FLINTSTONE, MARYLAND

Most of the following comes from Hilleary Willison's booklet, "Pioneer Settlers of Flintstone, District #3, and Their Descendants - 1908" Hilleary was born in this area in 1843 and died 1933. And we thank Al Feldstein and Michael H. Thompson for salvaging this booklet and having a limited edition published.

"The first settlers of our broken little valley, lying between Martin's Mountain on the west and Warrior Ridge on the East and extending from (the) Pennsylvania line to Twiggtown (so called) were: Robinettes, Wilsons, Twiggs, Willisons, Chaneys, McElfishes, Reads, Murleys, Moores, Roberts, Bishops, Tatmans, Leasures, Perrins and others. The majority of them emigrated from Frederick and Washington Counties in Maryland, and were of English, Scotch (Scots), Scotch-Irish and French in descent. No Germans were among the first settlers of this valley. The major portion of these settlers was a good class of people, not ignorant, rough back-woods men by any means.....

The first wagon road through our vicinity, known as the "Old Hancock Road," was authorized to be built by an act passed by the Maryland Legislature in 1791 and four men, George Robinette, Benjamin Tomlinson, Thomas Beall and Jack Donovon, were appointed to survey and locate the road from Hancock, Md. in the nearest direction to Cumberland, Md. Stage wagons, immigrants and travel of all kinds passed over this old road, and it was a much traveled thoroughfare long before the Turnpike was thought of. Located at convenient points along the road were old time taverns, built of hewed logs, with enormous fire places, around which the wagon-drivers spread their shake-downs and slept with their feet to the fire. The Wagoners carried their own beds. There were six of these old Inns between Cumberland and Polish Mountain. One of these old taverns is still on the old road at Wolfe's Mill. A portion of this house was said to have been built by Thomas Beall in 1780....

Next the Plummer House on the Dan Sullivan Farm; Miller's at the Bretz Farm; Streets at Fairview; Stewarts on the John Roland Farm, and Jack Elbin on the west bank of Town Creek... The first settler where the village of Flintstone now is was one John Roberts, his log cabin stood in the garden of the old Piper (Flintstone) Hotel....

At the John Davis store (built 1809 and still standing and lived in by the Kyles) they resold some things, meats, especially at the same price they paid the farmers for them...John Piper was the head clerk in the Davis Store. His salary was $10 per month and board. He came to the store a poor boy but in the course of time he acquired the store, the farm and the tavern stand, now known as the Flintstone Hotel kept by Dr. Twigg. Mr. Piper lived to a good old age and died at Flintstone, a much respected gentleman of the Old School. In 1827 he married Sally, daughter of Jesse Robinette, a farmer....

Recent picture of Davis/Piper store

Before the Civil War many people from the eastern cities came to spend part of the summer at the Piper Hotel and patronize the 'Warm Springs,' drink the mineral water and enjoy a warm or cold bath.

Below, Dr. Alvin Twigg sits with Family and Friends on the porch of the Flintstone Hotel. For many years the Hotel served travelers, including General LaFayette and President Grover Cleaveland, going west on the National Road. Photos courtesy of Jackie Twigg Langton, grandaughter of Dr. Alan Thurman Twigg. Jackie is in the process of renovating the old hotel.

Connie Beachy - cbeachy@hereintown.net

Petition to the Maryland Historical Trust
Requesting Assistance with the
Restoration of the Old Flintstone Hotel

Fill out the form below to express your support of the following Petition:

We, the undersigned, declare our belief that the restoration of the Old Flintstone Hotel is an endeavor worthy of the financial support of the Maryland Historical Trust. The Old Flintstone Hotel served travelers along the National Road throughout much of the nineteenth and into the twentieth century. Many national and local historical figures found refuge there. There is no doubt that this structure occupies a well deserved place in the history of Maryland as well as in the history of westward migration via the National Road.

Thank you for expressing your support for this worthy project.