7548 Main Street
Photograph from Gate House Archive, dated 1975.
History
The storefront of 7548 Main Street began as a pharmacy, but accommodated the Harris Department Store for most of the business' 76 years on Main Street.
See the photos below to learn more!
Architectural Details
Although originally a wood frame building, a modern brick facade and new wood frame hides the original interior ("Sykesville Past and Present: A Walking Tour," Linda Greenberg, 2012). Photos (see below) indicate this brick was added sometime after 1975, but before 1978. The upper floor addition was in place by the 1960s, using TI-11 Siding and modern windows ("Sykesville Past and Present," Healan Barrow, 1999)
Awaiting updates from the SHDC.
1911 Sanborn Map
This selection from a 1911 fire map of Sykesville shows the footprint of this address as a store ("S") as seen at location 118 on this map.
1924 Sanborn Map
This fire map of Sykesville shows the address (listed here at location 118) as a storefront..
1910
This image, from the October 21, 1910 Supplement to the Democratic Advocate newspaper shows the appearance of the new store of Norton and Swain Sykesville Pharmacy, a new store at the time.
c. 1975-1977
The museum holds two copies of this photograph dated two years apart.
1978
7548 Main Street after its renovation with a brick facade.
1996
Building as seen in 1996.
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 June 6, 2025:
1910-????: Norton and Swain Pharmacy (Unattributed advertisement clipping, 14 May, 1910); also described as "recently established" and "new" in the Supplement to the Democratic Advocate, 21 October, 1910, p. 32
early 1900s-1977: Harris Department Store, run by J. Marion Harris had opened in Sykesville in 1901 next door to this building, but relocated several times along Main Street. The Harris Department Store was at this location 76 years.
c. 1960: The second floor of this structure is renovated to encapsulate the original second floor structure. Modern windows and materials were used. ("Sykesville Past and Present," Healan Barrow, 1999.)
1978: Ronan Loan Corporation moves to this address on the ground floor (listed as "new" address Carroll County Times, 5 April 1978, p. 2)
1979-1980: Sykesville Music Parlor, selling guitars, music equipment, and lessons on stringed instruments, manager: Dan Hatfield (Carroll County Times, 14 February 1979, p. 41, Carroll County Times, 23 May 1979, p. 10, Carroll County Times, 7 March 1980, p. 19)
1980: Haley's Stove Store, selling wood and coal stoves and accessories (Carroll County Times, 18 September 1980, p. 30, Carroll County Times, 26 November 1980, p. 12)
1981: Action Arms Inc., selling guns, black powder supplies, and reloading equipment relocated here from Eldersburg where they had opened a year prior (Carroll County Times, 28 January 1981, p. 33, Carroll County Times, 21 March 1981, p.22)
1981-1984: Special Occasions "florist and balloonery" opens just prior to the sale of this property (Carroll County Times, 18 April 1981, p. 6; Carroll County Times, 20 November 1984, p. 2)
1981: April 21, 1981 a Mortgage sale was held for the property when owners Robert and Nancy McCrackin defaulted on their loan. (Carroll County Times, 13 April 1981, p. 21)
1984: Public record shows the property was transferred at a value of $51,000 (Carroll County Times, 18 October 1984, p.2)
1984-1994: Main Street Dry Goods, owner: Kim Miller, selling garment fabric and handmade ornaments opens at this site (Carroll County Times, 28 December 1984, p. 3; Carroll County Times 17 May 1986, p. 3, Carroll County Times, 28 July 1991, p. 57) Miller was vice president of the Sykesville Business Association in the early 1990s, (Carroll County Times, 25 June 1993, p. 3; Carroll County Times, 25 August 1994, p. 3)
2004: Patriot Realtors, MTS Financial, America Ideal Mortgage ("2004 Centennial on the Tracks Walking Map")
1986-present (2025): MTS Realtors shares the building with Main Street Dry Goods and later MTS Financial (Carroll County Times, 5 September 1986, p. 35)