Montgomery History

05/06/2019

» Tuesday Talks: Lunchtime Lecture Series

Need a lunch break tomorrow? Join us for May's Tuesday Talks program! The presentation will begin at noon, we hope to see you there!
https://montgomeryhistory.org/tuesday-talks/

This presentation will describe the Repudiation Act of November 23, 1765, and the Hungerford Resolves of June 11, 1774; what led the citizens of what is now Montgomery County into an armed revolt against Great Britain; who the leaders were; how they fought in the Revolution; and how they contributed...

04/28/2019

Dr. Stonestreet and his assistant will be at Rockville Science Day until 5 p.m. today, April 28! Stop by to assist in some Civil War surgery! 💊💉

04/21/2019

The Moco Show

Photo of Gaithersburg/Montgomery Village in 1964 (labeled with what the roads are known as today for reference) and a google earth image of the area as it looks now.

Lakeforest Mall can be seen in the upper right/center of the new picture.

Vintage photo courtesy of Suzy Deppa via Bruce Deppa

04/05/2019

Our boxwood trees located in the front of our historic property got a much needed trim yesterday by expert boxwood pruners Yankee Clippers. They are estimated to have been planted around the 1860’s and have been unattended since the early 1990’s. See the before, during and after. 🌳 Clippings are available for those who are interested in replanting a part of history! @ Beall-Dawson House

04/03/2019

Coffee with the Curator is a benefit for Montgomery History members! ☕️Today we were joined by Elizabeth Lay of Montgomery History and Krista McKim of Rockville High School for a behind-the-scenes look at the collaborative exhibit Migrate with Us: Through the Journeys of Those Living in Montgomery County.

03/20/2019

New! Henson Publication - Montgomery Parks

Today in 1852: Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was first published. The book was inspired by the autobiography of local slave, Josiah Henson. Did you know that the Josiah Henson Park is right here in Montgomery County? While they are closed for renovations, check out their newest publication, "Sharp Flashes of Lightning Come from Black Clouds: The Life of Josiah Henson” https://www.montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/josiah-henson-park/henson-biography/

Sharp Flashes of Lightning Come from Black Clouds: The Life of Josiah Henson by Jamie Ferguson Kuhns An in-depth biography,...

03/15/2019

» History Conference 2019

We now have six of our 2019 History Conference sessions up on our website! Thank you to our friends at Montgomery College and MCTV for making these recordings possible. https://montgomeryhistory.org/events/historyconference2019/

Since 2007, the Montgomery County History Conference has been a venue for people of all ages and backgrounds—civic leaders, students, museum professionals and volunteers, history buffs, genealogists, and the general public—to explore and celebrate the many facets of our past that shape our commu...

03/14/2019

Montgomery County District Contest

Montgomery County History Day took over the halls of Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville on March 2. Over 300 students submitted projects for judging in 11 categories. A full list of contest winners can be found below:
https://md-mcdc.nhd.org/?f=5f7220ae-162f-40ba-be6d-af6510c1ccde

Please select the district you are a coordinator for. As a coordinator you will be able to view all of your districts students, projects and make changes to them.

02/14/2019

The Moco Show

The Moco Show

Four MoCo Areas Listed in Top 10 of WalletHub’s Most Diverse Cities in America List

WalletHub, a D.C. based personal finance website that has branched into producing research reports and surveys on topics with varying degrees of relevance to personal finance, has come out with their 2019 ‘Most and Least Ethnically Diverse Cities in America’ list.

Each area was examined based on ethnicity, race, language, and birthplace. Though Jersey City, NJ, came in first, four MoCo areas were included in the top 10.

Gaithersburg came in 2nd, Germantown came in 3rd, Silver Spring came in 4th, and Rockville was 9th.

Check out the whole list in the link.

02/14/2019

15-Year Effort to Document County Cemeteries Uncovers 50 New Sites

A search for Montgomery County cemeteries uncovered more than 50 previously undocumented burial grounds. This extraordinary discovery was one of our topics at the 2019 Montgomery County History Conference, presented by the leaders of this project Eileen McGuckian and Glenn Wallace.
Did you know? Montgomery History holds the original written records from the initial cemetery inventory in 2008, and this new inventory is 100% digital!
Want more information on these preservation efforts? Visit Montgomery Preservation Inc. or www.montgomerypreservation.org

County Planning Board to review new guidelines to preserve burial grounds

02/07/2019

Name Change Proposed for Silver Spring’s Brooke Lee Middle School

A name change has been proposed for Silver Spring's Brooke Lee Middle School. What are your thoughts on changing the school's name?
https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/name-change-proposed-for-silver-springs-brooke-lee-middle-school/

Historians say former politician created zoning policies promoting segregation

02/06/2019

A big congratulations to Montgomery Preservation Inc.!

Congratulations to Montgomery Preservation Inc. for receiving a 2019 Maryland Preservation Award recognizing their outstanding efforts in historic preservation. The “Montgomery County Cemetery Inventory Revisited” project – funded by a 2018 Heritage Montgomery mini-grant – surveyed and inventoried every known cemetery and burial site in the county. Thanks to Montgomery Preservation’s massive volunteer efforts and dedicated leadership, the county’s planning department now uses the 322-site inventory during the development review process. More information about the 2019 awards from the Maryland Historical Trust is available here: bit.ly/2SskK6T

02/05/2019

We are looking for judges for History Day! Each year, we partner with Montgomery County Public Schools for the
county's National History Day competition.
Categories to be judged include websites, documentaries, performances, exhibits, papers, and more! Breakfast and lunch will be included for all judges. Judge Training is also included. Help the next generation of history lovers!
Deadline To Sign Up is February 12!
County Judge sign up can be found here: https://md-mcdc.nhd.org/?f=5f7220ae-162f-40ba-be6d-af6510c1ccde
For more information about History Day, visit our website:http://montgomeryhistory.org/history-day/

02/04/2019

February is African American History Month!
Did you know that Montgomery History has a resource dedicated to African American History in Montgomery County? Check it out here: http://montgomeryhistory.org/african-american-history-in-montgomery-county/

01/31/2019

Gaithersburg Community Museum

January and February of 1918 were so cold that schools had to close because of a coal shortage. The Montgomery Sentinel put a positive spin on things - the intense cold meant farmers probably wouldn't have to worry about potato bugs in the next growing season.

01/31/2019

Thank you to all those who attended the 2019 History Conference. We are so grateful to be able to share this county's great history with our community. Did you miss this year's conference? No worries! Six full sessions were recorded by @mctvsocial and will be posted on our website as soon as they become available. #HistoryConference2019 #MontgomeryHistory #HistoryRocks!

01/31/2019

The Beall-Dawson Museum and the Stonestreet Museum are closed 1/31/2019 and 2/1/2019 for a private event.

The Jane Sween Library will remain open.

Thank you for your understanding.

01/26/2019

Did you miss the #MontgomeryHistoryConference2019? Don’t worry! 6 of our sessions were recorded by Montgomery College Television - MCTV, check back later for the full videos!

01/26/2019

Live from the closing session of the 2019 Montgomery County History Conference!

01/26/2019

Councilmember Will Jawando donates his traditional Nigerian Agbada worn during his Council Inauguration to Montgomery History at the Annual History Conference!
"To walk onto the inauguration stage in a full Agbada was both exciting and humbling," said Councilmember Jawando. "Wearing a traditional Agbada allowed me to honor my father and my Nigerian heritage. It also sent a signal to all of our residents, of any race and ethnicity, that their voice and cultural heritage are essential parts of the community that is Montgomery County. I'm thrilled at the opportunity offered by Montgomery History to preserve the Agbada, because doing so we send a deliberate message that our strength lies in our diversity."

We at Montgomery History are honored to preserve and share this piece of Montgomery County history.

01/25/2019

We have a new exhibit in the works! The museum will be closed today, 1/25/2019 due to exhibit installation. Thank you for your understanding.

01/18/2019

School System Holds Second Job Fair for Furloughed Government Employees | Montgomery Community Media

School System Holds Second Job Fair for Furloughed Government Employees | Montgomery Community Media

Montgomery County Public Schools is holding a second employment open house for furloughed federal employees and contractors tomorrow, Jan. 18, 2019. Attendees can interview and apply for all open positions in the school system, including teacher, substitute teacher, maintenance staff, bus drivers, c...

01/17/2019

Are you signed up for our newsletter? It's where we put out all the latest, breaking Montgomery History news! Keep up with Montgomery History happenings, new historic findings, exhibits, and community events.
Sign up here: https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001ltTMwWjeHYhoGd7xpLNHHXtQkoNa6xgP28hx0hdn6eM6EAN7RE44L7jHa0Ltod3EaVDRpAs0NnuxsxgMe4PdHr###ZeMYEabmJORJpD0quaXj01yNLdYHA39JKnY3UYwQnA_5zQrMSp0CC90-QBSRMbvcpvSGjJ3

01/13/2019

Good tips for staying safe today!

Take precautions to protect yourself and others from the cold. If you see someone in need, call Montgomery County’s 24-Hour Crisis Center Hotline at 240-777-4000. Anyone in Montgomery County who is in an emergency situation and needs assistance to stay warm can visit the center at 1301 Piccard Drive in Rockville. The hotline and Crisis Center are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/hhs/programindex/crisisservicesindex.html.

01/13/2019

Due to inclement weather, we will be closed today. Happy snow day!

01/10/2019

The complex task of writing history

What do you think? Who should be responsible for writing the history that is displayed on the ever-growing number of historical markers?

https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional/the-complex-task-writing-history/vlxTm1OinRudgiy3V9fxoJ/

For historical markers in Georgia, capturing past is more complex than it used to be

01/08/2019

Thank you to all those who attended our #TuesdayTalks lunchtime series! A special thank you to our speaker David Craig. Did you miss this one? No worries! #TuesdayTalks is a reoccurring monthly program. Our next talk will be taking place on February 5th at the Beall-Dawson Museum. See you there!

01/07/2019

Want to become a part of the team? Montgomery History seeks a skilled, experienced, and enthusiastic professional for the position of Office Manager. The successful candidate will be an integral part of our team and will advance the organization’s mission by managing all administrative functions, supporting our bookkeeper, and assisting with our many events. This is a great opportunity for someone looking for a rewarding part-time position!
More at: http://montgomeryhistory.org/jobs/

01/02/2019

Have some unexpected free time due to the Government shutdown? Engage in some local history!
Museum admission free for Federal employees with Federal I.D.
We are open Thursday-Sunday 12:00-4:00 p.m.

12/25/2018

Wishing you joy this holiday season,
from the Montgomery History Team.

Reminder! The Beall-Dawson Museum and Stonestreet Museum are open this weekend, Dec 27-30 from 12:00- 4:00 p.m. Share local history with your out of town guests!

12/21/2018

's cover photo

12/21/2018

What are you doing January 26? 🔎Join us at the Montgomery County History Conference 📚tickets on sale now: follow the link on our page to join us at this great event!

12/02/2018

The Moco Show

How many do you know?

100 Things Everyone from MoCo Should Know

1. The first Jerry’s ever was in Wheaton

2. You IMMEDIATELY correct anyone that adds an ‘s’ to Silver Spring.

3. Rio used to be home to Sportland– a place that had almost any type of game you can think of for kids.

4. Wheaton Plaza. The outdoor mall that was located where Wheaton Mall currently is. If you’re over 35, you probably still call it that.

5. Montgomery Donuts! The local donut chain that was around from 1944 until they filed for bankruptcy in 1999.

6. Red font means SNOWWWWW DAY (or 2 hour delay), but not before 5am.

7. Lakeforest was once an amazing mall.

8. Dickerson Quarry

9. The Sunshine Burger is one of the best burgers you’ll ever have (Sunshine General Store).

10. Surrender Dorothy

Next 90 in the link!

12/01/2018

Today is the day! Join us at the Beall-Dawson Museum from 12-4 for our Local Author Book Sale!

11/29/2018

What a way to spend your Saturday!
Join us this Saturday, December 1st, from 12-4 p.m. for our Local Author Book Sale!
Come meet Authors Robert Plumb (Your Brother in Arms), James Johnston (From Slave Ship to Harvard), and Bill Offutt (A Grateful Remembrance, the Story of Montgomery County) as they share what life was like in 1800’s Montgomery County. Enjoy 10% off local author books.
We can't wait to see you there!

11/27/2018

Happy #GivingTuesday! On this global day of giving, we hope you will consider making a donation to Montgomery History.
We are so grateful for the support of our members and friends. You make our work to preserve, interpret, and share the history of Montgomery County possible!

Won’t you embrace the spirit of giving back today?
Donate now to Montgomery History.

If you have any questions, please contact Katharine Stewart at 301-340-2825 or by email.

THANK YOU

11/26/2018

We love local history! Thanks for this awesome post Historic DC!

Workers at Seneca Quarry located near the Potomac River and C & O Canal at the mouth of Seneca Creek. Virtually all of the many buildings built with red sandstone in DC used stones cut from this quarry. This would include the famous Smithsonian Castle. It is not clear if slaves were used in the construction of the castle building but there is no doubt that the stone cut out of the quarry and shipped down the canal were quarried by slaves. The workers in this photo taken in 1898 were by then mostly Irish American. The ruins of the cutting house and quarry are still there and make a nice day trip if you are in for a ride to Seneca. Photo from Wikipedia Commons #blackhistory #marylandhistory #montgomerycountymaryland #dchistory

11/24/2018

City of Rockville

City of Rockville

Rockville Town Square marks the first night of the festival of lights with a Grand Menorah Lighting ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 2. The fun begins at 5 p.m. #MyRockvillve #rkv

11/22/2018

Holiday Hours
The Beall-Dawson Museum and The Stonestreet Museum will be closed Thursday, November 22. The museums will reopen for normal hours on Friday, November 23.

The Jane C. Sween Library will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend: Wednesday, November 21 to Saturday, November 24.
It will reopen on Wednesday, November 28.

Happy Holidays!

11/15/2018

Due to inclement weather, the Beall-Dawson Museum, the Stonestreet Museum, and the Library are closed today 11/15/2018. Thank you for your understanding.

11/07/2018

We are ready for the Museum Shop Holiday Market at the Mansion at Strathmore! Your perfect stop to pick up everything you will need this holiday season.

See you tomorrow through Sunday!

11/06/2018

Thank you to all who attended our "Tuesday Talks" this week! A big thank you to our wonderful and knowledgeable speaker Bill Offutt.

Don't miss your chance to come out and hear our magnificent speakers while enjoying your lunch! Our next talk will be on December 4 at noon, we hope to see you there!

11/05/2018

Montgomery County Archives

The Archives is temporarily open by appointment only. Please call 301-340-2974 if you wish to visit!

10/31/2018

Montgomery Community Media

Congratulations to all award recipients. Thank you for all you do for the Arts and Humanities in our county.
We would like to highlight and personally congratulate Dr. Winston Anderson of the Sandy Spring Slave Museum for his much-deserved recognition at this week’s County Executive’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities.

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and First Lady Catherine Leggett celebrated the 17th annual County Executive’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts and Humanities on Oct. 29th at the Silver Spring Campus of Montgomery College.

10/31/2018

Support Montgomery County Historical Society, Inc. by shopping at AmazonSmile.

Happy Halloween from your friends at Montgomery History! No tricks here, only treats!
Through Nov 2, AmazonSmile is donating 5% (ten times the usual amount) to Montgomery History when you shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/52-0795346
#AmazonSmile #StartWithaSmile #supportlocalhistory

When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to Montgomery County Historical Society, Inc.. Support us every time you shop.