Poplar Springs in Howard County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

St. Michael's Outdoor Grotto

Celebrating 125 Years

— 1879 - 2004 —

St. Michael's Outdoor Grotto Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 14, 2024

1. St. Michael's Outdoor Grotto Marker

Inscription.

St. Michael's Outdoor Grotto. Celebrating 125 Years. Outdoor Grotto. This piece of ground was part of 17 acres purchased from a Mr. Triplet in the 1960's. On this spot was a half-built house, a basement that served as a home. This dwelling was renovated to become a multi-purpose space with a small kitchen the parish could use for meetings, religious education classes, social activities and bingo. The building was torn down in 1984., On Sunday, October 25, 1992, the newly installed statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of "The Immaculate Conception," was blessed by Father Michael J. Ruane and crowned by Molly Applegate. The ceremony followed the 10:15 a.m. Mass and included a procession, Marian hymns, flowers placed at the base of the statue, and the recitation of the rosary. The gigantic rosary used for the occasion was provided by Joe Sirera and the Notre Dame Council of the Knights of Columbus in Baltimore., The 5' high, 500 lb. statue, sculpted from carrara marble was imported from Carrara Italy and ordered through Townler Corporation P.O. Box 637 Elberton, GA 30635. Delivery took nearly fourteen months. The statue cost $3,358.25. Raymond G. Merkle, Inc. received and set the statue on the pedestal for $350.00., The St. Michael's Men's Club, whose president then was Kelvin Kelly, was commended for sponsoring the project and raising the funds for the outdoor grotto. The St. Michael's Men's Club raised the funds for the landscaping and beautification of the site. The site is enhanced with a mixture of annual and perennial flowers and trees. One of the trees was given in loving memory of Al Onaitis and Frank Panneton. Some of the plants were purchased in loving memory of Victoria Cocuzzi Utterback. Two stone benches have been added. The new church sign adjacent to the site was built and installed by Rick Rollyson., With the help of skillful friends, the Men's Club constructed the foundation and pedestal and provided a beautiful landscaping setting. Special thanks goes to Buzz Claggett, coordinator of the grotto project; to Dave Milburn and Jim Onaitis for the landscaping design; and to Art Lyons, Jack Lyons, Vince Kirchner, Phil Abel and Nick Campanile. Henry Hamilton and Dave Richardson built the marble pedestal and Skip and Bill of nearby Piccirilli Quarries donated the marble., It is hoped that the grotto will provide a place of prayerful reflection to all who visit it, and an inspiration to all who pass by, including parishioners on their way to and from church. The grotto acknowledges Mary's esteemed place in the Church as the mother of the Redeemer and "as a sign of sure hope and solace for the pilgrim people of God.",

"The disciples were constantly at prayer together, with Mary the mother of Jesus." (Acts 1:14).

Outdoor Grotto This piece of ground was part of 17 acres purchased from a Mr. Triplet in the 1960's. On this spot was a half-built house, a basement that served as a home. This dwelling was renovated to become a multi-purpose space with a small kitchen the parish could use for meetings, religious education classes, social activities and bingo. The building was torn down in 1984.

On Sunday, October 25, 1992, the newly installed statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of "The Immaculate Conception," was blessed by Father Michael J. Ruane and crowned by Molly Applegate. The ceremony followed the 10:15 a.m. Mass and included a procession, Marian hymns, flowers placed at the base of the statue, and the recitation of the rosary. The gigantic rosary used for the occasion was provided by Joe Sirera and the Notre Dame Council of the Knights of Columbus in Baltimore.

The 5' high, 500 lb. statue, sculpted from carrara marble was imported from Carrara Italy and ordered through Townler Corporation P.O. Box 637 Elberton, GA 30635. Delivery took nearly fourteen months. The statue cost $3,358.25. Raymond G. Merkle,

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Inc. received and set the statue on the pedestal for $350.00.

The St. Michael's Men's Club, whose president then was Kelvin Kelly, was commended for sponsoring the project and raising the funds for the outdoor grotto. The St. Michael's Men's Club raised the funds for the landscaping and beautification of the site. The site is enhanced with a mixture of annual and perennial flowers and trees. One of the trees was given in loving memory of Al Onaitis and Frank Panneton. Some of the plants were purchased in loving memory of Victoria Cocuzzi Utterback. Two stone benches have been added. The new church sign adjacent to the site was built and installed by Rick Rollyson.

With the help of skillful friends, the Men's Club constructed the foundation and pedestal and provided a beautiful landscaping setting. Special thanks goes to Buzz Claggett, coordinator of the grotto project; to Dave Milburn and Jim Onaitis for the landscaping design; and to Art Lyons, Jack Lyons, Vince Kirchner, Phil Abel and Nick Campanile. Henry Hamilton and Dave Richardson built the marble pedestal and Skip and Bill of nearby Piccirilli Quarries donated the marble.

It

St. Michael's Outdoor Grotto image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), July 14, 2024

2. St. Michael's Outdoor Grotto

is hoped that the grotto will provide a place of prayerful reflection to all who visit it, and an inspiration to all who pass by, including parishioners on their way to and from church. The grotto acknowledges Mary's esteemed place in the Church as the mother of the Redeemer and "as a sign of sure hope and solace for the pilgrim people of God."

"The disciples were constantly at prayer together, with Mary the mother of Jesus."
(Acts 1:14)

Erected 2004 by St. Michael's Parish.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce • Notable Places • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is October 25, 1992.

Location. 39° 20.343′ N, 77° 6.372′ W. Marker is in Poplar Springs, Maryland, in Howard County. It is on Saint Michaels Road 0.1 miles north of Hardy Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1125 St Michaels Rd, Mount Airy MD 21771, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Maryland.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic.

Globally,

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it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: St. Michael's Church (within shouting distance of this marker); St. Michael's Religious Education Wing & Multipurpose Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); St. Michael's Historical Church (about 300 feet away); St. Michael's Parish Cemetery (about 300 feet away); Simpson & Mount Gregory United Methodist Churches (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Poplar Springs (approx. half a mile away); Lisbon Hotel (approx. 1.9 miles away); Lafayette's Tour (approx. 2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Poplar Springs.

Other markers no longer nearby. Simpson & Mount Gregory United Methodist Churches (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Poplar Springs (was approx. half a mile away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 181 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 22, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.