Dodson, Maryland

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Dodson is a ghost town in Garrett County, Maryland. Dodson was a "boom town" that sprung up with the coal industry in Appalachia in the early 1900s. [1] It died out with other nearby towns in the 1920s and 1930s. [2]

Contents

Geography

Dodson is located in the Georges Creek Basin along the Upper Potomac River, upstream of Bloomington and near Kitzmiller and Shallmar. [2] Dodson was divided from Shallmar by a small creek at the end of the main road. [2]

History

Dodson was founded in the early 20th century as a mining community, owned by a coal company. [3] The residents of the town were mostly of European descent, both immigrant and American-born. [2] At its peak, there were 7 coal mines in Dodson. [3] The nearby towns of Gleason and Vindex would also become ghost towns. [2] Notable buildings in Dodson were a store, a schoolhouse, and a Methodist church, though none survive. [2] A house owned by the coal company is the only building still standing in Dodson. [3] [2] the 1920s and 1930s, coal mining in the region became less profitable, and mines across the region closed down, leading to the depopulation of many towns, including Dodson. [2]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ ""War on coal" seen behind federal mining rules that Maryland is opposing". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Maryland's Coal Heritage Trail". www.mountaindiscoveries.com. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  3. 1 2 3 Maryland Historical Trust. "G-IV-C-057 Dodson House" (PDF). mht.maryland.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-16.


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