A Historical Tour of Downtown Sykesville

From fire and floods to fame and fortune

Welcome to Downtown Sykesville!

Sykesville is home to a vibrant community, a thriving downtown, over 30 fantastic and eclectic businesses, and numerous attractions for the whole family. A state and nationally designated Main Street Community - administered by the  Downtown Sykesville Connection , historic Sykesville has plenty to offer its residents, business owners, and visitors. Come explore and find out why Sykesville was named the  Coolest Small Town in America in 2016  and the  Best Main Street in America in 2020 !   

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Welcome to Downtown Sykesville!

The B&O Station, in 1973 and 2018

Sykesville and the Civil War

The Sykesville Raid

General Robert E. Lee ordered General J.E.B Stuart, commander of the Confederate Cavalry, to use his troops as a screen for the infantry and destroy communications and rail lines along his route from Cooksville to Gettysburg via Westminster. To that effort, Stuart dispatched General Fitzhugh Lee's brigade to tear up railroad tracks, cut telegraph lines and destroy bridges between Hood's Mill and Sykesville.

General J.E.B Stuart's chief of staff, Major H.B. McClellan remembered, "Fitz Lee's brigade was moved northward towards Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which it soon reached after daylight on the morning of the 29th of June. Much time was consumed in tearing up the track at Hood's Mill, in burning the bridge at Sykesville, and in destroying the telegraph line; but this work was effectively accomplished, and the last means of communication between General Meade's army and Washington was destroyed."

Fitzhugh Lee succeeded in all of his objectives during the dawn hours of June 29th. He burned the small bridges crossing the Patapsco River and Piney Run Creek and served railroad and telegraph communications, hindering Union Army commander General George G. Meade's ability to contact Washington.

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Sykesville and the Civil War

Sykesville is a proud partner of the  Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area 

Special thanks to Megan Forbes for lending her voice to this story.

The DSC expresses its deepest gratitude to the  Community Media Center  for the use of their studio and the work of Mike Fell for the preparation and finalization of the audio files.

Downtown Sykesville Connection

By Sara Bondroff

The B&O Station, in 1973 and 2018

Sykesville is a proud partner of the  Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area