Hagerstown, MD and the Quad State Area: Just Holding On

Picture from Quad State Tourism I-81

In February of 2011, I was planning on attending my company's annual ski trip in Pennsylvania.  While plans for that fell through, I had already paid for a hotel nearby in Hagerstown, MD and found that I needed a long weekend away from work and my normal routine.  This area is also known as the "Quad State" area because of the proximity of Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia.

I drove up on an unusually warm Thursday afternoon in winter to check in to my accomodations at the Ramada Plaza Hotel. The hotel had an old school feel about it with large comfortable rooms, though it was generally new or perhaps recently remodeled.  The staff checking me in looked at me funny, almost as if I didn't belong, or maybe it was because there was a stamp collecting convention scheduled for the next day and they thought I was a part of it.  Regardless, they were still friendly.  The hotel itself isn't far from some retail outlets and across the highway from a mall, but I wasn't in the mood for a retail weekend.  I needed to explore and immerse.

In my room, I connected to the free wireless internet and did some searching for a place to go for dinner that was more "local" than the Olive Garden across the street.  I found a place that looked interesting and mapped out some directions.  I got in the car and drove through what I can only assume is the downtown area of Hagerstown to get there.  Despite numerous highways intersecting in the city, the downtown area almost seemed like an area that was barely hanging on: old buildings (some boarded up), a few businesses, and hardly anyone walking the sidewalks.

The Corner Pub, Hagerstown, MD

I found the Corner Pub on (yes, you guessed it) the corner of E. Mulberry and Baltimore streets. Parking was easy to find across the street, and I wandered in past the patrons outside enjoying a smoke.  Inside was exactly what I was looking for: a quaint dive with plenty of regulars.  A seat was found back in the corner with a view of the bar, the front door as well as the pool table area.  There was a local business having a happy hour get together around the pool table, and I swear I could pick out each of the Dunder Mifflin employee personalities as they caroused together.  The staff behind the bar knew their regulars and took care of them, but they didn't forget the outsiders either. The waitress helping me had teased hair, a friendly smile, and was on top of thing even though she was at the end of her shift. As for the drinks, I was impressed with not only the amount and variety of craft beers, but the selection of single malt Scotch and Irish whiskeys available too.  Their menu seemed like simple pub grub, and when the food arrived, it was quite delicious.  I would have liked to sample one of the 21 year old single malts, but I did want to get back to the hotel safely and without incident.

Back at the hotel, I enjoyed a cigar outside on the mild winter evening, listening to two other tobacco types talk in the distance about a variety of topics mostly centering around women at their office and some car troubles.  I eavesdropped for a while, then headed inside to the restaurant attached to the hotel.  There I found the lounge portion of the Fireside Restaurant and Lounge for my nightcap.  There were both locals and hotel guests sitting at the bar and small tables, and I found a place at the bar to make my order.  The older gentleman tending orders was friendly and snarky (much appreciated since I'm generally the same way).  We exchanged pleasantries and I ordered myself a double bourbon (which was poured as at least a triple).  I left a hefty tip for the big pour and headed up to my room for the evening.

Firehouse in Martinsburg, WV

I awoke the next day to enjoy a decent (and complimentary) continental breakfast spread in the hotel restaurant.  I was still hungry for something else though.  The drive through the lonely town the previous night left me yearning to see more of what the area had to offer.  I hopped in the car and just started going. I found myself first in Martinsburg, WV.  It's another small town hanging on, but there the locals looked at me like I was invading their personal space.  Even from across the street.  It was odd, but I needed to take photos there.  After snapping a few up and down the main drag, I got back in my car and headed out.

I continued south along Route 11 through shut down retail areas and past dilapidated homes and buildings.  I realized that while we all have rough times, there are always people out there doing worse.  Living as close to the city as I do, I hate to admit that I sometimes forget how rough it is in some of the rural parts of the country.

The Grove Restaurant, Clear Brook (?), VA

While I watched the scenery move past me, I caught view of a sign stating I had just entered the Commonwealth of Virginia.  What?!?  That quad state thing was no joke.  Soon after I passed a run-down diner that used to be.  Pulling a quick couple of U-turns, I stopped and explored this shut-down relic in what I think is the north side of a town called Clear Brook.  Old buildings and structures like this always call to me when I'm out taking pictures.  I imagine what stories they hold from when they were open and since they've closed.  Around the back, windows were broken and I could see in.  Lights with bulbs still in them hung from the ceiling, the restroom still had a toilet installed, but the ground was covered in dirt.  In the storage entrance through the back a newer child's bicycle was leaning against a wall with flat tires.  How did it get there? Were there drifters that frequented the spot for a free roof, or perhaps teens there to drink (evidence of the empty beer bottles strewn about)?  Who knows.  Only my imagination could make up the story at this point.

Waffle House Coffee Cups

I was a little tired from driving and hungry as well, so I headed back north along 11 to see what I could find.  I wound up at a Waffle House back in Hagerstown.  It wasn't anything special, but was nice to sit in a booth, have some waffles for lunch with bacon and hash-browns (scattered and smothered with Casa de Waffle salsa on top).  Oh, don't forget the coffee either.  There's something so comforting about a visit to the Waffle House for me.  The predictably diner'ish food, the no-nonsense service, even down to the regulars and wait staff giving each other a hard-time about one thing or another.  You'll find this in any of their establishments across the country.

After lunch, I was wiped.  I headed back to my hotel for a nap and some relaxation.  After an hours sleep, I edited some photos and didn't feel like going anywhere else.  The hotel was quite comfortable and I wound up ordering room service.  The size of the burger was insane and overall quite filling and tasty.  After a couple months of busy days at work and busy nights and weekend with school at the time, just relaxing with my email off was perfect.  I did wind up wanting something sweet a couple hours later, and the dessert menu/vending machine wasn't going to cut it.

Waffle Cones at Superior Ice Cream

Back online, I found something that might suffice, and I headed a couple miles down the road to pick up some ice cream.  Within a small neighborhood in Hagerstown I found the Superior Ice Cream & Snack Bar.  The little place was a bit hard to find in the dark, but I got there.  Once inside, the bright glow of fluorescent lights hit me almost as hard as the sweet smell of hand dipped ice cream and fresh waffle cones. It brought a smile to my face remembering other little shops I'd been to similar to this. An older couple was enjoying dessert in the corner while two younger women discussed their love lives at a table in the middle of the shop.  None of them really paid me any attention as I ordered my sundae to go and hustled back to my room to enjoy it before drifting off to sleep.

The next morning I awoke early and enjoyed the complimentary breakfast again before checking out.  I loaded my back into the trunk and easily merged onto the highway back home.  These major highways crisscrossing our United States are convenient, but sometimes they help travelers conveniently miss a small town.  A small town that may need your patronage to hang on...