National Republican., 1885-07-07


On the train the other evening gentle
man inquired Of me II could tell him how
to get from Washington to Sandy Spring.
"By taking the Baltimore and Ohio to Rock
vile and going by stage or private convey
ance thither," ] Immediately answered.
Then began to wonder If he, like many
others, thought this little village some kind
OF q watering place, from ITS name, Sandy
Springs, as It is usually called Such is not
the case, IL being named from q spring
which formerly bubbled up through white
sand, and this sand was extensively used
by the neghbors for imilos around on ac-
count Of It's peculiar excellence for securing
purposes.
That was in the days of "Auld Lang
syne," however, for the white sand of the
original sandy spring exists now only In
name,
The soil, too, instead of being sandy, de-
serves just the opposite cognomen, in the
winter season particularly.
This small village was settled by the
Quakers, or "Friends,n who were driven
south from Massachusetts, by persecution,
and, to quote from an old history, "they
accomplished great deal towards promot-
ing the material development and intellect
ual advancement Of this region.n
The first house built was owned by James
Brooke, who, at the time of his death, was
the possessor Of farm of 20, 900 acres.
Among the early settlers were the
Thomasses, one Of whose descendants,
Philip Evans Thomas, was the protector
and first president Of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad
One Of the Oldest residents, Edward
Stabler, born in 1Tg5 (since dead), was post
master for fifty years. He was also origi-
nator and founder of the Mutual Fire In
surance Company of Montgomery county
in 1S4S.
Hon. Thomas Lansdale, who died In 1873,
formerly owned and resided on what was
designated as "Benjamin's Lot,n granted
to BENJAMIN Gather in 1725. lie was one
OF the inventors and builders Of the first
wood planning machines, and also inventor
OF metallic yolSes for swing BELLS and the
first manager who introduced steam into
fact ories for heating purposes.
Roger Brooke, one of the pioneers, was
for more than fifty years subscriber to the
National InteNigencer Of Washington, and
often sent short articles to that paper He
was always interested in politics, but
would never accept an office Gas example)
save that Of the "Levy court,n as the board
Of county commissioners was then called. He
was the grandfather Of the late Chief JUS
ticc Taney.
The first meeting house Of the friends
was built In 1742, and remained standing
until the present brick edifice was erected
In 1917. 1t is "quite the thingn for the
young folks Of the surrounding vicinity to
go to "Quaker meeting" every June.
Caleb Bently kept the first store Of Sandy
Spring. In 1873 Henry Q. Hallowell, a
graduate of Yale, opened boarding school
for young ladies ut Roclland, near Sandy
Spring. on the "IIallowell estate,n belong
ing to his father, Benjamin Hallowell, who
was professor of chemistry in the medical
department of Columbia College, Washing
ton, besides being the first president of the
Maryland State Agricultural Society, and q
member of the American Philosophical So
cicty Of Philadelphia.
Atno great distance from Sandy Spring
is the beautiful residence of Hon. Allen
Bowie Davis, "Greenwood,n rightly called
one Of the garden spots of Montgomery
county.
Sandy Spring is noted for its societies, II
being itself ''Society of Friends.n The, or
ganizations up to the present time are q,
follows The Montgomery county brancl
of the Prisoners Aid Society, the Enter
prise Farmers Club the Montgomery
Horticultural Society, the Sandy Spring
Home Interest Society, the Sandy Spring
Young Folks sociable, the Savings Institu
tion Of Sandy Spring, and the Sandy Spring
Lyceum. The historian Of the latter, VIM
ii. Farquhar, has written "Annals of Sand,
Spring." a twenty years. history of q rura
commnnityin Maryland, published by Cush
ings " Bailey In 1884, a very interesting
book to all who care to read about thi
quaint old town. TON CARLYLE.