Montgomery History

History Conversations | Service, Sacrifice and the Creation of Camp Schmitt
2024-11-19 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
with Kevin Patti |Tuesday, November 19 at 2:00 p.m. | Virtual Event | Kevin Patti traces the remarkable history of eight former members of Takoma Park’s Boy Scout Troop 33 who served in the United States military during World War II and lost their lives. Of the eight men who once lived in Montgomery County, two were Eagle Scouts, four were officers, one was awarded the Silver Star, one the Air Medal and two the Purple Heart. The presentation then goes on to detail how the community, scouts, and scout leaders gave of time, talents, and resources to build a Boy Scout camp, Camp Schmitt, in honor of the eight men in 1959. Kevin Patti is a former member and Eagle Scout from Troop 33 and is the son of the late Donald Patti who served as Scoutmaster between 1973 and 1994. Kevin grew up forming friendships and learning from Camp Schmitt. Professionally, Kevin has worked in public history as a park ranger for the National Park Service for twenty-eight years. His scouting experience led directly to his career.

History Conversations | From Restrictive Covenants to Redlining: ﻿The National History of Housing Segregation
2024-11-14 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
with Dr. Paige Glotzer |Thursday, November 14 at 7:00 p.m. | Virtual Event | Montgomery History, in partnership with Montgomery County Lynching Memorial Project, presents “From Restrictive Covenants to Redlining: The National History of Housing Segregation.” This virtual talk with Dr. Paige Glotzer, Associate Professor of History at the University of Florida and author of How the Suburbs Were Segregated, contextualizes Montgomery County within a national history of housing segregation. Beginning with restrictive covenants and nuisance laws, it traces the people, policies, and tools that made segregation an inescapable part of the American landscape. Topics include housing discrimination and violence, redlining, and urban renewal, as well as the relationship between race and property value. It also asks why housing segregation remained profitable even as attitudes about inequality changed. Audience members are invited to consider the hidden legacies of old practices and how they still impact the US today.

History Conversations REWIND | Voting Past and Present: A Journey through the Montgomery History Collection
2024-11-04 - 2024-11-10
with Elizabeth Lay | Originally presented to our Lilly Stone Circle members in October 2020, this special lecture by our former Curator Elizabeth Lay showcases a variety of items from the collection related to elections and voting. From ballot boxes to voting booths, learn about local elections and the stories these items tell about how voting has been conducted in Montgomery County over the past 100 years.

History Conversations REWIND | The Working White House
2024-10-28 - 2024-11-03
with Sarah Fling, Historian at the White House Historical Association | Since 1800, hundreds of dedicated staff members have worked behind the scenes to help the White House fulfill its roles as a seat of government, a family residence, and a historic site. Join White House Historical Association historian Sarah Fling as she highlights lesser-known stories of enslaved and free White House workers throughout history. Originally aired September 2023.

History Conversations | The Beauty All around Us: Rachel Carson’s wonder, wisdom, and legacy in Silver Spring
2024-10-22 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
with Rebecca Henson |Tuesday, October 22 at 2:00 p.m. | Virtual Event | Rebecca Henson of Springsong Museum will deliver a presentation on Rachel Carson (1907-1964), world-renowned writer, biologist, and considered by many as the ‘Mother of the Modern Environmental Movement’ who lived her adult life in Silver Spring. Henson will provide an overview of Carson’s life and written works, discussing her courage, ecological philosophy, and clear-eyed wonder in the natural world around us, including right here in Montgomery County.

2024 Montgomery County History Conference
2024-10-19 08:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
In-person Event | The Montgomery County History Conference returns October 19 at Montgomery College’s Rockville Campus in the Parilla Performing Arts Center. The conference offers myriad opportunities to engage with local history, including a keynote address, nine breakouts, a boxed lunch, a documentary screening, and a happy hour reception. Learn More

19th Montgomery County History Conference
2024-10-19 08:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | 51 Mannakee St. Rockville, MD, 51 Mannakee St. Rockville, MD, Rockville, MD, 20850, United States

History Conversations REWIND | Negative Space: Rebecca G. Fields, Owner and Proprietor of the Montgomery County Sentinel, 1871-1930
2024-10-14 - 2024-10-20
with Sarah Hedlund | Any history of Montgomery County’s oldest newspaper of record will contain the following information: “The Sentinel was founded in 1855 by Matthew Fields, a Confederate sympathizer who was arrested during the Civil War for his opinions. After his death in 1871, his widow took over the publication.” The story almost always ends there…but the full story of “his widow” has barely begun. Rebecca Fields was a rare woman business owner in a male-dominated industry, and she ran that business for almost 60 years after her husband’s death. She was a complicated and unconventional woman whose true thoughts, opinions, attitudes, and politics are simultaneously known and unknowable, hidden in the white space between lines of type and glimpsed in the thinnest threads of her descendants’ memories. Archivist and researcher Sarah Hedlund uncovers the life and career of one of Montgomery County’s most overlooked historical figures, in search of the woman behind the press. Originally presented at the 2023 Fall History Conference.

History Conversations REWIND | When the Stars Came to Gaithersburg: Remembering the Shady Grove Music Fair
2024-10-07 - 2024-10-13
with Ralph Buglass | For most of the 1960s and ’70s, Gaithersburg was an entertainment mecca for the greater DC area. Shady Grove Music Fair—first under a big-top tent and then in a theater-in-the-round venue complete with a revolving stage—hosted Broadway hits and a wide variety of pop, rock and soul singers. Stars included Simon and Garfunkel, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Bette Midler, Duke Ellington, and even the Jackson 5 for a full week with tickets starting at $4.75. After only 16 years, the curtain came down in 1978—but what a run! Originally aired April 2023. Rewind available October 7 – 13.

History Conversations REWIND | Historic Preservation: Why Does It Matter?
2024-09-30 - 2024-10-06
with Eileen McGuckian | If we can read history in books, do we need to see historic buildings in person? Many people think so, and this session will feature how local preservation has been accomplished over the past century. The significance of places like cemeteries, the Silver Theatre, the Red Brick Courthouse, the Dickerson Railroad Station, and the Bethesda Meeting House along with towns and communities such as Brookeville and Sugarland will be explored. This session will delve into places worth preserving, local experiences, and current practices in Montgomery County. Originally aired at the January 2023 Montgomery County History Conference.

History Conversations | The History of Reed Brothers Dodge
2024-09-24 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
With Jeanne Gartner|Tuesday, September 24 at 2:00 p.m. | Virtual Event | Reed Brothers Dodge was one of the longest running automobile dealerships in Montgomery County history, operating from two locations in Rockville for more than 97 years. This presentation features historical photographs taken by the dealership’s founder, Lewis Reed, and highlights how Reed Brothers Dodge came into being, and how the company overcame the inevitable changes and challenges throughout almost a century of being in business. From World War I, through the Great Depression and World War II, to economic recessions and numerous Chrysler financial setbacks during the 1970s and 80s, the business rose and fell with the tides of the auto industry and stood the test of time. Register Here

History Conversations | Saving Montgomery County’s Historic Otho Trundle Barn
2024-09-19 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
With Kenny Sholes |Thursday, September 19 at 7:00 p.m. | Virtual Event | Otho Trundle’s barn, thought to have been built around 1830, will turn 200 in a few years. It’s believed that Civil War soldiers spent time resting here when the Confederate Army passed right by on their Maryland Campaign of 1862. Today, the barn is not in great shape – in fact, its roof collapsed as a result of weather in mid August. In this presentation, Kenny Sholes – board member of the Historic Medley District and creator of Historic Ag Reserve Properties – will talk about the history of the barn and ongoing efforts to preserve and stabilize the structure.

Walking Tour | Button Farm Almanac
2024-09-14 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | 16820 Black Rock Road Germantown, MD 20874, 16820 Black Rock Road, Germantown, 20874, United States
At this time, tickets are sold out. Stay tuned for future tour dates! | Join Montgomery History for Button Farm Almanac, a guided tour of the Button Farm Living History Center. Led by historian and Menare founder Tony Cohen, guests will be guided on this behind-the-scenes reveal of the Button Farm in Germantown, its history and environs. Discover how they create immersive experiences on forty acres of Maryland farmland and how they interpret the story of plantation life and the Underground Railroad. Limited tickets available! At this time, tickets are sold out.

History Conversations Rewind | I Have Started for Canaan: Telling the Sugarland Story
2024-09-09 - 2024-09-15
Presented by Gwendora Hebron Reese, Suzanne Johnson, and Jeff Sypeck |Pre-recorded Virtual Event | At its height, the African American town of Sugarland in the northwest corner of Montgomery County was home to a church, a school, a store, a post office, and a practice hall for the town band. In this session, the team behind a new book that traces the history of the town from emancipation to the present will discuss the 150 years of documents, photos, artifacts, and interviews that provide a candid and enlightening look at rural African American life. The panel also will describe ongoing preservation efforts and speculate about some of the intriguing historical questions that remain to be explored. Originally aired in January 2022. Available September 9 – 15.

History Conversations Rewind | Canavest: A Final Piscataway Outpost in Colonial Maryland
2024-09-02 - 2024-09-08
with retired Maryland Historical Trust Chief Archeologist Dennis Curry |Virtual Event | Canavest (located on Heater’s Island) was the last permanent village of the Piscataway Indians in Maryland. Various aspects of the site—which was occupied from 1699 to at least 1712—are vividly described in a series of colonial documents from Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. These archival records are paired with analysis of archeological remains to provide a glimpse of late 17th and early 18th century Piscataway life. Retired Maryland Historic Trust Chief Archeologist Dennis Curry will discuss Piscataway movements over time, Piscataway material culture and lifeways, and Piscataway–English interactions. Originally presented in October 2023. Available September 2 – 8.

History Conversations | The U.S. National Bureau of Standards moves to Gaithersburg, Maryland
2024-08-27 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
With Bert Coursey, PhD, NIST Retired, Chairman of NIST Alumni History Committee |Tuesday, August 27 at 2:00 p.m. | Virtual Event | The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) began in 1901 as the National Bureau of Standards (NBS). For 65 years the main activities of the NBS were carried out on a small wooded campus 3 ½ miles from the White House. In 1966, the NBS moved to new research facilities in Gaithersburg. This presentation, with period photos, will focus on the reasons for the move, the people (scientific staff, administrators, and architects), and the construction of the new facilities in Gaithersburg.

History Conversations REWIND | Remembering Rockwood
2024-08-19 - 2024-08-25
with Ann Robertson | Before it was a county park and wedding destination, Rockwood Manor Special Park was a national Girl Scout Camp. When GSUSA sold the camp to residential developers, neighbors and individual Girl Scouts fought to stop the sale. Join Author Ann Robertson as she shares why Rockwood was so important to save, and how the Girl Scouts fought back. Originally presented in 2023. Available August 19-25.

History Conversations REWIND | Lilly Stone - A Daring Woman
2024-08-12 - 2024-08-18
with Judy Welles | | Virtual Event | In this talk based on her book about the prominent Montgomery County socialite and businesswoman Lilly Stone, Judy Welles tells the story of a daring woman whose remarkable life extended from the Civil War through the Cold War. Lilly’s papers and letters, documented by Welles, describe the divided loyalties of County residents living close to the Potomac River during the Civil War, detail her son’s experience as a soldier in World War I, and tell how German POWs came to work at her quarry during World War II. Through her accomplishments in business and her passion for preserving history, Lilly Stone made history herself. Originally aired September 2023 REWIND available August 12 – 18.

History Conversations REWIND | On the Homefront in Montgomery County During WWII
2024-08-05 - 2024-08-11
from Paths to the Present | In the early 1940s, all across the country, we were swing dancing to the music of Glenn Miller. Starlets like Ginger Rogers and Mary Martin, were lighting up the silver screen. Esquire magazine featured Petty girls. Gasoline was about 20 cents a gallon, bread about 8 cents a loaf, and a movie cost a quarter. And there was a war going on. Here in Montgomery County, people were affected by the war in a myriad of ways. Through interviews with people who were there, learn how Montgomery County residents supported the war effort, dealt with food shortages, entertained troops, protected civilians, and managed the labor shortage during this challenging time in our history. Originally aired in 2002. Available August 5 – 11.

Annual Ice Cream Social
2024-07-31 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Shirly Povich Field, 10600 Westlake Dr, Rockville, MD, 20852, United States
Join Montgomery History at Shirley Povich field for our annual Ice Cream Social! Coach Bob Milloy will be on hand to share some personal stories from his time as a football coach. RSVP Here

History Conversations | Crossing the River: The Historical Significance of Montgomery County’s Potomac Ferries
2024-07-30 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | 51 Mannakee St. Rockville, MD, 51 Mannakee St. Rockville, MD, Rockville, MD, 20850, United States
with Ralph Buglass | Tuesday, July 30 at 2:00 p.m. | Virtual Event | White’s Ferry–until recently closed–was a living history example of a long tradition of Potomac River ferries tying together Montgomery County and northern Virginia. And when the C&O Canal was operational for nearly 90 years, White’s, along with Edwards and Spinks ferries upcountry, took on added importance. This presentation offers a wealth of new research conducted to support reopening White’s Ferry.

History Conversations REWIND: The History and Preservation of Brick and Stone Masonry
2024-07-22 - 2024-07-28
with Brien Poffenberger, President of Gruber-Latimer Restoration| Brick and stone masonry has changed little over the past six thousand years. The basic construction of your garden wall would be familiar to the folks who built the Pyramids or The Great Wall of China. And yet, there are things going on in historic masonry that escape our notice. How does water move through a wall? Are all bricks created equal? How do masonry techniques “date stamp” a building? Why is the mortar in my stonework turning to dust? (And what do I do about it!) Brien Poffenberger, Architectural Historian and owner of Gruber-Latimer Restoration, will cover the basics of historic masonry, how to maintain it, and – when necessary – what to know about repairing it. Originally aired August 2023 Available July 22 – July 28.

History Conversations REWIND: James Alexander Simpson, An Example of Early Artists in America
2024-07-15 - 2024-07-21
with James Johnston| True artists were rare in the Mid-Atlantic in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Tobacco planters might pay for a portrait, but this was a luxury for the rich. Good, European-trained artists did not want to make the perilous ocean crossing for uncertain reward. This is why “primitive” or self-taught artists, like Georgetown’s James Alexander Simpson, are so important to our understanding of the colonial period. Through their portraits and landscapes, we can see how America and Americans looked before photographs were invented. Originally aired April 2023 Available July 15 – July 21.

History Conversations: Grave Matters: Cemetery Preservation in Montgomery County
2024-07-09 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
with Cemetery Archivist Glenn Wallace | Tuesday, July 9 at 2:00 p.m. | Join Cemetery Archivist Glenn Wallace as he discusses cemetery issues throughout Maryland and Montgomery County. Using his extensive work at Monocacy Cemetery, Glenn will highlight how research volunteers can work to preserve local cemeteries. Learn more about The Coalition to Protect Maryland Burial Sites by clicking here.

History Conversations REWIND: The Washington Trolley Story
2024-07-01 - 2024-07-07
with Larry Velte from the National Capital Trolley Museum | Join us for “The Washington Trolley Story” to learn about the history of streetcars in the Washington metropolitan area, including the trolley network, the evolution of streetcar technology and engineering, and the social and economic impact of the streetcar on public life. Plus, you’ll be introduced to the National Capital Trolley Museum, where this history can be experienced firsthand. Originally aired October, 2020. Available July 1 – July 7.

History Conversations REWIND: The Full Spectrum: Uncovering LGBTQ+ Heritage in Montgomery County
2024-06-24 - 2024-06-30
with Emma Satterfield | With Washington, D.C. and Baltimore nearby, the history of Montgomery County’s LGBTQ+ community has often been overshadowed. Building on Emma Satterfield’s online exhibit with Montgomery History, this presentation seeks to shed light on the struggles and achievements of the county’s LGBTQ+ residents during the late twentieth century. Satterfield also will delve into the exhibit development process and discuss the importance of preserving local LGBTQ+ history and sharing it with the public.Originally aired at the Spring 2023 Montgomery County History Conference Available June 24 – June 30.

History Conversations REWIND: In Search of the Ballfields of Montgomery’s Black Communities
2024-06-17 - 2024-06-23
with Bruce Adams | Rev. Tim Warner says that for many of Montgomery County’s Black communities, “History is buried with the people.” Along with churches and schools, baseball was the center of civic life for many of the county’s small towns for much of the first half of the 20th century. Nearly every Black area had a town team with the community’s name on the jersey such as Clarksburg, Emory Grove, Germantown, Poolesville, Rockville, Scotland, Stewartown, and Sandy Spring. On Saturdays and Sundays after church, hundreds would turn out to support their teams. On Memorial Day, a thousand fans would descend on Emory Grove for a picnic and ballgames at the county’s finest ballfield, Johnson Park. This talk will explore the story of these town teams and the meaning to their communities during the decades when Negro League baseball was thriving across the country from the 1920s through the early 1960s. Originally aired at the 2021 Montgomery County History Conference. Available June 17 – June 23.

History Conversations: Becoming Americans: 1774
2024-06-11 14:00 - 15:00 UTC
with Sandra Heiler | Tuesday, June 11 at 2:00 p.m. | Register Here June 11, 2024, marks the 250th anniversary of the Hungerford Resolves, when ten men from the area that became Montgomery County signed a set of historic agreements at Hungerford’s Tavern in the tiny crossroads village now called Rockville. Join Sandra Heiler as she places the Resolves in the context of the transition of American colonists from Englishmen and -women to Americans, focusing on the chain of events that led to the Resolves, what they agreed, why they were historic, and what happened next.Presented in partnership with Peerless Rockville and Sponsored by Heritage Montgomery

History Conversations: Uncovering Montgomery History’s Collections Gems
2024-06-04 14:00 - 15:30 UTC
with Sammie Hatton, Montgomery History Collections Manager | Tuesday, June 4 at 2:00 p.m. | Montgomery History proudly holds and cares for 10,000+ objects within our object collection. These items range from textiles and portraits to ceramics and medical devices. This wide variety helps to tell the story of life here in Montgomery County throughout time. During this talk you will meet Montgomery History’s Collections Manager, Sammie Hatton, a former volunteer turned staff member, learn a little about her training and experience, and understand what her work entails. She will also discuss a few of her favorite objects in the collection, some of which are on display and some others that remain protected in storage.

History Conversations REWIND: From Corn to Commuters: How the railroad changed the way of life & the future of Montgomery County
2024-05-20 - 2024-05-26
with Susan Soderburg and Eileen McGuckian | The opening of the Metropolitan Branch of the B&O Railroad in 1873 was a pivotal event that changed the face of Montgomery County forever. Featured in this presentation are the railroad stations designed by Francis Baldwin, and extraordinary feats of engineering such as the curving trestle over Little Seneca Creek and the Bollman Truss viaduct over the Monocacy River. New suburban and agricultural towns spawned by the new railroad catapulted the county into the Industrial Age. This talk is based on Susan’s book The Met: A History of the Metropolitan Branch of the B&O Railroad, published in 1998 for the 125th anniversary of the rail line, and updated in 2016 by the Germantown Historical Society. Originally aired May 2023. Available May 20 – May 26.
