Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1936-12-10
LETTER BOX
Let Us Give Credit,
Where Credit 1t Due


Wisconsin Avenue! What grand
approach to our Nations Capitol that
might aptly be termed "The opening
gateway from the great northwest"
Who among you m m b er the
little strip of improved roadway
fourteen feet wide on the west side
adjacent to the railway tracks that
ran through Maryland from the old
Blacksmith Shop, where the Bank of
Bethesda now stands, to the District
of Columbia Line, forming bottle
neck at that point where it entered
into the broad spacious avenue with
in the Districts borders of an inn
proved roadway 100 feet wide.
At that time there was young
man connected with the Engineer of
Highways Department of the District
Government, resident of Montgom-
cry County, who had vision. He
clearly saw that the great arterial
highways leading out of Washington
were being choked off by this and
other narrow outlets into Maryland
ard Virginia, to the point where not
only traffic jams occurred but seri-
GUS accidents causing injury to life
and limb frequently occurred and if
left until now would be a calamity
that could only be remedied at enor-
nous expense. In 1919 the people
of Montgomery County elected this
young man to the office of County
Commissioner and among his first
acts of initiating progressive legisla-
ion he demanded that something be
done to corerct the above described
condition. Not only did he write
letters to all abutting property own
ers on the East side of Wisconsin
Avenue from the DC. Line to the
Bank for the reason that at that
time the east side was sparsely
settled while the west side was built
up) but solicited the aid of the
County and Washington, D. C. news
papers which came valiantly to his
Import in this cause.
The young man who 1 refer to is
Judge Henry ]. Hunt known to hi;
friends as Harry who, when County
Commissioner followed this idea re-
lentlessly to a successful conclusion.
He not only secured the expression
of willingness Of large and almost
unanimous majority of the abutting
property owners to deed their 'front.'
age free of charge to the county but
followed this up with numerous trips
to Annapolis at his own expense and
finally drew the Bill which was later
enacted into law through the acquies-
ence and assistance of Major E.
Brooke Lee, the then leader of the
County forces. Authorizing, en-
powering and directing the Board of
County Commissioners to acquire
and improve the beautiful roadway
which we now have. Sidewalks at
that time were secondary considera-
ton and provision for them was
made at latter date when property
for their construction was acquired
at great cost to the tax payers. Had
Commissioner Hunt not seen into the
future and acquired the land for the
roadway through the powers OF his
proposed bill which was enacted think
what enormous expense the tax
payers would have to pay today for
the land used in widening Wisconsin
Avenue which at that time was OBJ
tanned for practically nothing.
1 am heartily in accord with the
great celebration, parades and floats
that are to take place on Dec. 18th
given by the people of Bethesda Dis
trict and may they continue to i'm
prove, but in passing do not let us
forget our good friend Judge Hunt,
who by his far sighted vision made
all of this possible. We need more
officials of Judge Hunts initiative
and energy and it makes some Of us
who have two good legs to walk on
and have had better luck and fewer
handicaps, marvel at this mans
pleasant manner and marvellous dis
position in the face of what would
be to many overwhelming odds. Yes,
let us give credit where credit is due
an individually and collectively as
citizens thank Harry Hunt for what
he has done for US.
Cecil Barton Stephens,
Bethesda District,
Mon+oorneyv Co MARYLAND.