7565 Main Street
7565 Main Street seen here in 1996.
The Phelps Building (1931-Present) / The Hood Building (1924-1931)
History
7565 was built c. 1924 by John Edwin Hood as a series of four stores with apartments above. For much of its early history, the South side of "the Hood building" served as the site of the Town Post Office and our second movie theater, The New Theater. Restaurants have occupied the space for most of recent history.
See the photos below to learn more!
Architectural Details
Stucco finish and a shingle cap roof have been features of this building for over a century.
Additional architectural details may be available through the Sykesville Historic District commission.
1937
These photographs show the corner of the building at 7565 Main Street, which at the time partially served as the Post Office for Sykesville.
1924 Sanborn Map
At the time of the creation of this fire map, the building served several businesses as as a movie theater, three stores, and post office.
1983
Ye Olde Post Inn, restaurant and lounge, at this site in 1983.
1978 Front
A view of the property as the Ye Olde Post Inn
1978 Back
The back of the building as Ye Olde Post Inn
1996
Photograph of the site as E.W. Becks restaurant, which still occupies this space in 2025.
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 October 22, 2025:
c. 1924: The "Hood Building" is built by John Edwin Hood, with four separate businesses on the main floor and apartments above. (see above 1924 Sanborn map and "Sykesville Past and Present" Linda Greenberg, 2012) Hood ran a bus line across the street until 1922 (see 7566 Main Street).
1928-1931: The New Idea Clothing and Shoe Store under J.M. Ephraim moves their store to this location (Sykesville Herald-Messenger, 30 August 1928; 10 January 1929) This store was replaced by the New Theater in 1931 (Sykesville Herald, 19 March 1931)
1930: The Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P Store) moves from the Arcade Building (7566 Main Street) to this location under the management of Maurice Berry (Sykesville Herald, 20 February 1930)
1931: The Hood building is sold at auction for $16, 725 to A.C. Brown, who also buys Phelps' Store across the street, which Brown was renting as a grocery and meat business at this time. At its time of sale, the upstairs of 7565 Main Street were occupied apartments, while the main floor was the post office, the A&P store, Mayor Millard H. Weer's office, and one vacant store and one small room unoccupied. (Sykesville Herald, 26 February 1931, p.1)
1931: Irvin E. Buckingham Insurance moves from the Arcade building (7566 Main Street) to this location (Sykesville Herald, 3 September 1931)
1931: The New Theater, run by Lester Phelps, son of the building's owner, opens at this address in the former location of the New Idea Clothing and Shoe Store showing the talkie picture "Animal Crackers." (Sykesville Herald, 19 March 1931; 9 April 1931)
1936: The Sykesville Post Office moves from the Arcade Building (see 7566 Main Street) to the far right end of this building and remained at this location until 1976. ("Sykesville Past and Present" Linda Greenberg, 2012)
1940: The North end of the building houses the Phelps Movie Theater, with Lester and Maude Phelps as owners. Between the movie theater and the post office was a grocery store ("Sykesville Past and Present" Linda Greenberg, 2012)
c. 1943: United Food Store, a grocery store owned by Herman Rezznick operated the middle of this space between the movie theater and post office.
1973-1976: The majority of the building is occupied as Ye Olde Post Inn, a restaurant and lounge. (see above photos)
1983: the building is sold by Sidney Katz to Howard Ferguson (SDAT record). Under Ferguson's ownership, the building's interior was radically changed to be one contiguous structure for use as a pub.
c. 1984-1989: the Moose Lodge uses this space before moving to Eldersburg in 1989 (Carroll County Times, 30 August 1984, p. 22; Carroll County Times, 28 February 1984, p. 24)
1989-1992: Fergie's Restaurant and Lounge operated by Howard Ferguson (Carroll County Times, 26 December 1989 p. 30). Howard Ferguson sells the property in 1996 to Samuel J. Pfeffercorn (SDAT record)
1992-present (2025): E. W. Beck's Pub Inc. a restaurant and bar moves to this site from their original catering location (see 7560 Main Street), transferring the license of Fergie's to Brian Beck, Joseph Beck and Tom Anuszewski (Carroll County Times, 11 Oct. 1992, p. 26; Carroll County Times 7 July 1992, p. 22). The property itself transferred from Samuel J. Pfeffercorn to Beck Family LLC for $289,000 in 2001 (Carroll County Times, 22 April 2001, p. 19), the building was again sold by the Beck family to CMA LLC. in 2021 (SDAT record).
Apartment Residents:
1992: Sherry Upperman (Carroll County Times, 5 January 1992, p. 17)
1992: James Calvin Goad, apartment A (Carroll County Times, 2 February 1992, p. 17)