Historical Timeline
Compiled by George Paine
sources: Edwards (1988), Shantz (1975), Town Directories (various 1960-1997)
| Year | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 1873 | Washington Grove Camp Meeting Association established | |
| 1874 | First Camp Meeting Association charter approved by Maryland General Assembly | |
| 1875 | Fence built around the camp grounds | |
| 1877 | Tabernacle built in The Circle | |
| 1878 | First cottages built | |
| 1880 | Albany Hotel built | |
| 1883 | Second Camp Meeting Association charter approved by General Assembly | |
| 1884 | Wooden floor added to the Tabernacle | |
| 1886 | J. C. Lang surveys the Grove Washington Grove Post Office opens in Albany Hotel | |
| 1888 | Sunday excursion trains discontinued by the B&O RR at the request of the Association 1890 Washington Grove Post Office relocated (across the B&O tracks) to Oakmont Broadway (above Center Street) renamed as an extension of Grove Avenue | |
| 1891 | C. J. Maddox resurveys the Grove | |
| 1893 | Association trustees permit the playing of baseball | |
| 1896 | Woodward Park cleared | |
| 1897 | Hotel sustains minor damage by fire | |
| 1898 | 4th of July address given by Mrs. J. Ellen Foster Association trustees forbid bicycles from walkways on Sundays | |
| 1899 | Tabernacle floor rebuilt and raised | |
| 1902 | Assembly Hall built First Chautauqua assembly held First Field Day held on Labor Day | |
| 1904 | First cottage intended for year-round occupancy constructed Sale of Sunday newspapers banned in the Grove | |
| 1905 | Tabernacle demolished; Auditorium built Men’s Athletic Association formed Sewer line constructed under Chestnut Road Telephone service extended to the Hotel | |
| 1906 | Washington Grove Association drops 'Camp Meeting' from its name B&O station built, replacing depot | |
| 1907 | Fire destroys one cottage and damages three others on Grove Avenue Men’s Athletic Association forms Fire Committee | |
| 1908 | Presiding Elder’s cottage destoyed by fire | |
| 1910 | Maple Lake formed when Maple Spring dammed to supply ice for the Grove Methodist Church congregation established Preachers lodge moved to Woodward Park; …becomes Men’s Athletic Association clubhouse Girls Athletic Association clubhouse built in Woodward Park Railroad Street built around the South edge of the Grove Telephone service extended to two Grove cottages Women’s Society established | |
| 1911 | Sewer line constructed under Grove Road | |
| 1912 | Washington Grove Band formed Odd Fellows Lodge formed | |
| 1913 | Women’s Guild of Washington Grove established | |
| 1914 | Electricity service extended to the Grove; street lighting converted to electricity Superintendent’s cottage remodeled at Women’s Guild expense | |
| 1915 | Friday and Saturday night cinema begins in the Auditorium | |
| 1917 | Girls Athletic Association clubhouse wired for electricity | |
| 1918 | Grove chestnut trees (Castanea dentata) succumb to blight; …most are replaced with elms (Ulmus americana L.) Girls Athletic Association not allowed to put on public dance for convalescent soldiers …from Walter Reed hospital | |
| 1920 | Telephone service becomes available throughout the Grove Odd Fellows building (later used for the Post Office) constructed Girls Athletic Association puts on first public dance in the Grove | |
| 1921 | Auditorium roof rebuilt at Women’s Guild expense Girls Athletic Association holds its last meeting | |
| 1922 | Association trustees continue prohibition against playing of tennis on Sundays Tornado strikes the Grove | |
| 1924 | Last Camp Meeting held | |
| 1925 | Washington Grove Methodist Church offers to purchase Assembly Hall | |
| 1926 | Woman’s Club established Hotel fixtures sold at auction | |
| 1927 | Hotel demolished Girls Athletic Association clubhouse turned over to the Woman’s Club Maple Lake dam rebuilt Water and sewer service extended to the Grove | |
| 1928 | Washington Grove Band disbanded Grove roads resurfaced with packed cinders Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Fire Department established | |
| 1929 | Baseball grandstand condemned and dismantled Association devolves remaining religious functions to the Washington Grove Methodist Church | |
| 1933 | Association trustees continue prohibition against playing of tennis on Sundays | |
| 1934 | Men’s Athletic Association clubhouse dismantled; materials are used to construct a kitchen addition to the Woman’s clubhouse Several cottages damaged by fire on upper Grove Avenue 'Grove Gatherings' newspaper begins publication Association permits sports, other than baseball, on Sunday afternoons | |
| 1935 | House numbering established | |
| 1937 | Association dissolved; Town of Washington Grove incorporated | |
| 1939 | Grove roads paved Women’s Athletic Association clubhouse burns down Acorn Lane opened Indoor pumbing installed in the Auditorium | |
| 1940 | Woman’s Clubhouse built on site of the Albany Hotel Sunday morning tennis playing prompts calls for suppression by Town ordinance, …but none is adopted | |
| 1945 | Land in or near Town cleared for County Livestock Show …by German prisoners of war housed in Emory Grove camp | |
| 1949 | Woman’s Club holds first annual Flower Show Grove Recreation Club established | |
| 1951 | B&O work train derailment caused by a collision with a large dog. | |
| 1955 | Washington Grove Methodist Church built Town acquires planning and zoning authority | |
| 1956 | New Washington Grove Elementary School constructed adjacent to old school in Oakmont | |
| 1957 | Old Washington Grove Elementary School burned by fire department | |
| 1957 | Derailment litigation resolved by decision of the U.S. Supreme Court Assembly Hall renamed McCathran Hall | |
| 1958 | B&O station demolished | |
| 1963 | Auditorium demolished | |
| 1975 | Adoption of Master Plan 'Grove Gatherings' history published | |
| 1980 | Town included in the National Register of Historic Places | |
| 1984 | Southland Corp. litigation begins | |
| 1985 | Southland Corp. litigation settled | |
| 1987 | 50th Anniversary of Incorporation of the Town | |
| 1988 | History of Camp Meeting Association published | |
| 1990 | 7-11 closes under terms of settlement agreement with Southland Corp. | |
| 1992 | Curbside recycling begins | |
| 1995 | The Janus Museum established Bed & Breakfast controversy begins | |
| 1996 | Council votes to prohibit Bed & Breakfast Inns McCathran Hall renovation and expansion; Song 'Meet Me at McCathran Hall' composed | |
| 1997 | train station rebuilt with State and Federal funds | |
| 1998 | 125th Anniversary of the B&O Metropolitan Branch, and of the Grove State moves alignment of Route 124 away from Washington Grove Lane SPCA cat shelter closes | |
| 1999 | Ice storm strikes the Grove in January Town of Washington Grove web site SPCA cat shelter reopens in Old Town Gaithersburg Nature trail built in the East Woods Town assumes maintenance responsibility for Ridge Road | |