Existing comment:
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. |