A LETTER FROM GLEN MCFAUL
FACTS AND HISTORY OF SANDERS CORNER
"My main goal in building McFaul's IronHorse Tavern is to restore the reputation of the Baltimore County cornerstone restaurant that was located on the east side of the Loch Raven Reservoir. As closely as I can determine, Sander's Corner was built in 1886 as a blacksmith shop. It also housed the Loch Raven post office until 1953. In 1939, the post office and adjoining house were destroyed by a fire. During the two year rebuilding process, the post office occupied a corner near the current building's fireplace. The newly rebuilt structure transitioned into a general store as the need for a blacksmith diminished.
The various owners that followed sold sandwiches, ice cream and sundry items. The Maryland National Guard quartered in the basement during World War II. Throughout 1941 and 1942 they kept guard over the Loch Raven dam to ensure the safety of the water supply. The Guard spent the remainder of the war in the white house at the foot of the dam, which is now used as a maintenance depot for Loch Raven watershed staff.
The railroad station for the Loch Raven stop of the Ma & Pa Railroad was just up the hill and across Cromwell Bridge Road. The "Iron Horse" ran from downtown Baltimore to York every day, until 1956 when the railroad cancelled service. The train stopped at the station and the mail was carried down the steps to the post office. The remains of the station's concrete foundation and the steps leading down to Cromwell Bridge Road are still visible today.
Across Loch Raven Drive, which is currently an additional parking lot, stood another general store during the period when the main building was a blacksmith shop. There was also a dance hall in its basement. It was apparently abandoned and fell into ruin, leaving only the ground on which it stood.
The Sanders family took over both corners in 1956. Leigh Sanders began making his own ice cream and immediately a dedicated following arose. Leigh kept his recipes a secret and sadly, he took them with him to his grave in 1986. Shortly after his passing, the family abandoned his ice cream tradition. Throughout the years, the business had been known by various names, including "The Gateway" and "Lake Drive-In." The only addition was built in the fall of 1991, at which time the ice cream and sandwich shop became a restaurant. The Sanders family owned and operated the restaurant until its sale in March 2008.
"My main goal in building McFaul's IronHorse Tavern is to restore the reputation of the Baltimore County cornerstone restaurant that was located on the east side of the Loch Raven Reservoir. As closely as I can determine, Sander's Corner was built in 1886 as a blacksmith shop. It also housed the Loch Raven post office until 1953. In 1939, the post office and adjoining house were destroyed by a fire. During the two year rebuilding process, the post office occupied a corner near the current building's fireplace. The newly rebuilt structure transitioned into a general store as the need for a blacksmith diminished.
The various owners that followed sold sandwiches, ice cream and sundry items. The Maryland National Guard quartered in the basement during World War II. Throughout 1941 and 1942 they kept guard over the Loch Raven dam to ensure the safety of the water supply. The Guard spent the remainder of the war in the white house at the foot of the dam, which is now used as a maintenance depot for Loch Raven watershed staff.
The railroad station for the Loch Raven stop of the Ma & Pa Railroad was just up the hill and across Cromwell Bridge Road. The "Iron Horse" ran from downtown Baltimore to York every day, until 1956 when the railroad cancelled service. The train stopped at the station and the mail was carried down the steps to the post office. The remains of the station's concrete foundation and the steps leading down to Cromwell Bridge Road are still visible today.
Across Loch Raven Drive, which is currently an additional parking lot, stood another general store during the period when the main building was a blacksmith shop. There was also a dance hall in its basement. It was apparently abandoned and fell into ruin, leaving only the ground on which it stood.
The Sanders family took over both corners in 1956. Leigh Sanders began making his own ice cream and immediately a dedicated following arose. Leigh kept his recipes a secret and sadly, he took them with him to his grave in 1986. Shortly after his passing, the family abandoned his ice cream tradition. Throughout the years, the business had been known by various names, including "The Gateway" and "Lake Drive-In." The only addition was built in the fall of 1991, at which time the ice cream and sandwich shop became a restaurant. The Sanders family owned and operated the restaurant until its sale in March 2008.