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

with their mothers and sat en-
raptured listening to the hymns
and talks. Many Sunday school
teacher learned new methods of
instruction and a new interest in
the salvation of the children.
The meetings for young people
were held at first in large tent,
but when tents were displaced by
wooden structures, and the work
grew in size and interest, they
were transferred to a building
which stood at the corner of First
Ave. and Broadway. These meet
ings were always crowded.
Rev. Milburn discusses the fact
that the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road granted a rebate to- the AS
sociation on all excursion tickets
sold to Washington Grove. This
was a considerable contribution
to the resources, he says. Many
seriously objected at the time to
the acceptance of these rebates.
The founders of Washington
Grove had no idea of establishing
anything more than periodic
tent village, but it was soon
found that it was a healthful
place to spend the hot days of
summer.
At first families came a week
or two before the meeting open
ed and remained a while after
it closed. Tents were found to
be inconvenient for these long
stays.
Maj. Thomas p Morgan erect
ed the first wooden tent on the
circle, covering it with canvas
painted with. waterproof paint.
But the roof leaked. Umbrellas
, were frequently used at night as
a bed cover when it rained.
Then shingles took the place
of cotton duck. One after the
other was built on the circle and
the different avenues. Flowers
and vines were planted, and an
air of permancy began to appear.
A preachers lodge was built, then
a residence for the presiding ell
der.
, The pioneer builders were resi-
dents of the Grove, Mr.. Bower,
and William Scott, a negro.
In keeping with its plan to
encourage the building of
homes along the Metropolitan
Branch, the Il. and o. shipped
all building material free, and
granted a pass to each family
moving to the Grove.
The original plat of the grounds
, keeps in remembrance three of
the early active workers in the
camp meeting. The athletic
, field set apart for recreational
games, Woodward Field, was
named in honor of Thomas Wood
ward McCauley st. on the north
and Brown st. on the South hon
ored Rev. James A. McCauley
t and Rev. B. Peyton Brown.
o DR.. McCauley was the presid-
d ing elder of Washington District
p when the Grove was purchased,
L and Rev. Brown was his success
S sor on the District when DR.. Nc
Cauley was elected president of
G Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa.
= SO great was the growth of
e the summer population and the
+ demand for cottages, says Rev.
S Milburn, that the Association
built a hotel on Broadway near
l. First Ave, which was popular
S for many years.
Il Its dining room attracted cot.
! tagers and transient visitors. II
finally yielded to the gradual lack
of interest in the Grove, fell in.
I to decay and was torn down.
For several years there was a
/ store back of the hotel and a
farmers market. A barber shop
was opened and sustained.
As the days went by the pop
ulation Of the Grove, winter as
well as summer became more OF
less permanent. The camp meet
ing feature gave way to a regu
lar yearround church organiZa
ton.
The b. and O, station, which
opened in 1904, closed in 1854
Trains still run from the towr
TO Washington, to take the many
commuters who live there to theiI
/. jobs.
In its present governmental
form, Washington Grove has
been called "thc best example
of intelligent foresight in com
munity planning"
The town won't allow look
alike subdivisions 10 spring up
in its area, and its coming pol
icy assures that Washington
Grove will retain its park-like