Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1904-06-17
A Venerable Landmark Disappears.

| 80 PASS AloCo llOlu buC d5uce vi ueChN
what right have we to murmurp Time ma
desolate and destroy, but man can build u
and beautify. True his works perish, bu
new works and new men are rising to fill
and more than fill, the vacancies and desc
lations Of the past. Sweep along, Progress
Now away, Time Tear down temple anC
stronghold, sweep away the marble paac,
and log house, sweep infancy and youth
manhood and age, wipe out old memories
and pass the sponge over cherished recol
lections. The energy and ingenuity of mar
are an over match even for time. From the
ruins OF the past, from the desolations of de-
cay, new structures will rise. Recuperatiou
is law stronger than decay, and it is writ.
ten all over the face of the earth.
The corner lot of ground Immediately OPP
posite Town Hall has been purchased by
the Montgomery County National Bank Of
Rockville OF Mr.. VIM. II. Rabbit, with a
view OF erecting at an early day much
larger and more convenient banking house
than 1t now occupies Whilst the new build.
ing will be erected with view Of safety in
every sense Of the word, it will be command.
ing in appearance, its architectural style
will be in full harmony with the classic
taste 80 very marked in the wave Of progress
that has recently swept over our progressive
and inviting town, and which must add TO
its further attractiveness and ornamentation
The venerable old building, which has
been making history for nearly century,
and which for the past lew years has been
shivering and shrieking under winters wind,
or doing through the hours of long and hot
summers day, has disappeared beneath the
pillows Of progress. 1t held many cher
ished memories, and it was q silent witness
of many changes that have taken place
clouds have chased and obscured olttimes
the sunlight that made It warm and inviting.
IL was among the early residences erected
in the infancy of the town, having been
built in 1915 or 1917 by Gassaway Perry,
Honore Martin, ST., being the contractor,
assisted by the contractor who came with
Benjamin Kearn, and who had just COM
pleted the building Of the house now occu.
pied as laundry. The late Alexander Kill
gour purchased it in 1884, and sold It to
Lewis Shots in 1S41. Mr.. Shots convert,
ed, what at that time was the parlor, into
store room and did small merchantie bust.
ness for years. subsequently it passed to
the ownership of Mr. T. J. Peddicord now
3 prominent lawyer in Oakland, this State,
thence to the late Lemuel Clements, who
sold to Mr.. Rabbit.
There were two interesting incidents 10
the long history OF this old landmark, and
not one at present who remembers these save
it be the widow of Robert W. Carter. They
have many times been given to US by one
who was prominent in both, and who only
q year ago passed to the great beyond. The
flrst was the falling of the stars In Novem.
Der, 1884, or as more generally termed the
Meteoric Shower. At that period there ex-
listed bat two political parties-the Wing
and Locofoco, or Democratic party, as now
termed. Richard J. Bowie was at that time
the candidate of the Wing party for State
Senator, and John A. Carter the candidate
of the Locofoco party. The meeting did
not convene until q late hour, in consequence
Of the torchlight procession from Medley's
Hill having been detained. The speaking
was from the steps of the old Washington
Hotel, Immediately opposite. Pending the
speaking the stars commenced falling and &c
increased that the crowd became uneasy and
dispersed. Mr.. Bowie, followed by large
number OF his friends, took refuge In the old
building, then occupied by Mr.. Kilgour, who
was a Wing friend of Mr.. Bowie, and John
A. Carter and friends went Inside of the
hotel, which was then kept by Mr.. Lar.
abee, a Frenchman, who was Locofoco, and
friend of Mr.. Carter. After the shower OF
the stars ceased, Mr.. Bowie walked out Of
the building and exclaimed "Sic fiat JUS
titia rurat ct coelum"-"Let justice be done,
though the heavens fall"
The second incident worthy OF note which
transplred in this old residence was the mar
rage of Miss Mary Buchanan to Mr.. John
Brewer. Miss Buchanan and her sister,
Miss Isabella, afterwards Mrs. Otis @.
Wight, were in charge Of the Female Acad-
envy, which for years was pet institution
with the primitive residents of this then a
small village. This event was peculiarly eK.
because OF the distinguished prom
inence of the families Of the contracting
parties, as it was the very first of the prom.
inent and iashi enable weddings occurring
in the village. Rev. DR.. Mines, then Prln
CT pal Of the Rockville Academy, officiated.
Among the brides attendants were Miss
Ann Darne, OF Darnestown, this county, At.
Mrs. Commodore Smoot; Miss
Ann Milton and Miss Rose Elsey,
Of Virginia, and Miss Mary Ann Gillis,
OF Parson Levin j. Gillis, Of the
Church here. The Buchanans,
Of Baltimore; Brewers and Peters, OF the
upper part Of the county, were well repre-
sented. Among those present from the vii.
lage were Benjamin Forrest and lady. r. J.
Bowie and lady, Col. Cooke and lady, Col.
Vinson and lady, Parson J. II. Jones and
lady, Brice Selby and lady, Solomon Hol.
land and lady, DIR. John W. Anderson and
lady, Judge Bilgour and sisters, Uriah For.
rest, Charles Moore, for so many years chief
clerk In the Office Of the Clerk Of the Circuit
Court John and William Perry Braddock,
Henry Harding, lady and daughters, VIM.
0. Chapel. Capt. johnson, U. s. N, and
lady, Dr. John Wootton and lady, Jesse
Leech and lady. DR.. Josiah Harding, John
@. England and lady, all Of whom were the
early settlers and residents OF the town
Mr.. Alexander Kilgour, with whom the
Misses Buchanan were boarding, by request,
gave away the bride, and Mrs. Margaret A.
Kilgour did the honors, assisted by Mrs.
a.. ~ U..hInoton Mra Reni EnrreaL