Heading west to Garrett County, Md., Eugene L. Meyer discovers tiny Crellin's enormous riches. - Maryland Life, March-April 2007

Welcome to Crellin Elementary School, where 77 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches and they arguably have the best polayground that money couldn't buy.

To urban outsiders, Garrett County, which includes Crellin, is mostly known for Deep Creek Lake and the Wisp ski resort, for second hoomes and vacation rentals, and for weekend family fun and festivals--such as Autmn Glory--that attract thousands from the Baltimore-Washington area.

Despite the economic wealth and jobs that the resort and real estate industries bring to this far western corner of Appalachian Maryland, places such as Crellin have been bypassed. But what the community lacks in wealth, it more than makes up for in pride and dedication, evidenced by the magnificant "Double Boom Playground." And therein lies a tale...