Sitting on Frostburg’s Hill Street is a major historical landmark of Western Maryland. That building, the Frostburg Museum, houses general store, entertainment, and war exhibits along with other slices of Frostburg’s and Western Maryland’s past. The school-turned-museum houses artifacts from the farming and coal mining era to the “Mom & Pop” shops that once covered the area. Curator Garry Ritchie, the museum’s teacher, taskmaster, and handyman, ensures every piece is displayed with care and given the prominence it deserves. A former art teacher, Ritchie has been curator for three years, since the retirement of Betty VanNewkirk.

The Arion Band, formed in Frostburg in 1887 and currently still performing, is one of the oldest community bands in the U.S. An old bass drum from the band’s early days rests along the floor of the museum’s music exhibit. Pictures of the original four directors of the band along with old photos of the band grace the wall above. Through the next door, addressographs and machines used in banks on Main Street from the early twentieth century are on display. A dog tag sits on one machine, symbolizing the conversion of these machines to create dog tags during World War Two.

In the next room, shrines to war veterans from both World Wars, the Civil War, and other battles preserve the soldiers’ memories and accomplishments that supported this country. A seat from a B-52 plane crash near Lonaconing in 1964 sits slightly lopsided on the wooden floor. “The vertical stabilizer in the rear broke off in a big storm, causing the plane to spiral into the ground,” Ritchie said. The armrests were jolted into opposite angles from the downward spiral, causing the parachute to function improperly. One crewmember survived the crash, but did not survive the blustery conditions outside, and died of hypothermia.

These artifacts have all been donated to the museum. In fact, the entirety of the museum is supported through volunteer work and monetary donations. "Over 8,000 hours of community service have been logged here and as many as twenty-five volunteers at once have dedicated to do renovation projects such as painting the entire downstairs and cleaning,” Ritchie explained. When Beall High School closed, five truckloads of artifacts were donated to the museum. Nearly every class photo, dating back into the late 1890s, as well as an 1896 school banner, are just a few of the notable pieces. Other estates and buildings have donated large quantities of old photos, coal mining tools, and service station supplies.

"By the 2011 bicentennial, we hope to have a recreation of the National Road," Ritchie continued. However, donations and volunteer work have to continue to make this vision, and other exhibits like the recreation of Main Street, come to fruition. The proposed Main Street exhibit will consist of a recreation of the storefront of the shoe repair shop, the original bank, and the front of the Arion Band music hall. The funding needed for these exhibits is significant. “Only recently have more people started caring about the museum,” Ritchie stated, as for years the number of donations and time spent has been minimal. Donating time, money, and even supplies are the best ways to help Frostburg Museum be a showcase for Western Maryland culture and society.

The museum’s location is 69 Hill Street in Frostburg. The museum times are Tuesday through Saturday, noon until 5 p.m. For more information, Ritchie can be contacted at (301) 689-1195 or by e-mail, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .