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Broad Run, Maryland
Broad Run
Broad Run
Broad Run, Maryland is located in Maryland
Broad Run, Maryland
Broad Run, Maryland
Location in Maryland
Country United States
State Maryland
County Frederick
Elevation
535 ft (163 m)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s) 301 & 240
GNIS feature ID 589819

Broad Run is a small, unincorporated community located in Frederick County, Maryland, United States. It's found about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) southeast of a town called Middletown. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town.

Broad Run's Early History

The village of Broad Run began in the mid-1700s. This was when English settlers moved west from the Frederick area. German settlers also came south from Pennsylvania. They were all looking for new places to live and farm.

The first land surveys in the area happened in the 1740s. One of the first main roads, called the "Touchstone" road, passed just south of Broad Run. This road helped connect different areas.

Broad Run During the American Revolution

During the American Revolutionary War, some people in Frederick County were found to be secretly helping Great Britain. Peter Sueman, a farmer from Broad Run, was one of these people.

On July 25, 1781, Sueman and six others were put on trial. They were found guilty of being traitors to the American cause. On August 17, 1781, Peter Sueman and two others were executed in Frederick. The other four people were pardoned by Governor Thomas Sim Lee.

Broad Run as an Industrial Center

Broad Run grew into an important local center for the farms nearby. It became a place where goods were made and traded.

  • Mills and Commerce: An old map from 1858 shows that Broad Run had a saw mill and a grist mill. These mills were located along the Broad Run Creek. In 1851, Manasses Jacob Grove, who was from Broad Run, built a brick store. This store became the main business spot for over 100 years. The last general store there closed in the 1960s.
  • M.J. Grove Lime Company: After the American Civil War, Manasses Grove started the M.J. Grove Lime Company. This company grew to be one of the biggest businesses in Frederick County. Grove also served in the Maryland House of Delegates, which is like a state legislature, from 1897 to 1891.
  • Community Services: Broad Run also had its own Post Office, which opened on July 10, 1868, and closed on November 14, 1901. The village also had its own school for local children.

Pleasant View Church of the Brethren

The Pleasant View Church of the Brethren was started in Broad Run in 1776. The church was first known as the Broad Run Dunker or German Baptist Church. For its first 100 years, the church members met for services in the schoolhouses around the village.

In 1876, the church built its own meeting house about a mile from the center of Broad Run. At that time, the church's name was changed to Pleasant View. The church is still active and serving the community today.

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