Historic Properties Form
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Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form 1. Name of Property Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 (indicate preferred name) Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery historic other 2. Location street and number 8710 Old Branch Avenue not for publication city, town Clinton vicinity county Prince George's 3. Owner of Property (give names and mailing addresses of all owners) name Vestry of Clinton Parish street and number 8710 Old Branch Avenue city, town Clinton telephone state MD zip code 20735-2522 4. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Prince George's County Courthouse Upper Marlboro city, town tax map 116 tax parcel liber 2566 folio 568 36 tax ID number 09 0983874 5. Primary Location of Additional Data X Contributing Resource in National Register District Contributing Resource in Local Historic District Determined Eligible for the National Register/Maryland Register Determined Ineligible for the National Register/Maryland Register Recorded by HABS/HAER Historic Structure Report or Research Report at MHT Other: Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Prince George's County Planning Department 6. Classification Category district X building(s) structure site object Ownership public X private both Current Function agriculture commerce/trade defense domestic education funerary government health care industry Resource Count landscape recreation/culture X religion social transportation work in progress unknown vacant/not in use other: Contributing 1 1 2 Noncontributing buildings sites structures objects Total Number of Contributing Resources previously listed in the Inventory 0 7. Description Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 Condition X excellent good fair deteriorated ruins altered Prepare both a one paragraph summary and a comprehensive description of the resource and its various elements as it exists today. Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery is located at 8710 Old Branch Avenue in Clinton, Maryland. The Gothic Revival-style church is located on the east side of Old Branch Avenue on a level, grassy property comprised of two lots totaling 11.66 acres. The property has mature trees and shrubs, as well as a planned landscape encompassing the church. The western boundary follows Old Branch Avenue, along a gravel parking strip. The northern boundary follows a slight depression in the ground and an allee of mature oaks. Mature woods are located in the eastern portion of the property. An asphalt driveway extends east from Old Branch Avenue in the southwest corner of the property. The driveway terminates in a large parking lot in the center of the property. Two signs are located along the western boundary of the property. The Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery is located along the west and south boundary of the property. A prefabricated shed is located centrally along the north boundary of the property. CHURCH This impressive, six-course, Flemish-bond brick-veneer church was built in the Gothic Revival style. Constructed on the site of an 1890s church, this building was built in 1928. The church is composed of a rectangular-plan nave with a square tower at its southwest corner and a hyphen at its northwest corner connecting a two-story addition. The rectangular-plan nave is of masonry construction and is set on a solid foundation; both are faced with six-course, Flemish bond brick. An exterior-side brick chimney rises from the north (side) elevation and has an arched chimney hood. A front-gable roof of asphalt shingles caps the nave. The roof is finished with overhanging eaves and a boxed cornice. A symmetrically placed, two-story, frontgable bay projects from the façade and is covered by the principal front-gable roof. Decorative bargeboard with a collar beam is sited within the upper gable end of the façade (west elevation). A one-story, three-bay enclosed porch with a central projecting entry bay stretches across the façade of the church and stops at the north elevation of the tower. A shed roof of asphalt shingles covers the porch, which is fenestrated with paired arched-fixed-leaded-glass windows with wood surrounds. The windows are sited above the raised foundation that is faced with six-course, Flemish-bond brick. The front-gable projecting entry bay contains double-leaf board-and-batten doors set within an arched wood surround. The front-gabled roof is covered with asphalt shingles and the roof is finished with overhanging eaves and bargeboard trim. Poured concrete steps with brick wing walls and metal handrails provide access to the entry bay. A blunt pointed arched opening is centrally sited above the porch and contains multiple stained-glass windows; most significant is the circular window stained glass window with eight lights and a central quatrefoil window. The circular window is flanked by smaller circular stained glass windows. All three circular windows are placed above a band of rectangular stained glass windows. The south (side) elevation is pierced by five symmetrically placed, pointed arch window openings, each containing a stained glass window. The windows also feature two-course rowlock brick pointed arches and concrete sills. Projecting buttresses constructed of brick and capped with concrete divide each window bay. The easternmost bay of the south elevation projects from the elevation and is sheltered by an extension of the principal roof. The bay is original to the nave and is of masonry construction faced with six-course, Flemish- Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery Continuation Sheet Number 7 Page 1 bond brick. Fenestration consists of a single-leaf paneled wood door and triple fixed leaded glass windows with a concrete sill. The door is accessed by a flight of poured concrete steps with a metal hand rail. The second story of the rear (east) elevation is pierced by a large pointed arch window opening contains a band of fixed stained glass windows. The window is finished with a soldier brick pointed arch. A square tower is sited on the southwest corner of the façade and is approximately three stories in height. Original to the church, the tower is of masonry construction and is faced with six-course, Flemish-bond brick. It is apparent that the height of the tower was raised after its original construction. The brick utilized and the crowning battlements match the materials and design of the newer Parish Hall. Brick buttresses rise along the opposing sides of the west and east elevations and are approximately two stories in height. The façade (west elevation) of the first story of the tower is pierced by a pointed arch opening containing a fixed leaded light window with a concrete sill and two-course rowlock brick pointed arch. The south (side) elevation of the first story of the tower is also pierced by a pointed arch opening and contains double-leaf wood doors with a fixed pointed arch wood transom. The door opening is finished with a two-course rowlock brick pointed arch surround and a soldier brick pointed arch. The door is accessed by a wooden deck set on wood posts, which are resting on the original poured concrete steps. The deck is completed with square wood balusters and a wood ramp. The second story of the façade and south elevations are fenestrated with a single circular window opening containing a fixed quatrefoil leaded glass window with two-course rowlock brick surrounds. Presumably each elevation of the third story of the tower originally contained paired rectangular louvered vents, but when the tower was raised, pointed arch louvered vents were inserted within the new openings. Each louvered vent has a concrete sill and a soldier brick pointed arch. A one-story, almost full-width addition, known as the sacristy, is located on the rear elevation of the church and was constructed in 1985. The main block of the sacristy is of masonry construction and is set on a solid foundation; both faced with stretcher-bond brick. A flat roof with metal coping caps the addition. The one-story, one-bay narrow rectangular bay projects from the rear elevation. The south elevation is pierced by a single pointed arch opening containing a fixed stained glass window with a wood surround, rowlock brick sill and pointed arch. The rear elevation is fenestrated with two openings, each containing paired six-light wood casement windows with rowlock brick sills. A soldier brick string course encircles the addition and rests directly above the windows. A corner stone is sited above foundation level on the northeast corner of the rear elevation and reads: “Aug. 10, 1875.” The corner stone indicates the construction date of the church that had been previously sited on this parcel. The sacristy is flanked by nearly identical wings, which both step back from the principal east elevation. Each wing has the same material treatment as the sacristy and was constructed at the same time. The soldier course string course from the main block of the sacristy continues to the wings. The east elevation of the southern wing is fenestrated with paired leaded glass wood casement windows with a rowlock sill. The south elevation is pierced by two openings, each containing paired leaded glass wood casement windows with rowlock brick sills as well as paired six-light wood casement windows at the level of Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery Continuation Sheet Number 7 Page 2 the foundation. The east elevation of the northern wing contains an entry opening containing a single-leaf paneled wood door with one-light. Poured concrete steps with a brick wing wall access this door. A two-story parish hall, constructed 1956, was added to the north (side) elevation. A one-story, side-gable hyphen connects the nave with the parish hall. The hyphen has a stretcher-bond brick veneer pierced by three ovular windows on the façade (west elevation). These openings have a two-course, rowlock surround. The façade (west elevation) of the parish hall features a crenellated parapet. The parapet features a concrete coping with a molded cavetto cornice. The façade is pierced by a double-leaf, vertical-board, arched door with metal strap hinges. The opening, set in a narrow wood opening with half-round molding, features a soldier-brick arch. The second story of the façade contains three narrow window openings with rowlock sills placed close. The openings contain two-light stained glass. The north (side) elevation features bands of two-story brick pilasters with sloping concrete caps. The caps have the same cavetto molding found on the parapet of the façade. The three westernmost bays of the first and second story are pierced by paired, 4-light, wood-sash windows with rowlock sills. The remaining bays contain paired, single-light, vinyl-sash casements. In 1974, the parish hall was expanded to the east. This two-story addition was commemorated to “Bishop Angus Dunn”. This stretcher-bond brick structure features engaged brick corner pilasters and has a flat roof with concrete coping. The south elevation of the addition features a one-story, two-bay porch. The porch has a shed roof with a front-gable projection above the east bay. The front-facing gable features a ovular cutout with a cross. The upper-gable end is clad in T-111 siding. The roof of the porch is covered with asphalt shingles and supported by square posts. Fenestration of the first story consists of paired, two-light, vinyl-sash, sliding windows on the first story and a double-leaf, metal door with lights. The second story of the east elevation is pierced by four-light casements flaking a four-light fixed central bay and topped by a three-light fixed window. The east elevation of the second story contains paired four-light casements with two-light fixed transoms. Located below each of the second-story openings on the east elevation are rectangular ventilation vents set flush with the exterior wall. All of the window openings feature rowlock sills. CEMETERY This cemetery is laid out in a grid, with rows of markers aligned north-to-south. Markers are located south and west of the church. There are approximately twenty rows including between three and twenty markers each. The headstones are a mixture of tablet headstones, block markers, obelisks, ground-level headstones, and crosses. One of the oldest markers memorializes Blanche Lusby (1886-1904). Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery Continuation Sheet Number 7 Page 3 BRICK SIGN This brick sign is located west of the church, along the concrete walkway from Old Branch Avenue. This midto late-twentieth-century sign is constructed of stretcher-bond brick. The structure features brick parapets on each side of the sign. Shed roofs cap the parapets. The sign is capped by a front-gable roof covered with asphalt shingles. The roof includes an ogee-molded cornice. A metal marquee, located on the façade (west elevation), has been partially removed from the sign and is lying on the ground. METAL SIGN This metal sign, based on its materials, was constructed c. 2000. Set on a solid, poured concrete foundation, this sign is approximately five-feet tall and six feet wide. PREFABRICATED SHED This prefabricated shed is located east of the church and north of the parking lot. Based on its form and materials, it appears that this resource was constructed c. 2000. Set on a concrete-block pier foundation, this one-story, one-bay shed is clad in German vinyl siding. The gambrel roof is covered with asphalt shingles and features a raking wood cornice. The façade (south elevation) has a double-leaf, German-vinyl-siding-clad door set in a square-edge wood surround. INTEGRITY Christ Episcopal Church maintains a high integrity of design, materials, and workmanship despite side and rear additions. The large side addition is older than fifty years, and the rear additions are not visible from the public right-of-way. Christ Episcopal Church presents a high level of integrity of setting, location, feeling, and association as a visual local landmark along Old Branch Avenue in Clinton, Maryland. The cemetery maintains its integrity of design, materials, and workmanship. The oldest section of the cemetery was initially associated with the earlier, non-extant church and presents a high integrity of location, setting, feeling, and association. The metal cemetery sign, based on its recent construction date, is considered a non-contributing resource The prefabricated shed, based on its recent construction date, is considered a non-contributing resource. Overall, Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery property presents a high level of integrity. 8. Significance Period Areas of Significance 1600-1699 1700-1799 1800-1899 X 1900-1999 2000- agriculture archeology X architecture art commerce communications community planning conservation Specific dates 1928 Construction dates 1928, 1956, 1975, 1985 Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 Check and justify below economics education engineering entertainment/ recreation ethnic heritage exploration/ settlement health/medicine performing arts industry philosophy invention politics/government landscape architecture X religion law science literature social history maritime history transportation military X other: Local History Architect/Builder unknown Evaluation for: National Register Maryland Register not evaluated Prepare a one-paragraph summary statement of significance addressing applicable criteria, followed by a narrative discussion of the history of the resource and its context. (For compliance projects, complete evaluation on a DOE Form – see manual.) STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery is located at 8710 Old Branch Avenue in unincorporated Clinton, Maryland. The property includes an excellent example of an early- to mid-twentieth-century Gothic-Revival style church and a twentieth-century graveyard. The main block was completed in 1928 to serve the rural community of Clinton. The building expanded during the late-twentieth century as the congregation grew. Located on a large, grassy lot, this church continues to serve the Clinton community. The building retains sufficient integrity to convey its significance as a Gothic-Revival style church initially constructed in rural, Prince George’s County in 1928. HISTORIC CONTEXT The Christ Episcopal Church is located in Clinton, Maryland, a community in central Prince George’s County. Changes to the county’s economy that occurred from the end of the Civil War (1861-1865) to the turn of the twentieth century are still visible in the county’s landscape. During this period, agriculture, while remaining the dominant form of livelihood, transitioned from large plantations to small farms. Freed African Americans operated a large number of these small farms, but during the Reconstruction period, both white and black newcomers to the county purchased the majority of small farms.1 Clinton, originally known as Surrattsville, was a small community at the time of Hopkins 1878 Map of Prince George’s County.2 Approximately fifteen dwellings surrounded this small cross-roads village, along with two schools, multiple stores, a post office, and a Protestant Episcopal Church. The Christ Episcopal Church was constructed in 1928 on the same parcel a c. 1890 church once stood. The cemetery associated with the Christ Episcopal Church was started by the 1890s mission church. Over eleven acres of the property was not owned by the church until 1961. This was not an uncommon practice for churches, especially in rural communities during the early- to mid-twentieth century. The congregation most likely did not have enough money to buy the property, and as such, the land was lent to the church. As the property is comprised of two parcels with differing historic contexts, Parcel 36, on which the church and Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery Continuation Sheet Number 8 Page 1 cemetery are located, will be discussed first. Parcel 148, which includes the prefabricated shed, parking lot, and wooded area east of the parking lot, will be discussed second. PARCEL 36 ADDITIONAL RESEARCH BEING CONDUCTED. PARCEL 148 In 1884, Francis X. Hunter conveyed a 42-acre parcel of the tract of land known as His Lordship’s Kindness to James L. Thomas.3 Thomas, born c. 1837, was married to Caroline A. Thomas. Thomas was a prominent farmer in the area. Following the death of Thomas, the property was bequeathed to his wife and their children. Caroline A. Thomas, widow of James, and her children and their respective families conveyed 11.70 acres to Griffith S. Oursler in 1940.4 Griffith S. Oursler was born in 1885 and served as Prince George’s County Register of Wills in the 1940s. He also had a tobacco farm in Clinton, Maryland.5 Oursler was a partner in the development firm of Oursler and Freeman, Inc. and a truck farmer. He was also a member of the Prince George’s chapter of the Maryland Soil Conservation Leaders Association. Griffith S. Oursler purchased and sold numerous properties in Prince George’s County in the mid-twentieth century. The Oursler’s youngest child, Griffith S. Oursler, Jr., was elected the first Fire Marshall of Clinton Volunteer Fire Department in 1940. The same year, Oursler and his wife conveyed half of their interest in the property to Adrian P. Fisher.6 Fisher, born 1901, was a lawyer in Prince George’s County. 7 In 1961, the Ourslers and Fishers conveyed the 11.559acre parcel to the Vestry of Clinton Parish, Christ Church, Maryland.8 PARCEL 36 + 148 The building has undergone multiple alterations, necessitated by a growing congregation. In 1956, the parish hall, vicar’s office, classrooms, and a kitchen were added. In 1974, the parish hall was expanded with additional office and classroom space. Sometime in the 1970s, the stained glass windows were replaced. A new organ was installed in 1983. In 1985, a new sacristy was added to the east (rear) elevation of the church and the cemetery expanded.9 The church has an active congregation. In 2004, the Vestry of Clinton Parish purchased the singlefamily dwelling north of the church, located at 8704 Old Branch Avenue. This one-acre property has no historic affiliation with the church. Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery Continuation Sheet Number 8 Page 2 Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Prince George’s County Planning Department, Historic Sites and Districts Plan (1992), 53. 2 Hopkins, G.M. Prince George’s County, from Atlas of Fifteen Miles Around Washington. Philadelphia: G.M. Hopkins, C.E., 1878. 3 Francis X. Hunter to James L. Thomas, Prince George's County Land Records, JWB 3:771. 4 Lillian T. Leapley, et al. to Griffith S. Oursler, Prince George's County Land Records, 592:43. 5 By James Graham Post Reporter "'Record' a 2-Edged Sword in Prince Georges." The Washington Post (1877-1954), October 29, 1950, http://www.proquest.com.proxy.library.cornell.edu/ (accessed February 4, 2009). 6 Griffith S. Oursler to Adrian Fisher, Prince George's County Land Records, 587:237. 7 1930 U.S. Federal Census, Election District 12, Prince George's, Maryland, Series 877, Page 6B, Enumeration District 26, Image 1096.0, Adrian P. Fisher. 8 Griffith S. Oursler and Edith Oursler, and Adrian P. Fisher and Clara K. Fisher, to Vestry of Clinton Parish, Christ Church, Clinton, Maryland, Prince George's County Land Records, 2529:312. 9 Email correspondence from Gail Russell, February 9, 2009. 1 9. Major Bibliographical References Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 Prince George’s County Land Records. 10. Geographical Data Acreage of surveyed property Acreage of historical setting Quadrangle name 13.66 2.101 Anacostia Quadrangle scale: 1:24,000 Verbal boundary description and justification Christ Episcopal Church is located at 8710 Old Branch Avenue on a 13.66-acre property. The western boundary follows Old Branch Avenue. The southern bounds follow the asphalt driveway and parking lot, and extends eastward into mature woods. The northern boundary extends along a slight depression and an allee of mature trees. The eastern boundary extends through mature trees. Christ Episcopal Church has been associated with Parcel 36 as noted on Tax Map 116 since its construction in 1928. 11. Form Prepared by name/title Paul Weishar and Maria Dayton, Architectural Historian organization EHT Traceries, Inc. for M-NCPPC date March 2009 street & number 1121 Fifth Street, NW telephone (202) 393-1199 city or town Washington state DC The Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties was officially created by an Act of the Maryland Legislature to be found in the Annotated Code of Maryland, Article 41, Section 181 KA, 1974 supplement. The survey and inventory are being prepared for information and record purposes only and do not constitute any infringement of individual property rights. return to: Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Department of Planning 100 Community Place Crownsville, MD 21032-2023 410-514-7600 Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery Continuation Sheet Number 8 Page 1 CHAIN OF TITLE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY LAND RECORDS PARCEL 36 Unrecorded Deed. PARCEL 148 Deed JWB 3:771 October 20, 1884 Francis X. Hunter to James L. Thomas. (42 acres, part of His Lordships Kindness) Will Date Unknown James L. Thomas to: Caroline A. Thomas, widow, now deceased; Lillian Leapley (nee Thomas), daughter; Ruby I. Boyd (nee Thomas), daughter; James C. Thomas, deceased, son; and Charles H. Thomas, deceased, son who leaved as his sole heirs-atlaw three children (Frances A. Stebbin, Ruby Stecher, Mary W. Sandberg). Deed 592:43 September 24, 1940 Lillian T. Leapley (widow), Ruby I. Thomas Boyd and Harold Boyd, Frances A. Thomas Stebbin and Harry L. Steebin, Ruby L. Thomas Stecher and Vincent P. Stretcher, Mary W. Thomas Sandberg and William Sandberg to Griffith S. Oursler. (11.70 acres) Deed 587:237 December 12, 1940 Griffith S. Oursler to Adrian Fisher. (1/2 interest in 11.70 acres) Deed 2529:312 February 10, 1961 Griffith S. Oursler and Edith Oursler, and Adrian P. Fisher and Clara K. Fisher, to Vestry of Clinton Parish, Christ Church, Clinton, Maryland. (11.559 acres) Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery Continuation Sheet Number 8 Page 2 Photo: Christ Episcopal Church, Clinton, view of the façade (west elevation), looking northeast. (February 2009) Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery Continuation Sheet Number 8 Page 3 Photo: Christ Episcopal Church, Clinton, view of the façade (west elevation), looking southeast. (February 2009) Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery Continuation Sheet Number 8 Page 4 Photo: Christ Episcopal Church, Clinton, view of the east (rear) elevation, looking northwest. (February 2009) Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery Continuation Sheet Number 8 Page 5 Photo: Cemetery, Clinton, view looking southwest. (February 2009) Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery Continuation Sheet Number 8 Page 6 Photo: Brick Sign, Clinton, view looking east. (February 2009) Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery Continuation Sheet Number 8 Page 7 Photo: Metal Sign, Clinton, view looking northeast. (February 2009) Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 Maryland Historical Trust Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties Form Inventory No. PG: 81A-027 Christ Episcopal Church and Cemetery Continuation Sheet Number 8 Page 8 Photo: Prefabricated Shed, Clinton, view of the façade (south elevation), looking north. (February 2009)
