7568 Main Street
This is a copy of an image of the E.M. Mellor Store featured in an 1913 advertisement in the Sykesville Herald Newspaper. At the time, it was considered to be the largest general store in the area.
History
7568 sits on the corner of Oklahoma Road and Main Street. The building, known as the Mellor Building, was once a single general store business built and run by E.M. Mellor. In 1879, at the time of the building's construction it was the largest store in town, offering groceries, clothes, home goods, and luxury items.
E.M. Mellor was Sykesville's first Mayor (1904-1907, as well as 1915-1917) and the Postmaster for Sykesville as well as the Director of the Sykesville National Bank (see 7564 Main Street, Warfield Building). Mellor had owned a smaller place of business prior to moving to Main Street, Sykesville, but this 10,000 square foot store was an enormous upgrade.
For most of its history, the main floor of this building held general stores. As with many Main Street structures, the second floor has held apartments.
See the photos below to learn more!
Architectural Details
This structure is a two-story frame building with a bracketed cornice, the side of the building on Oklahoma Road (part of the original structure) required the realignment of the street. The facade has been remodeled, but the most of the structure is original, having been renovated heavily in 2012 to reflect its historical appearance, including replacing the New German lap-siding in Renwick olive with chocolate brown trim.
Additional architectural details may be available through the Sykesville Historic District commission.
Undated c. 1900
This undated photograph shows the corner of the Mellor Building at left, including part of the side wing.
September 25, 1913
This photograph appeared in one of the first editions of the Sykesville Herald newspaper, advertising the business of E.M. Mellor and Son Department Store.
April 5, 1975
Consolidated Stationers Inc. occupies this space.
1996
Consolidated Stationers Inc. still occupies this space in 1996.
1989
These patriotic decorations were featured in the 1898 John Waters film "Cry Baby," featuring Johnny Depp.
7568 Main Street Today
Photograph and its occupants as of April 2025: Botanigal, State Farm, and Feet First
1913
This image from the Sykesville Herald newspaper shows the large E.M. Mellor Store.
1911 Sanborn Fire Map
This excerpt from the 1911 Sanborn Fire Map of Sykesville shows the Mellor Store's internal divisions at the time at location 106 and 107 along Main Street. It is listed here as a single General Store occupying the entire space.
1924 Sanborn Fire Map
This excerpt from the 1924 Sanborn Fire Map shows a hand-aded division within the side portion of the shop (what is today 7568 B Main Street) at location 106 and 107 on this map.. Here the map show two separate shops ("S"), one at each part of the building.
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 25, 2025:
c. 1895: The general store of E.M. Mellor & Son expands to this location on Main Street after starting as a small, one-room store in 1879 ("Sykesville, Carroll County, 1837-1910, " Supplement to the Democratic Advocate. October 21, 1910, p. 34). The building continues to be occupied by Mellor through at least 1913 (see photograph above)
1910: (7568 b) A special feature of the Democratic Advocate newspaper out of Westminster features businesses and persons of interest within the Town of Sykesville, including at this address the Sykesville Building Association of Carroll County. Originally the "Sykesville Perpetual Building Association," this organization began in the 1870s to help people secure home loans to develop Sykesville's businesses and neighborhoods. It rechartered in 1887 and again in 1907 under the newer name. The E.M. Mellor general store (see above) is featured as well ("Sykesville, Carroll County, 1837-1910, " Supplement to the Democratic Advocate. October 21, 1910, p. 33-4.).
1911
1921: A.C. Brown purchases the building (from 1921-22 run alongside Harry M. Phelps) as A.C. Brown General Merchandise. ("Sykesville Past and Present A Walking Tour," Greenberg, 2012)
1924: The Sanborn Fire Map of Sykesville shows to separate shops operating within this address (see map above).
c. 1937-April 1947: Henry Forsythe joins A.C. Brown; the business is renamed Forsythe & Brown General Store ("Sykesville Past and Present A Walking Tour," Greenberg, 2012)
1947-c. 1970: Celius L. Brown sells his share in the business to Forsythe, but the business continues as a general store. ("Sykesville Past and Present A Walking Tour," Greenberg, 2012)
1978-1996: Consolidated Stationers occupies the front of the structure (see photos above) through at least 1993 (The Baltimore Sun, Sept 29, 1992; Business Permits, Carroll County Times, July 4, 1993, p. C4.)
1986-1987: Steven's Music Store, selling used instruments and sound equipment (Carroll County Times Oct. 6, 1986, p. B10; Carroll County Times, Jan. 13, 1987, p.B10)
1989: A major fire causes $100,000 of damage to this address, (Carroll County Times, Dec. 11, 1989, p. A1) businesses reported in the building (all of which held damage) were Consolidated Stationers Inc., Baltimore Tape Products, and Greenberg Inc, the building was owned at the time by Charles Loskar.
2000-c. 2024: Elaine Gossage State Farm Insurance occupies this space (Carroll County Times, Dec. 23, 2000, p. A2), as well as
2000-2001: Case Handyman Services is advertised in unit C of this address (Carroll County Times, Aug. 28, 2000, p. B4 ; Carroll County Times, Feb. 17, 2001, p. C4)
2004: Metamorphosis Pilates Studio shares this space with Elaine Gossage State Farm (2004 Centennial on the Tracks Walking Map)
2012: The siding of the structure is replaced, and the building heavily renovated under the ownership of Fred and Elaine Gossage ("Sykesville Past and Present A Walking Tour," Greenberg, 2012).
2013-2015: Time Warp Media, A comic book store occupies site b at this address (The Baltimore Sun, August 5, 2015), sharing the wing with Tri Sport Junction (suite B) at the end of the occupancy. (Carroll County Times, Sept. 11, 2015, p. A1)
2015-2023:Tri Sport Junction (a running goods store) joins this site in the wing along Oklahoma Road (site b) under owners Jane Linde and Donna Larkin (The Baltimore Sun, September 16, 2015)
2023: Feet First replaces Tri Sport Junction, in the same line of running shoe business (public record: Town of Sykesville), State Farm continues to occupy the entire storefront.
2024-present: Botanigal (a plant boutique formerly located up Main Street) relocates to half of the storefront of this building, State Farm and Feet First remain.