Photo Gallery

Barrick was a self-taught, determined patriot with only a 7th grade education, yet he served as the post engineer and superintendent from Ritchie's inception through World War II.

The Maryland National Guard was convinced by General Milton Rockford and Robert Barrick to use the space previously occupied by Buena Vista Ice Company and farmers fields as the site for a new Guard Post. The heavily wooded area made for a great place to train these men and the natural material and local labor could be used to build the property as opposed to importing products in.

In the early years of the National Guard, each company slept in tents that were directly behind the 37 finger buildings. Each finger building had approximately 12 men to a company. This post card captures the landscape around the time period of the mid to late 1930's.

This photo taken in 1927 shows the Maryland National Guard just behind their tents, testing out some of their arms.