Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-08-22
MONTGOMERY
Nl SIDELICHTS
BIZ ELSIE WHITE HAINEs


County, it is visible to such a
large proportion of the County
that those Of US who love the hills
lift our eyes to it many times
daily and think of it as ours.
AS a child we often wondered
why it was so called-Sugar Loaf
then in our study of Colonial
history we learned that during
those lean days sugar came in
loaves or cones weighing eight
and ten pounds-that sugar shears
were used to cut it into Jumps
and that one cone was made to
last some thrifty families a whole
yearl
No doubt it acquired its name
from some lonely man who was
reminded of home by the resem-
blance of the mountain to this
cone of sugar, into the making of
which we are told went maple
sugar and sometimes honey.
Long before the coming of
Columbus, Indians held religious
rites on the summit-we have
read of the mementoes of them
found during the recent develop
ment of the estate.
We are told of the coming Of
the Swiss Louis Michel from An
napolis in 1907 the earliest map
showing Sugar Loaf was made
by him-many men have searched
the rocks for traces of precious
metals, tho we have never heard
of anything valuable being found
there.
Just think what it must have
meant to the first visitors from
Annapolis and other low lying
points on the coast-a breath-tak-
ing view of parts of Virginia and
Pennsylvania as well as Maryland
just one vast wilderness in
those days-the Blue Ridge Noun
tains across Frederick Valley
glimpses of the water where the
Monocacy joins the Potomac!
Much has been written of the
part played by Sugar Loaf in the
Civil War-held first by the
Northern army-captured by the
Southern and later recaptured by
the Northern.
The present owner was attracted
to the mountain many years ago,
when as. a young man--he is now
over 70Ahe used to ride a bicycle
out from Frederick looking for a
place to make his home. During
the years he acquired it bit by bit
he calls his home at the foot
of the mountain Stronghold.
We talked to Mr.. Smith Hoyle
who is an employee--and we think
he said the tract now contained
over 1000 acres-but statistics
and dates roll from US like water
from a ducks back-like the little
boy we remember the date-1492
blu are never sure whether Column
bus discovered America or the
Declaration of independence was
signed on that day.
Mr.. Strong has built hard
roads to within a quarter of a
mile from the summit-there are
four "views" on the way up
vistas cut thru the woods-at the
fourth view is the parking space
which on a fair Sunday often
hold hundreds of cars. For Mr..
Strong welcomes visitors, and the
place is open every day until
sunset. There are picnic tables
and chairs, and a natural rock
lookout at this point.
The trail to the summit starts
here-that last quarter of a mile
is rather stiff-but there are
benches on each level where one
may rest and catch his breath.
All of the natural beauty of the
place has been preserved and
many manmade comforts added.
Too much cannot be said in
praise of the thought, care and
unselfifishness that has gone into
this venture which we are told is
unique-the most attractive one
man mountain which Mr.. Strong
is sharing with those who visit
Sugar Loaf.