Photo by John Rudd. Chris Nichols will discuss Deep Creek prior to the lake’s development on October 16th at 6 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Garrett College. Nichols’ presentation is part of the Joan Crawford Lecture Series.
There was a Deep Creek before there was a lake.
That’s the focus of Garrett College’s October 16th Joan Crawford Lecture Series presentation by Chris Nichols, a board member at the Garrett County Historical Society. The JCLS event takes place at 6 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Garrett College.
“Deep Creek Lake has become such a fixture in Garrett County that it’s hard to imagine that it used to be just Deep Creek – a lazy, grassy stream winding its way through the center of the area known as ‘The Glades,’ ” said Nichols. “Even before the lake, the area was a well-regarded destination for outdoor rest and recreation.”
Nichols said he’ll use the presentation to “take us back to the early 1800s to the first written description of Deep Creek and the Glades area. His presentation will cover “all the way to 1925” – the year of Deep Creek Lake’s birth – “with maps, commentary and historic newspaper articles.”
The DCL100 Committee of 10 different organizations is leading the effort to celebrate Deep Creek Lake’s centennial anniversary in 2025. That effort is being coordinated by the Property Owners’ Association (POA) of Deep Creek Lake. For more information on the Lake’s centennial, please go to https://deepcreeklakepoa.com/deep-creek-lake-centennial-2025.
Nichols, a Garrett County resident who works as an energy markets analyst with the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Morgantown, has produced a series of printed maps of the county focusing on outdoor recreation and historical features. Nichols’ website may be found at https://dimesy.com.
Garrett College’s faculty created the Joan Crawford Lecture Series in honor of the dynamic educator Joan R. Crawford.
Crawford, who died in 2010, served the College community for more than 30 years, including serving as the head of the humanities division and director of enrollment. After her retirement, Crawford was named Professor Emerita.
The Joan Crawford Lecture Series of presentations are offered free of charge, and the public and community members are invited to attend.
All presentations from the Joan Crawford Lecture Series will be available to view online after the event through the College’s YouTube page. For more information, contact Stephanie Miller at stephanie.miller@garrettcollege.edu.
