Written by Jody Trammel

Darnestown

Darnestown Presbyterian ChurchDarnestown is located at the intersection of Seneca and Darnestown Roads near the center of Maryland. It is still a part of Montgomery County. The town is quite small and yet, it has a very colorful history. If you are going on a trip to the Darnestown area, just call Affinity Airport Sedan to pick you up from any airport in D.C.

History of Darnestown

The first settlers came to Darnestown in the 1750s when William Darne married the daughter of a well-to-do landowner named Elizabeth Gassaway and the couple settled at the crossroads of Darnestown and Seneca Highways to put up an inn and tavern. That area was named Darnestown in 1812.

The town started to flourish in 1820. The stagecoach service began traversing the area from Georgetown to the western town of Poolesville also at Montgomery County. A corn mill, post office and other businesses soon emerged.  In 1855, congregation members commenced construction of the Darnestown Presbyterian Church on a sprawling lot donated by John Dufief and was completely built after three years. It was refurbished in 1897 and again in 1953. Darnestown was converted into a stronghold of the Union Army during the American Civil War. From 1870 until 1900, the locality was a booming commercial area because of trade connections to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.

However, Darnestown suffered an economic slump after the Civil War as a result of the railroad’s emergence which ushered in decreased demand in  canal transportation. It was only during the Second World War that the town started to experience prosperity when the government improved the road structures.

Places to Visit

If you want a quiet venue for outdoor picnics, Darnestown Square Urban Park is the place to bring your family. It has recreation facilities ball fields and playground equipment but picnic tables are limited. This loop is enjoyed best during the fall and spring seasons. Schaeffer Farm Trail is where you can find hikers, bird watchers, horse riders, and mountain bikers. Visitors will definitely be delighted by an assortment of squirrels, white-tailed deer, red and gray foxes, beavers, chipmunks, and wild turkeys. Birdlife is also abundant with small warblers, owls, woodpeckers, and meadowlarks.

You can start trekking from the rear of the parking lot and continue to the forest and open field. Black Rock Road lies on the east and various creek crossings make the 3.5 mile trail more enjoyable. If you are spending the weekend in Darnestown, call Affinity and let us worry about getting you there and back.