A Maryland mountain town once used a local band to smuggle illegal prohibition liquor.
In short: Perched 2,000 feet up in the Allegheny Mountains, Frostburg, Maryland, is a town defined by its rugged climate and industrial past. Beyond its snowy winters and coal-mining history, this small city hides eccentric stories, including a community band that used musical performances to mask the movement of illicit bootleg alcohol.
Frostburg began as a stop on the National Road, authorized by Thomas Jefferson in 1806. By the mid-19th century, the town became a hub for coal mining and fire brick manufacturing, industries that necessitated the construction of complex rail lines and tunnels. The town's architecture still reflects this era, with historic districts and depots dating back to the late 1800s. Its unique location near the Allegheny Front creates a harsh, humid continental climate, leading to significant snowfall that has occasionally reached 180 inches in a single season.
The town's cultural life is deeply tied to Frostburg State University, which traces its origins to 1898. Originally established as State Normal School #2, the institution was funded through local contributions—many from coal miners—before opening its doors in 1900. Today, the university serves as a cornerstone of the local economy and arts scene, hosting a planetarium, theaters, and an annual Appalachian Festival that celebrates regional crafts and folk traditions.
Frostburg's history is punctuated by unusual local legends. During the prohibition era, the Arion Band, founded in 1877, famously provided cover for the Hotel Gunter’s basement speakeasy. While musicians played on the balcony, liquor was smuggled into the building. Today, the town maintains its artistic identity through an official Arts & Entertainment District, while the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad draws tourists to the historic depot, where locomotives are still manually rotated on a turntable for their return journey to Cumberland.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Frostburg, Maryland
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