The cache is a medium sized plastic container. This cache was placed by the Webelo Scouts of Smithsburg Pack 14. The Scouts meet at the parish house of St. Anne's and have just recently learned about geocaching. While looking for this cache, please park in the small lot along the road, or in the front of the church. Do not park in the area of the Verizon building. Please take a moment to check out the historic small church that was built for a Smithsburg mother many years ago:
History of St. Anne's Epicopal Church in Smithsburg -
In 1825, a young doctor named Elijah Bishop moved to Smithsburg, Maryland and set up practice in nearby Cavetown. Charming and bright, Dr. Bishop quickly became the leading physician in the Smithsburg area. A local family introduced him to a family friend, Ann Hoye. The two hit it off famously and were married in May 1828. Elijah was 31, Ann was 27.
The Bishops enjoyed a strong marriage and friendship always respecting each other's individuality and spiritual beliefs. They had 8 children together, 5 of whom lived to adulthood. Ann ran the large household, was an active church volunteer at St. John's Episcopal Church for over 50 years and worked closely with her husband in his practice.
After her husband's death in 1870, Ann's health began to decline. Eventually, she could no longer make the trip to her home church, St. John's, for worship. The surviving Bishop childen - Benjamin, Elijah, Henrietta, Emily and John, banded together to create a new church home for her in Smithsburg. Emily Bishop donated a portion of land and the siblings worked tirelessly until the cornerstone for St. Anne's Episcopal Church was laid in June 1873. (The entire cost for the church was appoximately $3000.)
Ann Bishop faithfully attended worship at St. Anne's until her death in 1879.
At the Diocesan Convention in Frederick in 1897, St. Anne's recieved acceptance and officially became St. Anne's Church. The rectory was built in 1926 and the parish house was acquired in 1966.