One of Williamsport's most imposing buildings stands guard over the southern end of the central business district along North Conococheague Street. Rising four stories high, the charming brick facade at 5 N. Conococheague is the second tallest building after the Pythian Castle, a few doors to the north.
The lovely old building is crowned at the roofline with a heavy cornice, bookended by large stylized brackets, while smaller brackets supporting the heavy eaves span the distance between. Massive, cut stone lintels decorate the front openings that formerly led to balconies, long ago removed. The excellent, original C. 1916 storefront remains intact on the first floor, providing its tenants with a stunning, bright, and picturesque stage to display wares. Granite foundations line the base of the building at the sidewalk, finishing off the sophisticated design of the building.
Phillip Steffey first leased lot 45 of the original plan of Williamsport in August of 1797 with the standard terms of improving the lot within three years. Phillip was true to his word, and in 1807, he leased his improved lot to Jacob Wolf for fifty pounds sterling. An old photograph, taken well over a century ago, shows a stylish brick house in the federal style standing at 5 N. Conococheague. According to the 1803 tax assessment of Williamsport, Steffey owned this lot with a value of $25.
Twenty-five dollars does not suggest that the beautiful brick home in the c.1900 photograph stood in 1803. After acquiring Steffey's lease, Colonel Jacob Wolf likely built the brick house in about 1810. After selling this house and lot, Col. Wolf would go on to build the massive brick house at the corner of Artizan and Potomac Street, which he ultimately made his permanent home. That house and a more complete biography of Col. Wolf were detailed here on February 8th, 2023.
In 1824, Joseph Hollman, an enterprising and ambitious man married to Catherine Steffey, purchased lots 45 and 46 from the Williams Family and Jacob Wolf for the astonishing sum of $4,100. The Hollmans planned to open a hotel and tavern named the Globe Hotel. The considerable sale price indicates that the brick house existed, and a tavern or commercial building was likely already standing, including stables and other supporting structures. Joseph also purchased horses, large quantities of furniture, and other items needed for a hospitality business at this time. Why, one would ask, would the Hollmans invest such a large sum into a hotel and Williamsport?
The answer is simple: Joseph was the contractor building Dam 4, culverts, bridges, and several locks, including lock 44 and the lock house for the C&O Canal. Hollman knew Williamsport would soon become a bustling hub needing a place to stay, and he was right. More about Hollman's contribution to Williamsport's history can be found in the article on the Startzman Log House at: Startzman House 30 W Salisbury Street.
After Joseph Hollman passed away in 1848, Catherine started to sell off their holdings. Catherine found buyers for lot 45 and the Globe Hotel in the Anderson Family. In April of 1851, Robert Anderson (1795-1853) and his wife Ann Eve Ensminger Anderson (1808-1893) purchased the lot and buildings, including the Wolf brick house. In a sad turn of events, Robert passed away in 1853 unexpectedly, leaving Ann a widow. Ann, or "Eve" as she was preferably called, was no shrinking violet; she immediately settled any remaining debt with her "personal funds" and took control of the hotel and tavern, probably to the shock of her neighbors.
One must wonder about the history that occurred at "The Globe." During the Civil War, many soldiers frequented hotels. A Massachusetts soldier, John B. Noyes, described Williamsport in detail, mentioning the Globe Hotel as follows: "Turning the corner to the left, you walk a few rods and halt at the Globe, a very respectable hotel where you get a dinner for 38 cents quite as good as what you pay 25 cents for at the other hotel in the place."
A more macabre story of the same period involves Williamsporter Dewitt Clinton Rench, a staunch southern sympathizer who, after a verbal altercation with a group of Williamsport men, called them all a "bunch of cutthroats!" Someone in the group shot him off his horse, dying; he was taken to the Globe, where he expired. In the later 19th century, the Anderson Family parcelled off the globe hotel from the old residence at 5 N. Conococheague.
The old hotel was altered and expanded into the buildings we now know that hold Rhodes Welding and The Proud Peacock Boutique. The old brick house was sold to daughter Margaret Jane Anderson Williams in 1894, where she lived out her years. After Margaret's death, the estate sold the old home, which stood 22 feet and 5 inches wide and 96 feet deep, to Albert, Ann Murray, and family in 1914.
Albert O Murray (1878-1941) and Anna Mae Ripple Murray (1889-1965) demolished the old Wolf home and built the large commercial building we know today. They spared no expense in designing and building the stately structure, which sported a two-story main floor with a balcony, fine plaster moldings inside, and balconies and intricate woodwork on the exterior.
About 1919, Albert or "Pete" and "Annie" opened Murray's Restaurant, serving a steak dinner for 60 cents, fine cocktails for 25 cents, and ice cream treats for dessert. The Murrays ran the place themselves until retirement in 1937 after being open for nearly 20 years. The Murray family would go on to own several businesses in town, including a Citgo station. During the next 80 years, the building would house several more companies and housed many families on its upper floors, ultimately falling into a state of disrepair by the time Justin and Katie Anderson purchased it in September of 2021.
Both Justin and Katie are graduates of Williamsport High School. Justin grew up on Hopewell Road, and Katie's family has deep roots in Washington County. Katie, a longtime teacher at the Barbara Ingram School For the Arts in Hagerstown, dreamed of owning her own business, being her own boss, expanding on her passion for plants, and spending more time with Justin and their two young children.
Justin, who works in real estate development, supported this change, and together, they decided to tour the old Murray Building in Williamsport. Katie described it as "love at first sight." Their eyes lit up when they talked about the possibilities that awaited them last summer as we toured the then-shell of the old restaurant. Restoration began in earnest, and in the spring of 2023, Sprout: Plants and Things opened to great fanfare in the historic old space.
The building shines like a new penny along North Conococheague, paying homage to the historical past of Justin and Katie's beloved hometown while opening up hope for the future. How appropriate that a new Anderson Family once again owns and loves this beautiful old place. This author salutes them. Williamsport has a bright future if people like Katie and Justin continue to invest in it. Williamsport's historic architecture should be protected and preserved for future generations.
