7546 Main Street
Photograph taken 2025 by Gate House staff
History
The brick structure at 7546 Main Street was completely rebuilt and expanded in 1921 for notable local milliner, Minnie Phillinger. Phillinger's earlier business at this address had been a great success for decades, and this renovation allowed for a six-room apartment in the second floor where she lived, as well as a larger, high-ceilinged store space on the main floor where she sold women's and children's clothes and accessories.
Minnie Phillinger's father ran the Springfield Hospital farm (and the Springfield Estate prior to its sale to the State), hosted numerous elaborate parties, and frequently visited Baltimore. Minnie and her large family were active in community groups, especially within the Methodist Church. From at least 1897-1902, Minnie was the president of the Sykesville Temperance Society, and severed on boards of various other groups for young adults.
After Minnie Phillinger's time here, an A&P grocery store and later a five an dime store, which went through several owners, opened at this site.
See the photos below to learn more!
Architectural Details
Awaiting updates from the SHDC.
1911 Sanborn Map
This selection from a 1911 fire map of Sykesville shows the footprint of this address when it served as a millinery shop (see more above).
1924 Sanborn Map
This fire map of Sykesville shows the address (listed here at location 119) as a storefront, but other records show us that it was still serving as Minnie Phillinger's millinery shop at the time..
c. 1910
This enlargement of a photograph of Main Street shows 7546 just behind the horse with a lower, flat roof, and one level porch.
c. 1940s
On the left, this photograph shows the right corner of 7546 during its time as a variety store.
c. 1970s
The double porch seen here was changed in 1976 to the solid storefront seen today.
1996
Between the 1976 and 1996 the building looked as above.
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 10, 2025:
1903-c.1930s: Minnie Phillinger operates a millinery business from this site. (1911 Sanborn Map, A Walking Tour of Main Street, Sykesville, Healan Barrow 1987; see above; numerous advertisements within the Sykesville Herald 1916-1924) Specially trained milliners from throughout the South East were brought in seasonally to create hats for her business including: Lillian Treenary of Parksburg, WVa. (1910), Beulah Wolfersberger of Stanley VA (all of 1911), "Miss Stump" of Indiana (spring 1912), Effie Goodwin of Cliffton Forge, VA (Spring 1914), Lillian Strort (fall 1914), Edith Meredith of Centerville, VA (Spring 1915), and Mary Lee Lawson of Virginia (fall 1916).
A special feature of the Democratic Advocate newspaper out of Westminster features businesses and persons of interest within the Town of Sykesville. In it, Minnie Phillinger's business is featured ("Sykesville, Carroll County, 1837-1910, " Supplement to the Democratic Advocate. October 21, 1910. p. 28)
c. 1905-1907: a full porch is added to the second floor front of the building (see photos above)
1921: Minnie Phillinger demolishes the original structure at this site and builds a two-story brick building: a large storefront with a six-room apartment on top where she lived. (Sykesville Herald, 5 May 1921)
1924: The Sanborn Fire Map (see above) shows the structural changes from the 1911 Sanborn map as described in 1921 above.
1930s: Robert Day Jr. owns and operates the A&P Grocery store on the first floor while living in the above apartment. (Sykesville Past and Present: A Walking Tour, Linda Greenberg, 2002; 2012)
???: the building is sold to Kate, Martha and Elizabeth Hepner; On the first floor, Max Caplan opens a five and dime variety store (Sykesville Past and Present: A Walking Tour, Linda Greenberg, 2012)
1961-c. 1969: David and Helen Mercer purchase the five and dime business (Sykesville Past and Present: A Walking Tour, Linda Greenberg, 2012), and purchase the building itself in 1967 (Sykesville Past and Present: A Walking Tour, Linda Greenberg, 2012) and continue to operate the variety store through at least 1969 (Town of Sykesville Business License records)
1976: The building and variety store business are sold to William and Erika Brandenburg (Sykesville Past and Present: A Walking Tour, Linda Greenberg, 2002; 2012)
1979-1980: Wayne Gadow heavily renovates the building including converting the second floor porch into additional office space, and modernizing the storefront. (Sykesville Past and Present: A Walking Tour, Linda Greenberg, 2002; 2012)
1980-1981: American Musicians Supply opens October 4, 1980 (Carroll County Times, October 3, 1980, p. 23), advertising stringed instrument and drum lessons. The business is advertised until July of 1981.
1982: This address is listed for sale including the storefront, three offices on the second floor (Carroll County Times, Jan. 25, 1982, p. 16)
1987: Think Oak opens at this location April 8, 1987 (Carroll County Times, April 5, 1987, p. 6)
1990-c. 2004: Charles B and Bonnie L Mullins sell the property to Charles M and Laura G. Loskarn for $87,000. (Carroll County Times, Jan. 20, 1990, p. 12). Consolidated Graphics opens under Cuck Loskarn sometime prior to first found advertisement Dec. 19, 1992 (Carroll County Times, p. 3). The business remained at this location through at least 2004 (2004 Centennial on the Tracks Walking Map)
c. 2012: A La Mode Boutique, selling jewelry, perfume, and women's clothes.
2024: Be Blends natural cosmetics and home goods (relocated to Eldersburg)
2025-present (2025): Sorella Lash Bar