The building you see near GZ was once a Baltimore County Public school, built in 1861. However, this was not the first school on this site.
The first school here was built in 1724 on a 100 acre plot called Scholars Plains. The land was purchased in 1724 with money from the Provincial tax on tobacco exports. The property was supposed to provide for the subsistence of the schoolmaster who would conduct Baltimore County's first free public school. There is evidence of the school functioning in 1757 in a run-away slave notice for "Negro Seth," who, in 1757 fled from the Baltimore County Free school and his owner, the schoolmaster Patrick Brannan. The school closed in 1784 and was eventually destroyed, likely by a fire. (Some maps show this school actually being located on Red Lion Road. Other maps show this as the location)
The current building, originally called the "Little Gunpowder School," was built in 1861 and was the first public school (#1) in District 11. The school was for white children only. The first school in this area for African-American children is about a mile north of here, in the building known as the Union of Brothers and Sisters of Fords Asbury Lodge No. 1, usually referred to as Asbury Lodge. This was school #2 in District 11.
Some time before 1922, the Little Gunpowder School was turned over to the use of the African-American children who had been attending at the Asbury Lodge building. This was the result of a lawsuit against the trustees of the school system. It is unclear from historical records when this building ceased serving as a school building. An Historic Roadside Marker was placed here in 1964. The building is currently used as a Baltimore County Parks and Recreation Center.
The Cache:This cache should not be too challenging to experienced cachers. Stealth may be required depending on the time of day you are here. Parking is available nearby and there is no need to cross Philadelphia Road.
Please Note: Do not log a find if you have not signed the log unless you first get an OK from the CO. Do not log a find and state in your log that you "forgot a pen." You are Geocaching, a pen is pretty much required equipment. If you log a find and your name is not on the log, please do not be surprised if your log is deleted. And get off my lawn. Thank you. Effective 7/14/2020.
Congratulations to Qsquared for FTF