7600 Main Street
7600 Main Street, Sykesville, this building is the brick structure on the corner. (Photo by Gate House Staff, 2025)
History
7600 is the uppermost building in the section of Town known as “The McDonald Block.” Originally built under a design by local architect, J.H. Fowble, in a popular style of the time for banks, the site opened in 1907 originally as the First National Bank. The bank closed in 1916. After the establishment of the Sykesville National Bank up the street, the building was occasionally referred to as "the old bank building." The two-story foyer which originally served as the bank's lobby was renovated in 1979 by Harry Sandosky in order to create additional office space within the building. Since its time as a bank, numerous other businesses have occupied one or more floors of the building. However, the building has often been vacant for long stretches between tenants.
See the photos below to learn more!
Architectural Details
The exterior of this building has changed very little in its almost 120 years. Romanesque or Richardsonian windows are traced in stonework, and the buildings three visible faces are red brick. The building features corner quoins, but is contrasted with rough stonework to set off decorative green and yellow-painted windows.
Additional architectural details may be available through the Sykesville Historic District commission.
c. 1900
This image, from a colorized post card shows 7600 Main Street at the far left.
1972
View of Main Street, Sykesville showing 7602 (left) and 7600 (right). Photograph taken August 1972. Unattributed.
Corner of 7600 c. 1970
This photograph is undated but appears to be from the mid 1970s.
1937 Fire
The fire in this block in 1937 did not affect the bank building, as the brick and stone face were less flammable.. This building's fire breaking capacity likely helped prevent the further spread of the flames.
1996
The museum holds another photograph almost completely identical to this from 1983: a testament to the care taken to preserve this building over time.
7600 Main Street Today
Photograph of HeadMasters men's salon. Photograph taken by Gate House Staff in March 2025.
c 1920
This image shows the back of the McDonald Block prior to the fire of 1937,
1911 Sanborn Map
This image shows the location of the bank at the roadway in 1911.
1924 Sanborn Map
This image shows the location of a store at this location in 1924.
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 14, 2025:
1907-1916: The First National Bank, organized by Robert W. Carter and A.F. Arrington (also seen on the 1911 Sanborn Fire Map above), the bank is also featured with a photograph in a special feature of the Democratic Advocate newspaper out of Westminster("Sykesville, Carroll County, 1837-1910, " Supplement to the Democratic Advocate. October 21, 1910.p. 31)
1920s and 30s: Sykesville Telephone Exchange (second Floor), Williams butcher shop (first floor), CJ Meadows Drugstore ("Sykesville Past and Present A Walking Tour," Greenberg, 2012)
1924: The Sanborn Fire Map shows a store at this address (see above)
c. 1926: Hussmannized Sanitary Market (meats)/Sykesville
Community Market (Gate House Collection, photograph of Otis Harding, age 17, taken 1926)
1940s: Jim Stewart barber shop (first floor) ("Sykesville Past and Present A Walking Tour," Greenberg, 2012)
1972: Sykesville Liquors (photograph above)
1979: Building interior renovated by Harry Sandosky, air conditioning added ("Sykesville Past and Present A Walking Tour," Greenberg, 2012)
1985-2005: Law offices of Lloyd Helt (Carroll County Times, June 4, 1985, p. B11; photograph above, also 2004 Centennial on the Tracks Walking Map, Carroll County Times, Dec. 13, 2005, p. D3)
2006: James Robinson purchases the building from Lloyd Helt for the business Punch Communications (advertising and design services) ("Sykesville Past and Present A Walking Tour," Greenberg, 2012)
2014-present: HeadMasters Grooming Salon, owned by Giselle Grzymala