BGuthrie Photos: MD -- Gaithersburg History Park

MD -- Gaithersburg History Park:

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[1] GAITHP_180624_01.JPG	[2] GAITHP_180624_06.JPG	[3] GAITHP_180624_11.JPG
[4] GAITHP_180624_15.JPG	[5] GAITHP_180624_21.JPG	[6] GAITHP_180624_27.JPG
[7] GAITHP_180624_28.JPG	[8] GAITHP_180624_34.JPG	[9] GAITHP_180624_38.JPG
[10] GAITHP_180624_41.JPG	[11] GAITHP_180624_44.JPG	[12] GAITHP_180624_48.JPG

Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. GAITHP_180624_01.JPG: A Center of Culture and Commerce In July of 1889, John A. Belt, a leading merchant in Gaithersburg, purchased the southwest corner of Diamond and Summit Avenues for $200. On this site, Belt built a general store with a large upstairs public room, known as Norman Hall. The building soon became a pivotal structure in Gaithersburg's social, cultural and governmental activities. Norman Hall began its first functions as Post Office, Town Hall, and Polling Place. It was not long before it became the social and cultural center of Gaithersburg as well as housing the town's first library. The Belt Building's Norman Hall became the preferred location of theater, lectures, recitals, musical presentations, and high school graduations. At the turn of the century, the original building was tragically destroyed by fire. It was soon replaced with the present brick structure, constructed in 1903. The Belt Building has been home to many businesses, including W. Lawson King's Auto Showroom, George Woodfield's Maytag Service, Walker's Grocery, Frank Ciarrachi's Restaurant, Clark's Photography, MacMurray's Floral Arts, Armand's Pizzeria, and most recently, Old Town Tavern and Summit Station.
2. GAITHP_180624_06.JPG: The Early Years Before the arrival of the first European settlers, the area that is now the City of Gaithersburg was a land of dense forests and gently rolling hills. Frederick Avenue was a well-traveled path for the Piscataway and Tuscarora Indians, who hunted the area's abundant wildlife. The region's landscape changed in the mid 1700's as the first settlers of European descent formed the beginnings of a new community. Several prominent land owners established plantations, and a handful of families formed a settlement known as Log Town. In the late 1700's, Benjamin Gaither settled on the property near the current intersection of Brookes and Frederick Avenues and established a blacksmith shop, store, and tavern to serve travelers and residents. His crossroads enterprise eventually became known as Gaithersburg. For many years, Gaithersburg was considered the last outpost of civilization in Montgomery County. More and more travelers traversed the route that was once a Native American trail and Frederick Avenue became a well-worn thoroughfare. As wagons required occasional repairs, and oxen, horses, and people needed respite, innkeepers, blacksmiths, and other tradesmen established businesses along the road. In 1873, construction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad through Gaithersburg was complete. The railroad brought a surge of people and businesses to communities all along the line, and Gaithersburg was no exception. In response to the population growth, the people of Gaithersburg drafted a charter, established a government, and incorporated as a city on April 5, 1878. By the late 1880's, citizens of Gaithersburg were able to travel and move their wares by train. Fueled by this new and efficient form of transportation, the town's economy and population continued to expand. Gaithersburg's mercantile center shifted from Frederick Avenue to Diamond Avenue, along the train tracks and near the train station. In 1891, more than a dozen trains ran through Gaithersburg daily. The accessibility of the railroad soon transformed Gaithersburg from a sleepy rural town into what many Washingtonians considered a growing commercial center and a preferred summer resort.
3. GAITHP_180624_11.JPG: Building The Future The completion of the railroad and the city's incorporation in the 1870's established a solid base upon which Gaithersburg could grow and flourish. Following the City's incorporation in 1878, Henry Ward became the president of the town's Commissioners. By 1891 the First National Bank of Gaithersburg opened, and not long after that, Gaithersburg became the first community in Montgomery County to have telephone service. Then, in 1898, George W. Meem, was elected to be the first mayor as the town changed to a mayor and council form of government. In 1913, electricity became available and the first "moving picture place" opened at the Masonic Hall on Russell Avenue. The first interstate bus line passed through Gaithersburg in 1916. Ten years later, Asbury Methodist Home was established, known then as the Methodist Home of the Aged and Orphans. Asbury provided a sense of community as subsequent generations followed in the footsteps of the founders by tending the needs of the community's most vulnerable citizens. The city leaders led their community into the modern era.
4. GAITHP_180624_15.JPG: The Schwartz House / Gaithersburg City Hall / Schwartz Peony Garden The building that now houses Gaithersburg's City government offices and Council chambers was originally a private residence built in 1895 by Rosa and Henry Miller. In 1913, this five-acre estate was purchased by Edward P. Schwartz, a successful realtor from Washington, D. C. The distinguished country property was replete with tennis courts, a cook's cottage, a two-car garage, a windmill and a pump house. The Schwartz home was the first residence to be supplied with the luxurious amenity of electricity. The Victorian house remained a residence until it was purchased by the City in 1958 and turned into the Gaithersburg Civic Center, or City Hall. In addition to being a successful real estate broker, Edward Schwartz was an enthusiastic amateur gardener. Adjacent to his home and extending to the railroad tracks and to Hutton Street, Schwartz cultivated what came to be known as the "World Famous Schwartz Peony Garden." Gaithersburg was already regarded as a country retreat for Washington D. C. residents, and the gardens drew numerous vacationers during their peak bloom in late May. The garden was comprised of more than 40,000 blooms from 410 varieties of peonies from around the world. Notable visitors to the elaborate display included President Woodrow Wilson and Mr. Gilbert Grosvenor, President of National Geographic Society, who took extensive photos of the impressive peony collection. Visible from the railroad tracks, the garden attracted the attention of train passengers who crowded to witness one of the largest peony gardens in the nation. The peonies were later painstakingly transplanted to Seneca Creek State Park. In 2004, some of the peonies were relocated to Gaithersburg History Park.
5. GAITHP_180624_21.JPG: The Business of Agriculture: Cannery and Mills As the area's agricultural community flourished and the railroad was introduced, Gaithersburg soon became the commercial hub of the mid-county region. The Gaithersburg town center shifted from Frederick Avenue to Diamond Avenue near the train station and along the railroad tracks. Commercial mills and a cannery sprang up, providing a local market for area farmers, offering jobs, and fueling the economic growth of the community. Built in 1917, Thomas and Company Cannery and its store house were located on the corner of Chestnut Street and West Diamond Avenue. The cannery ran day and night during the peak summer months, processing corn, pumpkins, and peas. It employed not only locals but also migrant workers, many of whom settled in Gaithersburg. The Bowman Mill, one of several local mills spurred by the coming of the railroad, was built by the Bowman Brothers in 1919. The town gradually shifted from farming village to thriving shipping and receiving center for market goods.
6. GAITHP_180624_27.JPG: Supplying an Agricultural Community Gaithersburg began as an agricultural community. With the coming of the railroad in the late 1800's, markets in Washington, D. C. and Baltimore were opened to area farmers. Wheat, vegetables, fruits, meats, dairy products, and cider could be easily moved to markets in larger cities. The Gaithersburg area flourished and soon became the center of farming activity in Montgomery County. In addition to commercial farming, domestic farming was also common. A family often raised its own chickens, cows, and pigs, and cultivated its own produce. Southern States Co-op opened in the 1930's to serve farmers and the agricultural community at large, selling feed, seed, fertilizer, and farm supplies. The company, based in Richmond, Virginia, offered a much wider variety of products than locally owned businesses. Goods shipped from Richmond to Washington, D. C. were easily transported via railroad to the Gaithersburg store location, which was strategically located near the train station in Olde Towne.
7. GAITHP_180624_28.JPG: The Gaithersburg School The original Gaithersburg High School was formerly located where Gaithersburg Elementary School now stands at 35 North Summit Avenue. Built in 1904, the school initially provided two general levels of education under the same roof: an elementary program for grades 1 to 7, and a three-year high school program. In 1907, the first graduating class consisted of only three students. Ten years later, the Montgomery County Board of Education approved the first four-year high-school program. To accommodate the growing student population, an addition was built in 1911. By 1913, the school had 210 students, 49 of whom were in high school. The ever-growing student body formed athletic, book and drama clubs; organized dances and socials; and created a school paper. Named for the school colors, the Blue and Gold student newspaper was first published in 1928 and remains in circulation today. By the late 1940's, the student body had expanded beyond the capacity of the building and the construction of the present-day Gaithersburg High School commenced at 314 South Frederick Avenue.
8. GAITHP_180624_34.JPG: Gaithersburg Washington Grove Volunteer Fire Department The completion of the railroad in the 1870's brought increasing prosperity to Gaithersburg. As the town grew so did the need for protection from the ever present dangers of fire. In September of 1892, a committee of volunteers formed the Gaithersburg Rescue Fire Company. Often with only bucket brigades to extinguish the flames, these early volunteers valiantly fought the city's fires. Two of the most significant turn-of-the-century fires were the Summit Hotel fire in 1895 and the original Belt Building fire shortly thereafter. By 1895, the fire department had purchased a new engine and constructed the first fire station on Diamond Avenue. These and other advances assisted these brave volunteers as they continued their heroic fire fighting battles. In 1914 a fire destroyed two private homes: ten years later a fire consumed the Thomas Feed and Fertilizer store; and in 1926 a fire destroyed Etchison's Store, the Post Office, and Brewers Real Estate offices. After Gaithersburg and nearby Washington Grove had suffered terrible losses from fires, they joined forces and in 1928 chartered the Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Volunteer Fire Department. from its volunteers as well as community fund raising events, such as the Labor Day Parade. In 1967, the first career fire fighters joined the department. Today, the brave volunteers, career fire fighters and emergency medical personnel of the Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Fire Department continue in the courageous footsteps of their noble predecessors as they heroically serve our community. To learn more about the Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Fire Department, visit the Fire Museum in Olde Towne Gaithersburg. This plaque is offered in grateful tribute to the brave men and women who serve in the Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Volunteer Fire Department and in memory of Captain Wesley Briggs who lost his life in the line of duty in 1952.
9. GAITHP_180624_38.JPG: The Summit Hotel Built in 1881, the Summit Hotel was regarded as a trendy spring and summer resort for those fortunate enough to take a holiday from the hustle and bustle of Washington, D. C. The hotel was located at the northeast corner of Summit and Frederick Avenues where Saint Martin's Church now stands. The elegant hotel was surrounded by stately elm trees and could accommodate as many as 100 guests. During the spring and summer months, the Summit Hotel was open to the many vacationers escaping the heat of the nation's capitol. The hotel manager, Juan Boyle, hosted many elaborate banquets, elegant balls, and open air concerts throughout the social season. Boyle's catered affairs were tastefully done and attracted many distinguished guests, including senators and other notable political figures. Although business slowed during the cold winter months, the Summit Hotel remained fully utilized. During the hotel's final winter, it served as home to the Fair View Seminary. Sadly, the Summit Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1895.
10. GAITHP_180624_41.JPG: Serving the Community's Health Care Needs In 1893, Dr. Elisha C. Etchison purchased the northwest corner property at Diamond and Summit Avenues from John B. Diamond and opened a pharmacy / drug store. Although the business at this site has changed owners several times over the years, there has always been a drugstore at this location. Etchison's business card boasted that customers could have a "prescription carefully compounded," or could pay 25 cents to buy one-half pint of "Elliot's Emulsified Oil Liniment Rub," guaranteed to stop any "ache or pain that can be reached externally." The drugstore remained in the Etchison family for several decades before becoming Barnett's, Lynn's and eventually, Diamond Drug. In addition to purchasing prescriptions, toiletries, and novelty items, customers relaxed at the soda fountain, where they enjoyed delicious 10-cent ice cream sodas.
11. GAITHP_180624_44.JPG: Gaithersburg A Character Counts! City History Park 7 South Summit Avenue
Wikipedia Description: Gaithersburg, Maryland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gaithersburg About this sound pronunciation (help�info) is a city located in Montgomery County, Maryland. At the time of the 2010 United States Census, Gaithersburg had a population of 59,933, making it the fourth largest incorporated city in the state, behind Baltimore, Frederick, and Rockville. Gaithersburg is located to the northwest of Washington, D.C., and is considered a suburb and a primary city within the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. Gaithersburg was incorporated in 1878.

Gaithersburg is divided into east and west sections, separated by Interstate 270. The eastern section of the city is older and is the original portion of the town before more recent growth. Landmarks and buildings from that time can still be seen in many places but especially in the historic central business district of Gaithersburg called "Olde Town". The east side also includes Lakeforest Mall, City Hall, and the Montgomery County Fair grounds. The west side of the city has many wealthier neighborhoods that were designed with smart growth techniques and embrace New Urbanism. These include the award-winning Kentlands community, the Lakelands community, and the Washingtonian Center (better known as The Rio), a popular shopping/business district. Three New Urbanism communities are under construction, including Crown Farm, Watkins Mill Town Center (Casey East and West), and the massive "Science City". The state has a bus rapid transit line, Corridor Cities Transitway or "CCT", planned for the western portion of the city starting at Shady Grove Metro Station and connecting all the high density western Gaithersburg neighborhoods with a total of eight stops planned in the city.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is headquartered in Gaithersburg directly west of I-270. Other major employers in the city include IBM, Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Services business area headquarters, MedImmune (recently purchased by AstraZeneca), and the French multinational corporation, Sodexo.

Gaithersburg is also the location of the garrison of the United States Army Reserve's 220th Military Police Brigade. ...

History

Gaithersburg was settled in 1765 as a small agricultural settlement known as Log Town near the present day Summitee Hall on Ralph Crabb's 1725 land grant "Deer Park". The northern portion of the land grant was purchased by Henry Brookes, and he built his home Montpelier there in the late 1780s or early 1790s. His son-in-law, Benjamin Gaither, inherited a portion of that land. Gaither built his home on the land in 1802. By the 1850s the area had ceased to be called log town and was known to inhabitants as Gaitherburg.

The Forest Oak Post Office, named for a large tree in the town, was located in Gaither's store in 1851. However, when the railroad was built through town the new station was called Gaithersburg, an officially recognized name for the community for the first time. The town incorporated under its current name in 1878. Gaithersburg boomed during the late 19th century and churches, schools, a mill, grain elevators, stores, and hotels were built. Much of this development focused around the railroad station.

In 1873 the B&O Railroad constructed a station at Gaithersburg, designed by Ephraim Francis Baldwin as part of his well-known series of Victorian stations in Maryland. Rapid growth occurred shortly thereafter, and on April 5, 1878 the town was officially incorporated as the City of Gaithersburg.

In 1899, Gaithersburg was selected as one of six global locations for the construction of an International Latitude Observatory as part of a project to measure the Earth's wobble on its polar axis. The Gaithersburg Latitude Observatory is (as of 2007) the only National Historic Landmark in the City of Gaithersburg. The observatory and five others in Japan, Italy, Russia, and the United States gathered information that is still used by scientists today, along with information from satellites, to determine polar motion; the size, shape, and physical properties of the earth; and to aid the space program through the precise navigational patterns of orbiting satellites. The Gaithersburg station operated until 1982 when computerization rendered the manual observation obsolete.

Gaithersburg remained a predominantly rural farm town until the 1970s when more construction began. As the population grew, with homes spreading throughout the area, Gaithersburg began taking on a suburban and semi-urban feel, leaving its farming roots behind. During the last 1990s and 2000s, it has become one of the most economically and ethnically diverse areas in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area as well as the state of Maryland, with people from all walks of life calling Gaithersburg home. This can be seen in the local schools, with Gaithersburg High School and Watkins Mill High School having two of the most diverse student bodies in the region.

During a 1997 rainstorm, the 295-year-old forest oak tree that gave its name to the Forest Oak Post Office crashed down. The tree served as the inspiration for the city's logo, which is also featured prominently on the city's flag.

On July 16, 2010, Gaithersburg was hit by a 3.6 magnitude earthquake, one of the strongest to occur in Maryland.

Notable people

Mark Bryan, bass player from Hootie & the Blowfish
Kiran Chetry, CNN anchor
Astrid Ellena, Miss Indonesia 2011
Hank Fraley, football player currently starting at center for the St. Louis Rams
Judah Friedlander, actor, most notably from the television show 30 Rock
Joshua Harris, Christian pastor and author
Matt Holt, former singer of Nothingface and Kingdom of Snakes
Paul James, actor, most notably from the television show Greek
Tim Kurkjian, ESPN baseball analyst, appears on SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight, author of America's Game and Is This a Great Game, or What?: From A-Rod's Heart to Zim's Head--My 25 Years in Baseball
Matthew Lesko, author of "Free Money" from the government books
David P. Weber - principal in Gaithersburg and Washington, DC, based boutique law firm Goodwin Weber LLC and former Assistant Inspector General for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Shane McMahon, former "co-GM" of WWE Monday Night Raw
Jim Miklaszewski, chief Pentagon correspondent for NBC News
John Papuchis, Defensive Ends Coach, University of Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
Guy Prather, football player
Paul Rabil, lacrosse player (midfield), four-time All-American at Johns Hopkins University, all-star for the MLL's Boston Cannons
Eddie Stubbs, country musician, disc jockey, and Grand Ole Opry announcer
James White, professional basketball player who played for the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets
Logic (entertainer)
Jordan Goldberg, Co-Producer on Inception and The Dark Knight Rises, Writer of The Gun-Eaters and Batman: Gotham Knight
Erin Willett, a semi finalist on the second season of The Voice (TV series)
Courtney Kupets 2004 Olympic gymnast and 3-time NCAA champion
Dominique Dawes 3-time women's Olympic gymnastics team member, member of the Magnificent Seven (gymnastics)
Wale (rapper) Famous Rapper
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