About the ParkSpring Programs and Events Calendar Naturalist's News - A naturalist's blog, written by our own Park naturalists, to highlight the latest in what's happening outside at Cromwell Valley Park. Cromwell Valley Park Council on Facebook  White-tailed deer and red fox are also plentiful. Songbird populations include Baltimore Oriole, Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Bluebird, and many others. Belted Kingfishers and Great Blue Herons are often seen
around the stream, Minebank Run. The valley has been settled since the early 1700s and used primarily for farming. Some iron ore mining took place in the area with the largest of at least four mines located at the stream's starting point - hence the stream's name. Later, due to an easily quarried supply of Cockeysville marble, the valley became a production area for agricultural lime. Lime kilns were built, and used to heat the marble by firewood, eventually creating lime powder. The powder was then collected and bagged at the base of the furnace. The lime kilns in the valley operated until the 1920s and were owned by the Towson, Jenifer, and Shanklin families. The remnants of several of these are still visible in the park today (see photos). Today's park was acquired from three property owners from March 1993 to December 1994, primarily with Program Open Space funds. The first 220 acre parcel was purchased from the heirs of Robert Merrick, a prominent Baltimore banker. The house and barn were built in the mid-1800s by A.W. Shanklin, who named it "Willow Grove Farm." The center 102 acres, the Sherwood Farm, were purchased from the heirs of Mrs. Frances Wellington Sherwood. On this property sits the beautiful Sherwood House. Dating from 1935, this house was designed by the Baltimore architectural firm of Palmer and Lambdin. Managing this property as a gentleman's farm, the Sherwoods operated apple and peach orchards, sold eggs and chickens, and raised farm animals for the family's own kitchen. The third property, the Good Fellowship Farm, was purchased from Mr. C. Franklin Eck, who operated a Christmas tree farm. The educational focus at Cromwell Valley Park is in three major areas - farming, history, and natural history. A portion of the park is a demonstration farm, illustrating sustainable and organic farming. Information Kiosk Across from the Willow Grove parking lot, park visitors will find an information kiosk. Information about park programs, rules and regulations, and trail maps are available at the kiosk. Attention all park visitors - Park gates closing!
A Message from the Park Manager & Cromwell Valley Park Council Cromwell Valley Park is open for public visitation 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset. The only after hours use of the Park is during staff led programming. In order to enhance Park security, the gates at Willow Grove Farm and Sherwood Farm will now be closed each evening at sunset and re-opened at sunrise. All CVP visitors should make sure that they leave the Park before the gates are closed. Vehicles in the Park after sunset may be locked in overnight. Any persons in the Park after sunset may also be charged with trespassing. Everyone's co-operation with this new procedure will insure that CVP remains a safe and secure place for everyone in Baltimore County to enjoy. |
