New Life for An Old Gem!

  • Meant To Be

    Now, MLPHA's headquarters, The Deaconess, will undergo a restoration to accommodate public gatherings, workshops, artist residencies, and more. The 1882 cottage remains the oldest standing home in Mountain Lake Park, a fitting centerpiece for the town’s Historic District.

  • Restoring a Legacy

    The sprawling interior offers a large front parlor, a meeting space, a full kitchen, a first-floor bedroom, and a bathroom. Three sets of stairs access the second floor that has potential for six additional bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Plans are drafted for a phased-in restoration.

  • The Heart of the Park

    Reverend John Thompson could have never imagined his first sermon at the Mountain Chautauqua in 1882 would lead to a popular resort community that flourished near the turn of the 20th century. After his death, his private residence became a haven for weary deaconesses seeking a restorative getaway.

The First Of Its Kind

Times were simple, and spending time in “The Park” was not unlike camping compared to living a lifestyle 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 Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and the Baltimore metro area residents. Located in a forest of ancient oaks, Mountain Lake Park was a magical place far from unwholesome urban congestion. Clean air, cool summer evenings, spring water, and communal living among the faithful were attributes devout Christians craved.
With a solid foundation built upon religion, husbands found comfort in leaving their wives and children to enjoy a safe summer escape

without worry of corruption and crime. Over the next several decades, Mountain Lake Park ranked among the top five vacation destinations in the country, and with the added feature of summer-long programming, the absence of modern amenities was replaced with experiential learning, recreation, and spiritual renewal. The utopia bustled from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year. Beyond the families who owned summer cottages, the Association welcomed shorter stays in boarding homes and grand hotels. The Thompson Cottage offered rooms for Methodist Deaconesses to join its owners for a respite from their usual toils. Their open doors gained favor and prompted an official place that would bear the name “Thompson Rest Home For Deaconesses.”

Ongoing expansions offered 40 rooms and ample grounds for outdoor gatherings. The massive complex was the first of its kind and sustained itself for several decades. Multiple cultural and economic shifts ended Mountain Lake Park’s reign as a tourist destination, and all but Thompson’s original cottage and half of the annex remain to this day.

Reverend John Thompson

Humble Beginnings.

Built in 1882, the property began as a modest summer cottage for Rev. John Thomson and his wife and children. In the wilds of Western Maryland along the B&O Railroad, Mountain Lake Park was founded just a year before the Thompsons made it their summer escape. As a new Chautauqua resort community, residents would follow strict Methodist principles with deed restrictions prohibiting vices of the day. A place “free of moral peril,” advertisements would say. Rev. Thompson was quick to build and became the first reverend to address and welcome newcomers at the grand Assembly Hall’s auditorium.

Angels in the Details.

The Deaconess Cottage is loaded with charm and attention to detail. The large wrap-around porch encourages guests outdoors to socialize with passersby. Much of the building is identical to its original form.

The property has been lovingly preserved by the Wooddell Trust since 2009 and is now the official headquarters for MLPHA. The family replaced the roof and rotted wooden details over the course of 15 years. Annual painting has kept the exterior well protected from weather. The utilities have been updated, yet much work remains to make it publically functional. A three-phase restoration plan will allow parts of the cottage to be usable while other areas undergo needed upgrades.

If you would like to contribute to the restoration fund, please contact MLPHA or make a donation using the button below.

Historic

Treasures.

Heirloom Donations

Do you have a special piece that needs a home? Consider donating it to The Deaconess Collection, where others can enjoy it. MLPHA is looking for furniture and decor items that reflect the Mountain Lake Park or Garrett County story around the turn of the 20th century. Items can include furnishings, art objects, collectibles, memorabilia, period fixtures, books, pictures, and more.

Pat Williamson donated MLP resident and historian Mary Love’s beautiful writing desk. It is rumored to have once belonged to Harriet Beecher Stowe’s father.

An adjustable highchair (left) converts to a tableside height. A newer rocking bounce chair was donated by Karen Wooddell.

An ornately carved curule chair once adorned the Breahtorn Hotel. Karen Wooddell rescued it as the hotel was demolished and recently donated it.

Bob Boal generously donated an 1865-75 cradle thought to be made by local builder Capt. J.M. Jarboe.

After the Mountain Lake Hotel closed, the Verkouteren family purchased this piano at a liquidation auction in the 1960s. It was donated by the family to MLPHA in 2023.

An early 20th century Gendron wheel chair with a reclining back features an early three-wheel design. This and a adjustable child’s highchair were donated by Lauren Risley.