Harney (Monocacyville as late as 1892) is an unincorporated community in Carroll County, Maryland, United States.[3] Harney is also the home of the 'World's Best Carnival'. It has been the home of the Harney Volunteer Fire Company since 1951.
Harney is located near the head of the Monocacy River to the northwest and is the site of the following crossroads: east/west Conover Road (named for a family who owned a defunct farm on the east of the town) and north/south Harney Road. Additional intersections at the ball field are Bowers Road, off Conover Road, and Baptist Road heads southwest from just south of the crossroads. Communities near Harney are Longville to the south,[4]Emmitsburg (southwest) and in Pennsylvania, Natural Dam (west), Mt. Joy Township (north - just across the state line on 134), Barlow 3.1 mi north, Two Taverns (north-northeast), Littlestown (east-northeast), and Kingsdale (east).
Geographic Chronology
Date
Topic
Event
Coordinates
1763
The Mason-Dixon survey placed a marker north of the later 1825 crossroads (named Harney c. 1897) which was later taken—it was replaced during a ceremony c. 1976.
Nicholas Eckes built the first home in the vicinity at a site near the Monocacy River, west of the area that would become the town. Eckes performed shoemaking at the farm—his son Enoch Eckes continued shoemaking there & the property transferred to 4 shoemakers: Peter Reigle, John Reindollar, Harry Rineman, and Samuel Eline.[8]
The 1st store was opened by Jesse Cornell [sic][8] at what became the town of Monocacyville (the property in 1955 was "owned by John Cornel"),[7] and the crossroads community eventually had 3 hotels (a harness shop was at 5949 Conover Road).)
The west/east "Emmitsburg and little stone [sic] road was opened up" to become the crossroad[8] with the north/south Gettysburg-Taneytown road. By 1895 the street names were Gettysburg Street (northward), Littlestown Street (eastward to Kingsdale), Taneytown Street (southward), and Emmitsburg Street (south-southwest).
c. 1839
business
Elijah Eckenrode "opened up a small store" on the "old Lichtenwalter property" (in 1824 Nicholas Eckes had subdivided land and sold part "to Adam Lichtenwalter who built a two story log house", e.g., after moving from the old residence.)[8] In 1843 Jacob Kreglo subsequently bought the small store property which transferred to Philip Shriner who "started[when?] wagon making."[8]
1863-07-01
Civil War
General Hancock was sent north from near Taneytown and passed through Monocacyville to command at Gettysburg ~3[9]-6 pm.[10]
1863-07-01
Civil War
Hancock's II Corps (Union Army) traveled through Monocacyville to bivouac for the night near Horner's Mill (arrived at the battlefield c. 7am July 2.)[10]: 33
1863-07-01
Civil War
Ames Battery G established an overnight camp near Monocacyville en route from Taneytown to their Battle of Gettysburg, Second Day, engagement at The Peach Orchard during the afternoon Hood's Assault.[11] (Third Corps artillery trains left Taneytown later on July 2 at 10:30 p.m.)[12]
1863-07-01
Civil War
George G. Meade from Taneytown passed through Monocacyville en route to Gettysburg, where he arrived at night[9] after Hancock had returned via Horner's Mill and Monocacyville to brief Meade at Taneytown.[10]: 29
1864
business
"E. D. Hess sold his property to J. Worthington Jones, and [bought] the James Angel[13][verification needed]…property on Littlestown Street…built an addition to the house [and] small shop [where he] started the cabinetmaking business".[8]
1866
organization
The Evangelical United Brethren Church, Harney, Md was established[8]—the 1st burial in the United Brethren Cemetery (now Sunrise Cemetery), was tbd—the church was rededicated in 1931,[14] but closed after Rev. Garvin was the pastor in 1955.[15]
1878
business
George Fream's blacksmith shop closed, which had been the shop of his father (William Fream) until 1876 after the latter built on the Soloman Snider property (previously the John Rathfan property.)[8]
1879
mail
Bids were solicited for carrying weekly mail via Horner's Mill between Gettysburg and Harney.[16]
1886
business
James H. Reaver sold his Harney property to surgeon[17] (Harney had a Hesson General Store c. 1915,[18] and Daniel J. Hesson was the 1898 postmaster[19] until moving in 1899 to Hanover, Pennsylvania.)[20]
1887
school
The Harney "public school started in a room above S. S. Shoemaker's Store, and Mr. J. A. Angell was appointed its teacher". The school was later moved to a 2nd story of a new Shoemaker "agricultural warehouse" where H.O. Harner was a teacher.[4]
1890
organization
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Harney,[21] which was using Shoemaker Hall,[22] laid the church cornerstone with a list of charter members[23] on land sold by Daniel Hesson.[24] and which The 1st trustees were Dr. John Bush, John Ohler, Martin Slagle, Abraham Waybright, Blanch Yingling and Katherine Hall, and the "first baby baptized in the church was Earlington Shriver"[24] who had been born April 24, 1890.
John Myers moved to Harney to take over Centennial Mill[26][27] and "William Myers [during] 1893…had a full set of rolls put in".[4]
1893
organization
The Lutheran church acquired land for their[24] Mountainview Cemetery northwest of Harney (the first burial was tbd.)
1895-01
business
"Andrew Degroft's large machine shed,[specify] just back of the U. B. Church, caught fire one evening about 9 o'clock".[4]
1895
business
A summer newspaper identified Harney businesses: Daniel J. Hesson's store, W. A. Snider's store, Mr. T. H. Eckenrode's Union Hotel, John J. Hess's blacksmith shop, and the nearby William Myers mill. Other notable 1895 Harney structures were Miss[clarification needed] Perry Eyler's place that had been C. F. Reindoller's drug store, D. T. Shoemaker's "most beautiful" home, and W. A. Snider's "most perfectly built" house on Littlestown Street.[8][4]
c. 1897
business
After a local storekeeper agreed to keep mail for customers to pick up,[28] Monocacyville was renamed when Emmitsburg's 1893-7 postmaster, James Elder, dubbed the post office "Harney" for General William S. Harney of the American Indian Wars. First postmaster was Jeremiah Reinhart,[29] and Daniel Hess was the 1898 postmaster.[8]
Myers Mill* near Harney (owned by Mrs. Hannah C. Myers)[30] and the "adjoining" (downstream) Stonesifer Mill[31] claimed the Gettysburg Water Works had decreased the Marsh Creek/Monocacy River water supply and made the mills inoperable.[32] In 1920, Myers'[33] "three story roller mill [burned down] below the juncture of Marsh and Rock creeks near Harney [where] the dam made to furnish water power from the Monocacy [created] a favorite spot for boating and swimming parties"[34] (cf. the Reaser Hose camp adjoining[35] the "Good Samaritan Masonic Camp"[36] northwest of Harney.)**
1900
mail
A direct postal route between Gettysburg and Taneytown was planned[37] to replace the Pennsylvania circuitous mail route to Harney:[38]
(Occasional deliveries to Harney from the store at the Natural Dam mill to the west provided mail from the Fairplay, Pennsylvania, route.)
1900
organization
Mason and Dixon Lodge, No. 69 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (Oddfellows,[39]colloq.) was founded<Ref.[1]</ref> and had a 1907 anniversary banquet catered by fraternal Brothers Harry E. Rothhaupt and John Thompson.[40] In February 1942 the Lutheran "church bought the Odd Fellows Lodge Hall to be used as a parish house."[24]
Community recreation areas at " Shriver's grove, near this place" (east beyond the state line) had a Lutheran church "base ball game" and at "the F. C. Null grove, near town" (just outside on Baptist Road) had the "United Brethren…annual picnic".[42]
1921
business
Estee Ray Kiser owned a Harney automobile business shop[43] (a c. 1926 garage along Gettysburg Street was open as late as 1942.)[44]
A "Memorial Boulevard" proposed [as the] Lincoln Memorial road in 1908, "Washington-to-Gettysburg road" in 1911,[47] & "Lincoln Highway to Gettysburg" in 1913 was planned through Chevy Chase, Silver Spring, New Lisbon (or Westminster), Taneytown,[48] and the Harney area to connect the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC to the Lincoln Address Memorial in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.[49] (the competing plan for a Lincoln Memorial[50] was completed instead of the Memorial Boulevard.)
The Harney Baseball Club[52] built a baseball field with grandstand east of the Lutheran church.[51] After playing in the Adams County Baseball league (e.g., 1946),[53] the team lost two players to the 1947 Gettysburg Legion team[54] and joined the South Penn Baseball League in 1953[55] Taneytown, Harney and the Emmitsburg Legion [replaced] Barlow, Hanover and Granite</ref>—Barlow's Chester Shriver was Harney's 1954 manager (the 1976 team name was "Athletics".)[56] In the 1980s the field was converted for slowpitch softball (Harney "Royals"), and it is now owned by the Lutheran church (which now also operates the Sunrise Cemetery started by the Brethren church).
The Harney Volunteer Fire Company was established.[7] The "Luther Ridinger Hall"[59]/"Luther Ridinger building"[60] had the initial siren (a shed held 2 fire extinguishers) and the building held meetings (e.g., 1953 fireman's carnival meeting) and recreation events (1956 "Record Hop").
** The Reaser Hose camp and adjoining[74] "Good Samaritan Masonic Camp"[36] were northwest of Harney at S. D. Reck's woods[75]/dam on Rock Creek near the Monocacy[76] where there was a 1935 grove, clubhouse, and baseball field.)[77] The "Black Hole"[78] "near Harney"[79] was an additional recreation area in 1926.[80]
^ abcde"Governor Will Dedicate New Hall At Harney"(Google News archive). Gettysburg Times. June 3, 1955. Retrieved May 27, 2014. The Harney Volunteer Fire Company was formed in 1951 when Erman Chipley, Vaughn Peck, Norman Welty and Fred Spangler…sent out cards… Harney was first known as Monocacyville … the present Shemaker[verification needed] building [was] the first school in the community itself. … The United Brethren Church was established there in 1866, St. Paul's Lutheran Church in 1890. (the article begins on the front page.)
^ abcdefghijBeck, J. W. "History of Harney - Part 1"(transcript at Emmitsburg.net webpage). Carroll County Times. Retrieved May 30, 2014. house [at] Emmitsburg and Taneytown streets…Daniel Good its present owner … blacksmith shop…present owner, John J. Hess … Daniel Hess [store] sold to its present owner, D. T. Shoemaker … Eyler…store…present occupant, D. J. Hesson … C. F. Reindoller…drug store…traded to John V. Eyler [sold] to its present owner. Miss Perry Eyler … Dr. John C. Bush…house on Littlestown Street…after his death in 1893…sold to W. A. Snider, its present owner [Part 2:] Union Hotel…present owner, Mr. T. H. Eckenrode … store to W. A. Snider, who is its present conducting the business. … milling business…present owner, William Myers (a separate webpage has Part 2.)
^ abGettysburg Campaign: Gen. George G. Meade(road sign with transcribed text at HMdb.org webpage), Pennsylvania Route 134 near Mason–Dixon line (39° 43.772′ N, 77° 12.632′ W): Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1947, retrieved April 30, 2011, Gen. George G. Meade, who had replaced Hooker as Union commander, June 28, 1863, traveled this road from Taneytown to Gettysburg the night of July 1. … In addition to Meade, the Federal II Corps used the Taneytown Road to reach Gettysburg. Upon hearing of the death of General John Reynolds on July 1, 1863 at Gettysburg, General Meade dispatched the II Corps commander, General Winfield S. Hancock, to take charge at Gettysburg. Hancock traveled the thirteen miles from Taneytown to Gettysburg((citation)): CS1 maint: location (link) (HMdb contributor Craig Swain)[verification needed]
^ abcFinal Report on the Battlefield of Gettysburg(Google Books) (Report). pp. 28, 33. Retrieved May 31, 2011. General Slocum, who had been superintending the movements of Williams' Division at Rock Creek, having now arrived at Cemetery Hill, Hancock transferred the command to him about six o'clock, and then returned to Taneytown where he reported in person to the general commanding.: 29 … The Second Corps -- General Hancock's -- having bivouaced on the Taneytown Road, about three miles in the rear, moved up and went into position at 7 a.m., on Cemetery Ridge: 33
^"title tbd". June 19, 1879. Proposals will be received by the Post-office Department, until July 10, 1879, for carrying the mail from Gettysburg, by Horner's Mill, to Harney and back once a week. Bond required with bid $100
^Geiselman, John P (1996). Cleveland, Linda K. (ed.). Reflections. Preface: Audrey J. Sanders. Columbus GA: Brentwood Christian Press. p. 22. NOTE: Geiselman/Cleveland (1996) mistakenly entitled Ch. 5 "Spring Flood" for the August event.
^"Neighborhood News". January 26, 1892. Mr. John Myers, who was running a mill near New Oxford the past year, moved last week to Harney and will take charge of another mill on the Conewago, [sic] near New Oxford. (presumably a typographical error regarding the previous Conewago mill and subsequent Monocacy mill.)
^Birnie, C. (January 2, 1900). "Rural Free Delivery: Adams County Farmers Injured by the System"(Google News archive). Star and Sentinel. Retrieved May 30, 2014. in Harney…if the storekeeper of the village had not volunteered to keep their mail until it was called for, they would have been cut off altogether from this post-office…
^"Archived copy"(PDF). hsccmd.org. Archived from the original(PDF) on August 1, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^"Benefits of Rural Free Delivery"(Google News archive). Star and Sentinel. January 16, 1900. Retrieved June 1, 2014. Mr. A. B. Smith, Special Agent of the Post Office Department, who was in town [Gettysburg] last week establishing the route between this place and Taneytown. ...the "Post-office on Wheels" [had] been established...in the 19th century...if two-thirds of the citizens in any locality petition the department [then the department] will not cause the abolishing of any country post-offices.
^Geiselman, John P (1996). "Chapter20: title tbd". In Cleveland, Linda K. (ed.). Reflections. Preface: Audrey J. Sanders. Columbus GA: Brentwood Christian Press. p. 111.
^"Over One Hundred Enjoy Feast"(Google News archive). Newspaper tbd. 1907. Jan. 23rd, Mason and Dixon Lodge, No. 69, I. O. O. F., of Harney, Md., celebrated its seventh birthday by giving a banquet in their lodge room in that place. The menu was…oysters, oranges, apples, bananas, celery, cheese, crackers, 12 large cakes and coffee. …vocal and instrumental music with John Thompson and Miss Dorothy Sharetts at the organ and Bro. Harry A. Snider and his son with their violin
^ ab"Articles about Harney by date"(webpage with newspaper article excerpts), The Baltimore Sun, retrieved May 30, 2014, 1998…baseball field they built more than 50 years ago but can no longer maintain
^"Map of the Battle-field of Gettysburg" (Map). Searchworks.stanford.edu. Cartography by 1st Lieut L Howell Brown, Army of Northern Virginia, copied by Hoffman. 1891.
