Montgomery History & Germantown Historical Society Host Emancipation Event November 3rd
Montgomery History and the Germantown Historical Society will be hosting a virtual event this Tuesday, November 3rd at 2PM.
MoCo History
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“(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville,” R.E.M. Sang in 1984
R.E.M. will go down in rock and roll history for their legendary hit songs. A popular favorite is “It’s the End of the World As We Know It.” When it plays, everyone in the car shouts the chorus and mumbles the rest. But while I was scrolling through a list of R.E.M’s music, I was surprised to find a lesser-known song featuring Montgomery County’s Rockville.
Rachel Carson, Author of “Silent Spring,” Lived in Montgomery County.
In 1956, ecologist and writer Rachel Carson moved into her new house in the White Oak area of Montgomery County at 11701 Berwick Road. She planted evergreen trees in her yard to create a natural wooded area.
A Gaithersburg Observatory Was Part of a Global Scientific Endeavor
Gaithersburg is home to a site instrumental to the development of Earth science: the Gaithersburg International Latitude Observatory.
How much do you know about Montgomery County’s forts?
This map covers the surrounding area of forts Alexander, Franklin, and Ripley, each built within a few miles of Washington D.C. near Glen Echo. Fort Sumner can be seen scribbled on the map in ink. It was connected to the other three forts by trenches. The forts were built as part of D.C.’s defenses during the Civil War. The illustration was created by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
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The First Ever Federal Monuments are on the Border of Montgomery County
There are a total of nine Boundary Stones on the border of DC and Montgomery County, mainly along Western Avenue, Eastern Avenue, and within the Washington Aqueduct.
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Nestled in the center of Aspen Hill, Md lies the Aspin Hill Memorial Park, the final resting place of more than 53,000 pets and people. Far from a Steven King novel, Aspin Hill Memorial Park is a place that honors the love between people and their pets. It’s owned by the Montgomery County Humane Society and is open to the public year-around.
Founded in 1921, the memorial’s name comes from a dog-kennel in England–this spelling of “Aspin” is not a typo! Aspin Hill Pet Memorial is thought to be the second-oldest pet cemetery in the United States. Typical pets such as dogs and cats are buried there, but animals like horses and monkeys can also be found.
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“Flower Girl” in Anti-War Photograph Went to Montgomery College
French photojournalist Marc Riboud was renowned for his work on capturing the Vietnam War. Riboud’s photograph The Ultimate Confrontation: The Flower and the Bayonet, caught international attention and remains an iconic, impactful depiction of the Vietnam War protests.
Brookeville Preserves Its History Through 15 Star Flags
Brookeville’s title as “Capital for a Day” isn’t the only thing that makes Brookeville a uniquely historical site. A flag resembling the Star-Spangled Banner, otherwise known as the 15 star flag or the Great Garrison flag, can be seen lining some streets.
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Montgomery County History: Zadok Magruder
Colonel Zadok Magruder High School sits nestled in Derwood with a student body of just under 1,700 (2019-2020 school year numbers courtesy of MCPS). However, some of you may not know much about the man whom Magruder High is named for: Zadok Magruder, who is one of the founding fathers of Montgomery County.
Do you recognize this area? This is a map of Montgomery County in 1863. Created by the Bureau of Topographical Engineers and the United States Coast Survey, this map contains the locations of rural households and natural landmarks, like ravines. This carefully crafted image would’ve been used as a general guide to Montgomery County’s landscape and for military purposes.
If you look closely, you can spot familiar names on the map such as Colesville, Poolsville, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, and even Sligo River.