About the ParkThe 380-acre park was acquired by the Baltimore County Department ofRecreation and Parks starting in 1993. It is a stream valley parkcomprised of pasture, cultivated gardens, open fields, woods,hedgerows, orchards and wooded piedmont hills. The diversity of thishabitat makes it an excellent area for wildlife. There are many speciesof raptors such as the Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, and GreatHorned Owl, which prey on a healthy population of small mammals such asrabbits, deer mice, and meadow voles. White-tailed deer and red fox arealso plentiful. Songbird populations include Baltimore Oriole,Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Bluebird, andmany others. Belted Kingfishers and Great Blue Herons are often seenaround the stream, Minebank Run.  The valley has been settled since the early 1700s and used primarilyfor farming. Some iron ore mining took place in the area with thelargest of at least four mines located at the stream's starting point -hence the stream's name. Later, due to an easily quarried supply ofCockeysville marble, the valley became a production area foragricultural lime. Lime kilns were built, and used to heat the marbleby firewood, eventually creating lime powder. The powder was thencollected and bagged at the base of the furnace. The lime kilns in thevalley operated until the 1920s and were owned by the Towson, Jenifer,and Shanklin families. The remnants of several of these are stillvisible in the park today (see photos). Today's park was acquired from three property owners from March 1993 toDecember 1994, primarily with Program Open Space funds. The first 220acre parcel was purchased from the heirs of Robert Merrick, a prominentBaltimore banker. The house and barn were built in the mid-1800s byA.W. Shanklin, who named it "Willow Grove Farm." The center 102 acres,the Sherwood Farm, were purchased from the heirs of Mrs. FrancesWellington Sherwood. On this property sits the beautiful SherwoodHouse. Dating from 1935, this house was designed by the Baltimorearchitectural firm of Palmer and Lambdin. Managing this property as agentleman's farm, the Sherwoods operated apple and peach orchards, soldeggs and chickens, and raised farm animals for the family's ownkitchen. The third property, the Good Fellowship Farm, was purchasedfrom Mr. C. Franklin Eck, who operated a Christmas tree farm. The parkcontinues to operate this tree farm during holiday season. The educational focus at CromwellValley Park is in three major areas - farming, history, and naturalhistory. A portion of the park is a demonstration farm, illustratingsustainable/organic farming. Information Kiosk Across from the Willow Grove parking lot, park visitors will find aninformation kiosk. Information about park programs, rules andregulations, and trail maps are available at the kiosk. |