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TAU BETA PI THESIS
THE HISTORY OF LAND SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND, ADJACENT TO THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
John B. Armentrout
January 1, 1936
SUMMARY OF THE THESIS
All of the land included in the towns that are described in this thesis has undergone complicated subdivision. As the communities grew, natu- rally additional land was subdivided to permit further growth. The result of this expansion is that each town is comprised of many separate sections which individually contribute to the general developmental history of that particu- lar municipality. With this latter fact in mind, an effort has been made to find, indirectly, the history of the town by studying that of the component sections. In the work following this brief introduction, the sectional his- tories are tabulated for some neighborhoods, while for others, fully written - descriptions are offered.
A map has been drawn to show the original tracts of land from which subdivisions grew in later years. Points of interest, concerning the origin of the towns and their early appearances, have been added when possible. Many people living in the suburban towns in southern Montgomery County, depend on their employment in the National Capital, for income. It can be seen that Washington City has been an important factor in the develop- ment of the suburban areas.
The year of 1880 marks the beginning of the movement which has caused much of the land in lower Montgomery County to be divided into small building lots.
Time has not permitted a detailed history of every small section, but the more important ones have been accounted for. It was with regret that many interesting points were, of necessity, omitted. The most difficult prob- lem in writing a short article on such a vast subject as this, is to decide which material to include and which to cast aside.
The Maryland - National Capital Park and Planning Commission have 5 established zoning and land subdivision ordinances which apply to the entire area covered by this thesis. By courtesy of the Commission, copies of those regulations are included in the appendix.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUBJECT
PAGE
Early History of Montgomery County
1.
General History of Bethesda
3.
Various Subdivisions in Bethesda
4.
Tabulated History of Many of the Subdivisions
Bordering Bethesda 10.
General History of Cabin John
12.
Various Subdivisions in Cabin John
12.
Glen Echo
13.
Development of Dalecarlia Fark
14.
Development of Brookmont 14.
Development of Chevy Chase, Maryland
15.
History of Silver Spring
22.
Tables of Subdivisions in Silver Spring,
Takoma and Sligo
25.
References 30.
Map of Early Land Tracts in Lower Montgomery
County 31.
Composite Map of Subdivisions in Lower Mont-
gomery County 32.
Map of Washington and Rockville Railway 33.
Appendix 1, Regulations for the Subdivision
of Land 34.
Appendix 2, Zoning Ordinance, Maryland Washing-
ton Metropolitan District 35.
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THE HISTORY OF LAND SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND, ADJACENT TO THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
EARLY HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
The charter for the Province of Maryland was issued by King Charles of England in 1632. This grant was secured through the efforts of George Cal- vert, who died before his dreams for Maryland were realized. Cecilius Calvert received the charter and continued his father's work in Maryland.
Much of this land was originally divided into tracts and issued to early immigrants, who were willing to give military support to the settlement in return.
By 1694 the lands of Maryland had been divided into Kent, St. Mary's, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Baltimore, Talbot, Somerset, Dorchester and Cecil Counties. From these original counties others grew, and today there is a total of twenty-three counties in the State of Maryland.
Later, in 1748, Frederick County was created from Prince George's
County. Because of the rapid growth of Frederick County and its large size, there was soon a demand for further division in order to better accommodate the citizens therein. On the thirty-first of August, 1776, Dr. Thomas Sprigg Wootton, who was a member of the State Convention, submitted a bill for the division of part of Frederick County into montgomery and Washington Counties. The wording of that portion of the bill concerning Montgomery County was as follows:
"Resolved, That after the first day of October next such part of the said county of Frederick as is contained within the bounds and limits following, to wit: beginning at the east side of the mouth of Rock Creek,
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on the Potomac River, and running thence with the said river to the mouth of the Monocacy, then with a straight line to Parr's Spring, from thence with the lines of the county to the beginning, shall be and is hereby erected into a new county called Montgomery County."
On September 6, 1776 this proposal was accepted by the Convention. And so, down through the years Montgomery County has stood, bearing the name of Richard Montgomery, a noble hero and patriot who sacrificed his life for American independence in the American Revolution. The county also stands as a monument to those pioneers whose efforts resulted in better and happier homes for the later generations.
Today many descendants of the early families live on portions of the original tracts granted by the Calverts; tracts where their ancestors worked and died.
History certainly is at its fullest color when one can observe the spots where it was made, and, while there, allow the imagination to lift the present and paint scenes of the past; and Montgomery County certainly gives this opportunity.
By 1882 Montgomery County had already entered its third phase of civilization since settlement. The first era was that of the old tobacco plan- ters with their large estates and armies of slaves. Woodlands were cleared and vast crops of tobacco and Indian corn were cultivated. With time these lands grew poor and there were no more fertile forest lands to clear. Then, as one would expect, the second period was one of old worn out fields and decaying homesteads. The younger generation moved on to new lands rather than settle on the old exhausted home tracts. They could not be held to blame, for there was no way of renovating the soil. Soon fertilizers were discovered, and crops flourished again. Along with this discovery came the building of new homes and general farm improvement. This movement was subdued by the Civil War. At
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the close of this war slavery was abolished, and Montgomery County began its third period of civilization development, that of free labor. This marked the beginning of a more positive improvement of towns, schools, lands and roads, which has projected up to the present time.
BETHESDA
The history of Bethesda as a community can be traced back to the old Presbyterian Church, which was organized as a branch of the Cabin John Presbyterian Church in 1820. At that time the Bethesda neighborhood had grown sufficiently in population to support a church of its own, and it was located on the old "Leeke Forest" survey.
By an act of March 20, 1878, Bethesda District No. 7 was formed from portions of the Berry and Rockville Districts.
The first settlers in this vicinity were Thomas Fletchall, Thomas Addison, James Stoddart, the Wilsons, Youngs, Austins, Councilmans, Laughbor- oughs, Beans, Renshaws, Pyles, Gingells, Andersons, Williamses, Huddlestons, Lawrences and Rays.
Around 1890 Bethesda was a typical rural town. William Lochte had his blacksmith shop on the ground where the Bank of Bethesda now stands. Di- rectly in back of the shop was the Worthmueller homestead. The Battery Park area was then farm land. 'The foundation of the old farmhouse still stands on a high hill in the center of Battery Park. Madison Gingell's farm included all of the land which now makes up Woodmont. The house was located near the corner formed by the intersection of Fairmont Avenue and Old Georgetown Road. Spencer Watkins' farm was connected to the Old Georgetown Road by a driveway later known as Watkins Avenue. At present Watkins Avenue forms the first one-half mile of the East-West Highway. The Watkins farmhouse was located very near the site
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of the new Bethesda High School. The Flemming farm included part of that area which is now West Chevy Chase Heights and Rosedale Park. The Renshaw farm is, without doubt, the most interesting of all. It was comprised of 212 acres, located in the Cedar Lane neighborhood. The farm was known under two names, "Brothers' Industry" and "Locust Grove." This land was once a part of the old tract known as "Tusculum," which was owned by the Reverend James Hunt sometime before and after the year of 1780. Some historians believe that Hunt was the founder of the Cabin John Presbyterian Church. There is no way of knowing de- finitely because the early church records were lost.
The Lodge family purchased "Tusculum" from Hunt and later the Ren- shaws came into possession of part of the land. At present the place is used for a skeet club.
The Old Bethesda Fost Office was located in a brick building bor- dering the Rockville-Washington road near the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Bridge. Lewis Keiser was the postmaster and Alfred Wilson kept a store in the same buil- ding. Directly across the street was another store belonging to Miss Mandy Coun- cilman. This same place was previously known as Pierce's store.
In general, Bethesda did not grow to any large extent until a few years after the World War. One can easily see from the previous description that Bethesda has grown into a group of modern subdivisions in a period of several years; namely, the boom period of 1922-1926.
Nearly every building corporation that functioned in Bethesda terri- tory started a separate subdivision with the idea of developing a more exclusive section than ever before offered. The result has been a wide range of living standards in a comparatively small area. People who live on the border line of two subdivisions jealously try to be classed among those who live in the more exclusive section of the two. The Bethesda Chamber of Commerce has not, as yet, been able to place the town limit sign at one point because the residents near
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the border line claim that they live in Chevy Chase instead of Bethesda, and ab- solutely refuse to be classed otherwise.
In tracing the history of lot subdivision in Bethesda, it will be necessary to name and describe all of the component sections as they were devel- oped. Because of the enormous number of these subdivisions it is only possible to give the more important.
Miller's Addition to Bethesda is one of the oldest subdivisions in the community. Three blocks, all located on Bethesda Avenue, were divided into approximately 140 rectangular lots 50' X 200'. The plat of this section was ap- proved March 23, 1892. Lots 9 through 17, which are in the southwest corner of the intersection of Wisconsin and Bethesda Avenues, were re-subdivided into 33 new lots by C. J. Maddox and J. N. Starkey in 1925. Nearly all buildings in this area have been constructed for business purposes. Imirie's Garage and Ei- singer's Lumber Company are located in this territory. A branch line of the Baltimore and Ohio Railway passes through the west end of the subdivision, and many lots along the right-of-way are still vacant.
Next, Norwood Heights was divided for E. W. Haights by Mackall and Clark, surveyors, in August, 1893. This division is included, roughly within four intersecting streets, the Rockville Pike, Bradley Lane, Leland Street and East Avenue, and is made up of a total of six blocks containing 138 50' X 150' lots in all. The old plat of this land shows several very interesting facts. First, there was a branch of the Tenleytown-Rockville Electric Railway, known as the Rock Creek Branch, which went out Leland Street when this section was
surveyed. Second, Dr. Ralph Walsh's property is shown undivided, and was bor- dered by Leland Street, the Rockville Pike, Stanford Street and a transit line of bearing N 4 02' W 150° west of East Avenue. Walsh's property was later de- veloped into Section 8 of Chevy Chase. A discussion of this is given under the history of the development of Chevy Chase. Later, much re-subdivision occurred
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in Norwood Heights, including Smith and Walker's revision of lots 1 and 2, block 5, in 1925.
In October, 1910, C. J. Maddox made a revised survey of Northwest Park, a subdivision situated on Michigan Avenue, now Battery Lane, between the Rockville Pike and the Old Georgetown Road, and comprised of 34 lots, 100' X 400' average size. This land is a part of the old tract known as "Claggetts' Purchase, " as described in a deed from John E. Beall to the American Security and Trust Company, dated April 26, 1892. C. J. Maddox did not revise lots 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 21, and 24 of the original survey. Lots 10 and 11 were re-sub- divided in 1926 by Joseph N. Starkey for Samuel T. Robertson, a local builder. Robertson purchased these lots, March 29, 1926, from Mary F. Collins and Albert S. Collins. As a result, 8 new lots were formed on a new street, Glenbrook Road. Woodmont now ad joins Northwest Park on the south.
Woodmont was surveyed in September, 1894, by D. J. Howell for Wood, Harmon and Company, of 525 Thirteenth Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. The land was sold to Charles E. Wood, September 17, 1894, as recorded in liber J. A. 44, folio 379, of the County records. Woodmont is bordered by Northwest Park, the Rockville Pike, Old Georgetown Road and, approximately, Fairmont Avenue, with two blocks southeast of the latter avenue. The Tenleytown and Rockville Electric Railway bordered this subdivision on Old Georgetown Road. A total of 14 blocks comprised of 584 lots, 25' X 115' are included in this area.
Rosedale Park faces the Rockville Pike and is confined on the sides and back by Maple and Chestnut Streets and property of the Chevy Chase Land Com- pany . Portions of the old tracts known as "Claggetts' Purchase" and "Labyrinth" were once located in this vicinity. The exact metes and bounds of the Rosedale Park property are given in a deed from Adam Young to Alvin Senter dated March 21, 1846, on record in liber S. T. S. 1, folio 557.
In 1908 C. J. Maddox, Montgomery County Surveyor, established the
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original lot lines in Rosedale Park. There were, originally, approximately 300 lots, 40' X 120' which made up ten separate blocks. Although this land was sub- divided at an early date, the lots were not built upon until a few years follow- ing the World War. This same condition seems to hold for nearly all subdivisions in Bethesda. Just what incentive there was for these early lot divisions is un- known by the writer, however, a good guess would be that the terrific rate at which the Chevy Chase Land Company began buying land along Connecticut Avenue, following the year of 1890, caused the local land owners to believe that there would soon be a large demand for building lots in this vicinity, and thus there was a rush to be prepared for that demand which did not come so quickly after all. On the east side of Rosedale Park another subdivision, containing 12 blocks comprised of nearly 400 lots, was laid out for the West Chevy Chase Land Company, a corporation formed in the State of West Virginia. The land was secured from Frances Hardy on April 15, 1910 by the same corporation. This new development is known as West Chevy Chase Heights. C. J. Maddox was the surveyor who established the lines of this subdivision.
Highland Park is another important development in Bethesda which had an early beginning. This section is surrounded by the East-West Highway, Clover- dale Street, the right-of-way of a branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and Wisconsin Avenue. It has an approximate area of 18 acres. In 1910 C. J. Maddox, Montgomery County Surveyor, divided the property into 6 blocks, con- taining 79 lots 50' X 150' average size, to agree with a plan made by Cyrus Keiser and Charles F. Kincheloe, the proprietors. Formerly this property con- tributed to parts of lands identified by the following names: "The Trap, " "Prit- chetts' Purchase," "Jones Slipe," alias "Labyrinth," sold to Keiser and Kin- cheloe by Mary E. Patten on March 30, 1910. Another small strip of land was bought from S. Duncan Bradley and was once a section of "Pritchetts' Purchase" and "Charles and Thomas." One striking feature of Highland Park is its con-
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sistent rectangular plan. The Bethesda Building Supply Company and the Mont- gomery County Building are located within this territory. This section is strictly residential except the small business district that has grown up on Wisconsin Avenue.
In 1912 J. H. Starkey laid out a subdivision that was known as Edgewood for the National City Real Estate Corporation. There were 26 blocks and an estimated total of 230 lots, leaving 4 blocks without division. This plan was abandoned and a subdivision now known as Edgemoor replaced Edgewood at a later date. It was in 1924, the time of the building boom, that plans for Edgemoor were prepared in the offices of J. H. Starkey. Edgemoor was ori- ginally a portion of tracts identified by the names "Friendship" and "Pritchetts' Purchase." The land in this subdivision was obtained from two different sources by the National City Real Estate Corporation. The majority of it was purchased from Oscar K. Seddicum on June 9, 1910. A small strip, 20' wide, along the southern boundary line of Edgemor, beginning at the west limit line of the Metropolitan Southern Railway land and extending westward 1800.22', was se- cured from John W. Davidge on November 17, 1915. A revision of block 20 was necessary because of the 30' right-of-way owned by the Chevy Chase-Great Falls Railway and Power Company in that vicinity. There were two other land com- panies that functioned in Edgemor, namely, the Edgemoor Land Company, Inc., of which Walter R. Tuckerman was president and C. C. Keiser, secretary, and the Security Land Company, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Maryland, Abner H. Ferguson, president, and David J. Ely, secretary. Edge- moor as a subdivision is, perhaps, the prettiest of all within the Bethesda town limits. Large trees, pretty shrubbery, well planned streets and expen- sive homes are characteristics of this development. There were 250 original lots making 24 blocks, which are all southwest of Wilson's Lane, the Old George- town Road and Wisconsin Avenue. Edgemor is gradually spreading out and will no
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doubt merge with the Kenwood and Bradley Hills subdivisions before so very long. There have been numerous re-subdivisions made in this territory.
Directly across Wilson's Lane, bordered also by the Old Georgetown Road and a transit line of magnetic bearing N 1º 53' 30" W, lies a triangular area named Battery Park, sold to Maddux, Marshall and Company, Inc., by Robert H. Ives Goddard, December 20, 1922, as recorded in liber 324, folio 283, of the Montgomery County records. James H: Starkey surveyed this land in October, 1922, laying out three separate sections which had a total of 203 building lots. The number of lots placed in each section is as follows: Section One; 53 lots; Section Two, 50 lots; Section Three, 100 lots. Maddux, Marshall and Company, Inc., later took on two more executive members and was then known as Maddux, Marshall, Moss and Mallory and Company, Inc. Locally, during the time the building in Battery Park was at its peak, this company was commonly identified as the "Four M's." No other section in Bethesda has grown more rapidly than Battery Park. The building lumber used for this subdivision was prepared in a large mill located right on the job. Many army officers bought homes in this neighborhood and for a time it appeared that the subdivision was limited to just that class of people. However, with further development this movement did not persist. Battery Park is well planned and contains some very fine homes. These former subdivisions are the major components of Bethesda. Following this discussion is a tabular summary of many important subdivisions which have grown up around Bethesda quite a few of which lie between that town and the District Line.
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SUBDIVISION
LOCATION
DATE OF SURVEY
SURVEYOR
OWNER OF SUBDIVISION
PREVIOUS OWNER
Somerset Heights
South of Drum- mond Subdivision, West of Wiscon- sin Avenue
Jan., 1899
F. H. Stier, Washington, D. C.
Miles Fuller
Friendship Heights
Near Tenleytown, D. C.
Not long after 1900
William J. Latimer, Ana- costia, D. C.
Henry W. Of- futt
Jacob B. Er- nest and Louisa Er- nest St. Clair Okie Rose E. Nut- well
Drummond Sub- Near Chevy Chase division Gardens
May, 1903
A. L. Thomas
Drummond Land Company
Lavina M. Drum
F. B. Cros- thwaite's Subdivision
North of Cedar Lane, also known as the Cabin John H Road
1907
C. J. Maddox
F. B. Cros- thwaite
Elizabeth C. and Turner A. Wickersham
Bradley Hills
West of Wisconsin 1912 to Avenue on both 1913 sides of Bradley Lane
J. H. Starkey
M. Wilson Of- fut
C. F. Town- send E. P. Watkins Spencer Wat- kins J. H. Dodge
English Vil- lage
Near the inter- section of Brad- ley Boulevard and Wilson's Lane
Around the beginning of the World War
J. Walter Long
Chevy Chase [ Extends to Brad- Nov., 1922 Terrace
Maddox and Starkey
Lavina Drum heirs
Lavina M. Drum
ley Hills from North Chevy Chase Gardens
Feb., 1928
J. N. Starkey
Richard C. Drum Hunt, also H. J. Hunt, the third
National Savings and Trust Com- pany
Chevy Chase Gardens Section 2
Parallel and West of Wisconsin Avenue below Brad- ley Lane
April, 1928 J. N. Starkey
Same as Sec- tion 1
Same as Sec- tion 1
Chevy Chase Gardens Section 1
Langdrum Lane, Hunt Avenue, in- tersecting Wis- consin Avenue not far from B Bradley Lane
10A
DEED DATE RECORD. LIBER FOLIO.
July 13, 1892
April 17, 1890
October 18, 1893 June 18, 1901
October 30, 1902
89 lots
"O atland"
In 1907 C. J. Maddox surveyed a section around Drummond Ave.
29 lots average 5 acres
500 lots
"Friendship"
81.5 acres of land. This was divided in- to several sections. Many lots still va- cant.
Conveyed as par- cel #2 January 2, 1913 Liber 226 Folio 81
October 30, 1902
5 blocks 180 lots
Sept. 12, 1927 Liber 448 Folio 211
Same as Section 1.
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF LOTS AND BLOCKS IN FIRST SURVEY. AVERAGE LOT SIZE.
ORIGINAL TRACTS OR GRANTS FROM WHICH SUBDIVI- SION CAME
REMARKS
All lots rectangular.
5 blocks 96 lots 100' X 180' lots
9 blocks, 3 of which were divi- ded into 49 lots; six not divided.
"Friendship"
Ball's Lot, Shoe- maker's Subdivision and "The Hills" bor- der Friendship Heights.
"Tusculum" "Grub- by Thicket" "Bro- thers' Industry"
145.37 acres
200 lots
"Pritchett's Purchase"
129.88 acres in Eng- lich Village. Great Falls Trolley Line once near here as mentioned in Liber 230, Folio 458. Numerous circles; central parking in streets; beautiful planning.
Wide range of lot sizes.
3 blocks 49 lots average size 60' X 100'
"O atland"
5 blocks 34 lots
Same as Section 1.
Sept. 17, 1883 and recorded in Liber J. A. 11, Folio 196
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SUBDIVISION
LOCATION
DATE OF SURVEY
SURVEYOR
OWNER OF SUBDIVISION
PREVIOUS OWNER
Chevy Chase Gardens Section 3
Between Wiscon- sin Avenue and Offutt Road, North of Sec- tions 1 and 2.
April, 1929
C. H. Mannar of Rockville, Maryland
Same as Sec- tion l.
Joseph B. Shapiro
Kenwood Section 1
West of Somerset and the Drum Subdivisions, borders Bradley Boulevard.
Around 1932
D. L. Cham- berlin
Kennedy Cham- berlin Devel- opment Com- pany.
E. S. Kennedy
Kenwood Section 2
West of Somerset and the Drum Subdivisions
Late in 1927
Same as Sec- tion 1
Kennedy Bros. Company
A local Apart ment Company.
Kenwood Section 3
Southwest of Section 2.
September, 1930
Same as Sec- tion 1.
Same as Sec- tion 1.
Same as Sec- tion.1.
11A
DEED DATE RECORD. LIBER FOLIO.
March 26, 1928
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF LOTS AND BLOCKS IN FIRST SURVEY. AVERAGE LOT SIZE.
ORIGINAL TRACTS OR GRANTS FROM WHICH SUBDIVI- SION CAME
REMARKS
6 blocks 78 lots
"Oatland"
Same as Section 1.
4 blocks 38 lots lots range 200' X. 180' to 130' X 240'
"Kennedy"
Kenwood is a most beautiful subdivision. Contains very expen- sive homes.
Bought in 1925
10 blocks 100 lots "Kennedy" 75' X 125' lots
Same as Section 1.150 lots
"Kennedy"
Land surrounded by property of Emma Berg- doll, George A. Fuller Company, and U. S. Government. E. S. Kennedy presi- dent, and J. H. Hixon secretary of company.
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CABIN JOHN
Cabin John received its name from Cabin John Creek, which was ori- ginally called Captain John Creek after Captain John Smith.
As a rural community, Cabin John was probably the oldest in this part of Montgomery County. Many of the churches of the later neighboring towns were branches of the old log cabin church at Offutt's Cross-roads, which was called the Captain John Presbyterian Church. History tells of the large crowds that once attended meetings there.
It may be of interest to the reader to know that the old Offutt's Cross-roads still exists at the intersection of the two main highways in the town of Potomac. The tombstone of the Reverend James Hunt, who was pastor of the old church, still stands near the cross-roads.
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