The
printed MML Passport is no longer available. However, you may
download a copy from the MML website
here.
The
trail consists of 11 MML Districts (regions).
The MML Geocache Trail project will launch January 1, 2009 with 78
participating cities and towns. A trackable geo coin will be given
to the first 500 geocachers as an incentive for locating at least 2
municipal caches in each of the 11 districts. To be eligible for
the coin, geocachers must pick up a Passport at any of the
designated county visitor centers. Geocachers must use the stamp in
the cache on their Passports and write down the cache code word
listed in each cache. After at least 2 municipal caches in each
district are discovered, geocachers may return to one of the county
visitor centers and have their Passports validated to receive their
collectable coin.
For a complete list of participating visitor centers visit the MML
web site at http://www.mdmunicipal.org/mmlhome/index.cfm or MGS web
site at www.mdgps.org.
The town of La Plata began as a train stop along the Pope’s
Creek Branch of the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad in 1873. Both an
Inn and a Station were built that year near where the Port
Tobacco-Bryantown Road (Charles Street) crossed the railroad
tracks.
The Town evolved on land subdivided from two large farms--the
Chapman family’s “La Plata Farm” and the Matthews family’s “The
Hermitage.” Soon a store and post office were built on Charles
Street close to the station and the town began to develop.
By 1878, La Plata had there a population of 35. Eleven years
later, that number had grown to 120, and by 1887, La Plata boasted
several general merchandisers, a grist mill, saw mill, hotel, and a
millinery/dressmakers’ shop. Despite numerous fires and two
devastating tornados–in 1926 and 2002–the Town of La Plata has
continued to prosper through the present day.
History records a bit of bad blood between La Plata and nearby
Port Tobacco. Seems the latter was the county seat, but the
Burghers of La Plata felt their town more qualified, given the
presence of a rail siding and telegraph office. A vote was held.
Port Tobacco won and retained the county seat.
Three months later, however, the county seat/courthouse burned
to the ground. Strangely enough, the records had been carefully
removed beforehand. The fire had been deliberately set, but no one
was ever prosecuted and no one ever admitted to the deed. Long
story short, feelings and emotions ran high. When it was decided
that re-building in Port Tobacco was impractical, another vote was
held to decide between La Plata and Chapel Point. La Plata won and
the county seat was moved there in 1895.
Historic La Plata landmarks include:
La Grange (1763)–home of James Craik, Surgeon General to
President George Washington.
The Hermitage (1847)–a very large farm, built for Major George
W. Matthews. Much of present day La Plata occupies area that was
part of this farm.
La Plata Train Station (1873)–the headquarters for the Charles
County Historical Society. Historic photos and other objects are
displayed throughout the building which serves also as a community
meeting place.
Physician’s Memorial Hospital (1938)–It was the first medical
facility in the county. The impetus for the hospital came from a
devastating tornado which killed 15 people and injured 40 more in
the late 1920’s.
National Guard Armory (1949)–this building reflects the public
building designs of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which
borrowed heavily from Art Deco style. The construction was related
to the military build-up at the beginning of the Cold War amid
national security concerns in the light of the growing threat of
Communism and the Nuclear age.
Thank You for Visiting La Plata.
Thanks to The Boccos for helping with this hide!
Thanks to the Maryland Geocaching Society for assisting
with this project!