purchased the old tavern
atop South Mountain and transformed it into a private summer residence for her family. The
National Trail, later known as the National Road, is now US Route 40 Alternate and the
tavern, once called Dahlgren Manor, is now the South Mountain Inn.
Mrs. Dahlgren was a devout Catholic and she soon immersed herself in missionary work on
South Mountain. Perhaps motivated by her successes, she decided in 1881 to build a chapel
across from her home. The church was consecrated "The Chapel of St. Joseph of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus" but was known simply as Dahlgren Chapel. Though it was
designed and built for private worship and burial of the Dahlgren family, neighbors and
guests were welcomed in the picturesque little mountain chapel.
Mrs. Dahlgren, who died in 1898, and other members of the family were buried in the crypt,
until re-interment at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Poplar Springs, Maryland in 1959.
Between 1922-1925, the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Indiana, owned the chapel
and used it as a summer retreat. It was returned to the Dahlgren family in 1925. The
chapel sat vacant until 1960, when Mr. Richard B. Griffin purchased it and began a
painstaking restoration.
The Gothic chapel was constructed from native materials, cut and quarried from the hill
behind Dahlgren Manor. Its interior was finished in walnut paneling, with cathedral
ceilings and marble floors. The impressive white marble alter was imported from Italy and
the 400 pound swinging bell was cast by the McShane Bell Foundry of Baltimore. Many of the
rare stained glass windows have been carefully restored to their original beauty.
CMHL acquired the Dahlgren Chapel in 1996 to preserve its special significance as an historic
site.
Repair and restoration work has included a slate roof, new wiring and
lighting, some stained glass repair, and installation of pews. Today, private services and weddings, recognized by the State of Maryland,
Frederick County, and approved
by the CMHL Board of Directors, are held in the Dahlgren Chapel. The chapel
has electricity but no water and seats approximately 75 people. The aisle is
approximately 37 feet long.
To
inquire about these services or to contribute funds to help maintain the chapel, please
contact:
Central Maryland Heritage League
P.O. Box 721
Middletown, MD 21769
Call us at (301) 371-7090 or e-mail us at dahlgrenchapel@cmhl.org.
Please include day and evening telephone numbers in e-mail message.
Learn more about the history of the Dahlgren
family.
In the mid-1700's, a tavern was built in a Maryland mountain pass called