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Villa to Point Lookout. 'I'hoy HOOlI IHlttiO l'J'londH nnd In Lh
TH IIUMA HOTll"
As we go north on what was for years known as the
Three Notch Road, although now known as Route Five,
we come to a store at Scotland operated by Clarence
"Bussy" Ridgell. This store was established by Mr.
Nathan Shuman.
Nathan and his brother Max emigrated from Germany
when they were young men during the last of the eighteenth
century. Even at that time they were fascinated by the
friendliness of the people of St. Mary's County and felt
attracted, they decided to make their home here. Max
was the oldest of the two brothers and Nathan respected
his judgement. Even before leaving Europe they envision
ed themselves as being in the mercantile business. The,
one big handicap, they could not speak English. Having
very little money they knew they were up against a hard
proposition. Each of them was married and they didn't
have enough money to get their families over here. But
what they lacked in money and ability to speak English,
they made up for in strong determination. Both had two
children, Max with two boys, Harry and Ike, and Nathan
had Jake and Ida. Later on Nathan had Mike, Becky and
then Max had Anna and Lawrence to add to the first two
boys.
They each bought a canvas pack with broad leather
straps and a broad belt. They put their arms through a
loop in the leather straps. They invested the balance of
their capital in stock to fill these two packs. Their stocl
consisted of all kinds of cheap trinkets such as powder,
cologne or anything which would appeal to women and
children. These packs, when first filled, would be so
heavy the average man could not lift them. If a man was
nearby they would ask him to help lift the pack so they
could get beneath it and would be on their way. When they
came toa home, with their hats in their hands and a plea-
sant greeting, would ask if they might enter and display
their wares.
The Shumans would walk all the way from Mechanics-
mo rning would doctdo whore Lhoy would moot in tho evenin
and whore they would spend the night. There were many
Jewish people in the county and they were glad to help a
fellow in need. In fact, they were much more cooperative
than the average country people. The Shumans always
seemed to be welcome at the peoples homes and the mother,
no doubt, would buy something interesting. The children
were so eager to see the little trinkets which they would
admire and spend their coins on.
The Shumans worked very hard, saved their money
and in the course of time each bought a parcel of land and
built themselves a store. Max built his store in Ridge,
the same building which houses Albert Greenvell's plumb-
ing business. Nathan built his store at Scotland, the build-
ing although with considerable additions, in which Bussy
Ridgell does business.
It was a happy day when both the Shumans brought
their families into their own homes. It was with great
pride that they showed their families their business places.
The Shumans were Russian Jews, honest and greatly
respected by all the people who did business with them.
The Shumans continued to prosper. They both had an
enormous business and competition did not bother them.
I had served an apprenticeship as a blacksmith and
operated a blacksmiths shop across the road from Max
Shuman's store. Quite often I would help them out in the
evenings after my shop work was done. Therefore, I got
to know Max and his family much better than I knew
Nathan. They were all very good people and as honest as
the day is long. The Shumans moved away just as the
first automobiles began to come into the county. Neither
of them bought one. They had always depended on a horse
and wagon so that is how they hauled their wares to the
store from the steamboat wharf.
The Shumans were very charitable. I had seen many
times people enter the store who did not have enough
money to buy the things they needed and when told this,
the Shumans would always see to it they left the store
satisfied and with the items needed. Some people who did