7560 Main Street
Photograph of 7560 Main Street taken by Gate House Staff in 2025.
History
7560 Main Street is often referred to as The Morrow Building or the "Stone House." The site is adjacent to an alleyway which separates it from the Warfield Bank building, over which an advertisement of the entrance to the Warfield Lumber and Coal yard once hung,
Local businessman, Wade H.D. Warfield. Warfield (1864-1835) operated numerous businesses and agricultural enterprises in and around Sykesville, but was most notable for his role as State Senator (1916-1918), and as owner of the Maryland Milling and Supply Company. He additionally was pivotal in creating the Sykesville National Bank (see: 7564 Main Street) .
Warfield had begun purchasing farming and building supplies in 1886, and expanded into milling in 1889 (Carroll County Mills A to Lee, p. 177). This site, designed by J.H. Fowble, was constructed in 1907 to house his business, as Warfield's business grew, first purchasing the Sykesville Lumber and Coal Company and then incorporating as the Sykesville Lumber Coal and Grain Company in 1911. By 1915, the Sykesville Lumber Coal and Grain Company was worth a quarter of a million dollars (the equivalent of over 8 million dollars in 2025). Warfield then collaborated with James Gambrill and D.W. Detrick to create the Maryland Milling and Supply Company, at the time, the largest of its kind in the state (Sykesville Herald, August 10, 1916).
This building served as the operations headquarters for the Sykesville location, as well as a store selling hardware and supplies. The site was accompanied by a large storage and lumber yard behind the building in what is today the McElroy Parking Lot. A dedicated train branch line ran directly into the yard from the B&O Old Main Line to assist with the transport of goods.
In fall of 1927, Warfield's fortunes had changed, and he was forced to sell most of his Sykesville properties to pay debts. Quincy L. Morrow purchased the building to be used for manufacturing shipping containers. It continued under various ownership as a shipping and manufacturing site through the 1990s.
Site use has varied considerably since the 2000s.
See the photos below to learn more!
Architectural Details
This a granite facade of the first floor is in contrast to the second and third floors which are brick with three-part windows with granite keystone and impost blocks. An cornice of pressed metal at the roof line details the exterior.
The Dates 1889-1908 on the front of the building seem to refer to the beginnings of the Sykesville Lumber and Coal Company under Warfield c. 1889 and the completion of the building in 1908.
As with other Fowble buildings, the side brickwork is of lesser quality than the facade.
Undated c. 1900
The tax building at the far right side of this image is the Wade H.D. Warfield building, including the original Sykesville Lumber and Coal sign over the alley to its left.
November 1913
This photograph appeared in one of the first editions of the Sykesville Herald newspaper, on November 27, 1913 showing festivities surrounding a Sykesville Festival and poultry show, entitled "Old Home Week".
1983
The Morrow Company's logo is clear on this image from the 1980s.
1996
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7568 Main Street Today
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 4, 2025:
1907: The assessment record for taxes lists this property as "a stone house valued at $5,000."
1908: J.H. Fowble completes the buildings for Wade H.D. Warfield and the Sykesville Lumber and Coal Company moves in.
1911: Sykesville Lumber and Coal Company incorporates as the Sykesville Lumber Coal and Grain Company at the same location.
1918: First references to the Maryland Milling and Supply Company (rather than Lumber Coal and Grain Co.)
1929: C&P telephone service relocates from a location at Main Street and Marriottsville Road to the second floor of this building. (Thelma Wimmer letters 6/16/1977; Sykesville Herald Oct 1, 1927).
September 1931: The Sykesville Lumber Coal and Grain Company becomes part of the Maryland Milling and Supply Company (Also owned partially by Warfield)
October 1927: Wade H.D. Warfield's financial problems force him to sell this site, the lumber and coal yard, the Arcade building, the Lehman property, and the Hammond Lot.
(American Sentinel, Sept 30, 1927. Westminster, MD).
1943-1977: Quincy L. Morrow Company opens and uses the site to manufacture crates and pallets. The business was substantially impacted by flooding from hurricane Agnes (1972) (The Herald Record, Aug. 24, 1977, p. A14.)
1987: R.L. Mullinix purchases the building and lumber yard.
1988: The Town of Sykesville purchases the lumber yard lot previously associated with the building.
1989: Charles B. Mullins occupies the building, which, at the time, had a manually-operated freight elevator.
1990-c. 1995: The Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Council Knights of Columbus purchase the building from Mullins. (Carroll County Times, March 18, 1991)
1991: Building is renovated by the Knights of Columbus ("B'Nai Israel leases Knights of Columbus hall." Carroll County Times, March 12, 1995, p. A1)
1992-2005: Brian Beck purchases the property from the Pfeffercorns and operates a catering business here, "E.W. Beck's Restaurant Banquet Hall" ("History," E.W. Beck's Website, Ewbecks.com; Carroll County Times, May 2, 2002 p. A6).
1995-1999: B'Nai Israel Congregation, cantor Al Stein ("Church Directory." Carroll County Times, Feb. 19, 1999, p. C6) lease the first floor and the mezzanine area of the building from the Knights of Columbus, holding their first services on March 31, 1995 ("B'Nai Israel leases Knights of Columbus hall." Carroll County Times, March 12, 1995, p. A1; Carroll County Times, March 6, 1998, p. C5) The Knights of Columbus continued to use the third floor for their activities.
1998: Kevin's Katering briefly operated out of the kitchen of this building in 1998 after a major fire at his normal address (Carroll County Times, March 6, 1998, p. A1)
????: Union National Bank forecloses on the Knights of Columbus, and sells the property to Jonathan and Laurie Ann Pfeffercorn.
2005: Beck sells the property to Intellimar. Beck opens E.W. Beck's Restaurant and Pub (see: 7565 Main Street).
c. 2004-present (2025): Intellimar, a security-related industry, occupies the site (2004 Centennial on the Tracks Walking Map)