Washington DC Girl Scouts did not acquire their own permanent camp until Camp May Flather, in Mt. Solon, Virginia, opened in 1930.
Before then, Washington Girl Scouts borrowed several temporary sites. Camp Bradley, located on the outskirts of Edgewater, in northern Maryland, opened in 1921. (Newspapers of the era often locate the camp at the town of “Magnolia”.) Campers enjoyed the many resources of the nearby Aberdeen Proving Ground, including the soldiers who set up the tents, lights, and boardwalk. Baltimore troops also used Camp Bradley.
I knew about the Camp Bradley at Edgewater. We have many photos of campers there. But I only recently learned that there were two Camp Bradleys. One in Rockville, Maryland (1919-1920) and one in Edgewater, Maryland (1922-1926). The Rockville site is about 12 miles from my home!
The First Camp Bradley
In 1919 and 1920, Washington’s 2,000 registered Girl Scouts camped at Rosemont dairy farm, in neighboring Montgomery County, Maryland.
Encompassing more than 500 acres, the site even had its own streetcar stop–Autrey Park. Today, the Woodmont Country Club (@woodmontcountryclub) sits on part of the Rosemont site. There still is an Autre Park, but when I tried to visit, it seemed to be located in several residents’ back yards. (I don’t know when the “y” in Autrey Park disappeared, either.)
Rosemont Farm was the home of Joseph H. Bradley, who had made his fortune in real estate and as president of Columbia Granite and Dredging Company. His family was prominent in the Washington region. Joseph grew up on his grandfather’s land, the current site of the Chevy Chase Club.
Rosemont Farm already had a house, built in 1860, on site when Bradley purchased the land. He, his wife, Anna, and daughter Mary used the house as a summer retreat. They built a more modern house in 1909, a considerable distance from the 1860 structure.
In the first year of the Rosemont experiment, the camp operated for six weeks, welcomed about two dozen girls at a time, and cost a mere $5 per week. Tents and other equipment were World War I surplus and erected by Marines. Some girls enjoyed the experience so much that they stayed all six weeks.
The girls slept six to a tent by night and played in Rock Creek by day. The 158-acre portion of Rosemont had everything they might need. The street car stop made it accessible. The camp had visiting hours for family and friends: 3 pm-6:30 pm weekdays and 4-6 pm on Sundays.
A Day with the Girl Scouts at Autrey Park
The Autrey Park camp was a tremendous success, with local newspapers providing regular updates. The Washington Evening Star newspaper (August 17, 1919) even had a full-page feature about camp activities.
See the “bull’s eye” photo in the lower-left corner? Look familiar?
I’ve seen the photo many places, but I had no idea that it had been taken nearly in my back yard!
Back to Autrey Park in 1920
The camp was repeated in 1920 and the cost grew to $6 per week. For the second year, the girls voted to name the program “Camp Bradley,” in honor of their host.
The Evening Star again reported from the camp.
Mary Bradley was 10 years old in 1920 and spent time visiting the camp. She wanted to join the Girl Scouts as soon as she turned 12.
Mrs. Bradley joined the Washington Council’s Camping Committee in 1920, and one of her first tasks was overseeing the new, but temporary, site in Edgewater for summer 1921.
Why Camp Bradley and not Camp Fries?
The Edgewater site was arranged by US Army Major General Amos Fries, whose daughter, Elizabeth (see photo), was active in Washington troops. General Fries was one of the founders of the Army Chemical Warfare Service, based at Aberdeen, near Edgewater, and was appointed head of the service in 1920.
Both Joseph and Anna Bradley were honored for their roles in creating the original Camp Bradley.
In 1923, September 1st was declared “Bradley Day” in honor of Anna Bradley. The day included swimming contests and basketball games between Washington girls and Baltimore girls. Five years later, Anna was elected council president.
Special thanks to Sarah Hedlund, Montgomery History (@mocomdhistory)
© 2025 Ann Robertson, writer, editor, Girl Scout historian, but NOT a Girl Scout employee.
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