Schell, Maryland and West Virginia facts for kids

Schell was once a small town that no longer exists. It was located in two different states at the same time! Part of Schell was in Garrett County, Maryland, and the other part was in Mineral County, West Virginia, in the United States.

What Was Schell?

Schell is known as an "extinct town." This means that over time, people moved away, and the town no longer has residents or buildings. It's like a ghost town, but perhaps without many visible remains.

Where Was Schell Located?

This unique town was split between two states. One part was in Garrett County, Maryland, which is in the western part of Maryland. The other part was across the state line in Mineral County, West Virginia, located in the eastern part of West Virginia.

The Story of Schell's Post Office

Even though Schell was a small place, it had its own post office. A post office is where people send and receive mail. The Schell post office first opened in 1883. It was located on the West Virginia side of the town. This post office served the community for many years. However, it eventually closed down in 1931. After the post office closed, it was harder for people to live there, and the town slowly disappeared.

Who Was Augustus Schell?

The town of Schell was probably named after a man named Augustus Schell. He was an important person from New York. Augustus Schell was a politician and a lawyer.

• A politician is someone who works in government. They help make rules and decisions for a city, state, or country.
• A lawyer is a person who studies law and helps people with legal problems. They can give advice or represent people in court.

Augustus Schell was well-known in his time, and it's thought that the town was named in his honor.