History

The Valley: Early Manufacturing
As had been common practice in the hills surrounding it, tobacco was also farmed in the Little Bennett valley. But the steep, rocky soil proved poor for the crop, a problem aggravated by the growing of tobacco in the early years which diminished the fertility of these soils.

However, the steady drop in Little Bennett Creek eventually contributed to the rise of early manufacturing establishments. Indeed, it is somewhat ironic that the now scenic valley enclosing the 4-5 mile stretch of Little Bennett Creek that passes through the Park has been home to several industrial mill sites.

The creek's approximately 250 foot drop in elevation as it passes through the Park helped power several mills prior to widespread electrification of the county. These mills ground wheat, corn and other products from farms in the area, sized and trimmed locally logged lumber, and even distilled spirits from rye grown on local farms. Six of these mills include:

Moreover, logging was an important industry in the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And there was even a barrel stave factory in the center of what is now the Park that operated until after World War II.

By the turn of the 20th century a small community of farm laborers and mill workers had appeared in the eastern end of Little Bennett valley in an area that came to be called Kingsley. The community had a store, post office, and a school. The Kingsley Schoolhouse is the last physical remnant of that community.

African Americans and whites lived side by side in what is now the Park. The Wims Meadow baseball field near Ballfield Tributary plays a prominent position in the hearts of some Black residents from the area. They remember the field as the site where the local African American baseball team, the Maryland Wildcats, once compiled a perfect 37-0 season!