bakerslookout.com

Exhibits are evidence of the historical significance of 

Peter Studebaker
Document
SURVEY_MarilynHistoricTrust_HHMartinHouse_WA-I-334.pdf
Document
SURVEY_MarilynHistoricTrust_BroadfordingBridge_WA_I_306.pdf
Document
SURVEY_MarilynHistoricTrust_BroadfordingRoadOverTroupeRun_WA-I-876.pdf

The previous surveys did not dig as deep as we did to discover the true history of the Conococheague settlement and the 1740 properties as shown in the above surveys, the first mill, first road, first bridge, the first house. 


Peter Studebaker built the road from the mill to Bakers Lookout.  This road was completely on his property. The bridge was built in 1744 to forge the stream to get to the hydro-powered mill built on Peter Studebaker's Property. The Hopewell property Peter purchased in 1744 on the west side of the Conococheague Creek was the original forging mill started on the the bank and the island in the middle of the creek. The forging mill also included a sawmill and the same logs that were processed on the Conococheague Creek Mill are in Bakers Lookout today.

 

Please Read to discover the truths already verified (below in blue type) made by the Maryland Historic Trust.


Peter Studebaker built the first hydropower forging mill mass-producing steel that utilized oil shale, limestone, iron ore and timber, constructed on the island under the bridge. This mill supplied steel for items that he created in his wagon-factory. The Maryland Historical Trust WA-I-306 documents in 04/03/2001, that there were "ruins of the mill south and west of the bridge."[24]

 

The Maryland Historical Trust WA-I-306 writes 04/03/2001, that this road was "One of Washington County's earliest thoroughfares, Broadfording Road was already in existence in 1747." [25] The wagon transportation industry boomed. On the property, Broadfording Wagon Road built in 1740 by Peter Studebaker, went directly through the property to allow access from the home to the factory and to the mill. Broadfording Wagon Road carried heavy traffic to Bakers Lookout's wagon and forging services that were instrumental to expand the west. 

 

The original bridge, the first bridge over the Conococheague creek, built by Peter Studebaker, the only bridge until 1817, was built of stone and hand-hewn logs. Bakers Lookout, purchased by Peter Studebaker in 1740, abutted the Conococheague creek. Peter also acquired an additional 100 acres in 1744, called Hopewell. This property was on the west side of Conococheague creek. This proves the bridge is on Peter's property. Both deeds may be found in Frederick County, Maryland, Land Records.[26] The Maryland Historical Trust WA-I-306 documents in 04/03/2001, "Broadfording Bridge played an important role in stimulating transportation and commerce throughout the area."[27] The Conococheague Bridge served as a barrier to ambush enemies, and extended Broadfording Wagon Road. The bridge became a pathway to the frontier west of Conococheague creek.  


[25] Maryland Historical Trust Broadfording Road over Conococheague Creek, Bridge Replacement Project,#WA-I-306, 04/03/2001

[26] Frederick County, Maryland, Land Records

[27] Maryland Historical Trust Broadfording Road over Conococheague Creek, Bridge Replacement Project,#WA-I-306, 04/03/2001
Exhibit I

 

Please find (left) previous land surveys completed by the Maryland Historic Trust for Peter Studebaker's 1740 property known as Bakers Lookout.  The house was surveyed as WA-I-334.

The bridge was surveyed as WA-I-306. Broadfording Road was surveyed as WA-I-876.

 

NOTE: Previous surveys require correction due to omissions.  Property must be resurveyed by the Maryland Historic Trust.


Please find (left) a map of 1740 Bakers Lookout house and wagon factory, Broadfording Wagon Road, Hopewell, an additional property Peter Studebaker purchased in 1744 on the west side of Conococheague Creek and the bridge Peter built to ford the creek to get to the Forge mill Peter built in the on the island in Conocogeague Creek.


• Peter Studebaker, an important early colonial industrialist and guild master built Bakers Lookout house, this information was not researched and not included on the previous survey.

 

• The house is 18th century, not 19th century

 

• The house, built in 1740 of stone and hand-hewn logs, was updated with brick veneer in the 1860, when log homes were no longer considered stylish. 

 

• When a portion of the brick veneer fell down in 2005 amazing construction details were revealed such as logs with beautiful dovetailing. These construction details were previously not visible and were overlooked.

 

• the real cemetery location was not where the survey indicated.  The cemetery had been moved for convenience when the properties were subdivided

 

• This 1740 home is the oldest home in Washington County, Maryland.

 

• To prove the age Bakers Lookout house, the 1751, Shoemakers Purchase survey and deed reference the Studebaker house as a landmark to survey Shoemakers Purchase.[1]Also proving the age of Peter Studebaker’s home on Bakers Lookout is the 1751 survey and transfer of land patented to Peter Studebaker that conveyed to his son in law, John Long, “all singular buildings” transferred with Bakers lookout property.[2]

 

Maryland Historical Trust 

Broadfording Road over Conococheague Creek, Bridge Replacement Project,

#WA-I-306, 04/03/2001

 

Maryland Historical Trust H H Martin House and Property, Bridge Replacement Project,               

#WA-I-334, 04/07/1999 and 8/1977

 

Maryland Historical Trust Broadfording Road over Troupe Run, Bridge Replacement Project,        

#WA-I-876, 04/07/1999

 

Maryland Historical TrustMartins Crossroads

Broadfording Road and Maryland Route 63,              

#WA-I-334, 08/1977

 


[1] Frederick County Land Records, #4352, Surveyed for Peter Studebaker 4/28/1750

[2] Frederick County Land Records, Bakers Lookout deed recorded at the request of John Long 03/20/1750, Liber 340B folio 355