Industry
The Round Top Sand Company and the Maryland Glass Company mined sand in this area during the early 1900's. On the ridge overlooking this area lay a thick bed of Oriskany Sandstone, a sedimentary rock formation that yielded a fine, white sand suitable for glass manufacture. In 1919, a unique structure was designed and built to move sand mined on the ridge to the Western Maryland Railway, 60 feet below. The structure, including two 6" diameter pipes, was supported by a cable system. A slurry of sand and water was pumped through the pipes into a large storage tank, and the sand was then transferred from the storage tank onto railroad cars on a siding track.
Hear stories like this as you drive
ExploreHere reads historical markers out loud as you pass them: over 325,000 stories across the US. No account needed.
4.7 · 800+ ratings · Free
FIND IT
Maryland · United States
