Braddock Heights, Maryland Then & Now

Looking at old photographs is like opening a window to the past. They invite us to step back in time, sparking both wonder and amazement at how much the world around us has changed. For this post, I’ve paired one of Lewis Reed’s original photographs for the “then” view with a modern Google image for the “now.”

Braddock Heights (THEN): Braddock Heights is a small unincorporated community in Frederick County, Maryland, established around the turn of the 20th century as a popular mountain resort. In its early days, it offered visitors hotels, an amusement park, a skating rink, nature trails, and an observatory from which four states (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia) could be seen. It even boasted a small ski resort. The Hagerstown and Frederick Railway operated a trolley line connecting Frederick and Braddock Heights from 1896 to 1946. Today, with a population of about 5,000, the area remains known for its sweeping views of Frederick and the Monocacy and Middletown valleys. Braddock Heights takes its name from British General Edward Braddock (1695-1755), who passed through the region during the French and Indian War on April 29, 1755.

Braddock Heights viewed from the Observatory, with Middletown visible in the distance. Photograph by Lewis Reed, circa 1910.

Braddock Heights (NOW): Today, rush-hour traffic flows over the mountain along Alternate U.S. Route 40, stretching from Frederick and I-70 into the Middletown Valley, most of it passing right by the stone pillars at Maryland Avenue that mark the entrance to Braddock Heights.

View overlooking Middletown Valley along U.S. Route 40

Local Folklore: Fun Trivia about the Snallygaster

The Snallygaster is a legendary creature rooted in Maryland folklore, particularly in Frederick County and the Middletown Valley. Originating from the German settlers in the 1730s who called it a Schneller Geist meaning “quick spirit,” this fearsome beast is described as a half-bird, half-reptile chimera with razor-sharp teeth and sometimes octopus-like tentacles. The Snallygaster is said to silently swoop down from the sky, preying on livestock and occasionally people, with some early tales even claiming it sucked the blood of its victims.

In the early 1900s, the creature gained widespread notoriety through newspaper reports depicting it with enormous wings, a long pointed bill, steel-hook claws, and a single eye in the middle of its forehead, emitting screeches like a locomotive whistle. The creature was so infamous that the Smithsonian Institution reportedly offered a reward for its hide, and President Theodore Roosevelt considered hunting it himself.

Local farms still bear seven-pointed stars painted on barns, believed to be protective symbols meant to keep the Snallygaster at bay. Beyond scary stories, the legend has evolved into a cultural symbol celebrated today with events like the annual Snallygaster Festival in Frederick County, highlighting the area’s rich folklore heritage.

Though some of its tales have troubling historical contexts, including the use of the legend to instill fear in certain communities during segregation, the Snallygaster remains a memorable and intriguing figure in Maryland’s folklore landscape, blending myth, mystery, and history in one creature.

Maryland’s legendary winged beast—half bird, half reptile.