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The town of Mount Savage, Maryland, is a small blue-collar town nestled at the base of Big Savage Mountain in the Allegheny Mountains, between Frostburg and Cumberland. The town began as a small farming settlement in the mid-1800s, but it was not until 1844 that the region was put on the nation's map with the pressing of the first iron rail in the United States. After this claim to fame, Mount Savage became the fifth largest city in Maryland. Named as the headquarters for the short line railroad and the Cumberland & Pennsylvania Railroad, the area was deemed an industrial center. In addition to the rail businesses, Mount Savage attracted a foundry, two brick refractories, and several local merchants. In this company town, the industries shaped the economy and topography of Mount Savage, building housing for workers and donating land for schools, churches, and other public buildings. The town was a cultural melting pot attracting English businessmen and Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Italian, and German workers. With this diverse mix of cultures, the identity of Mount Savage was molded into a close knit community. Despite the loss of the industries to the region, Mount Savage continues to celebrate its hard-working traditions. The photographs contained in Images of America: Mount Savage offer a fascinating look into the irreplaceable memories of the people and places that have made Mount Savage what it was, is, and will become.
