by David Marks
Historian, Perry Hall Improvement Association
As Perry Hall enters the Twenty-First Century, our community has many challenges. The final phase of development in Perry Hall, the 5,000-unit Honeygo project in the far eastern part of our community, will require a greater degree of vigilance than was exercised earlier in our county designated "growth area." At the same time, as growth continues, many Perry Hall families are fleeing Perry Hall because of high property taxes, a lack of open space, and increased urbanization. The older parts of Perry Hall are beginning to resemble the most unsightly parts of the city, while our newer neighborhoods are often a hodgepodge collection of mismatched town houses, shopping centers, and parking lots.
In these respects, Perry Hall appears to be a quintessential American suburb at the end of the Twentieth Century. Perry Hall, however, is not a typical suburb. Our half-year journey through Perry Hall history has shown this to be a remarkable place, with a history of overcoming adversity and pulling together as a community.
Perry Hall's first families cleared the land, building forges and mills by the mighty Gunpowder River. They were poor families, yet their spirits were tempered by an devout faith in Methodism, a young religion which had its American roots in Perry Hall. Methodism bridged the gap between rich and poor in our tiny village. The Gough family, wealthy proprietors of Perry Hall Mansion, donated land and funds for the construction of a community church and school. While some might regard this as snobbish charity, early residents knew it was a distinctive spirit of warmth and camaraderie, one which would unite the community through the Twentieth Century.
Perry Hall has not lost that spirit. Its presence is strongest in our churches and schools. perhaps the most visible elements of our modern community. Many churches are experiencing unprecedented growth, while several congregations are relocating to Perry Hall from other neighborhoods. Perry Hall's schools are generally acknowledged as some of the best in Baltimore County, with strong PTA's, extensive extracurricular activities, and historically the most active recreation programs in the region.
All of these institutions demonstrate the twin values of family and civic involvement, although both have been altered somewhat by time: family by the change in working parents, hectic life styles, and skyrocketing divorce rates, and civic involvement by the growth of Perry Hall. Indeed as our community has grown, the basis for involvement has become smaller. While the Perry Hall Improvement Association was the social nucleus for the community in the rural 1950's, smaller PTA's, home owners associations, and recreation programs represent the most central civic organizations in the suburban 1990's.
As Perry Hallers, our central challenge for the next century is to integrate these smaller groups, to bring together businesses, families, civic groups, and government in a new spirit of partnership and cooperation. We have all the resources we need to make this a better place to live. For example, local Scouting troops might build new trails in Honeygo Park, an undeveloped parcel of land, by working with Baltimore County planners and the recreation council which uses the property. High school students needing service hours could replant trees and collect debris along Belair Road. Our elementary, middle, and high school teachers might use Perry Hall history to supplement their social studies curriculum, explaining the cultural and religious heritage of our community. All of these activities promote good citizenship, community living, and a lifelong appreciation for Perry Hall. All of them could also be done, without any government funds.
Although Perry Hall's roots go back to before the Revolutionary War, it has a relatively young, new population. Perry Hall is in a transitional phase, and as our community matures, it will develop the distinctive state of mind which characterizes established neighborhoods like Catonsville, Dundalk, and Rodgers Forge.
If Perry Hall was to have a nickname, we might call it "Baltimore County's Crossroads." After all, most of the county's major roads intersect here, from Interstate 95 to US Route 1. Perry Hall has been at the center of county history, witnessing the birth of the Methodist Church, Civil War troop movements along Joppa Road, and the postwar suburban housing boom. Our success in building community here, in Perry Hall, will determine whether Baltimore County moves forward, together, at its own crossroads in history.
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