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Paths to the Present

Paths to the Present: Montgomery County Stories was a cable television show produced by County Cable Montgomery and Montgomery History from 2000-2017. Produced by Emmy-winner Barbara Grunbaum and hosted by Gail Street, Paths to the Present explores the often overlooked history found right in our own backyards. The series of 86 shows covers a wide variety of topics highlighting this county’s robust history. Interviews, along with historical photographs and video help bring this rich past to life. Watch Paths to the Present and make some links with your past!

Season 1 (2000)

Episode 1

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Baseball in Montgomery County

Episode 2

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Gold Mines

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The Lost Town of Triadelphia

Episode 3

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Carroll Chapel

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National Park Seminary

Episode 4

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Fred Swain at Swain’s Lock

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C&O Canal

Episode 5

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Washington Grove

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Emory Grove Camp Meeting

Episode 6

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White’s Ferry

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Potomac River Crossing During the Civil War

Episode 7

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Integration of the Montgomery County Public Schools

Season 2 (2001)

Episode 8

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Silver Spring Shopping Center

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19th Century General Stores

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Poole’s Store

Episode 9

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Moco Capital Beltway History

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Rustic Roads

Episode 10

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Quaker Influence in Sandy Spring

Episode 11

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Immigration in Montgomery County

Episode 12

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Washington Aqueduct

Episode 13

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Founding of Montgomery County

Episode 14

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Chester Leishear Dairy Farm

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Pope Farm in Gaithersburg

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Phillips Farm

Season 3 (2002)

Episode 15

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Kensington Armory

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Maryland National Guard

Episode 16

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MCHS Quilt Collection

Episode 17

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Waters House in Germantown

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Early Architecture in Moco

Episode 18

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Aspin Hill Pet Cemetery

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Rockville Cemetery

Episode 19

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Bethesda Farmwomen’s Market

Episode 20

History Camp at MCHS

Episode 21

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Clarksburg, Maryland Before Development

Episode 22/23

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On the Homefront in Montgomery County during WWII

Season 4 (2003)

Episode 24

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Chestnut Lodge

Episode 25

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Gaithersburg Fire Museum

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MC Volunteer Fire Department History

Episode 26

J.E.B. Stuart’s “Visit” to Rockville

Episode 27

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Glen Echo Park (Rewind show)

Episode 28

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Hyattstown Mill: How it Operated

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Mills in Montgomery County

Episode 29

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4-H Clubs (Rewind show)

Episode 30

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Cabin John Gardens

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David Taylor Model Basin

Season 5 (2004)

Episode 31

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Anna Maria Weems

Episode 32

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19th Century Education

Episode 33

Montgomery County Parks Foundation Volunteer Awards

Episode 34

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The Jewish Community in Montgomery County (Rewind show)

Episode 35

Olney Theatre

Episode 36

Ghost Stories

Episode 37

Woodlawn Manor Quaker Plantation

Episode 38

Sugarloaf Mountain

Season 6 (2005)

Episode 39

History of Strathmore Hall

Episode 40

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Montgomery College History

Episode 41

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Cold War Sites in Montgomery County

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Atomic Energy Commission

Episode 42

Heritage Montgomery

Episode 43

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Monocacy Aqueduct and Monocacy Cemetery

Episode 44

25th Anniversary of the Agricultural Reserve

Episode 45

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Scotland AME Church and Community

Season 7 & 8 (2006-2007)

This two-year-long series was originally filmed in 2006-2007. The version of these episodes available here were combined and rerun several years later. Paths to the Present explores the development of the Rockville Pike, also known as Route 355 and nicknamed “The Great Road.” It is the most heavily-traveled road in the county and a centuries-old landmark, originally a footpath used by the native people. The sites along the Pike from Georgetown to Frederick reveal the extremes of urban, suburban and rural landscapes existing in multiple stages of transformation.

Episodes 46-47

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“The Great Road”: Route 355 from Georgetown to Bethesda

Episodes 48-49

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“The Great Road”: Route 355 from Bethesda to Rockville

Episodes 50-51

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“The Great Road”: Route 355 from Rockville to Gaithersburg

Episodes 52-53

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“The Great Road”: Route 355 from Gaithersburg to Frederick

Season 9 (2008)

Episode 54

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Lyttonsville and Clarksburg Store

Episode 55

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Clara Barton House and the film “Chances Are”

Episode 56

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Brookeville and Polychome Historic District

Episode 57

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Sandy Spring Bank Robbery and the Higgins Tavern

Episode 58

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Filming of “Lilith” in Montgomery County

Season 10 (2009)

Episode 59

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AFI Silver Theater and Barnesville town hall restorations

Episode 60

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Metropolitan Branch, B&O Railroad

Episode 61

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2009 National History Day

Episode 62

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Garrett Park walking tour; Montgomery County Connections Project

Episode 63

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Loss of Chestnut Lodge; Freida’s Cottage

Season 11 (2010)

Episode 64

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Dr. Stonestreet and the Stonestreet Medical Museum

Episode 65

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New Deal architecture; Office of Human Rights – Civil Rights tour

Episode 66

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History of Twinbrook

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Mid-century architecture in Montgomery County

Episode 67

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Montgomery County Airpark; National Capital Trolley Museum

Episode 68

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Silver Spring Fire Station transformed; Poole’s Store closes

Season 12 (2011)

Episode 69

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Montgomery County barns

Episode 70

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Browningsville cornet band; Bethesda’s “vacuum repair shop”

Episode 71

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Silver Spring historic sites: walking tour

Season 13 (2012)

Episode 72

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Damascus church organ; Richard Montgomery historical marker

Episode 73

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Downtown Bethesda: walking tour

Episode 74

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History of the Montgomery County Historical Society

Season 14 (2013)

Episode 75

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Civil War in Montgomery County, part 1

Episode 76

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Seneca Quarry

Episode 77

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African American historical sites in the county

featuring Button Farm, Pleasant Grove, and Sugarland

Episode 78

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Rockville Post Office houses the police department

Episode 79

General J.E.B. Stuart’s 1863 raid on Rockville: re-enactment

Season 15 (2014)

Episode 80

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History of St.Mary’s Parish

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Tour of the historic St Mary’s Church

Episode 81

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National Park Seminary in Forest Glen

Season 16 (2015)

Episode 82

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Emancipation Day at MCHS

Episode 83

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Civil War in Montgomery County, part 2

Season 17 (2016)

Episode 84

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Montgomery County Historical Society: new logo and website

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Eunice Ramsey, Tastee Diner waitress for 60+ years

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Montgomery County Archives reopens

Episode 85

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Woodlawn Stone Barn and Visitor Center

Season 18 (2017)

Episode 86

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History of Germantown