History
Oakland is the seat of Garrett County, the westernmost county in the state. It was formed from neighboring Allegany County in 1872 and named for Baltimore & Ohio Railroad president John Work Garrett. The B&O Railroad route traveled through Oakland and was vital to the county's coal and timber industries. Like many other Appalachian counties, the early 20th century industrial boom created environmental and social change in Garrett County. By the stock market crash and ensuing Great Depression of the 1930s, Garrett County's coal, timber, and railroad industries had slowed, leaving many out of work and focusing on agriculture for survival. Buckwheat, the subject of Gates' mural, has been grown in the United States since the colonial period and used primarily as a feed substitute for livestock and as flour for human consumption. It grows rapidly and matures in a short growing season. In Appalachia, the most popular use of buckwheat is probably as 'buckwheat cakes', pancakes made with buckwheat flour. Dense and slightly bitter, buckwheat cakes serve as a good source of fiber, complex carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Its versatility and nutritional benefits made the crop a good choice for Depression-era cultivation, when land needed to be used as efficiently as possible.
During the Great Depression, western Maryland counties benefitted from federal relief projects, most notably the Civilian Conservation Corps. Men from Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia signed up to serve and moved to makeshift camps at Swallow Falls and Deer Park, both in Garrett County. National Guard officers ran the camps, adding a quasi-military element to the young men's service. CCC workers focused on building and improving infrastructure in the most rual areas of the county. They used dynamite to blast trails for roads, built and strengthened bridges, fought forest fires, cleared deep snow for residents, and constructed recreation areas for tourists and residents to enjoy. Today, logging and agriculture form the county's economic base and tourism has rebounded as a viable source of income. Deep Creek Lake and the Wisp Ski Resort attract visitors in the summer and winter, respectively.