Green Spring Valley Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Green Spring Valley Historic District
|
|
The former Stevenson Methodist Church, now converted into a residence
|
|
 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
|
|
| Nearest city | Stevenson and Owings Mills, Maryland |
|---|---|
| Area | 4,800 acres (1,900 ha) |
| Built | 1832 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Early Republic, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001797 |
| Added to NRHP | October 3, 1980 |
The Green Spring Valley Historic District is a special historic area near Stevenson in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It's a suburban area near Baltimore that is important because of its many old buildings. These buildings were built in the 1700s, 1800s, and early 1900s. The whole area feels like a park and still looks much like it did in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Around the year 1900, famous horse races like the Maryland Hunt Cup and the Grand National Maryland steeplechase happened here. The Maryland Hunt Cup race started as a competition between two local hunt clubs. It traditionally began at Brooklandwood, which was once the home of Charles Carroll of Carrollton. The race would finish across Valley Road at Oakdene, which was then the home of Thomas Deford. Oakdene is still a private home today.
Contents
Architectural Styles and Buildings
The buildings in the Green Spring Valley Historic District show off many popular architectural styles. These styles were common in the United States from the 1700s to the 1930s. You can see styles like Neoclassical, Georgian, and other revival styles. The buildings range from small and simple to large and fancy.
The old Stevenson railway station is also part of this district. It is still in good condition.
Important Churches in the District
Several church buildings are very important to the district's history. These include St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, Green Springs Methodist Church, Stevenson Methodist Church, and Sater's Baptist Church.
St. Thomas' Church is the oldest of these buildings. Its construction started in 1743. The church has been used continuously since it was finished.
Sater's Baptist Church is the oldest Baptist church building still standing in the United States. It was built for the very first Baptist group in the Province of Maryland. The congregation first worshipped in the original part of the building in 1746. However, the building was changed a lot in the 1860s because it had become very old and damaged.
The building for Greenspring Methodist Church is a small, charming structure. It was built in 1872 in a style called Carpenter Gothic. The person who owned the land gave this building to the local black church community. The current congregation took ownership of it in 1908.
The former Stevenson Methodist Church is a stone building in the Gothic Revival style. Its first stone was laid in 1905. However, the building was not officially opened until two years later.
District Recognition and Size
The Green Spring Valley Historic District was officially recognized in 1980. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special place protected for its historical importance.
The district covers a large area of 4,800 acres (1,900 ha). Within its boundaries, there are 282 buildings. Out of these, 148 buildings are considered "contributing," meaning they add to the historical importance of the district. The other 134 buildings are "non-contributing."
More Information
- Green Spring Valley Historic District, Baltimore County, including photo from 1979, at Maryland Historical Trust
