Over the next several months, we will look at a few communities sharing commonalities with Washington Grove. The first community is not Emory Grove, our neighbor in Montgomery County — but rather Emory Grove in Baltimore County, Maryland. The overview starts with information compiled from the Maryland Historical Trust’s entry for the Glyndon Historic District, which encompasses Emory Grove.
Glyndon began in 1868 when a group of Methodists established a campground close to the Western Maryland Railroad tracks. The group, called the Emory Grove Camp Meeting Association, began evangelical meetings under a large tent. People flocked to the summer services, remaining for extended periods and living in tents. By 1887 the popularity of the meeting had encouraged the Association to construct the 40-room Emory Grove Hotel. Gradually the tents were replaced with wooden cottages and in 1900 an open market house moved from Hanover, Pennsylvania, replaced the canvas tabernacle.
By the 1920s, Emory Grove had proved enormously successful. Evangelists like Billy Sunday drew large crowds from Baltimore in addition to the summer residents. The campground encouraged the development of Glyndon as a summer resort–several devotees of Emory Grove erected their own more substantial summerhouses adjacent to the campground.
Temperance Park, across Butler Road, is another example of the spirit of Methodism in Glyndon. Founded in 1887, it was the first temperance park in Maryland. Thirteen frame cottages line the south side of a green open space, originally the site of meetings devoted to prohibition. An annual service is held in Temperance Park which preserves the open space.
The railroad and the camp meetings at Emory Grove opened the area to development. Local property owners began laying out lots and streets, and constructing a hotel, town hall, and general store. Railroad and streetcar service to Glyndon coincided with the most concentrated period of the Town’s growth.
The Emory Grove Campground on Glyndon’s northern boundary is occupied in the summer. Temperance Park in the northeastern section was a second religious summer community which is now occupied by full-time residents.
A visit to the website of the Emory Grove Association of Baltimore, Inc., offers additional information and includes current and historical photographs of the campground.
This past August, Emory Grove hosted tours of 20 cottages built in the early 20th century, their historic Hotel, Tabernacle, and Temple.
The religious tradition in Emory Grove continues, although it is no longer limited to Methodism. Each summer, various local churches come to Emory Grove to lead worship surrounded by nature. In addition to regular worship services and “hymn sings”, each summer season sees the return of lecture and concert series.
(Note: Unfortunately, readers who attempt to access The Baltimore Sun articles that are linked in the Emory Grove website may encounter a paywall…)