School History at the Site

Forestville School was built in 1922 at 3101 Ritchie Road in the unincorporated community of Forestville, Maryland. The property had already been used for education: before the Board of County School Commissioners was established in 1865, a schoolhouse stood there. This distinguishes two historical points in time—the earlier use of the property and the later construction of Forestville School.

Over the course of its history, the building received several additions and served, among other things, as a school, church, and office. Its documented history therefore encompasses more than its construction date: the additions and changing uses are part of it, too. If you are interested in how a community develops over time, the building’s changing functions offer a distinct perspective on Forestville’s history.

Church Architecture and Design

At Epiphany Episcopal Church & Cemetery, the architecture takes center stage. Built between 1867 and 1871, the timber-frame building has a gabled façade and board-and-batten siding. A gabled façade is the end wall beneath a sloping roof; with board-and-batten siding, narrow strips cover the joints between the boards. Together with the timber frame, these features give a concrete picture of the building’s form. Epiphany Episcopal Church is also considered an outstanding example of Gothic Revival church architecture.

The institutional history has its own sequence: the building was initially intended as a chapel; in 1871, it became the home of the independent Epiphany congregation. The year 1871 is significant in two ways: it marks the end of the stated construction period and the year the congregation established its home there.

Cemetery History as a Separate Timeline

At Forestville Methodist Episcopal Church Site & Cemetery, the timeline is different. The cemetery was established in 1840, making it older than the concrete-block church building; burials date back to the 1840s. This sequence matters when distinguishing cemetery history from building history: the cemetery provides the earlier point in time, while the church building came later. The cemetery is considered representative of rural burial grounds from the mid-to-late decades of the 19th century.

The historical focuses are clearly distinct: Forestville School is about the sequence of school use and other building functions; Epiphany is about architecture and congregational history; and Methodist Episcopal Site is about the cemetery’s age and burial traditions. This lets you weigh your interests in architectural form, institutions, or cemetery history.

Practical Information

Marlboro Pike is a road connection for vehicle traffic in Forestville. If you are planning to travel by car, you can include the road in your local navigation.

Suitland Community Center in Forestville has playground equipment and a bicycle rack. Since facilities may change, check the latest information before visiting.

Discover more destinations: New Carrollton, Bowie, Lanham-Seabrook, Bladensburg, Landover Hills, Oxon Hill, Temple Hills, Cheverly.

For the broader travel overview: Prince George's.