The Evergreen Heritage Center Foundation was founded to make a meaningful difference in our rural community, where 75% of children qualify for the USDA’s Free and Reduced Meal Program. By working closely with community members, the foundation is dedicated to preserving our history, conserving the environment, and providing empowering educational opportunities through an outdoor classroom setting.
Situated on 130 acres of Federal Hill in Allegany County, the Evergreen Heritage Center (EHC) is a historic Maryland farm dating back to before the Revolutionary War. Recognized on the National Register for its architectural importance (including the recently restored 200-year-old Evergreen Barn) and its role in early Western MD settlement, the EHC Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, was founded in 2008. Its mission is to utilize this historic property to provide hands-on enrichment programs in Western Maryland counties, where the average per capita income is less than 60% of the state average. The foundation and its partners have developed and participated in multiple award-winning programs that benefit the Western MD community.
Serving over 10,000 individuals annually, these impactful learning by doing programs showcase best practices in sustainability related to agriculture, forestry, and the environment.
1783 - 1819
Edward Grimes, the first settler of Evergreen (later the Evergreen Heritage Center), moved west from Frederick. A Revolutionary War Lieutenant, Mr Grimes built the original house and barn, becoming a prominent farmer and businessman. In 1794, he was appointed to build what became Route 36 from Cumberland to Mount Savage. His son-in-law, Michael Oswalt, who migrated from Pennsylvania, owned one of the area’s first sawmills on property near Barrelsville. Oswalt briefly owned the property before selling it to William Ridgeley in 1819.
1819 - 1869
William Ridgeley, whose migrated from the Eastern Shore, built a house on the property, overlooking Mount Savage. Ridgeley owned ten slaves during his tenure. As an early County Commissioner, he significantly influenced the region by laying out the town of Frostburg's first plan and fostering the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal partnership which enhanced transportation access. Ridgeley sold part of Federal Hill to George Winter in 1822 including the original Grimes house. Winter, who moved from Frederick, owned one of the area's first woolen mills and an inn on what became the National Road. He expanded the Grimes house with a two-story stone addition. After Winter's death in 1826, his son George Winter Jr. continued to live there and then following the Civil War in 1869, the Winter family sold the land to the Trimble family.
1869 - 2008
The Trimble family, originating from the Shenandoah Valley, settled near Edward Grimes on Federal Hill in the late 1700s. By acquiring the Winter property, they created one of the area's largest farms, covering over 1100 acres, including the present Evergreen Heritage Center. The Trimbles remodeled the Winter house into a Victorian mansion, continued farming, and joined the booming coal industry.
2008 - Present
In 2008, Evergreen's owners founded the Evergreen Heritage Center Foundation to share the property with the local community. Visitors can tour the Evergreen Farmhouse, now a museum, and the Evergreen Barn, with its original stone foundation and early farming tools. The Evergreen Coal Camp and Trail offers a hike through historical sites, including abandoned coal mine openings, a blacksmith’s forge, a miners' mule stable, boarding house exhibit, and the remnants of the incline plane where coal cars were lowered down to the railroad.