Silver Spring and Van Buren United Methodist Churches will be holding a prayer and re-consecration service on land which was once occupied by a shared, historic cemetery at the former Montgomery Hills Carwash. The cemetery received integrated burials from 1825-1862 and was an important African American cemetery from 1862-1963. The associated congregation, first Sligo and later Mt. Zion Methodist Episcopal Church, was the parent congregation to the Grace Episcopal Church, Marvin Memorial United Methodist Church, Woodside United Methodist Church, and Van Buren United Methodist Church. Woodside and Marvin Memorial later merged to form the Silver Spring United Methodist Church.

Although it was theoretically moved when the property was sold in 1964, they recently uncovered alarming evidence that many–if not most–of the burials were not moved. State archaeologists have speculated that due to the age and size of the cemetery, there were likely hundreds of burials. Only six bodies were relocated. They have positively identified, with names and descendents, 31 persons who are missing at this time.

As part of a planned road widening in the Forest Glen Sector Plan, the State is working with SSUMC and Van Buren, as descendent congregations, to conduct ground-penetrating radar (GPR) on the site of the former Montgomery Hills Carwash and southbound lanes of traffic on Georgia Avenue. While this is required by Federal law, the congregations contacted the private property owner of the Aldi site to request permission to conduct GPR on that site. They are delighted to share that, after last minute negotiations, the property owner of the Aldi has agreed to allow full access to the site. They encourage you to park in the parking in front of and adjacent to Nothing Bundt Cakes. You can enter the lot from Seminary Place or from the south bound lanes on Georgia Avenue. The addres is 9462 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD. For more information, please email wgreen@silverspringumc.org or pastorcindykent@gmail.com.

At this time, descendant families will not ask for the removal of the lot or disinterment of the remains, but only the opportunity to identify their ancestors. They are hopeful that witness on November 5th will help highlight the historic congregation that once occupied this site, as well as encourage the property owner to allow testing of the parking lot site. It is also important to note that it is not their goal to stop, stall, or prevent the redevelopment of the roadway or intersection to allow for more transit options. They simply want the story–and the dignity–of those who called Sligo home to be honored.

Additional Info from MPI

Mt. Zion ME Church is ID#200 on the Montgomery County Burial Sites Inventory, the research project initiated by MPI 2018-2019, completed by a hundred volunteers, and officially adopted by the Montgomery County Planning Board in 2019.

Montgomery Preservation is 100 percent in support of this effort by local churches, Mt. Zion descendants, SHA, and Montgomery Planning to conduct archaeological investigations here and to protect burials at this site from further desecration.