Rediscovering America_ Exploring the Small Towns of Virginia & Maryland - Bill Burnham [125]
Courthouse Square has 10 historic sites, including the 1837 jail, the 1844 Ascension Church, and the 1838 courthouse, with its Greek Revival portico. You may take a self-guided walking tour of Courthouse Square, Main Street, and Corbit’s Charge, which traces a Civil War skirmish between general J.E.B. Stuart and a Delaware cavalry. Although a minor conflict, it slowed Stuart’s march to Gettysburg to warn General Robert E. Lee about major Union advances. The Civil War Driving Tour “Roads to Gettysburg” of Carroll County is also available. A bit more light-hearted is the one-hour, self-guided Ghost Walk of Westminster, particularly fun in evening time. Brochures for all of these tours are available at the Carroll County Visitor Center, 210 E. Main Street (tel. 800-272-1933), where a guided walking tour starts every Sunday at 2 pm.
Attractions
The 140-acre Carroll County Farm Museum is a living history museum and working farm where visitors can see domestic animals and life the way it was for a 19th-century farm family. See spinning, weaving, quilting, wood carving and blacksmithing. There’s a general store where you can purchase items made on-site by the artisans, souvenirs and old-fashioned candy. The Farm Museum hosts a full calendar of exhibits and special events throughout the year, from Traditional Arts Week in April to festive holiday visits in December. In summer (July and August) the museum is open Tuesday-Friday, 10 am-4 pm, and weekends, noon-5 pm. The rest of the year it is open weekends only. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children ages seven-18. (500 South Center Street, tel. 410-848-7775 or 800-654-4645, http://ccgov.carr.org/farm)
The Caroll County Arts Council has rotating exhibits of local and regional artists, changing every six weeks. Most are for sale. Open Monday-Saturday. (15 E. Main Street, tel. 410-848-7272, www.carr.org/arts)
At The Pennsylvania Dutch Farmers Market, Amish, Mennonites and local vendors display their products for sale. There’s a bakery, fresh produce and flowers, cheese and meats for sale, as well. Located a half mile east of downtown Westminster at Routes 140 and 97 South. Open year round Thursday-Saturday. (tel. 410-876-8100)
Have afternoon tea and shop for gifts in the oldest structure in Carroll County, The Winchester Country Inn, built in 1760 by William Winchester, founder of Westminster. It’s been completely restored and furnished with antiques. The inn discontinued the bed & breakfast in June, 2002, and now operates as a tea room and gift shop. Gypsy’s Tea Room serves afternoon tea and desserts Tuesday-Saturday, 11 am-4 pm (tel. 410-857-9818), and Inspirations and Westminster Gift Basket Co. offer boutique items and gift baskets (tel. 410-857-0058).
Union Mills Homestead and Grist Mill is a 1797 inn and mill complex about five miles north of Westminster via Route 97. The Oliver Evans-designed mill with waterwheel is in operation, grinding rye, whole wheat, buckwheat and cornmeal for sale. Call for tour information and admission fees. (3311 Littlestown Pike, Union Mills, tel. 410-848-2288, www.carr.org/tourism)
Cygnus Wine Cellars is a small family winery about eight miles north of Westminster on Route 27. Open on weekends, noon-5 pm and by appointment. (3130 Long Lane, Manchester, tel. 410-374-6395, www.cygnuswinecellars.com)
Farmers’ Markets
Westminster has two – the Carroll County Farmers’ Market on Saturdays, 8 am-1 pm, mid-June through early September at the Agriculture Center (702 Smith Avenue, tel. 410-848-7748); and the Downtown Westminster Farmers’ Market on Saturdays, 8 am to noon, June through October in the Sherwood Square Parking Lot on Route