Before Deep Creek Lake

Before Deep Creek Lake. Deep Creek Lake 100 Years. , Before Deep Creek Lake was formed in 1925, the area that now lies beneath its waters was known in the early 1800’s as “The Glades” and was characterized by dense forests, rolling hills, and winding streams. This land was originally inhabited by indigenous peoples, who hunted and fished in the region's abundant wilderness. European settlers began arriving in what would become Garrett County in the late 18th century, drawn by the promise of fertile land and abundant game., Colonel James McHenry, the namesake of both the fort in Baltimore and the local town, was a prominent early inhabitant of the Glades and wrote of the area: , “I like this country, its salubrious air, its mild summers, its interesting views made up of hills, woods, glades, streams, and mountains; above all it delights me as affording me at my time of life, a salutary retirement from the busy world and its cares. I do not feel, therefore, dispossessed to wander further, or to quit it in a hurry. Indeed, did it quadrate with the interest of the whole of my family to fix here, I should never move from the spot I am now.”, Meshach Browning was another early settler in the area who had an appreciation of the large populations of wildlife in the area. Browning wrote the book Forty-four Years of the Life of a Hunter which details many of his hunting tales, but also provides a rich description of what life in the Glades and what would become Garrett County was like in the early 1800s. Many of Browning’s hunting tales take place around Deep Creek, and he often fished for trout at the Narrows (the site of today’s Glendale Bridge) where he said “success was certain.”, Deep Creek became an even bigger fishing destination with the construction of two small dams in the late 1800’s, one around the mouth of Cherry Creek, and one around the Glendale Bridge. The lakes formed from these dams, - Lakes Brown and Cleveland, were stocked with fish and drew visitors from the major cities, and even President Grover Cleveland to test their angling skills. These dams were either removed or covered over when the current dam was completed and the lake was formed in 1925., While Deep Creek has evolved into a lake, people are still eager to come here to enjoy the healthy air, four distinct seasons, glorious views and great outdoor recreational opportunities.