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Rosenbaum's Department Store
Photograph by Kathleen McKenney, courtesy of the City of Cumberland
Built in the early 1900s, Rosenbaum's Department Store is a typical example of an early 20th-century department store, located in the heart of downtown. Rosenbaum's was built at the height of Cumberland's economic prosperity, growth, and corresponding construction in the downtown area. Architecturally, it is one of the city's most outstanding examples of commercial architecture. Architect J.S. Seibert utilized a number of Renaissance details, including three large arcades with three-sided bay windows above street level. Between each arch is a large circular molded brick medallion. Particularly interesting are the carved human heads in the stone surrounds of the arcades, placed on keystones. The impressive bracketed cornice is highlighted by a lion's head sculpture centered above each bracket.

Rosenbaum's is typical of major downtown department stores built in towns across the country. First appearing in the 1860s, department stores offered a great range of goods and services under one very large roof, a contrast to the variety of speciality stores which had previously comprised downtown commercial areas. Their popularity grew as the goods and services offered increased, and shopping at the department store became a pastime of middle-class women. From the 1890s to the years prior to World War I department store construction boomed. Stores like Rosenbaum's were larger and more luxurious than their predecessors, and symbolized America's growing consumerism.

Rosenbaum's Department Store is located at 118 Baltimore St., and is a contributing building to the Downtown Cumberland Historic District. Now the Keystone Financial Bank, it is open to the public during normal banking hours.

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