Editing Williamsport, Maryland (section)

===Economic growth===
[[File:Maryland - Williamsport - NARA - 23941233 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Bryon Leather Shop at Bryon, 1945]]
In 1834, boats using a portion of the newly built [[Chesapeake and Ohio Canal]] were able to reach Williamsport from [[Washington, D.C.]] The canal itself was extended to Williamsport in 1835.<ref name="C&O Handbook">{{cite book |title=Chesapeake and Ohio Canal |publisher=National Park Service |location=Washington, D.C. |year=1991 |isbn=0-912627-43-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/chesapeakeohioca0000unse |url-access=registration }} Handbook No. 142.</ref>{{rp|96}} The canal became an important commercial route which connected the area with the lower Potomac River region and the [[Chesapeake Bay]], and later with the [[Cumberland, Maryland]] region as the canal construction continued westward. Williamsport became a very popular waterfront town which benefited the economy. In 1873, the [[Western Maryland Railway]] extended its line from Hagerstown to Williamsport, in order to gain access to canal traffic. Coal from Cumberland area mines was one of the principal commodities transferred from canal barges to rail cars at Williamsport.<ref name="Cook">{{Cook-Western Maryland |pages=33–34}}</ref>