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Contributed by Harrison
Description: Vienna Connected with the World by a Railroad
Date: July 5 1890Newspaper published in: Baltimomre
Source: GenealogyBank archives
Vienna, Md., July 4, 1890: Today was an important epoch in Vienna's history of a century and a half, for the old, but thriving, town was for the first time connected with the outside world by a railroad and for the first time the whistle of the passenger locomotive awakened echoes among the town. Even though the railroad is not yet complete all the way to town, visitors came by the hundreds, many crossing the Nanticoke River from the Wicomico side and sail boats brought crowds from points up and down the river. In Vienna visitors enjoyed themselves in partaking of refreshments and in outdoor sports. Notwithstanding the lack of railroad facilities which were long needed, Vienna has in late years forged ahead in business enterprises. The town, one of the oldest in the county, is surrounded by a rich and fertile farm lands and for many years noted for the intelligence and hospitality of its 600 to 800 residents. It has some of the largest stores in the county. The Nanticoke River at the town is s half mile wide and the depth is sufficient for the largest sea going vessels. During the early colonies it was a great shipping point and thought at one time to become the metropolis of the state. Most of the tobacco grown in the county, the chief staple of produce in those days, was shipped from Vienna and remains of an old warehouse in the town are yet visible. Wealthy and promiment men lived in or near the town limits. John Gilmor, ancestor of that family of Baltimore, was one of the earliest merchants and it is noted he received the earliest consignments of imported goods in the state at this port. The town also has fruit packing houses and a tin can factory as well as large grist and timber mills owned by Thomas Higgins and Sons. Vienna Academy is recognized as one of the leading institutions of learning in the country. There are an abundant number of churches of nearly all denominations and there is a commodious public hall. The Nanticoke Steamboat Company furnishes transit by water to and from Baltimore and other east coast ports. Vienna will prove to be a large feeder to the railroad and forge ahead rapidly. Among the old residents of Vienna are Dr. Levin Hodson and Thomas Withers Smith. The old hotel which has stood for many years and afforded warmth and good cheer to travelers on the old stage line from Cambridge to Salisbury, will, it is thought, soon give way to a larger and more modern structure.