Vehicles return to Baltimore Street for the first time since '78
CUMBERLAND — Adam Swayne strolled across new brick pavers and sang along to “Earth Angel” played from nearby speakers as cars, including a 1957 Chevrolet, lined up downtown.
The Tri-Five was one of 10 vehicles — many were vintage or antique — that became the first to drive on the newly remodeled Baltimore Street at the start of business Wednesday.
Cumberland Economic Development Corp. hosted the Ride Into History, which selected drivers from a raffle.
The last time a vehicle drove on the section of the street was in 1978, after which the roadway was transformed into a pedestrian mall and recently redesigned for automobile and bicycle traffic.
Vicky Brenneman, one of the sweepstake winners, rode in the Chevy, which was the color of “State Farm red,” Swayne said.
The couple work at the insurance business, which is on Liberty Street, where Brenneman is the agent and Swayne is an agent team member.
“I’ve been following this thing the whole time,” Swayne said of the $17 million downtown construction project that began in March 2023.
“I’m just getting really pumped,” he said. “In the spring, this place will be hopping.”
Other raffle winners were Patricia Sheetz, Tony Cornwell, Lisa Olinger, Denise Cornwell, Jeremiah Mudge, Carolyn Mathews and Destinee Frankenberry.
Cumberland City Councilman Eugene Frazier recalled the last time cars drove through the downtown Historic City Center and talked of new life that’s been brought back to the old street.
“This is exciting,” he said as a drone hovered above Baltimore Street to video the event.
Gino Giatras, owner of Curtis’ Coney Island Famous Weiners on Liberty Street, rode in the first of the 10 cars Wednesday.
“It was spectacular,” he said, adding that he’s supported the redesign project since its inception. “This is gonna make the city boom.”
Cumberland is now more inviting, Giatras said.
“It’s like a whole new city,” he said. “Like we just got born.”
Cumberland resident Ed Lowery said the cars on Baltimore Street Wednesday brought back childhood memories.
He talked of his late mother, Betty Jean Hines, who would take a break from her job as a soda jerk at the former McCrory’s 5&10 Cent Store and head to Curtis’, where she often bought 10 hot dogs at a time.
“She would eat all of them,” he said.
Sunhe Price and Jim Jenkins, of the LaVale Lions Club, rode in a 1925 Dodge with the organization’s mascot Pumba, a French bulldog.
“It was great,” Jenkins said of being one of the first 10 drivers on the street.
During the mini parade, Kaitlin Diehl stood outside CVS on Baltimore Street where she works as a pharmacy technician.
“I like old cars so I had to come see,” she said and added she hopes the downtown transformation will be prosperous. “This is a start ... we’ll see how it goes.”
More to come
A grand reopening of Cumberland’s Historic City Center will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Baltimore and Mechanic streets at 11 a.m. Thursday.
A Rediscover Cumberland Celebration will be held from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday.
Coordinated by Matt Miller, CEDC executive director, and Julie Westendorff, executive director of the Allegany Arts Council and manager of the City of Cumberland’s Arts & Entertainment District, the event will begin with a parade from Frederick to North Liberty and onto Baltimore streets.
The celebration will include members of the Queen City Antique Car Club and marching bands from Fort Hill and Allegany high schools. Teams of up to six people are invited to participate in a scavenger hunt from 1 to 2:30 p.m. that features historic Cumberland’s downtown. The winning team that reaches the end with the highest number of correct answers will get a gift basket containing $200 in prizes. More information is on the Arts Council website.
Stages on Baltimore and Liberty streets will feature local bands throughout the day, including Tennessee Mojo, James Jones, Taylor Hill, Butterscotch Blonde, Zona Hester and The Haze.
“We wanted to create a day that the whole family can enjoy,” Westendorff said via press release Wednesday.
“We have some great activities for the kids, including two bounce houses, face painting and balloon animals.”
Several of the downtown Cumberland shops and restaurants plan to celebrate the day with customer appreciation sales and special events and activities.
“This is the perfect time to discover just how special our downtown truly is,” Miller said via the release.
“We invite everyone to come and rediscover downtown Cumberland.”
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