Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29
History of Takoma Park and Founder


place. He therefore called it an exalted place.
for that is the meaning Of the Indian name
Takona. 1t Is not only exalted in altitude,
being more than 800 feet above sea level but
it Il also exalted because OF its influence upon
the mind and health of its people
Early in the Spring of 1884 Mr.. Gilbert
purchased the Grammar farm Of 100 acres. It
was known as Roberts Choice. This lay on
both sides of the railroad, extending from
Sixth street on the District side to near Willow
avenue on the Maryland side, and from
Takoma avenue on the north to about Aspen
street the south. This was laid out In
regular streets and lots Of unusually large size.
Settlers began to arrive almost Immediately.
Mr.. Gilbert built and occupied a temporary
home about the middle Of June, 1884. He was
followed almost Immediately, June 30 by Mr.
and Mrs. Fred E. Dudley. They lived for Q
time with the Gilberts while their house was
building on Carroll avenue. Mr.. Dudley was
a contractor and builder. He built many of
Takomas most beautiful homes. Among them
were the magnificent home Of Mr.. Gilbert,
since burned, and that of Mrs. Cady, corner OF
Chestnut and Eastern avenues The first child
born in Takoma Park was wentworth Dudley.
son Of Mr. and Mrs. Fred E. Dudley"
A FTER starting on this story the writer
became interested particularly in the
founder, Mr. Gilbert, and he wondered when
that gentleman died, for no one seemed to
have this information. The recent pilgrimage
Of the Boy Scouts gave a clue. because tho
press gave Cedar Hill as the name of the
cemetery in which he was buried Naturally
the writer thought all he had to do was to
call up the cemetery and he would get tho
desired information; but in this he was wrong.
for the cemetery superintendent did not have
the date to give. Believing that maybe there
was a tombstone over the grave that would be
WAS tn
cemetery ITSELF but though the grave was
found, yet there no tombstone in sight,
and other sources of information had to be
sought
The next move was to consult the City Direc-
tory, and here Mr.. Gilbert's name id not
appear after 1906 This last bit of information
really meant more than 1t might seem, for with
the date to go by, Col. C. Fred Cook, librarian
Of The Star, was able to supply the time Of
Mr.. Gilbert's death, which was April 10, 1907.
and, turning to the files of The Star, the fol-
lowing notice Of his death was found:
Mr.. Benjamin Franklin Gilbert, founder OF
Takoma Park, died this morning at Garfield
Hospital In addition to being deeply inter-
ested in Maryland real estate MFR. Gilbert was
prominently identified with public affairs in
this city, and many buildings here regarded
as monuments to his efforts many years ago.
He had not been a well man for the past
seven years. He suffered q slight stroke Of
paralysis, although he not compelled to
give up his active participation in business
affairs until short time ago. For several
months he had suffered from uremic poison
ing and week ago his condition was such
that it was deemed advisable to remove him to
the hospital
THE deceased was a native of New York,
where he was born IS years ago, De Ruyter,
Madison County, being his birthplace He came
to this city during the Civil War and started
life by accepting a position as clerk in the
National Hotel. Later he opened the Tenn
peFance lunch room, on F street between Ninth
and Tenth streets, and his place became one
of the most prominent dining rooms in the
city
- A FTER the close of the war he turned his
attention to the real estate market and
was associated with the late Alexander r.
Shepherd in a number of business enterprises.
Many houses in the vicinity of ST. AloysiuS
Church were constructed by him, and he also
built the row of houses the north side of K
street between Ninth and Tenth streets.
Grant place, between Ninth and Tenth and
q and H streets, was opened and improved by
Mr.. Gilbert, and, it is said, he the first per-
son to advocate the purchase Of the property
between Pennsylvania avenue and the Mall for
use by the Government. Mr.. Gilbert accu-
Mulated fortune, but he. lost practically all OF
1t during the panic of 1873, his valuable hold
ings in the Northwest section of the city getting
away from him with his other real estate
He left here after the panic of 1873 and
went to Dunellen, N. j., where he again en-
barked in the real estate business and accumu-
lated a considerable sum of money. About
1884 he returned to this city, and year two
later he opened up the Takoma Park property,
purchasing a tract of land In Montgomery
County near what was then Brightwood Station
on the line of the Metropolitan Branch of the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
"Mr. Gilbert was the first mayor of Takoma
Park He served three terms as mayor and
was succeeded by Enoch Morris, since deceased.
It was due to his efforts, it is said, that the
HnIr Oar Il