St. James Chapel, 10814 Kenilworth Avenue, Garrett Park, Montgomery County, MD

2000 Charles E. Peterson Prize, Entry
Significance: Garrett Park Town Hall was built in 1897 as the St. James Chapel, an Episcopalian and interdenominational chapel with funds raised by town residents. From its original construction, it was used for community activities, including town council meetings. It was officially converted for use as a town hall after an advisory referendum in 1968. A 24' x 40' building was planned in public meetings in late 1896, with its construction and financing supervised by a board of managers. Cost of the original building was $1,400. The contractor was a Mr. Groome from Rockville. The bell, which still hangs in the tower, was donated by a local resident. In 1899, the town requested an outside privy be erected. Electricity was installed in 1915 by A.A. MacMillan, who donated his services. Funds were collected in late 1923 for an extension to the rear, used as a kitchen and storage area. Two Sunday school rooms were used as public school classrooms for the 1927-28 school year. In 1953, the chapel was sold to the 7th Day Adventist Church, which upgraded the heating system, finally built indoor toilets adjacent to the bell tower, and added a kitchen and two rooms at the rear. They sold the building to the town in April of 1968. Since then, the pews have been removed, the kitchen upgraded, and the rear addition remodeled.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N621
Survey number: HABS MD-1129
Building/structure dates: 1897 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1923 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1953 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1968 Subsequent Work