Population 1,146
Founded in 1767
by Jacob Funck and situated east of Hagerstown near the Antietam Creek, the town
was originally named Jerusalem until it was incorporated in 1840 as Funkstown.
In 1823 the Old National Pike was built through Funkstown, making it a 
popular stop
along the pike. The town bustled with inns, taverns, wagon yards, mills, a
brickyard, powder factory and iron furnace.
Funkstown
continued to grow in the twentieth century; however, with the coming of
railroads, the once bustling community became a quiet residential town and a
favorite stop for its antique shops. Antique stores can be found up and down the
main street of town (Alternate Route 40), along with quaint shops and a few
local eateries.
Every year the town holds an Old Tyme
Christmas Open House on the
first
Friday evening in December.
Residents
decorate the town with luminaries, carriage rides are available, refreshments
and entertainment are provided in the Town Hall, local merchants are open and
Santa stops to visit with children. An Old Tyme Picnic is held each summer.
Funkstown still
reflects the charm and beauty that attracted the early German settlers. Many of
the original historic houses and buildings are still in use today as private
homes, public buildings, quaint shops and businesses. Visit Funkstown today for
a unique shopping experience!
The natural boundary of Funkstown, shaped like a horseshoe, is Antietam
Creek. In 1767 Jacob Funck founded the village which was first named Jerusalem.
In 1992 the town celebrated its 225th anniversary.
Funkstown is located on the Old National Pike which was constructed
during George Washington's administration. It was a favorite stop for wagons
because the town had good wagon yards and taverns. Electric Park, a recreational
area located near Antietam Creek, included a carousel, dancing pavilion, boat
rides and other amusements; the park was reached by a swinging bridge across
Antietam Creek.
Two sturdy bridges were constructed across Antietam Creek in the 1800s;
the bridges have since been refurbished. From 1901 to 1948 a ride from
Hagerstown to Funkstown on a streetcar cost only a few cents. Funkstown was
known for its mills - flour, grist, woolen, iron furnace, brickyard and powder
factory. A huge waterwheel on Antietam Creek furnished the power.
Irish workers lived in Funkstown in a neighborhood called Cork and
rebelled when factory workers burned Paddy in effigy. A Civil War Battle
was fought in Funkstown on July 10, 1862, during General Lee's retreat from
Gettysburg. Houses in Funkstown were used as hospitals during the Civil
War.
The Reformed and Lutheran Congregations built churches in Funkstown. At
one time most families had a garden and chickens and hogs in their
backyards. Town residents got their groceries at John Williams' Store. A
popular attraction in Funkstown is the Cinderella Grave in the cemetery; it is
the grave of Cinderella Morgan who died at the age of 19 in 1852.
Today, Funkstown has a population of 1,146. The government
includes a mayor, assistant mayor, and five council persons. Each year an Old
Tyme Christmas Open House is held on the first Friday evening in December.
Carriage rides are available, residents decorate with luminaries and shops are
open. Entertainment and refreshments are offered in Town Hall. An Old Tyme
Picnic is held for residents of the town each summer. Families bring covered
dishes and local businesses and organizations provide chicken, hot dogs,
hamburgers, drinks, ice cream and prizes for games. Funkstown Post office
is located on Alternate Route 40.
The town has one church, St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, an
American Legion Post 211, and a Volunteer Fire Company. Funkstown is a
friendly community and a nice place to live.
Gerald C. Hicks, Funkstown
resident
