As Frederick City moved into the 20th century, civic leaders and politicians began a push to improve the city’s streets. The cobblestone streets no longer provided a smooth enough ride when there were better road materials available that were more durable.

At the turn of the century, residents were no longer happy with Frederick’s street. “There can only be one opinion as to the condition of Frederick’s streets, and to say that they are not what they might be is to express it in the mildest possible way,” The (Frederick) Daily News reported in 1901. “Nobody is satisfied with the streets the way they are and everybody would like to have them improved.”