7509 Main Street
Photograph of 7509 Main Street, taken by Gate House Staff, 2025.
7509 is not considered a contributing building within Sykesville's Historic District. For information, see: Sykesville Historic District
Jenkin's Butcher Shop
History
The original purpose of this structure was as an addition to the Hotel de Berry (see 7511 Main Street). This addition originally was a restaurant for the hotel in the 1910s, serving German food and hosting a locally contentious bar.
From about 1909 until 1922, Elmer Jenkins Butcher Shop (later known as the West End Meat Market) was located at this address.
Elmer E. Jenkins' (1862-1929) name is associated with the use of this building, but he also owned extensive properties throughout Freedom District and the nearby Winfield area. Like most prominent Sykesville men of their day, Jenkin's was a farmer as well as owner or operator of several businesses including the Sykesville Hotel property, a butchering business, and a coal business.
In 1883, Elmer E. Jenkins was married to Alice V. Easton in Sam's Creek (Democratic Advocate, 12 August 1905, p.3). They moved from Winfield to Daniel (near Sykesville) in 1897 (Democratic Advocate, 9 January 1897, p. 3). He served as a trustee of the Sweet Air school in Freedom District in 1902-1910 ( Democratic Advocate, 7 June 1902, p.3; 20 May 1905, p.1; 11 Oct 1907. p.4; 16 September 1919, p.2 ). In 1905-1906, Jenkins purchased unimproved and forested land in and near Winfield (Democratic Advocate, 5 April 1905, p.3; 16 September 1905, p.3; 4 Ma7 1906, p.7), but were living in Daniel (Democratic Advocate 18 May 1906, p.3). At the same time, Jenkins owned The Sykesville Hotel (see: 7509 Main Street), operated by Henry Hunning and after 1906 to John H. Weetencamp, which included a restaurant and bar, at the time referred to as "the old Berry Hotel property" (Democratic Advocate, 5 October 1906, p. 2). However, on the 1900 census, Jenkins reports his occupation as "farmer," not identifying as a butcher until the following census (1900 Census Freedom District Precint 2 https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602/records/20311130?tid=&pid=&queryId=282f659b-de84-4fbf-aaf7-bbd664ec4838&_phsrc=vdw203&_phstart=successSource ; 1910 Census Freedom District, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7884/records/10463168?tid=&pid=&queryId=282f659b-de84-4fbf-aaf7-bbd664ec4838&_phsrc=vdw203&_phstart=successSource).
In 1909, Jenkins sold a butchering business in Sykesville to a retiring Sheriff J. Belt Townshend, but bought it back and reopened the business when it was vacated by the Townshend later that year. (Democratic Advocate, 3 September 1909, p. 5; 10 December 1909, p.1).
This business was expanded as the West End Meat Market" in 1911, which included both the butchery business and a general store (Democratic Advocate, 15 September 1911, p. 8). The West End Meat Market was in business at least through 1922 Democratic Advocate, 15 September 1922, p. 10).
In 1914 Jenkins purchased the home of local architect, J.H. Fowble on Norwood Avenue (see: 7514 Norwood Avenue) (Democratic Advocate, 13 March 1914, p.5. But rented the property.
In 1920, Jenkins and James M. Gaither formed a fertilizer and coal business that held a warehouse near the B&O station in Sykesville (Democratic Advocate, 2 April 1920, p.4). The meat store was still in business in 1922, when Jenkins was hit by car in front of the business (Democratic Advocate, 15 September 1922, p. 10). He did not die until 1929 after a long illness (The Evening Sun, Baltimore, 10 September 1929, p. 6)
See the photos below to learn more!
Architectural Details
The porch of this structure is not original, probably having originated in the 1929 renovation of the Carter hotel building next door (see 7511 Main Street)
The windows of this property were updated with modern materials c. 1999 (see below).
Numerous changes to the easement and apartment structure have occurred over time (see below).
Awaiting updates from the SHDC.
1983
This photograph shows 7509 Main Street in 1983 as a vacant building.
1996
This photograph shows the building at 7509 Main Street in use as apartments. Photograph by R. Berry.
1998
Photograph by the Sykesville Historic District Commission.
Site Use
Research is ongoing to confirm the historical use of this property. If you see any errors or have additional information, please contact the Museum through the methods at the bottom of the page
Confirmed Use as of October 27, 2025:
c. 1900: building constructed as part of the Hotel de Berry ("Sykesville Past and Present," Linda Greenberg, 2012)
1901-1910: The Sykesville Hotel is operated by Henry Huning and includes a restaurant and bar. Parts of the property convey to John Weetenkamp in pieces over this period but it is unclear which may refer to 7509 Main Street.
1909-c. 1914: Jenkins sold his butchering business to retiring Sheriff, J. Beld Townshend, who operated the business for less than a year before Jenkins repurchased and reopened the business (Democratic Advocate, 3 September 1909, p. 5; 10 December 1909, p.1). This business was expanded as the "West End Meat Market" in 1911, which included both the butchery business and a general store (Democratic Advocate, 15 September 1911, p. 8). The West End Meat Market was in business at least through 1914 (Democratic Advocate, 20 March 1914, p.2), at which time the meat counter was being run by Raymond Jenkins (Sykesville Herald, 16 July 1914).
1921: R.W. Carter buys the former Walter Ritter Hotel next door (later referred to as the "Old Ritter Hotel")--it is unclear if at that time it included this building (Sykesville Herald, 25 August 1921)
1921: Owner Elmer Jenkin's is cited by prohibition agents for selling alcoholic ice cream and soft drinks from this location (Sykesville Herald, 4 August 1921)
1922: The meat store was still in business in 1922, when Jenkins was hit by car in front of the business (Democratic Advocate, 15 September 1922, p. 10).
1929: R.W. Carter (owner of the building next door at this time) renovated the building including a new porch, new floor, shelves and countering for a lunch room, which had recently before this been occupied by the Brightwell Meat Market. It is unknown if these renovations also apply to this structure.(Sykesville Herald-Messenger, 15 January 1925)
1929: the property next door is sold as a hotel at Attorney's Sale. It is unclear if that also included this side of the building (Sykesville Herald-Messenger, 27 June 1929)
1983-c.2000: Owners Bradley and Joy Baker own the front of the apartment building, replacing the historical windows with new vinyl ones. (Carroll County Times, 19 Feb. 1999, p.3; 8 February 2000, p.9)
1991: rear property transfers from Imogene Trent to Lawrence Bodine for $40,000. (Carroll County Times, 28 May 1996, p. 19)
1996: A variance is requested for an additional apartment at the rear of 7509 Main Street by Lawrence Bodine (Carroll County Times, 28 May, 1996, p. 19)
2001: Irene Trent requests a zoning variance for a third apartment to be constructed at "2nd 7509 Main Street" (Carroll County Times, 13 June 2001, p. 32)
Present (2025): This building operates as a series of private apartments.