Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1956-02-16
Another Damascus

! operation. one hundred men, all
Clarksburg residents, are employ
ed at the stave mil at an aver
age Salary OF so a week. The
mil consumes 10000 board feet
OF lumber daily and turns out
5000 pieces per day for tight-co'
operale ChquId containing bar
/ relS.
Not only does Clarksburg's high
position provide an excellent view
OF Sugarloaf Mountain but also
makes 1t the source of numerous
streams: Benefits Creek, Ten
mile Creek, Little Seneca Creek,
Maple Branch, Kltty's Branch, etc
1t is said that there are 10 springs
within a mile of ClarkSburg. A
point on the Raymond King farm
is one of the highest in the Coun.
ty.
Despite its high position,
Clarksburg has no water prob
lem. Wells as shallow as "a feet
produce even in dry weather. The
area also boasts the County's on
ly fresh-water trout stream.
Wind COOls Town
An east wind blows across
Clarksburg from Sugarloaf al
most constantly, keeping the area
comparatively cool in summer and
free of snow in the winter. Mr..
Martz also believes the wind will
keep Clarksburg free of fall-out
in case of an air raid and sup
ports the area as an evacuation
center.
Clarksburg's third class post of.
flee was established April l, 1900.
Mrs. Julia M. Hess is the post
mistress. One rural route orig
mates at Clarksburg. Other area
residents get their mail on rural
routes served from Germantown
and Boyds.
The Clarksburg Elementary
Schools expansion is one of the
best indications of the areas
growth. Four rooms were added
in 1852. Four more rooms were
added in 1854. Parents have re-
quested five more rooms, The
present enrolment of 364 COM
pares with 162 in 1851. Clair
Baum is principal.
Clarksburg believes in accom-
plishing things through organiza-
ton. The community association
in its six-year life has installed
street lighting and established a
| public recreation area, Kings
Park, which includes a pond.
Club Plans Building
The Optimist Club, formed in
1852, works with the boys" The
Optimist Club is also planning a
community building ito serve the
whole up-County."
Other well.organized and ac-
tive groups include the Home
makers Club, the Girls All Club,
the school PTA, and the Hyatts.
town Volunteer Fire Department.
The areas deep Methodist re.
ligious roots illustrate the early
settlers break with the Episcopal
and Presbyterian religions of the
British. Rev. Francis Asbury
first stopped in Clarksburg as he
rode circuit on horseback. The
Methodist Society in the area was
established in 1882 and became
a congregation in 1894. The pres.
ent Methodist church was built
in 1909. Rev. Ben H, Hartley is
minister.
Clarksburg area residents also
attend services at Christian, Pres
byterian, Baptist, and Catholic
churches in Hyattstown, Neeles
vile, Cedar Grove, Boyds, Barnes
vile, and Gaithersburg.
Has Long History
Just as its future development
is largely dependent upon its
position at highway hub
Clarksburg's original growth be
gan because two Indian trails
crossed there. William Clarke be
gan coming to the area in about
l125 from his home in Lancaster
County, Pa, to trade with the
Shawnee, Seneca, and Tuscarora
Indians.
Clarke traded from a wagon
His son, John Clark Che dropped
the final "e") and his grandson
also John, liked the area and in
1850 the younger John built
Clarksburg's first permanent
private residence. The house was
on what is now Raymond Kings
farm The Clark burial ground
is also on the King farm.
But an even greater magnet
for settlement than the trading
Clarks was Michael A. Dowden's
Ordinanry an 11.room hote
and tavern opened in 1854 fol
travellers on the Georgetown
Fredericktown road A boulder
on the E. II. Deets farm marks
q its location.
The stage stopped at Dowden'.
twice a week. General Edward
. Braddock stayed the night at the
ordinarily during the Revolution
and Andrew Jackson dined Their,