Zion Lutheran Church Steeple (JV4618) - Middletown, MD - U.S. Benchmarks on Waymarking.com

This historical, NRHP structure and former field hospital does extra duty as a benchmark.

This huge, old, white church completely dominates the Route 40/National Road landscape in this tiny Civil War town. Naturally, the town clock can be found way at the top of the steeple. Its bell tower and bell radiates chimes, dings & dongs throughout the town and blocks away. The steep, octagonal steeple is topped with a shiny, metal cross. The room which houses the bell is airy and on four sides, plenty of room to walk around. The steeple, bell tower and town clock all rise above the center entrance. The building looks like Greek classical architecture with its massive columns, pediment and entablature.

The data sheet offers the following: DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1939 (APR) THIS STATION IS A SPIRE ON THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THE VILLAGE OF MIDDLETOWN, MARYLAND. IT IS LOCATED ON THE N SIDE OF U.S. HIGHWAY 40 ABOUT 0.1 MILE NW OF U.S. HIGHWAY 33. THE CHURCH WAS BUILT IN 1859 AND IS VERY PROMINENT. BUILDING IS OF BRICK CONSTRUCTION PAINTED WHITE. THE BRICK TOWER IS SURMOUNTED BY A WOOD BELL TOWER PAINTED WHITE AND IS ABOUT 30 FEET HIGH, ON THIS THERE IS A WHITE WOOD TOWER ABOUT 30 FEET HIGH AND HAS A CLOCK DIAL ON ALL FOUR SIDES, AND ON THIS THERE IS A WHITE SHINGLED ROOFED SPIRE ABOUT 35 FEET HIGH AND HAS A GOLD WEATHER VANE AT ITS APEX. THE TOTAL HEIGHT IS ABOUT 120 FEET.

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2. A 'distant' photo including the mark in the view is highly recommended. Include the compass direction you faced when you took the picture.