| Fox's Gap | |
|---|---|
Fox's Gap looking northeast towards Turner's Gap |
|
| Elevation | 1,060 ft (323 m) |
| Location | |
| Location | Maryland United States |
| Range | Blue Ridge Mountains South Mountain |
Fox's Gap, also known as Fox Gap, is a wind gap in the South Mountain Range of the Blue Ridge Mountains, located in Frederick County and Washington County, Maryland. The gap is traversed by Reno Monument Road. The Appalachian Trail also crosses the gap.
The gap is about 200 feet (61 m) below the ridgeline to the south, 400 feet (120 m) below the ridgline to the south and about 400 feet (120 m) above the surrounding lowlands. To the east of the gap lies the Middletown Valley and to the west the Hagerstown Valley. Turner's Gap is 1 mile (1.6 km) to the north. Lambs Knoll is the prominent peak immediately to the south.
The area was settled in early 1751 by the John and Christiana Fox family and their son Frederick, German immigrants from Hesse. Frederick assembled adjoining lands which eventually extended to Turner's Gap. The area is first mentioned as "Foxes Gap" in a September 10, 1792 letter. Frederick Fox moved to Ohio in the early 1800s after the death of his wife.[1]
The Daniel Wise family bought a portion of the property in 1858 for $46.96, clearing fields and building a log cabin. The Wise House was demolished in 1919. On September 14, 1862 the area was the scene some of the heaviest engagements of the Battle of South Mountain. The Reno Monument at the top of Fox's Gap commemorates the death of Union general Jesse Reno.[1]
The area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Turner's and Fox's Gaps Historic District.[2]