Browntown Stores

Information about this photo:

Warren Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 21, 21 September 1883, page 3

“Mr. John ft. Baublitz, of Carroll County, Md., attracted by the present and future business importance of Browntown, purchased last winter of Messrs. Geo. W. and Amon Updike a half acre lot therein, upon which Jacob Masemer has built for him a comfortable and commodious dwelling and storehouse, wherein he will live with his family, and hopes to do a large mercantile business.” 

1859-1929 HISTORY OF BROWNTOWN

“Browntown has two stores, one owned by R. (Rene) L. Cooper, who also takes care of the post-office and does an extensive business in timber, lumbering and trucking. 

L.A. (Leonard Armond) Rudacille owns the other store. He also does considerable other business in trucking and operating a moving van for long or short hauls.”

BROWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT REGISTRATION, 2021

United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: 

John A. Baublitz of Carroll County, Maryland, purchased a lot “in the village of Browntown” from Amon and Louisa Updike in January 1884 (NOTE: A newspaper story in Sept. 1883 suggests the correct date was actually the winter of 1882/1883). Baublitz operated a store in the community in April 1884. Baublitz was appointed Browntown postmaster in 1889 and again in 1902 and presumably ran the post office from his store during his terms.

“The front addition was made about 1910 and the building was stuccoed about 1935 a photo from the 1920s or 1930s shows the building with weatherboard siding and a gas pump out front). The additions correspond with the operation of the store by Rene (or Rennie) Cooper, which commenced about 1910 and ceased at Cooper’s death about 1930. Cooper was Browntown postmaster from 1906 to 1929 and the post office was likely located in the store during the period.