Trailhead
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“My mind cannot imagine a more beautiful sight than could be obtained from the highest grounds of the Hoop-Pole
Ridge, which commanded a view of the valley between that and the great Back-Bone . . . It was a grand sight to
watch the tall grass, rolling in beautiful waves with every breeze which passed over its smooth surface, as well as
the herds of deer skipping and playing with each other”
These are the words of Meshach Browning from his book, Forty-Four Years of the Life of a Hunter (1859),
describing much of the area that would become Deep Creek Lake. Browning was one the earliest settlers of Western
Maryland and a prolific hunter, killing over 2,000 deer, 500 bear, and numerous panthers, wolves and rattlesnakes.
His book, penned with a turkey quill by candlelight, recounts many of his hunting expeditions, as well as providing
details about pioneer life in this area during the early 1800’s. This trail system is dedicated to him, and signage
throughout contains excerpts from his book and commentary on his life and times. Each sign also provides
additional information on Garrett County history and its present day resources.
Image
Browning’s book contains a number of illustrations by E. Stabler – this shows Browning clad in
buckskins and flanked by two of his hunting dogs.
References
This trail system and interpretive signage are made possible through the cooperation and support of Garrett County
Commissioners, The Deep Creek Lake Lions Club, Garrett Trails and the Mountain Maryland, Gateway to the West
Heritage Area.
Seals of all organizations
For full text of all signs, audio recordings of the content and more information, visit:
www.deepcreeklions.org
Sign 1 – Life in western MD during the pioneer era
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“The early settlers, being but few in number, had a hard time to maintain themselves; and had
they not used the greatest economy, they could not have lived in the wilderness at all…All the
settlers lived in cabins, and fed their children on bread, meat, butter, honey and milk; coffee and
tea were almost out of the question…”
-Meshach Browning, Forty-four Years of the Life of a Hunter
The pioneers of western Maryland were largely self-sufficient, feeding themselves off the land,
building their own cabins from local materials, and clothing themselves with home-spun textiles.
Today, residents of Garrett County show many of the same traits of perseverance and connection
with nature.
Image
Original photo caption by Leo Beachy reads: "The old Meshach Browning home as it looks today (1919),
after almost the lapse of a century. “ This cabin was located on Sang Run, in Garrett County, MD and
was built by Meshach Browning near the year 1828, but has been torn down since Beachy’s photo.
References
You can see more of Leo Beachy’s photos of Garrett County and the surrounding area at the
Grantsville Museum (add Drane house in Accident?)
QR code with link to Grantsville Museum
http://www.garrettcountymuseums.com/grantsvillemuseum.html
Sign 2 – Deer Hunting
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“Presently a tremendous buck appeared. I thought that to kill him would be to destroy a fine
animal to no purpose, and I determined not to shoot him as I knew he was not fit for use.”
-Meshach Browning, Forty-four Years of the Life of a Hunter
Although Browning killed thousands of deer, it was clear that he had a deep respect and
appreciation for his natural surroundings and the animals he shared them with. His book
abounds with stories and observations about the behavior of wildlife and good hunting
techniques. One of the more memorable tales involved Browning wrestling for his life with a
wounded buck in the Youghiougeny River, shown in the print below.
Image
After reading Browning’s stirring account of a hand-to-hand fight with a wounded buck in the
Youghiogeny River, A. F. Tait (1819-1905), the great Adirondack artist/deer hunter, created a painting
in 1861 of Browning grappling with the unexpectedly formidable opponent titled The Life of a Hunter:
Catching a Tartar, thus immortalizing the famous incident.
References
Visit the Garrett County Historical Museum in Oakland to see hunting artifacts and other
exhibits from Garrett County history.
QR code with link to Oakland Museum
http://www.garrettcountymuseums.com/historicalmuseum.html
Sign 3 – Trading
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"I collected all my venison . . . a respectable load of fine, fat and fresh deer meat... I had eightyseven saddles of venison and three whole deer...I also had with me seven saddles of bear-meat,
together with butter, beeswax and furs of different kinds. . .At Hagerstown it met a ready sale,
and in Frederick City we disposed of over eighty dollars' worth, all for cash, at twelve and half
cents per pound. We then went to Georgetown, where we sold out without trouble...By this
means I raised money, paid for my land, and had something left for the family, besides being
able to hire a hand in a pinch of work"
-Meshach Browning, Forty-four Years of the Life of a Hunter
By his own account, Meshach Browning killed over 500 bear during his hunting career.
Although he clearly relished the sport of hunting, it was also a necessity which put clothing on
his family’s back, food on the table and money in his pocket. Even in the early 19th century,
city-dwellers were willing to pay premium rates for fresh, quality food from the western
mountains.
Image
An illustration by E. Stabler from the book – this shows a typical bear expedition with Browning
accompanied by two of his hunting dogs.
(better image to come – I just took a picture with my phone from the book)
References
Visit Friend’s Delight Store to get a glimpse of what a pioneer-era trading post looked like.
QR code with link to Deep Creek Discovery Center (they run the Friend’s Delight site)
http://www.discoverycenterdcl.com/
Sign 4 – Meshach Browning’s Legacy
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“Here I found my true pleasure – my wife, dressed clean, her beauty, in my estimation, unsurpassed; the
children, as clean as water and soap could make them, plenty to live on, and not an enemy on earth. I say,
who could be happier than I was at the time?”
-Meshach Browning, Forty-four Years of the Life of a Hunter
In an 1859 edition of Atlantic Monthly, an uncredited book reviewer of Forty-Four Years of the Life of a
Hunter notes that Meschach Browning’s progeny “fifty years later had increased to one hundred and
twenty-two, of whom sixty-seven, as their progenitor says proudly, were "capable of bearing arms for the
defense of their country,"” His legacy lives on today - Browning is still a common name in the area and
the nature and wildlife that he respected and relied on are still one of the county’s main draws. He died at
the age of 78 and reportedly hunted till his last days.
Image
Meshach Browning’s grave marker erected by his children and grandchildren. Inscribed with the birth
and death dates of Browning and his two wives.
References
You can visit Meshach Browning’s grave alongside Maryland Rt 42, between the intersections of
US Rt 219 and Hoyes-Sang Run Rd.
QR code to a map