History of St. Joseph-on-Carrollton Manor
St. Joseph and the land surrounding the church have a rich history. Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, who was the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, provided a chapel at Tuscarora in 1764. The chapel was located near the present church on the manor home farm of Charles Carroll
Father Maleve S.J., a Russian by birth, first served the Catholics of Carrollton Manor in 1811. Under his direction the first St. Joseph’s was built of limestone on land donated by the Carroll family. The church was 35 feet by 25 feet and faced east/west with the entrance to the west. It was completed in 1820.
After the Civil War in 1867, Father John B. Gaffney S.J. oversaw the construction of a new church. The walls of the old church, being in splendid condition, were left standing. The entrance changed to the north and was extended about 30 feet. Completed in June 4, 1871, most of it was donated by the great granddaughter of Charles Carroll, Emily Harper. Soon after the church was re-built a substantial brick rectory was built. The old rectory or priest house stood on the opposite of the road from the present rectory. The church was attended by the Jesuit and secular priest from Frederick until 1902.
“… to the memory of my mother, Susanna Jarboe Grove, whose greatest comfort and happiness was kneeling in prayer in Saint Joseph Church in Carrollton Manor surrounded by her children.” (1)
The cemetery, adjoining the church, contains many unmarked graves of the Irish laborers of the C&O canal and B&O Railroad, who fell victim to the cholera epidemics of 1822 and 1832. The marked tombstones bear the names of many prominent families of the time. The families of Thomas, Day, Spalding, Jarboe, and Dutrow are the most numerous names appearing on the tombstones.
“ … The members of St. Joseph Church, about ten years ago [1911], secured about five acres in the Manor woods ... The spot is an ideal one in the midst of virgin forest in Carrollton Manor woods. The annual picnics held here are always grand successes. The management has erected a large daning [dining] pavilion finely equipped and used in every way for the enjoyment of the people who come by the thousands from this and adjoining states.” (1)
Since 1994 St. Joseph-on-Carrollton Manor has held its Country Fair every October attracting hundreds from around the area. The new Parish Center was completed and dedicated by William Cardinal Keeler, Archbishop of Baltimore, in 1997. Daily 9:00 am mass and 8:00 am mass on Sundays are still held in the church during the Fall thru Spring schedule, but during the summer all masses are held in the parish center.
In January 2006 the purchase of 11 additional acres of property was completed by the Archdiocese of Baltimore. It is now time for us to write the next chapter in the history of St Joseph-on-Carrollton Manor with the start of our Capital Campaign to raise funds for the building of a new church.
(1) Carrollton Manor Frederick County Maryland by William Jarboe Grove March 29, 1921