Orange Grove, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Orange Grove, Maryland
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Location of Orange Grove, Maryland
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Maryland |
| County |  Howard |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Orange Grove was once a small town in Maryland, located right on the Patapsco River. It was split between two counties: Howard County and Baltimore County, Maryland. Today, you can find its ruins within the Patapsco Valley State Park.
Contents
The Early Days of Orange Grove
The Orange Grove area was first settled by the Elliott family in 1762. They built homes near the Patapsco River. Two main roads ran alongside the river here. One of these roads was even called "George Washington's Gun Road." This was because General Lafayette's troops used it. They marched on this path during the Siege of Yorktown in the American Revolutionary War.
The Rise of the Mill Town
In 1856, George Elliot sold his land for $9,000. George Worthington and George Baily bought it. They started building a very large, six-story mill. Soon after, they sold the property to C.A. Gambrill for $45,000.
The Gambrill Mill
The mill became known as the Gambrill Mill. It was later renamed Orange Grove Mill. This mill made different types of flour, including "Patapsco Superlative Patent" and "Orange Grove" flour. People lived on the Howard County side of the river. They used a rope bridge to cross to the mill and the B&O railroad station.
Mill Improvements and Community Life
In 1869, R.G. and P.H. MacGill bought the mill. They kept the name C.A. Gambrill & Company. They made many improvements to the mill. In 1873, they added steam power to help run the machinery. In 1879, they installed modern rollers. These rollers helped to grind the flour more efficiently. The town even got its own school, which opened in 1898.
Challenges and Decline
The town of Orange Grove faced several challenges that led to its decline.
Natural Disasters and Fires
In 1904, a large amount of ice piled up in the river. This ice tore down the important rope bridge. In the same year, the company's Phoenix Mill burned down. This happened during the Great Baltimore Fire.
A year later, on May 6, 1905, disaster struck again. The Orange Grove mill and its train station caught fire. The fire started in the engine room. George W. Carr was monitoring the engine room at the time.
The End of the Town
After these fires, the town of Orange Grove could not recover. The mill was destroyed, and the community slowly faded away. Today, the ruins of the town are part of the Patapsco Valley State Park. A modern suspended bridge now stands along the trail, reminding visitors of the old town.
