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This is a contributing entry for "A Town Within A Forest": The Walking Tour of Washington Grove, 1873-Present and only appears as part of that tour.Learn More.

Commercial Corner

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Commercial interest in Washington Grove started in 1873 when the first camp meeting took place; wherever people went, other people seeking commercial gain followed! The modern commercial corner of the town has been in the same southwest corner since the latter half of the 1890s. A lot of change and many battles have been fought over the commercial corner but here it stands and here is its story.

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

The Commercial Corner was originally a block of land that was appealing for its open ground (in comparison to the deeply wooded Washington Grove). However, through two subdivision plat plans, the Lang Plan of 1886 and the Maddox Plan of 1897, the corner never made it into the folds of Washington Grove. It was sold to a J. B. Diamond in 1896 for $805, another reason it did not make it on the Maddox Plan in 1897. Since this initial sale, the land has been the site of many commercial endeavors and still is today.

           

There were not any serious objections to the Commercial Corner until the 1980s when the current post office was built as a 7-11. As Mimi Styles, a current Washington Grove resident, says “can you notice the wonderful 7-11 architecture?” Well, yes, we can, Mimi! This 7-11 eventually got battled out of the Washington Grove limits and now houses the current Post Office. For more reading on the designations of the Commercial Corner over the years, look through the links below! Images will be added after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and I can resume research.

Sources

Philip K. Edwards, Washington Grove 1873-1937: A History of the Washington Grove Camp Meeting Association (Washington Grove: Philip K. Edwards, 1988).

Additional Information