732 Oklahoma Ave
732 Oklahoma Avenue, photograph taken 2025 by Gate House staff.
History
This building began its life at 7556 Main Street as a residence. By 1911, the Sanborn Fire Map shows the site as in use as a boarding house. In 1922, the house was again in use as a private residence, but shortly after is divided into two storefronts.
In the 1950s, Cross and Rosensteel's clothing company required a larger facility, and this house was moved backwards into the middle of what is today the McElroy parking lot, facing towards St. Paul's Church.
In 2014, the house moved again and turned 180 degrees to its present site, and since that time has housed French Twist Cafe.
For information about rentals and current use, see the Town of Syksville government-administered page for this location.
See the photos below to learn more!
Architectural Details
(Awaiting from SHDC)
c. 1910 Main Street
Showing the edge of building at its original location at 7556 Main Street (near the second horse and buggy).
1911 Sanborn Map Excerpt
location "113" showing a boarding house at 7556 Main Street, the original address of this building. A High resolution color version of this full map is available at the Library of Congress through this link.
1924 Sanborn Map Excerpt
Under location "A113B" in this picture, Showing the building at its 7556 Main Street address (including no longer extant partitions). Copies of the pages of these maps can be found at the Maryland State Archives through this link.
1940
Sykesville parade with a better view of the house at its original location at 7556 Main Street
1999
An aerial photo taken after thfirst relocation of the house into what is today the McElroy parking lot.
2025
Modern photograph of 732 Oklahoma Avenue, taken April 2025 by Gate House staff.
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 May 13, 2025:
1911: This structure was located at 7556 Main Street and served as a boarding house. (1911 Sanborn Fire Map, see above)
pre-1922: In 1922, the building was listed as the home of the Frank Hobbs, son-in-law of the late Mrs. Laura Barlow.
1924: The building serves as two divided storefronts (1924 Sandborn Fire Map, see above)
c. 1950: The house is moved backwards and turned to face St. Paul's Church. Cross and Rosensteel clothing store constructs a new building at the 7556 location (See page).
c.1950-????: The house continues as a private residence at this secondary location.
2009-2011: In June, the vacant house was moved to its present site under the ownership of the Town of Sykesville to accommodate a plan to place a drive-thru bank in the McElroy lot. By 2010, the Town had gutted and retrofitted the building for business use but had not yet secured any renters(Carroll County Times, May 16, 2009; Carroll County Times, May 9, 2010, p. A1, A8; Carroll County Times, May 13, 2010, p. A1)
2014-present (2025): The French Twist Cafe occupies this space.