Stone Bridges over Antietam Creek, Washington County, Maryland

This collection of photographic negatives of the stone bridges over the Antietam Creek in Washington County taken before 1910 was made available by Bob Savitt of the Washington County Historical Society. Bob was lent the negatives by Paul and Shelby Beaver of Burkittsville who found them in their attic. 

The photographer was initally unknown, but it was soon realized that the photogravures were those used by Helen Ashe Hayes in her book Antietam and its bridges, published in 1910. John C. Artz of North Potomac Street, Hagerstown, was listed as the photographer, though in 1905 he was included in the Hagerstown City Directory as selling icecream and in 1910 he was a confectioner living at 34 N. Potomac, Hagerstown.  He died of congestion of the lungs August 22, 1911. [Readmore]