Central Maryland Heritage League

03/10/2020

History of Dahlgren Chapel - Part 3 of 4

In 1925, the property was deeded back to Mrs. Pierce, who sold most of the estate, retaining the chapel and the parcel upon which it sat in trust for the family.
Upon her death later that year, the property passed to her son Josiah Pierce III who resided in New York City.

Over the next 30 years vandals took their toll on Dahlgren Chapel culminating in an ultimate tragedy when in 1959 the crypt was breached and the graves of the Dahlgren family were desecrated. The remains were promptly re-interred at St. Michael’s Church, Poplar Springs, MD. Mr. Pierce sold the chapel out of family hands in 1960 to Mr. Richard Griffin, for $1000., who expressed his interest and intent to stabilize and begin the restoration of the chapel.

Mr. Griffin had quite a daunting task at hand. Most all of the windows had been shot out or smashed. The marble altar was in pieces. The interior had been taken over by honeysuckle, poison ivy and hornets. The marble floor and walls had crystallized by seeping water.

Through Mr. Griffin’s herculean efforts Dahlgren Chapel began to gradually reclaim its former dignity. The marble altar was largely restored, the missing pieces of being found nearby. The windows were secured, and at least partially restored. The floors and walls were cleaned and repaired. Mr. Pierce who had retained the original bell offered it back to Mr. Griffin, and the bell was reinstalled.

Mr. Griffin had a great deal of help in his restoration effort. A local Braddock Heights Boy Scout troop came across pieces of the damaged windows while camping in Washington State Park. They collected and returned the pieces to enhance the window restoration effort being spearheaded by Jim Russell of Russell Glass Works in Frederick. Local farmers helped remove the brush and vines from both the exterior and interior of the chapel.

26/08/2020

We're honored and humbled to receive our designation for Dahlgren Chapel as a Frederick County, Maryland Landmark. The Foundation presented our plaque this past weekend. Congrats to the volunteers of CHML that made this possible and to the Foundation members for helping us make this a reality. Thank you Frederick County Landmarks Foundation!

21/06/2020

CMHL and Dahlgren Chapel featured in the June 2020 Edition of Frederick Magazine

Simple but charming, the Dahlgren Chapel rises above Turner’s Gap in a clearing next to the Appalachian Trail. This little stone structure checked all the

15/06/2020

History of Dahlgren Chapel on South Mountain - Part 2 of 4

History of Dahlgren Chapel - Part 2 of 4

The chapel was consecrated by Archbishop Gibbons on July 29, 1884 with six additional priests assisting. During Mrs. Dahlgren’s stewardship, the chapel, referred by her as “the South Mountain Mission” was presided over by clergy from St. Augustine Church, Williamsport, MD and St. Mary Church, Hagerstown, MD with regular services being held from May to October. Her reference to the private chapel as a mission is interesting as local remembrance holds that Mrs. Dahlgren actively invited and encouraged local citizens to attend mass at the chapel.

After Mrs. Dahlgren’s death in 1898 her real estate, including the chapel was passed to her daughter Ulrica Mary Dahlgren (Pierce). In 1922, Mrs. Pierce, now a widow, deeded the chapel to St. Mary’s Academy, St. Joseph’s County, IN. for their use as a summer retreat.

From the archives of the Sisters of Holy Cross, Saint Mary’s Convent, Notre Dame Indiana we learn that “The Chapel built for all time of stone and marble is worth at least $50,000.” In correspondence assumed be written by Mrs. Pierce, we also learn that the inventory consisted of -

“alabaster vases, alabaster candle sticks, large silver candelabra, 1 pair of blue and white vases, marble altar, 1 silver and gold crucifix, engraving of way of the cross.” In addition, Mrs. Pierce remembered that:

“Dahlen [sic] contained also a beautiful stone chapel, marble altar, stained glass windows, gold chalice, vestments, silver candelabra, silver candlesticks, built by my mother as a memorial chapel and in the crypt of which lie the beloved remains of my mother, my two brothers, my youngest son, my husband – with receptacles for twelve more members of the immediate family…”

In 1925, the property was deeded back to Mrs. Pierce, who sold most of the estate, retaining the chapel and the parcel upon which it sat in trust for the family.
Upon her death later that year, the property passed to her son Josiah Pierce III who resided in New York City.

23/05/2020

History of Dahlgren Chapel on South Mountain - Part 1 of 4

History of Dahlgren Chapel - Part 1 of 4

On July 15th, 1881, a mere 13 days after the assassination attempt on President James A. Garfield, Madeleine Dahlgren wrote the following letter to The Archbishop of Baltimore, (later Cardinal) James Gibbons.

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South Mountain House

July 15th 1881
Near Boonsboro,
Washington County, Maryland

Most Revd ArchBishop

Visiting a few days since to Mrs. Garfield, a note of sympathy, I enclosed the published
Letter of Your Grace, and called her attention to its contents.

The reply of Mrs. Garfield, which has been instantly sent is in her own handwriting, with
which I am familiar. I have thought it might gratify Your Grace to see that your beautiful
and patriotic act was appreciated.

Will Your Grace kindly return me the letter of Mrs. Garfield.

St. Joseph’s Chapel is being commenced, but many an unforseen (sic) an obstacle have
tried me –

However, the foundations is now being built, under (Wm.?) Smith (Weyer?) OR (Mr.) Smith
(Meyer) as architect.

I beg your pious prayers for success.

Love yr Child in (JC)

Madeleine Vinton Dahlgren

(Archives of the Archdiocese of Baltimore – 76A5)
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From the onset of construction, Madeleine Dahlgren’s private family chapel atop South Mountain would take nearly three years to complete. The stone would be quarried behind South Mountain House, and the walnut timber cut from stands on the estate. Records show that work progressed over the next year with the bell being ordered from McShane Bell Foundry, Baltimore, MD on January 17th and delivered at a cost of $28.25 on June 23, 1882. The bell, cast in manure and mud, reputedly weighed 400 lbs.

In a subsequent letter to Archbishop Gibbons dated May 3rd, 1884, Mrs. Dahlgren wrote that -

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“St. Joseph’s Chapel, will soon be quite ready to be consecrated as a Temple of God. “ additionally she relates that “Wallace of Baltimore is now making the marble altar – which will be in its place next month.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

All extant accounts concerning the altar refer to the marble as being imported from Italy.

Upon its completion, the English Gothic Revival style St. Joseph’s Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, would boast 18” thick stone walls and buttresses, slate roof, hand-painted and stained glass windows in the Nave, as well as a large rose window in the gallery accessed through the bell tower. It would measure approximately 68’ x 24’ with the attached bell tower approximately 40’ high. Above the marble floors and wainscoting, the interior walls and ceiling were sheathed in native walnut paneling culminating in bracketed and trussed walnut arches supporting the roof.

04/03/2020

Back in 2001, Central Maryland Heritage League bestowed honorary ownership of Wise's Field at Fox's Gap, South Mountain Battlefield for folks interested in donating funds to support our efforts in protecting this national treasure.

We would love to know which of you remember these and how many of you still have yours. Reach out and let us know! Share your story here...

24/12/2019

Then & Now: Explore Fox's Gap at South Mountain battlefield

A Civil War blog focused on Connecticut, Antietam, Gettysburg and stories of common soldiers