Blue Ridge Summit
Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17214
Region: Dutch Country Roads
The Blue Ridge Summit community lies at the top of the South Mountain at the Monterey Pass. This community stretches its environs into parts of four counties and two states, straddling the Mason-Dixon line. On the Pennsylvania side it lies in parts of Franklin and Adams counties. On the Maryland side of the line, it extends into both Frederick and Washington counties. After the introduction of the railroad in 1872, this area grew to become a lively and fashionable vacation community. Near the turn of the last century, this region was in its hey-day. It remained a resort area until its decline during the Depression of 1929 and the following years of limited travel during World War II (1939-1945). Tradition tells us that these mountains were traversed by the Indians of the Woodland Epoch, such as, the Susquehannock or Conestogoe Tribes of the Delaware Nation and the Tuscarora of the Cherokee Nation. The Indians used paths over these mountains close to Mt. Dunlap and Clermont Crag. Continuous use of these paths by the Indians in their interactions with each other pioneered the courses of early roads through Blue Ridge Summit. At the time of the Gettysburg Campaign of 1863, there were several cavalry skirmishes in and around Emmitsburg - including Fountain Dale, and Monterey Pass. On June 22nd the first skirmish occurred along the Monterey Mountain pass near Blue Ridge Summit. An armed civilian militia encountered a detachment of Confederates under General Albert Jenkins. The militia was forced to retreat after a very brief skirmish. General Jenkins and his Confederate troops withdrew toward Hagerstown joining General Richard S. Ewell, who was advancing with a larger force. Following the events at the Battle of Gettysburg, the Confederate Army retreated via Emmitsburg. On July 5th, General Stuart's soldiers were engaged in some small skirmishes as he made his way back to General Robert E. Lee's army. A mountain swamp at Monterey Pass bogged down Stuart and the Army of Northern Virginia as they retreated.
