7606 Main Street
Main Street, Sykesville, Charlie Joe's Clothing in center with blue windows and an orange door.
History
7606 is part of the section of Town known as “The McDonald Block,” built in 1878. The structure today was rebuilt after a major fire in 1937. Before the fire, this building served as a post office, confectionary, and music store. At the time of the fire, it was a carpenter’s shop with a residence on the top floor lived in by the family of Edward Barnes. After the fire, the Barnes family moved back in and opened a pool hall in the main floor of the building.
The pool hall closed in 1963 and the site later became a framing shop, a church, a restaurant, furniture store, and various boutiques.
See the photos below to learn more!
Architectural Details
(Awaiting from SHDC)
1913 Postcard--Main Street
In this photo postcard, 7606 is to the right of the store labeled "Drug Store" (Photo ID: 3453a GHM)
1983
Rick's Place Restaurant
(photo: gift of Thelma Wimmer 2024.005.004)
1996
Three Treasures Health Services was one of many businesses located at this site. (photo: gift of R. Berry)
1937 Fire
Thought to have started as a chimney fire, on October 21, 1937 four businesses with homes above them, and the physician’s office of Dr. H.L. Barnes were completely destroyed. Windy weather and a broken fire hose access at Sykesville Station required firefighters to pump water 500 feet down the street directly from the South Branch of the Patapsco River.
Evelyn “Puzz” (Barnes) Brightwell lived in 7606 Main Street at the time of the fire, when she was a fifth grader, and in 1996 recounted the events surrounding the fire vividly:
My mother said she remembered seeing the front of the building that housed our apartment and my father’s pool hall, crumble down and our furniture falling with it. We lost everything. I remember that a day before I had won a set of triangular dishes at the movie theater. I never even got to unpack them.
Oral History collected by Errol G. Smith, 1996
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Rick's Place Restaurant
(photo: gift of Thelma Wimmer 2024.005.004)
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Three Treasures Health Services was one of many businesses located at this site. (photo: gift of R. Berry)
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 Jan. 23, 2025:
1900-1910: Post Office (Asa Hepner, Postmaster), convenience store, music store
1937 (before fire)--carpenter shop on the first floor (William Mason Jones), Edward Barnes family lives on second floor("Sykesville Past and Present A Walking Tour," Greenberg, 2012)
(1937 Fire destroys original building)
1940-1963: Edward Barnes opens a pool hall (formerly located at 7602 Main Street)("Sykesville Past and Present A Walking Tour," Greenberg, 2012)
1963: Pat Winston's Framing shop ("Sykesville Past and Present A Walking Tour," Greenberg, 2012)
1980s: Rick's Place (Gate House archive photos)
late 1980s: Think Oak ("Sykesville Past and Present A Walking Tour," Greenberg, 2012)
1987: Maria's Restaurant ("Sykesville Past and Present," Barrow, 1987)
2004: Contrary Mary's (2004 Centennial on the Tracks Tour Map)
2025: Charlie Joe's Clothing (presently open)