Evening star., 1950-07-01
Tukomo Park Marks 6Oth Year
With 4-Doy Holiday Program

OOuSliG Su dCIcS VI tllc luGuIG C1ty
from Joseph F. and Sarah N. Burr
in 1888.
One evening, after Mr.. Gilbert
had told others living in the hoteI
of his newly acquired land he
asked for suggestions for a name
for the tract.
Indian Word for High Up
One of the guests, Mrs. Or
lando D. Sunny. proposed eta
coma" the Indian word for High
Up-Near Heaven" She sug-
gested, however, that it be spelled
with SIX" to avoid confusion with
Tacoma, Wash.
Mr.. Gilbert approved and later
added the word, Park" to change
the name of the little box Balti-
more g. Ohio Railroad station
from "Brightwood."
Soon, scores of persons had
bought lots and built their homes
and in the towns first election
Mr.. Gilbert was elected mayor by
a vote of so to 18.
Members of the first council
were George H. Bailey, J. Vance
Lewis, Daniel Smith and Frederick
y. Lung. Theodore Bailey was
appointed town clerk and treas
urer, but resigned after a few
weeks to be succeeded by Charles
M. Heaton. jr. Fred w. Longley
was appointed bailiff and Garrett
M. Davis was appointed counsel.
Adventists Came in 1904.
One of the most important real
estate transactions in the history
of the town took place in 1904 when
the Seventh-day Adventists. fol-
lowing destruction by fire of their
institutions in Battle Creek, Mich,
purchased a large tract they now
occupy along the banks of Sligo
Creek.
It since has become that de-
nomination. world headquarters.
It now has a renowned health
institution, the Washington Sani-
tarium, and only recently mod
ern hospital adjunct was dedi-
Gated. On the grounds are located
nurses dormitories, colleges, train
ing schools and other buildings.
In another section is the Review
and Herald Publishing Associa-
ton, publisher for the Seventh
Day Adventists.
An official of the denomination
has served on the Town Council
for the last As years.
The present population is about
$4,000.
Survived Two Big Fires.
The town has survived two dis
astrous fires. The first occurred
early in the morning of Decem-
ber 20, 1898, and destroyed sew
eral of the community's largest
stores.
Immediately afterwards, resi-
dents met and appointed a COM
mittee to confer with the mayor
and council on the organization
of a volunteer fire department.
George L. Favorite. who was
chairman of the committee, later
became the towns first fire chief.
An even larger fire occurred
November 6. 1908, when the old
160-room North Takoma Hotel,
built by Mr.. Gilbert. was des-
troyed. 1t had just been bought
by the Bliss Electrical School. The
fire made hundreds of students
homeless.
A citizens relief committee was
organized and the Takoma Hall
and Presbyterian Church were
used as classrooms and the senior
class was graduated the following
June.
Bliss School Rebuilt.
The Bliss school was rebuilt and
figured in the news recently as
the proposed site for the Mont
gomery Junior College, which now
is located adjacent to Bethesda
Chevy Chase High School.
The Montgomery Board of Edu-
cation has asked the County
Council to appropriate $165, 900
for the purchase of the electrical
school.
Many of Takoma Parks early
residents worked for the Agricul-
ture Department and their inf1u-
ence is seen in such street names
as Ash, Aspen, Birch. Cherry,
Cedar, Chestnut, Dahlia, Elm,
Fern. Flower, Holly, Hickory,
Laurel, Maple, Ooak, Orchid, Pop
lar. Spruce and Tulip.
House Rnrks PInn +o PIT