And finally, but not lastly, all road cross Lehigh at some point.  As you continue south on Main Street, the headquarters for the Union Bridge plant is on the left.  Lehigh continues the tradition of being the town’s leading industry.  Since the early 20^th century, Lehigh or its predecessor Tidewater, has employed a large portion of the residents here.