7600 Main Street
7600 Main Street, Sykesville, this building is the brick structure on the corner. (Photo by Gate House Staff, 2025)
History
Originally built under a design by local architect, J.H. Fowble, in a popular style of the time for banks, the site opened in 1907 as the First National Bank. The bank closed in 1913. Although this bank was built after the Sykesville National Bank up the street, the building was occasionally referred to as "the old bank building," possibly because it closed first. The two-story foyer which originally served as the bank's lobby was renovated in 1979 by Harry Sandosky in order to create additional office space within the building. Since its time as a bank, numerous other businesses have occupied one or more floors of the building. However, the building has often been vacant for long stretches between tenants.
See the photos below to learn more!
Architectural Details
The exterior of this building has changed very little in its almost 120 years. Romanesque or Richardsonian windows are traced in stonework, and the buildings three visible faces are red brick. The building features corner quoins, but is contrasted with rough stonework to set off decorative green and yellow-painted windows.
The windows themselves have changed a few times, most notably in 1923, when The Greenwald Meat Company of Baltimore occupied this business, making major changes, "tearing out the front, preparatory for handsome show windows." (Sykesville Herald-Messenger, 6 November 1923).
A new door had been cut the year prior (1922) in the north side of the building to assist the upper floor apartment with a side-entrance (Sykesville Herald, 22 August 1922).
Additionally, according to SDAT data, owner Lloyd Helt Jr. made major improvements to the site in 1990 and 2006.
Additional architectural details may be available through the Sykesville Historic District commission.
c. 1900
This image, from a colorized post card shows 7600 Main Street at the far left.
1972
View of Main Street, Sykesville showing 7602 (left) and 7600 (right). Photograph taken August 1972. Unattributed.
Corner of 7600 c. 1970
This photograph is undated but appears to be from the mid 1970s.
1937 Fire
The fire in this block in 1937 did not affect the bank building, as the brick and stone face were less flammable.. This building's fire breaking capacity likely helped prevent the further spread of the flames.
1996
The museum holds another photograph almost completely identical to this from 1983: a testament to the care taken to preserve this building over time.
7600 Main Street Today
Photograph of HeadMasters men's salon. Photograph taken by Gate House Staff in March 2025.
c 1920
This image shows the back of the McDonald Block prior to the fire of 1937,
1911 Sanborn Map
This image shows the location of the bank at the roadway in 1911.
1924 Sanborn Map
This image shows the location of a store at this location in 1924.
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
Note: In the 1950s, this property was referred to under the old numbering system as 17 Main Street.
--SDAT and deed information added May 2026--
Note: SDAT remarks that this structure was built in 1890 along with the McDonald block, but this is incorrect.
Confirmed Use as of May 29,2026:
1907-1913: Site is purpose-built as The First National Bank, organized by Robert W. Carter and A.F. Arrington (also seen on the 1911 Sanborn Fire Map above), the bank is also featured with a photograph in a special feature of the Democratic Advocate newspaper out of Westminster ("Local Brevities," Democratic Advocate, March 1907, p.3; "Sykesville, Carroll County, 1837-1910, " Supplement to the Democratic Advocate. October 21, 1910.p. 31). After leasing the property, the bank purchased the property from its original owner, Kate McDonald and family in 1908.
1913-1916: In early 1913, the Sykesville National Bank purchased the property from the First National Bank of Sykesville (Maryland Land records, Liber ODG 121, folio 349). According to the same deed, the Sykesville National Bank (which was financially very well off) did this because it was renting the space it was using at 6564 Main Street and wanted to own a bank space permanently. At the time of land purchase, the First National Bank was also absorbed by the Sykesville National Bank, merging the businesses (Democratic Advocate, Westminster, 3 January 1913, p. 1 ).
1920: Wade H.D. Warfield purchases the building from the (then defunct) First National Bank (Maryland Land Records Liber EOC 135, folio 393)
1920s and 30s: Sykesville Telephone Exchange (second Floor), Williams butcher shop (first floor), CJ Meadows Drugstore ("Sykesville Past and Present A Walking Tour," Greenberg, 2012)
1923: The Greenwald Meat Company of Baltimore occupies this business, making major changes to the front of the building to add picture windows. (Sykesville Herald-Messenger, 6 November 1923)
1924: The Sanborn Fire Map shows a store at this address (see above)
c. 1926: Hussmannized Sanitary Market (meats)/Sykesville
Community Market (Gate House Collection, photograph of Otis Harding, age 17, taken 1926)
1927: As part of the liquidation of the Warfield properties, James M. Gaither and Cora A. Gaither buy the property from Edward Weant (trustee of Wade H.D. Warfield and Ellen Warfield)(Maryland Land Records, Liber EMM 150, folio 67)
1940s: Jim Stewart barber shop (first floor) ("Sykesville Past and Present A Walking Tour," Greenberg, 2012)
1945: Cora Gaither (widowed) sells the property to Charles T. Kemp and Mary C. Kemp (Maryland Land records, Liber EAS 186, folio 161)
1963: Wilbur Wimmer buys the property from Charles T. Kemp (Maryland Land Records, Liber CCC 364, folio 704)
1965: Wilbur Wimmer sells the property to Warren D. and Rita A. Michelson. (Maryland Land Records LIber CCC 399, folio 743
1966-1972: Sykesville Liquors Inc. operates at this location (Town of Sykesville Business Licenses (1966-1969), (see also: photograph above)
1975: Land conveyed by Warren D. Michelson et al, to John L. James Sr. (Maryland Land Records Liber CCC 610, folio 169)
1979: Building interior renovated by Harry Sandosky, air conditioning added ("Sykesville Past and Present A Walking Tour," Greenberg, 2012)
1980: Property is partially sold by Joan C. Davis to Katura Sandosky (Liber LWS 766, folio 687)
1981: The rest of the property is sold by Joan C. Davis to Katura Sandosky (Liber LWS 791, folio 606)
1984: Katura Sandosky sells the property to Lloyd Helt Jr. (Maryland Land Records, Liber LWS 883, folio 495)
1985-2005: Law offices of Lloyd Helt (Carroll County Times, June 4, 1985, p. B11; photograph above, also 2004 Centennial on the Tracks Walking Map, Carroll County Times, Dec. 13, 2005, p. D3). In 1990, the property was improved by Helt, who continued to own the property through 2006 (SDAT; Maryland Land Records Liber 1247, folio 51)
2006: James Robinson purchases the building from Lloyd Helt for the business Punch Communications (advertising and design services) ("Sykesville Past and Present A Walking Tour," Greenberg, 2012) (recorded in SDAT as Holly Enterprises LLC)
2014-present (2026): HeadMasters Grooming Salon, a business owned by Giselle Grzymala operates at this site. The building itself was sold to Frederick Gossage Jr. in 2014 and continues under this ownership.