Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1947-11-13

we seem utterly TO have failed
in our effort to portray the charm
of Washington Grove. Perhaps we
went too much into detail Of the
evolution from canvas tent to the
peaked-roof "train-of cars" cottage
Of today which smacks of Norman-
dy or the English countryside. The
houses no longer are grouped so
closely together - the years have
taken care of that. Old ones have
been taken out or moved back to
make room for yards with shrub
berry and flowers. Grove Avenue, on
which many of them face, was laid
out 40 feet wide for it was the
chief promenade. There is plenty
of space in the Grove = there are
athletic fields, tennis courts, pic
mic grounds and parks and best of
all the town is still in a grove of
trees.
Sometime during the years, when
first it belonged to the Camp Meet
ing Association, then to the Wash
ington Grove Association, and for
the last ten years as an incorpo-
rated town, the Grove has lost the
land "across the tracks" now
known as Oakmont. Yet queerly
enough, Grove residents have to
cross the tracks into Oakmont to
station labeled "W ashington
Grove" to take the train into the
city or to pick up a loaf of bread
from the store-the Grove still toll
crates no commercial places. And,
unless one knows just which wind
ing path maybe followed with an
auto, one still arrives at the back
of the house when calling in the
Grove. For even as in early days,
the cottages face on avenues on
which vehicles are not allowed.
( 1t would be most fascinating to
follow the history of all these early
homes mentioned by Page Milburn
in his "reminiscences written in
1927, most of which have changed
hands since he wrote his story.
Mr.. Milburn traced the improve
ment in the grounds thus:
In the very early Camp Meeting
days attempts were made to beau
tify the tent abodes with wild flow
ers, ferns and autumn leaves. Then
little flower beds, rookeries and
flower boxes were added. He re-
calls that Mrs. Mary Knott resid-
ing at the intersection of Broad
way and First Avenue was the
first to plant shrubs, trees and
flowers for perpetual ornamental
ton. She was followed by Mr..
Benson who lived at the corner of
Third Avenue and the Circle. Here
he did some intensive gardening.
Practically every inch of his small
lot was given up to flowers, plants
and even vegetables.
Mrs. Reed living at the corner Of
Brown Street and Grove Avenue
early planted shrubbery and Guilt
waited flowers to the great adorn-
ment Of her home. Among the pio-
neers in Horticulture were Judge
Hardan, Clifford v. Sparrow and
Mr.. Hunt on Chestnut Avenue.
After the last named was succeed
ed by Mr.. Hile the cultivation of
fruits and flowers went on apace,
according to Mr.. Milburn.
The shrubbery and flowers plant
ed by w. H. H. Smith at his home
on Grove Avenue were a pleasure
10 the eye, and an encouragement
to others to do likewise. When Ma
jor Samuel H. Walker came to the
Grove in 1903 and bought home
on Grove Avenue he started a gar
den which has since grown to 'ex-
tensive proportions. Fruits, flow
ers and vegetables grow there in
profusion. Mr.. Milburn recalled
another garden on Grove Avenue
which is not as visible, where the
Misses Wadsworth planted and
cultivated the most beautiful flow