Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29

WCIC OlllI.
For many years, Washington
Grove was the site of a huge
Methodist camp meeting every
summer. Summer residents who
returned year after year began
to put wooden walls around their
canvas tents, and later, when
many decided to build permanent
summer homes, they just added
more rooms to the original tent
The great popularity of the
Washington Grove meetings
was due to the combined efforts
of Washington Methodists and
the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road. The MethodiStS were in
terested in religion and the rail
road was interested in business.
These two influences proved to
be an unbeatable combination.
The Rev. Page Milburn, one of
the last Methodist ministers at
the Grove, told its story in a
booklet he wrote in 1927 for Maj.
Samuel N. Walker, one of the
original meetinggoers. The
booklet is now owned by Mrs.
Rosalie Hardy Shantz of Wash
ngton Grove, granddaughter of
Maj. Walker.
Camp meetings from the pion-
eer days were employed by the
various denomination as a means
of evangelization," said Rev, Mil
burn. During my boyhood days
they were very popular through
out the country. The Methodists
of Washington and vicinity held
their annual gatherings in the
woods, but found great difficulty
in finding a place which was
convenient to the people, and at
the same time free from molesta-
ton and annoyance from the
rowdy element and from conflict
with the liquor traffic.
Finally in 1872 the Washing
ton Methodists concluded to seek
a place they could own and con-
troll. A committee consisting of
the presiding elder, Rev. James
A. McCauley, Rev. B. Peyton
Brown, William r. Woodward
and DR.. Flodoardo Howard in
spected various properties ada
cent to Washington.
"The Metropolitan Branch OF
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
was then in process of construc-
ton. Before 1872 all Western
trains from New York ran
through Baltimore and Relay
over the Main Line through FL
licott City, Mt. Airy, etc. Trains
ran into Washington from Relay.
1.-THE sole means of convey
ance from Washington to Rock.
vile was by daily stage, and
thence by private vehicles.
THE committee above named
drove through sections of Mont.
gomery County as far as Clarks.
burg, but finally agreed to recon.
mend the purchase of the prop,
erty owned by a lady named
Cook, near Gaithersburg.
ut was recognized as suitable
for the purposes contemplated
because of its elevation, its nat
ural drainage, its springs and the
abundance of woods, and especial
ly for the reason that it would
be located on the new railroad.
"The original tract purchased
? included on both sides of the rail
road and of Latonsville road. This
together with the provision of the
charter forbidding the sale OF
liquor within mile of the prop
erty Excepting Gaithersburg)
gave assurance of peace anc
order"
The Washington Grove Camp
Meeting Association was formed
with officers elected from the var
ious District of Columbia anC
Maryland churches. A CAM
meeting was arranged
In 1874 the State Legislature
granted charter TO the AsSo.
citation, and bylaws were lat
err adopted by the stockholders.
The capital stock was $4,000,
divided into 1000 shares of $50
each.
The general objects of the
Association, as set forth in the
charter, were to obtain and hold
land to be used for excursions
from churches, Sunday schools
and other moral and benevolent
associations, and to hold camp
meetings and other religious
meetings in accordance with
the usage of the Methodist Epis.
cOpal church.
Early in the summer of 1872
says Rev. Milburn, a huge picnic
was held on the grounds. Elk
cursion trains brought crowds OF
Washingtonians TO -. the Grove
where they were impressed with
the beautiful woods and the album
dance of wild flowers.
The first camp meeting was
held In AnpnSl Of that VOTE wit h