Trails and historic sites
Little Bennett Regional Park
Little Bennett Regional Park
23701 Frederick Road
Clarksburg, Maryland 20871
Park
Manager's Office - 301-972-6581
Campground Office - 301-972-9222
Golf Course Pro Shop - 301-601-9209
Park Police - 301-949-3010
Emergency - 911
Little Bennett Regional Park Trail Map (pdf)
Information on Historic Sites
As early as the 18th century, the Little Bennett Valley was the scene of farms and small scale industries capitalizing on the region's abundant resources of timber, water, vegetation and vast acreage for farming. Several grist mills, a sumac mill, a saw mill, a saw and bone mill and a whisky manufactory were established at various timess along the Little Bennett Creek. Only the Hyattstown Mill remains as testimony to those early enterprises. The steep and rocky slopes did not encourage farming; but the farmers persevered nonetheless. They raised tobacco, for example, into the 20th century, even though the emphasis had long before shifted to grains.
Around the close of the 19th century, a small rural community was established in the valley. It was named Kingsley after the King Family, who were prominent in the area. The last remaining vestige of that settlement is a one-room schoolhouse.
Today, this 3700 acre preserve is Little Bennett Regional Park, a facility owned and operated by the M-NCPPC. The park offers hiking, camping, golfing and equestrian opportunities.
Enjoy the vast natural resources and scenic beauty as you explore the remnants of the past at Little Bennett Regional Park:
1. The Montgomery Chapel Cemetery
The
Montgomery Chapel Cemetery is the burial ground for the former
parishioners of the Montgomery Chapel, a small black Methodist
Episcopal church that closed in 1964 and was subsequently
demolished. The One room chapel, dating back to 1871 as indicated
by a sign above the front entrance, formerly stood to the
west of the cemetery and served as a house of workship, community
center and a school.
2.
The Zeigler Log House
Home
to various generations of the Zeigler family, founders of
a number of business ventures, particularly in the milling
trade, the log house was built in the mid to late 19th century.
Now covered with shingles, the house contains most of its
original features.
3.
Hyattstown Mill
Saw and grist milling activities
took places at the Hyattstown Mill under various owners from
the 1790's to the 1930's. At times the mill functioned as
a "custom" mill, grinding corn and feed for local
farmers, and as a "merchant" mil, grinding wheat
to serve a wider market. In 1996 the exterior of the mill
was restored to it's circa 1910 appaerance. The mill race
is clearly visible along the Hyattstown Road.
4.
Hyattstown Miller's House
The miller's house adjacent to Hyattstown
Mill predates the mill. Throughout its history, until the
1930's the house served as a residence for the mill owner
or the miller, the individual in charge of the milling machinery. (Not open to public)
5.
Zeigler's Sumac Mill (site)
Sumac milling was one of the activities
that engaged the Zeigler family. Sumac, a tall weed that unattended
can become a tree, sprouts clumps of deep red berries in the
Fall. Both the berries and the stem of the plant were crushed
between milling stones and used in tanning leather. David
Ziegler operated the mall from theearly to mid 1800's.
6.
Zeigler's Saw and Bone Mill (site)
The
Zeigler saw and bone mill followed the sumac milling enterprize
around in 1860 in adjacent location. While the saw mill cut
lumber, the bone mill gorund animal bones for use by area
farmers as fertilizer. The only remnants are a stone wall
and wheel pit. The mill race is still intact and runs parallel
with Hyattstown Mill Road.
7.
The Perry Browning House
Originally a frame and log structure,
the hosue is now covered by siding. The Original log section
may date from the late 18th century. The Farmand house remained
in the Browning family for three generations after the purchase
of the land by Perry Browning in 1830. (Not
open to the public)
8.
The Charles Browning House
Built around 1850, this is the former
hosue of Perry Browning's son, Charles. The farm is a good
surviving example of a 19th century Montgomery County farmstead.
At the time fo Charles Browning's death in 1887, the farm
consisted of a main house, a bank barn, granary, wagon shed,
carriage and poultry houses. (Not
open to public)
9. Wilson's Mill (site)
Yet
another mill utilizing the natural resources of the Little
Bennett Creek. Owned by Lee Wilson in the mid 19th century,
only faint traces of the mill remain.
10.
The Kingsley School House
Built
in 1893 in an area known locally as "Froggy Hollow",
the Kingsley school house served the community until it closed
in 1935, when the great depression forced families to leave
the area to look for work. Of the late 19th century one room
school houses still existing in Montgomery County, the Kingsley
Schoolhouse is one of the few that remains in an entirely
unaltered state. (Not
open to the public)
11.
King's Distillery
This is the former site of the King
Distillery, producers of Maryland rye whiskey, popular ing
the late 19th century. Bulit in the late 19th century, it
ceased to operate around 1907. This distillery was apparently
Montgomery County's only whiskey manufactory during that period.
In addition, the King's operated a small cider and saw mill
near this location.
Click the map to see larger picture
