7609 Main Street

7609 Main Street is seen at the far right of this picture, c. 1920s.

History

Constructed in 1865 by Dr. Orrelana Owings, 7609 Main Street is one of the oldest historically preserved buildings within the Town of Sykesville. For the majority of its history, locals have referred to this building as "The Old Stone Store."

Between its historic and present-day use as a storefront, the site served as a fire hall from 1939-1949. It then operated as the parish hall for nearby Saint Barnabas Episcopal Parish, located just over the river from the businesses of Main Street.

In recent years, the site has gained local acclaim and garnered local food tourism in its occupancy by Patapsco Distilling Company.

See the photos below to learn more!

Architectural Details

This building is one of the only structures that survived the flood of 1868. The original second floor access was from a spiral set of stairs on the East side of the building ("Sykesville Past and Present" Healan Barrow, 1987). However, this set of stairs does not appear in any early images on file.

(Awaiting from SHDC)

7610 Main Selection from 1911 Fire Map .png

1911 Sanborn Map

This image is a selection from the 1911 Sanborn fire map of the Town of Sykesville. 7609 is seen here on the right in blue and listed as a general store.

c. 1920s

7609 Main Street is seen at the far right with a car outside the entry.

1943

7609 is seen here during its use as a fire department in the 1940s. When the Sykesville Volunteer Fire Department needed space for a second engine, they moved across the street from 7610 to 7609 to house the new fire vehicles (one is seen at far right).

c. 1970s

The structure of 7609 Main Street is seen here with the restored space where the fire entrance once was. A shadow of that cut is still visible.

1996

Here 7609 is seen looking East, the sign over the middle door reads "St. Barnabas Parish House"

1924 Sanborn Map

This excerpt from the 1924 fire map of Sykesville reflects the use of this building still in use as a general store and attached warehouse at the time.

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

--Updated with SDAT and Deed information May 2026--

NOTE: as of this date, SDAT erroneously reports that this structure was built in 1890 when it has been in place since much earlier.

Confirmed Use as of May 24, 2026:

1865: This stone structure is built for the Harry Miller Store by Dr. Orrelana Owings, Miller's father-in-law. A bronze memorial placard reflects this at the site today (2025)

c. post-1865-1868: Dr. Hammond manages the store (Sykesville Herald, 2 June 1921)

1868-c.1910: The store is sold Edwin Mellor and John McDonald as a general store called "Mellor & McDonald." (Sykesville Herald, 2 June 1921) . In 1868, it was one of the only buildings of Sykesville's Main Street to survive a major flood. (Supplement to the Democratic Advocate, 21 October 1910).

1873: Allen C. Hammond buys the property from O.H. Owings and wife (Maryland Land Records Liber JBB 100, Folio 510 Note: original deed not found, but referenced in Liber FTS 59, folio 156 seen below)

1881: conflicting evidence shows that John McDonald &Co. purchased the Hammond store (Democratic Advocate, 15 October 1881. p. 3) but perhaps not the property itself at this time.

1883: At the death of Allen C. Hammond, his family (through executor William A Hammond) sells the property at auction to John McDonald (Maryland Land Records Liber FTS 59, folio 158) At the time, the property extended down to the B&O line and for a distance in either direction.

1889: John McDonald & Co. advertises as being located specifically at the stone store (Democratic Advocate, 11 May 1889, p. 2). In 1891, an advertisement refers to expansion of stock in "both stores" indicating that this business was at more than one address (Democratic Advocate, 30 may 1891, p.3)

1895: Mellor's business side of this business moved to a larger, legally distinct store at 7568 Main Street. At that point (1895), the business became "John McDonald &Co. " John McDonald &Co. had existed in the Sykesville area since at least 1879 (Democratic Advocate, 23 August 1879, p.3). The business at this location remained under McDonald through at least 1910.

c. 1910-1921: Hawkins & Phelps buys the business from McDonald. In 1915, Eugene Berry ("Phelps & Berry") buys the interest of Walter L. Hawkins, and the name was then changed to "Phelps and Berry" (Sykesville Herald, 5 August 1915).

1917: Harry M. Phelps purchases the property from a parcel owned by Kate B. McDonald [Trustee: Charles E. Fink] (Liber EOC 130, folio 461)

c. 1920: Sometime around 1920, Harry M. Phelps bought out his partner and sold an interest to Arthur Brown, creating the business known as "Phelps & Brown" but generally referred to as "The Old Stone Store. (Sykesville Herald, 16 Sept 1910; 2 June 1921). Their business moved in early June of 1921 to the Mellor building (7568 Main Street). (Sykesville Herald, 20 September 1917; 2 June 1921)

1921: The old stone store of H.M. Phelps is used as a polling place for Freedom District (Sykesville Herald, 16 June 1921).

1921: Farm & Home Supply Store, under then management of William H. Bennet moves into this location, using it as a warehouse (Sykesville Herald, 10 Feb 1921; 2 June 1921)

1936: Harry Phelps purchases a separate parcel of land and from Irvin E. Buckingham and incorporates it into this property. (Maryland Land Records, Liber EMM 164, folio 370)

1939-1949: The lot is re-surveyed and partially sold by Mary Phelps (mother of Harry Phelps) and other members of the Phelps family to the Sykesville Volunteer Fire Company, which moves from 7610 Main Street to this location in order to accommodate a second engine. They later move to a purpose built building up the street. (Maryland Land Records Liber LDM 170, Folio 373)

1949-2013: St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Parish Hall. A regular community soup kitchen and help for the needy was also hosted here from 1983-1984, until the soup kitchen relocated to 7547 Main Street. The Sykesville Baptist Chapel also used this space in 1984 as well as other organizations for short periods at other times while it was under the primary use of St. Barnabas' Parish. (Carroll County Times, 18 January 1983, p. 7; Carroll County Times, 9 November 1984, p. 9)

2013: St. Barnabas Episcopal Church sells the property to Beck Family LLC (SDAT)
2017-present (2025): Patapsco Distilling Company, under Scott Jendreck and distiller Dana Jendreck, opened April 22, 2017 and still occupies this site. (https://www.patapscodistilling.com/about) The property itself changed ownership in 2021, when it was sold by Beck Family LLC to 7609 CMA LLC (SDAT) while remaining the same business physically present.