Oldest Cottage Becomes MLPHA’s New Home.
MLPHA’s officers, Gerry Duket, Secretary, Karen Wooddell, President, and Linda Fike, Treasurer hold up their room keys at their new headquarters.
On July 17, The Thompson Rest Home for Deaconesses, or “The Deaconess” as it is fondly called, became the property of the Mountain Lake Park Historical Association, and it will serve as the nonprofit’s official headquarters.
Once fully renovated, this building acquisition at 214 H Street opens up many opportunities for public events and can house workshops, presentations, and meetings year-round. Visitors to the Victorian Chautauqua are familiar with the structure since it stands as a backdrop to the large Deaconess Tent during the festival. The fanciful cottage has been in a family trust since 2009 and, over the years, has undergone some crucial restorations to preserve its rural resort architectural details. It was constructed amidst the white oak forest that became Maryland’s original Chautauqua resort community along the B&O Railroad in 1881. Rev. John Thompson, his wife, and children would be among the first to build their cottage in 1882. The Reverend delivered the first sermon in Mountain Lake Park, kicking off decades of programming, education, and recreation for this devout Methodist retreat.
“The historical importance of The Deaconess cannot be overstated,” said Karen Wooddell, who oversaw maintenance of the cottage for fifteen years. “Being it’s the oldest standing cottage and that of the premiere Reverand for the Mountain Chautauqua, and the first rest home for women clergy are all noteworthy reasons to pursue the restoration. Actually, it’s a dream come true!”
Wooddell also happens to be the president of MLPHA, and she is looking forward to having a dedicated physical address for the nonprofit that oversees historical pursuits in Mountain Lake Park, including The Victorian Chautauqua, The Ticket Office Museum, and the first African American church being rededicated as Bethel Center on September 23, 2024. Wooddell and her late husband Hopwood earned a reputation for saving and restoring several homes in the Historic District. They have also been credited for assisting the Maryland Historical Trust in securing the registered historic district.
The main parlor awaits restoration while retaining it’s original charm.
A proposed interior rendering features a formal eclectic front parlor.
Restoration plans for the Deaconess have been drafted, along with designs for returning the building to its original use as a public facility with boarding rooms to help sustain the structure into the future. Flanked by two large lawns, the first-floor exterior greets visitors with a wrap-around porch and a projection that overlooks the lower side of the property. Once inside, a large octagonal parlor looks onto the porch through large windows. A fireplace at one end harkens back to a time of gathering ‘round on cool summer evenings for engaging conversation. Two separate passageways lead from the parlor to the ballroom, a spacious area perfect for any number of activities or social events. In 2023, an original piano from the Mountain Lake Hotel was gifted to MLPHA. It will find a fitting home at The Deaconess, along with other artifacts that were too large or numerous for The Ticket Office Museum. A first-floor bathroom, full kitchen, utility room, and bedroom will all be made wheelchair accessible in the first phase of the restoration.
“This is so exciting for MLPHA and the town,” said Mark Stutzman, a resident of the town’s historic district. The minute I learned about the property changing hands, I sought grant funding for the restoration. Fortunately, the building is in excellent condition. It’s a large cottage so we will need to make the upgrades one step at a time.”
The Deaconesses assembled on the steps of the front porch. Est. late 1800s.
A Simpler Time.
Early Mountain Lake Park was simple, and spending time in “The Park” was not unlike camping for summer residents accustomed to city comforts back home. Before the turn of the 20th century, there was no public water, sewer, or electricity. Yet, in just a few years, most of the available lots were sold to adventurous souls in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and the Baltimore metro area. Located in a forest of mature oaks, Mountain Lake Park was a magical place far removed from unseemly urban life. Clean air, cool summer evenings, spring water, and communal living among the faithful were attributes the devout discovered they craved. With a solid foundation built upon Christian values, husbands found comfort in leaving their wives and children to enjoy a safe summer escape without worry of corruption and crime.
Over several decades, Mountain Lake Park ranked among the top five vacation railroad destinations in the country. With the added feature of summer-long programming, the absence of modern amenities was replaced with experiential learning, recreation, and spiritual renewal. The lush utopia bustled from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year. Beyond the families who owned summer cottages, the town’s Association accommodated shorter stays in boarding homes and grand hotels.
The Thompson Cottage began offering rooms for Methodist Deaconesses to join its owners for a respite from their usual toils. Their open doors gained favor and prompted the Thompson's successors to make an official place that would bear the name “Thompson Rest Home For Deaconesses.” Ongoing expansions, including the acquisition of the neighboring Burlington Hotel, allowed the cottage to collectively offer as many as 40 rooms and ample grounds for the growing number of retreat guests. The massive complex was the first of its kind for female clergy, sustaining itself for several decades.
Photo postcard from around 1901 when the official rest home name was established. Remarkably, the cottage has retained its original exterior facade since 1882.
In 1916, Mrs. Thompson wrote to her friends who remained in Mountain Lake Park and who were holding a remembrance celebration she was unable to attend.
To my dear Mountain Lake friends:
“It seems hardly possible that almost four decades have passed since Mr. Thompson and I, with our little family, first saw the outline of these mountains which grew to be so unspeakably dear to us. We came first in the summer of 1882. This cottage was then only partly completed, and we have always loved to recall those days of ‘roughing it’ – our nearest approach to pioneering – when we, like the old Gideonites, were literally ‘hewers of wood and drawers of water,’ for there were fences to build, wood-sheds to fill, stumps to be uprooted, stones to be gathered and taken away, and every drop of water to be carried from the old auditorium grounds, where we had, that first summer, a common well. And there may be a few here today who will recall some humorous battles with over-friendly snakes and an unaesthetic animal who wished to dwell with us on too hospitable terms. There was plenty of hard work, but there were also days in the woods, with well-filled baskets and happy talk and song, and there were the still more blessed Sabbaths when we met for prayer.” –– Mrs. Thompson
Reverand John Thompson
A stock certificate No. 4, valued at $1,000 was gifted to “Bishop” Thompson for conducting the annual Camp Meetings.
The MLPHA officers realize it could take years before the cottage is used to its full potential. With over 6,000 square feet, including the garage and storage space, it will require time to complete. With a three-phase approach, the Deaconess can be made accessible as the work is completed. Phase one will be adding a central heating and cooling system for year-round comfort. This phase will also include adding ADA access and completing the first-floor social space, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. Phase two will address the second-floor guest rooms and bathrooms. Much of the roughed-in plumbing is already in place, leaving mostly cosmetic work to be done. Phase three will concentrate on adding functionality to over 1,100 square feet of unfinished space on the second floor.
“The Deaconess is and will continue to be a valuable asset to the Mountain Lake Park Historical Association and to the Town of Mountain Lake Park,” said Linda Fike who manages the books as treasurer for MLPHA. “ The Deaconess is a legacy, not only for the past or present but for many future generations. Restoring her to her ‘glory’ will be well worth whatever time it takes.”
MLPHA will be actively seeking funding to complete the restoration. Through grants and financial contributions, it is hoped the building will be fully usable in under five years. Fortunately, the Rest Home was never abandoned, and it was ranked 13 among 39 properties entered into the registered Historic District by the Maryland Historical Trust. The primary purpose of the Deaconess cottage is to make a usable social space and a historic destination for generations to come. It will become the only public cottage in Mountain Lake Park, allowing people to glimpse into the earliest years of the mountaintop community built around railroad travel.
