Frederick and Valentine’s Day—Part 2: “Burning” Love

In last week’s blog, we talked about the forgotten Frederick “hot spot” known as Love Lane. Today, it’s commonly known as East Street. In part 2 of this “Valentine themed” Frederick history post, I want to revisit another romantic local option for couples living a century ago.  This was the newly laid out Lover’s Lane, part of a larger amusement resort known as Lake View, the “lovechild” of county businessman Charles J. Ramsburg.

Located six miles north of the City of Frederick, rail transportation could bring pleasure seekers to a peaceful setting that featured a casino, hotel and namesake lake.  Ramsburg was a native of nearby Lewistown, having grown up on a farm originally laid out by his grandfather Jacob.  In addition to the family trade of farming, Charles found success in the late 1800’s goldfish boom, and was one of the county’s largest exporters. Ramsburg was also an investor in the Westminster, Frederick and Gettysburg Railroad, which would traverse property owned by his family. He would obtain this land and concoct a scheme to cash-in on the new trolley line that would connect Frederick and Thurmont. 

In 1908, Charles Ramsburg merged his many fishponds together, forming a large lake in the shadow of picturesque Catoctin Mountain to the west. Now that he had an attractive setting, he looked to capitalize on the rail transportation line’s ability to deliver visitors in same manner as neighboring local mountain retreats such as Braddock Heights and Pen Mar Park.

View of Charles J. Ramsburg's Lake View Casino ca. 1909 (photo courtesy of the R.S. Kinnaird Collection of Historic Thurmont Photographs)

Clipping for Lake View Casino (January 7, 1909 edition of the Frederick Daily News)

At the top of a hillside that overlooked his manmade lake, Mr. Ramsburg began construction on an elaborate amusement structure in the form of a casino. Once complete, this would be a two-story building, 116 by 90 feet, with a first class skating rink and beautiful dance hall.  On the first floor were located four bowling alleys, a pool room, and cloak and toilet rooms.  Guests were invited to utilize the lake for bathing, swimming and boating as row boats were made readily available.  For others, a romantic stroll on Lover’s Lane took guests around the perimeter of the lake—certainly worth the trip to the new resort.
                 
One month prior to opening his casino, Mr. Ramsburg nearly experienced a disaster when his structure was struck by lightning as finishing touches were being added.  A newspaper account from August 9, 1908 says that minimal damage was suffered and project workmen were “slightly stunned by the bolt.”

Frederick Daily News clipping of Lake View Casino's Grand Opening (September 10, 1908)

The Lake View Casino opened in early September, 1908, and the venture seemed an instant success, prompting Mr. Ramsburg to make plans to construct a neighboring hotel. This would become a reality. Four stories in height, the hotel afforded magnificent views in all directions, made all the more accessible with a roof garden.  The structure was described as “magnificent,” readily equipped with all modern conveniences and having the ability to accommodate up to hundred guests at a time.

Sadly, the full potential of the site was never seen. The casino experienced a devastating fire just prior to the grand opening of the hotel in May 1910. Two explanations for the fire survive: one that a candle fell into Spanish moss causing the fire; and another points to arson. Ramsburg had grossly under-insured his building, and with the outlay for the hotel, he was not in the position to rebuild the casino.

The Lake View Hotel hosted pleasure-seekers over the next four years but would suffer the same fate as the casino on June 16, 1914. Just days before opening for the summer season, the Lake View Hotel burned to the ground. This time, a faulty heating apparatus was to blame. Mr. Ramsburg should have taken that earlier lightning bolt as a bad omen.

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Frederick Post newspaper headline announcing the destruction of the Lake View Hotel (June 17, 1914)

Charles Ramsburg gave up on his endeavors in the hospitality resort industry, and went back to an enterprise that was decidedly “fireproof.” In the 1920 census, his occupation is listed as that of a pisciculturist—aka fish breeder. He had returned to putting his full attention to the business of raising goldfish.  

In 1916, the Maryland Conservation Commission had assessed the state for future fish hatcheries, especially with regard to trout. The following year, Lewistown was selected for the commission's first hatchery. In the process, the state would also stock Ramsburg’s Lake View lake with a supply of small-mouth bass, crappie and catfish. Lake View once again became the scene for “lovers,” but this time, it was solely of the aquatic variety. Mr. Ramsburg’s influence would also have a profound effect on the son of his next door neighbors Milton and Rosanna Powell.  Their son, Albert M. Powell would develop a love of fish as well, destined to serve as the longtime Superintendent of Maryland State Fish Hatcheries.

Current era Google Earth view of Lake View "lake" just southwest of Lewistown (looking east from US15)