The Abattoir's Founder

Not knowing what story to embark on for this week, I turned to the internet for guidance. Although I have tens of thousands of subjects at my ready disposal, I searched to see what “national day holiday” it happened to be. You know what I’m talking about here, as it seems there is a day for everything: National Garlic Day, National Bike to Work Day, National Bathtub Racing Day, National Milk Day, and even one that hits so close to home, National Anthem Day on March 3rd. (If you’re curious to learn more check out the website: https://nationaldaycalendar.com/ ). Well, on the particular day I performed this task, March 1st, I was surprised to learn that it was National Pig Day.
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When it comes to pigs, Mount Olivet has a bit of history along these lines. First off, William T. Duvall (1813-1886), Mount Olivet’s first superintendent, actually raised hogs in a pen on the premises. I also stumbled across a few old prominent Frederick families having names that could be stretched to relate to swine terms, but certainly that is where these connections end. Mount Olivet has three graves associated with the Pigman family who were originally buried in the All Saints’ Church burying ground (once located downtown off E. All Saints Street). Meanwhile, the cemetery boasts ten members of a family having the last name of Hogg. Last year, I even wrote about a few members of the Bacon family interred here.

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Gravesite of Alexina Pigman (1845-1904) in Area Q/Lot 3

Baltimore Sun (Apr 29, 1904)

Well, when I started thinking about pigs on the property, I wondered about their role here, but found it was nothing more than a notch in the food chain, especially prevalent in the annals of breakfast side items ranging from bacon to sausage to scrapple. My family is originally from Delaware, so I prefer to use the term scrapple instead of the Pennsylvania Dutch names of Pannhaas, Pon haus, Krepples or “pan rabbit.”
My Dad always took great pride in pointing out the RAPA Scrapple plant on trips to and from the beach (via DE 404) when I was a kid, as it is located (and still operating) in Bridgeville, Delaware— and since 1926. An additional tip if traveling through this Sussex County crossroads, the town’s slogan is “Bridgeville, Delaware: If you lived here, you’d be home now.” Let’s just call that food for thought.

My brothers and I always delighted in asking my Dad what actually went into making scrapple (as in, what part of the pig)? His patented answer: “Everything but the squeal.”  For those not familiar with this delicacy, it’s considered a mush, and when I looked to find the true ingredients to relay here for you, I became slightly lightheaded. Like they say, “Some things are better left unsaid.” Hey, I read Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle back in high school, and decided that the meat processing business was not a career for me. However, I am so thankful that others have pursued it, typified by the time-honored profession of butcher. One such here in Frederick's past was George Washington Abrecht, who is buried in Area G/Lot 212)​

Local butcher George W. Abrecht in front of his store named City Market. More recently, this location served home to Griff's Landing restaurant and today's Shuckin' Shack at 43 S. Market St

Frederick News (Dec 3, 1937)

Here in Frederick, we have had many talented butchers since our town’s founding in 1745. I’m sure we’ve also had some average, and not so talented meat cutters as well. Many of these folks are buried here in our cemetery. So, in honor of National Pig Day, I’d like to dedicate this story to one of this profession who rests in peace, not pig, in Area U/Lot 10. His name was Harry Diehl Baumgardner, Sr. and he possessed great talents in readying meat for public consumption, both locally and regionally.
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After gaining a reputation as one of the leading butchers of Frederick City, Mr. Baumgardner is credited for his business acumen in helping Frederick gain its first large “abattoir.” In case you haven’t heard this term before, it sounds delightfully exotic and appealing, right? Well, that is until you find out that this word, derived from French, is another moniker for "slaughterhouse," and first used around 1809. I certainly wasn't going to title this article, “The Slaughterhouse’s Founder” as I would have scared half of you away!

Harry Diehl Baumgardner
Harry Diehl Baumgardner was born in Frederick on August 31st, 1868, the son of John F., and Fannie E. (Sinn) Baumgardner, of Frederick. His father came with his parents from Germany, arriving in Frederick in 1843. John Baumgardner was a self-made man, who served as a role model to Harry and his six siblings. He demonstrated how hard work and perseverance could lead to great things in his adopted new home of Frederick. This gentleman became one of the county’s most prominent citizens, operating a highly-successful junk operation in town, and later serving as superintendent and general manager of the Frederick Brick Works, a business he helped organize and incorporate in 1891. You will see that “the (proverbial) apple, didn’t fall far from the tree.

John F. O. Baumgardner (1840-1915)

Gravesite of John and Fannie Baumgardner in Area H

1880 US Census showing the John Baumgardner family living at 452 N. Market Street

​I regularly reference T.J.C. William’s History of Frederick County in this Stories in Stone blog series. Originally published in 1910, this is a two-volume set, the latter of which includes biographies of hundreds of county residents. On page 1492, the reader will learn the following about our subject Harry Diehl Baumgardner:

Mr. Baumgardner secured his elementary education in the Frederick College. He finished his studies at Eaton & Burnett’s Business College of Baltimore, Md.

Upon the completion of his education, he returned to Frederick and became general manger of the junk business of his father, who is the largest dealer of this kind in Western Maryland. Mr. Baumgardner, by his excellent conduct, has aided much in the success of the undertaking. Since 1888, he has been engaged in the wholesale and retail oyster business as a side line, and has acquired a large trade. In 1905, he embarked in the butchering business. He purchased a house and shop between Fifth and Sixth streets from his uncle. At a cost of $4,000, he erected an up-to-date and modern slaughter shop, which is the finest place of its kind in Frederick. His meat market is located on North Market Street and he has also met with success in this line of trade. 

H. D. Baumgardner's oyster business can be seen to the left here in this photograph taken around 1905 in the vicinity of Frederick's N. Market St (between 4th and 5th streets and near the southwest corner with 5th)

Frederick News (Oct 26, 1898)

Frederick News (Sept 26, 1917)

​Mr. Baumgardner is a progressive man and has been one of the foremost workers to organize a stock company to erect an abattoir on a site about a half mile east of Frederick. Here, all the butchers of Frederick would have their stock killed and the slaughtering would be done outside the town limits. Mr. Baumgardner is as versatile as he is successful in business affairs. He also deals in real estate and his operations have brought him substantial returns. He is the owner of several fine houses in Frederick.
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In politics, Mr. Baumgardner votes for the candidates of the Democratic party. He is a member of Mountain City Lodge, No. 29, Knights of Pythias, and the Improved Order of Red Man, both of Frederick. He is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick.

Mr. Baumgardner was married to Margaret L. Whisner, daughter of Michael and Margaret Whisner, of Frederick City. Six children have been born of this union, namely: Ralph A., Fannie E., Harry D. Jr., Margaret L., Carlton A., and Catherine E.

1920 US Census showing Harry D. Baumgardner and family living in Frederick City

​Harry Diehl Baumgardner would have three additional daughters: Edith V., Lucille D., and Daisy Mae. He lost his wife in 1927 but still remained active in community business and civic affairs until his death on November 20th, 1944.

Frederick Post (Nov 21, 1944)

Frederick Post (Nov 24, 1944)

​Harry Diehl Baumgardner was buried in Mount Olivet’s Area U/Lot 10, adjacent to the Babyland section, and next to wife, Margaret who had died back in 1927. Son Harry Diehl Baumgardner, Jr. (1898-1976) can also be found buried in this lot. For many years he served as manager of the Sanitary Grocery Company's store located at 242 N. Market Street. 

​Back to the crowning achievement of Mr. Baumgardner. The Frederick Abattoir joined the agricultural industries of Frederick in 1910. Touted as a centralized facility for stock butchering, the large complex was constructed outside the city limits, segregating its odorous and potentially unhealthful business from the commercial and residential city center. The location once stood within the 800 block of East South Street between intersections with Franklin Street and today’s Monocacy Boulevard. 

Frederick News (Nov 19, 1907)

Frederick News (Feb 4, 1908)

Frederick News (Apr 29, 1910)

Frederick Daily News (May 21, 1910)

​A Maryland Historical Trust survey found online for this property (F-3-222 Frederick City Abbatoir Company) added that Baumgardner's plan for the abattoir appears to have begun in 1907 with his purchase of a 22-acre site on East South Street from the M.J. Grove Lime Company. In December 1910,
Baumgardner sold the property to the Frederick City Abattoir Company for $5,000, indicating
the facility may have been under construction.

Frederick News (Nov 20, 1911)

Frederick News (May 24, 1912)

In 1917, the property was sold to a Virginia corporation known as the Old Dutch Market, which owned a chain of grocery stores in Washington DC and Richmond. Included in the sale of 22 acres was the "Abattoir plant, machinery, fittings and equipment thereon," as well as "all its brands, copy rights and trademarks, and all its rights to use the same, of and concerning all the brands and grades of goods manufactured or sold by it."
 
The Old Dutch Market company became the Old Dutch Realty Development Company in 1920, and apparently developed their industrial property in Frederick. In 1927, the property was sold to Frederick County Products Incorporated for a whopping $72,500.90. The Frederick County Products Company apparently purchased livestock from local farmers, then slaughtered and packaged their product for sale in urban markets. Many Frederick memorabilia collectors around town, including myself, own packaging from the signature “Blue Ridge” trademarked brand produced by the company. 

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Frederick News (Jan 11, 1924)

Frederick News (Jan 17, 1924)

Frederick News (April 24, 1924)

​The business continued operating into the 1970s, and was commonly known as the livestock auction. In 1979 the property was sold to P. Eugene and Mildred Romsburg, who owned it for 20 years. Most recently the buildings, and approximately three acres, were sold to Wolfe Family LLLP, who operated a Flea Market in the building and leased other sections to local companies. 

​The structure at 809 East South St was demolished a few years back. It's likely that many readers drove by it regularly, never having a clue to it's meaty history. Now you know the rest of the story.

I figured I'd end with a few porcine-related quotes:

"Well-being and happiness never appeared to me as an absolute aim. I am even inclined to compare such moral aims to the ambitions of the pig."
                                              -Albert Einstein

"A pig resembles a saint in that he is more honored after death than during his lifetime."
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"Today's pig is tomorrow's bacon!"
                                      Hunter S. Thompson

Special thanks to my talented assistant Sylvia Sears for bringing this story to my attention and conducting research to boot! Below is an additional newspaper article describing the building of the Frederick City Abattoir. Warning, read at your own risk as it is a tad bit graphic, and certainly not for the squeamish.

Frederick News (May 9, 1911)

Pittsburgh Daily Post (March 25, 1923)