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NPS Form 10-900 (Rev 01 /2009) OM B No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requ esting determinations for individual pro pertie s and districts. See instructions in National Reg ister Bulletin, Ho w to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "NIA" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification , materials, and areas of significance, enter on ly categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional certification comments, entries, and narrative items on continuation sheets (NPS Form 10-900a). 1. Name of Property Historic name St. Thomas' Episcopal Parish Historic District Other names/site number c._:.::...:...:::...::..:.__:__:,c=....::PG : 86A-~59 ______________________________ _ 2. Location street & number Extending from the east side of Croom Road along the north and south D not for publication sides of St. Thomas Church Road eastward for approximately 1, 500 feet city or town Upper Marlboro ~ vicinity State Mary. ~l_a_nd_____ _ code MD county Prince George's code _0_3_3 _ _ zip code 20772 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this J nomination _ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CF;R Part 60. In my opinion, the property_,/_ nmeets __ does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant at the foll9wing level(s) of significance: _ national _statewide ~local //- 6'- J/ Sigoo~•I Date Title State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property _meets_ does not meet the National Register criteria. Signature of commenting official Date ITitle State or Federal agency and bureau L___ ____________ St. Thomas' Episcopal Parish Historic District PG : 86A-~59 Prince George's County, Maryland \ Name of Property County and State 4. National Park Service Certification I. hereby, certify that this property is: Signature of the Keeper Date of Action _entered in the National Register _determined eligible for the National Register _determined not eligible for the National Register _ removed from the National Register _other (explain :) 5. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property (Check as many boxes as apply) (Check only one box) (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) Contributing Noncontributing private building(s) 4 9 buildings public - Local X district 3 sites public - State site structures public - Federal structure objects X private object 7 10 Total Name of related multiple property listing Number of contributing resources previously (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing) listed in the National Register N/A 1 (St. Thomas' Episcopal Church) 6. Function or Use Historic Functions Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) RELIGION: Religious Facility; Church-Related Residence RELIGION: Religious Facility FUNERARY: Cemetery FUNERARY: Cemetery DOMESTIC: Single Dwelling DOMESTIC: Single Dwelling EDUCATION: School St. Thomas' Episcopal Parish Historic District PG 86A-~59 Prince George's County, Maryland I Na me of Property Cou nty and State 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials Enter categories from instructions) (Enter categories from instructions) COLONIAL: Georg ian foundation: BRICK; STONE 1 MI0-19 h CENTURY: Gothic Revival walls: BRICK; WOOD: Weatherboard; Shingle roof: WOOD; ASPHALT; METAL other: BRICK (Bell Tower); WOOD (Porch) Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current physical appearance of the property. Explain contributing and noncontributing resources if necessary. Beg in with a summary paragraph that briefly describes the general characteristics of the property, such as its location, setting , size, and significant features.) Summary Paragraph The St. Thomas' Episcopal Parish Historic District includes approximately 43. 77 acres situated in the rural village of Croom in southeastern Prince George's County, Maryland. The district is centered on St. Thomas' Church, erected ca. 1742-1745 as a "Chapel of Ease" for St. Paul's Parish at Baden, Prince George's County, Maryland. In 1850, the church became the parish church for the newly created St. Thomas' Parish, and continues this purpose in 2009. Shortly after the creation of St. Thomas' Parish in 1850, a rectory was built. In 1894, the parishioners of St. Thomas oversaw the construction of St. Simon's Mission Chapel, a chapel for African-American worshippers in St. Thomas' Parish and one of only three African-American Episcopal ongregations in Maryland after the Civil War. St. Simon's Mission continued to serve the African-American communicants of the parish until the congregation merged with that of St. Thomas' Church in 1964. St. Simon's Mission and St. Thomas' Church are associated with the Croom Industrial and Agricultural School, which occupies the southeastern edge of the district. The school was established in 1902, first under the aegis of the Episcopal Church and later as a nonsectarian institution, to teach practical education to African-American children from Prince George's County, other neighboring counties, and Washington, D.C. The school continued until 1952; several buildings remain extant on the former school property, which now functions as a private residence. St. Simon's Mission Chapel was demolished ca. 1974, and an associated cemetery, as well as a historical marker, provides the only physical vestiges of the former church. Narrative Description See Continuation Sheets 7.1 through 7.8. St. Thomas' Episcopal Parish Historic District PG: 86A-°&59 Prince George's County, Maryland Name of Property County and State 8. Statement of Significance Applicable National Register Criteria Areas of Significance Mark "x" in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property (Enter categories from in structions) for Nation al Reg ister listing) SOCIAL HISTORY ----------------- Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our EDUCATION history. ETHNIC HERITAGE: AFRICAN AMERICAN Property is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past. Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high Period of Significance artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack 1742-1959 individual distinction. Property has yielded , or is likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. Significant Dates 1742; 1745; 1853; 1859; 1888; 1896; 1903; 1905; 1940 Criteria Considerations (Mark "x" in all the boxes that apply) Significant Person (Complete only if Criterion B is marked above) N/A owed by a religious institution or used for religious X A purposes. Cultural Affiliation B removed from its original location. Unknown C a birthplace or grave. D a cemetery. Architect/Builder Page, Daniel; Builder E a reconstructed building, object, or structure. Priest, John W ; Architect F a commemorative property. Grigg, Milton; Architect G less than 50 years old or achieving significance Tayman, Harry P.; Bu_:.:.ild=-e::..:.r________ _ within the past 50 years. Armstrong, H. and J. ; Builders Period of Significance (justification) The period of significance begins in 1742, with the commencement of construction of St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, and ends in 1959, as St. Simon's Mission Chapel continued to contribute to the growth of Croom throughout the early 1960s, and St. Simon's Cemetery, St. Thomas' Episcopal Church and Cemetery continue into the present day. Therefore, the period of significance extends to the fifty-year age criteria nsideration. St. Thomas' Episcopal Parish Historic District PG : 86A-~59 Prince George's County, Maryland Name of Property • County and State Statement of Significance Summary Paragraph (provide a summary paragraph that includes level of signficance and applicable criteria) St. Thomas' Episcopal Parish Historic District is significant under Criterion A in the area of Social History for its broad impact on the development and history of the rural village of Croom and its significant contribution to the larger African-American community. The district is also significant under Criterion A in the area of Education for its unique efforts in providing practical education to African-American children for the first half of the twentieth century leading up to the eve of school desegregation in Prince George's County. The district is also significant under Criterion C in the area of architecture for its notable examples of the Georgian and Gothic Revival styles of architecture, as well as for its exemplification of a specific type and period of construction. The district meets Criterion Consideration A for religious properties as the district derives its primary significance from its historical importance to the community of Croom(e) and the larger African American community as well as from its architectural distinction. Narrative Statement of Significance (provide at least