Stopping and Shopping – Berlin Maryland

…continuing with our trip this past September.  With Laurie’s sister Bonnie and her husband Bill, we explored key parts of the Delmarva Peninsula.

When we left Chincoteague Virginia we took back roads north to MD Hwy 12, following it north and connecting to US Hwy 113.  As usual, I’d researched the route and I knew that shopping and history would be plentiful in Berlin Maryland…our first stop of the day.

As we entered downtown Berlin Maryland, we spotted our first big shopping or browsing opportunity, the Uptown Emporium at 18 South Main Street.  This ‘antique mall’ was loaded with a plethora of collectables and antiques.  Booths are maintained by folks who live in the area.  To learn more, go to Uptown Emporium Berlin Maryland Antiques, Collectibles, Oyster Plates, Vintage Seafood Tin Cans, Furniture, Jewelry, Vintage Toys, Glassware.

Gold Crafts, a jewelry store that also deals in old clocks, is located at 4 South Main Street in this solid old building.  See https://gold-crafts.edan.io/.  The building is shared by Dream Weavers, a store that deals in crystals, stones, fair trade goods, tapestries, essential oils and soaps.  See https://www.facebook.com/thedrreamweaver/.

In 1895, a fire destroyed a major portion of Berlin’s central commercial district.  As a result, Victorian structures that show elements of Queen Anne, Italianate and Second Empire styles now dominate the town’s Main Street as well as some intersecting streets.

In the National Register of Historic Places, this 2-story structure is referred to as the Paran Lodge…but I couldn’t find any relevant history on the building.

This handsome structure is the Atlantic Hotel.  It was completed in 1895 after the fire.  Considered one of Berlin’s historic treasures, it is right in the center of the town’s historic and entertainment districts.  The hotel has been restored to its original Victorian era décor and it features 15 upscale guest rooms.  In addition, the Atlantic Hotel Bistro Bar serves lunch, dinner and it has a full service bar.  You can learn more and book a room at https://atlantichotel.com/.

The Berlin Commercial District consists of 47 late-1800s commercial structures…one to three-story buildings that line Main Street as well as a couple of side streets.

As we wandered along through the commercial district, we noted the Baked Dessert Café…and since all of us love sweets and baked goods, a stop for refreshments seemed to be a good idea.  The choices were a bit overwhelming but we persevered and consumed a number of quality baked goods. 

Baked Dessert Café is also a wine shop featuring organic and sustainable wines.  This business is located at 4 C Bay Street across from the Atlantic Hotel.

One of the other fun things about Baked Dessert Café was the large and varied display of local art featured on the walls.  That adds a festive touch to the café.  Of course, sooner or later I ‘had’ to sneak in a photo of Bill and Bonnie… This dessert café’s website can be found at https://www.bakeddessertcafe.com/our-roots.

With a population of only about 5,100 residents, it’s hard to understand how all these businesses survive and prosper.  Obviously it’s all about tourism.  Ocean City Maryland is only 10 miles from Berlin…and the atmosphere in Berlin is vastly different than in Ocean City.  It’s frenetic vs. laid back, and I’m guessing that large segment of the tourist crowd prefers laid back, our little group included.

Pitt’s Street Treasures at 11 Pitts Street in Berlin, is the sister antique collectable mall to the Uptown Emporium.  It too is a good place to browse and search for that ‘treasure’ that you must have!  Website: https://pittsstreettreasures.com/index.php.

Berlin lies on land that was originally the 300-acre Burley Plantation.  It was established in 1677.  As colonial highways developed, the plantation was at the crossroad of a post road leading to Philadelphia and an important local road.  Tradition asserts that the pronunciation of the town’s name, “Burl’in”, comes from the emphasis on the first syllable…and it stems from the “Burley Inn”, an early tavern/inn that stood at the crossroads.

This ongoing local bank at 24 Main Street was established in 1890 by Calvin B. Taylor, a local teacher, lawyer and banker.  The original bank building was located on South Main Street but it was destroyed by a major fire in 1901.  This structure, with its Richardsonian-Romanesque elements, replaced the original bank building.  Today, operating as “Taylor Bank”, the company has offices in both Worcester County Maryland and Sussex County Maryland.  Website: https://www.taylorbank.com/.

I love that old Mosler Antique Night Drop Box Door!  Very classic indeed!  The Mosler Safe Company was founded in 1874 and the Mosler family remained in control of the company until 1967 when they sold it to American Standard Companies.  In turn, American Standard sold the company to former Mosler executives and outside investors in 1986.  The company declared bankruptcy in 2001, 127 years after the company was founded.

Yet another building from 1890 on Berlin’s Main Street.  While I couldn’t find any history about the building, per a number of obituaries, I did determine that the Purnell family has been in the area for many years.

The building is now the home of Gilbert’s Provisions, a specialty grocer featuring artisan cheeses, charcuterie boards, fermented foods and a wide variety of other specialty items.  Among the items I noted were prosciutto and provolone stuffed marinated peppers; house made kimchi, dill pickle sourdough bread and dry aged ducks.  Located at 116 North Main Street, Gilbert’s Provisions is on Facebook at Gilbert's Provisions | Berlin MD | Facebook.

Bright and colorful flowers were on display all throughout Berlin’s commercial district.  Among the uplifting signs along the way were the two sisters…Laurie and Bonnie.

The photo above is of the Stevenson United Methodist Church at 123 North Main Street in Berlin Maryland.  The first permanent place of worship for Methodists in town was erected in 1835.  It was replaced by a second church in 1847, which was located on the current site.  It was named Stevenson in honor of Edward Stevenson, who donated the land for the building.

In 1911, it was decided that a new and larger church was needed for the growing congregation.  Consequently, this granite structure was constructed…with Italian stone masons from Philadelphia doing the stone work.  The church was dedicated in June of 1913.  Website: Stevenson United Methodist Church | Home (stevensonchurch.org).

I couldn’t find out much about the Powell Building, which is located at 7 North Main Street in Berlin.  What I did learn was that on 11/1/22, it was one of a number of buildings across Maryland that was given a grant by the state so it could be preserved.  From the second photo it is apparent that the building has been refurbished and a new business was moving in during our visit!  Good news for sure…

This interesting structure is located at 1 North Main Street in Berlin Maryland.  It is the former Exchange and Savings Bank...one of a small collection of similar turn of the century bank buildings in the area.  It was built in 1902.  Note the decorative iron bars on the windows.

This building as well as an adjoining structure was sold recently for $1,750,000.  I’m sure that one major plus for the sale was that the buildings already had 4 paying tenants with another unit almost finished so it could be rented. 

The retail operation occupying that angled corner spot facing Main Street is Simple Pleasures – Bountiful Treasures.  Apparently they sell a bit of everything.  Website: Simple Pleasures ~ Bountiful Treasures (simplepleasures-bountifultreasures.com).

Our next stop will be Fenwick Island Delaware…

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave