Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1959-06-04

Damascus
Garden Club
Will Hold
Plant Sale
By Marion Griffith
Clearwater 3.2682

By Marion Griffith
Clearwater 3.2682
The Family Community Gar.
den Club of Damascus will hold
plant sale all day on June 6
on the vacant lot adjacent to the
firehouse. Mrs. Roger Day is
general chairman. Here is your
opportunity to fill up those bare
spots in the flower beds.
The third annual community
dinner sponsored by the Da.
mascus Chamber of Commerce
was very successful and enter.
tanning. Among the guests were
County Manager and Mrs. Mel.
win L. Reese, County Council.
man and Mrs. Jerry Williams,
County Councilman and Mrs.
Grover Welker and Councilman
Bill Hickey. Also Public Works
Director Mason Butcher and his
assistant Joe Cordella, and Ad-
miral Hartwig. Guests were in.
PRODUCED by Mr.. Jerry Williams
and Chamber President o. E.
Williams.
The Rev. A. Dean Kesler, a di.
rector Of the Chamber, made an
appeal for support for the
Chamber as the one organiza.
ton equipped to speak for the
community and mentioned some
Of the needs and problems of
the community, such as housing,
roads, recreation, parking, and
the need for attracting light in.
dustry.
Program chairman B. D. Glad
hill introduced the speaker Of
the evening, E. Guy Jewell,
whose topic was history of the
Damascus community whose
name came from the original
name Of the plantation covering
most Of the present community
which was called the pleasant
Plains Of Damascus" and this
name prevailed in spite of a Pc
Rod in which Damascus was re-
ferred to as Black Ankle.
The first school, a subscrip-
ton one, was listed as being
founded In 1884 under the direc-
ton Of one Prof. John Baker
who had that first year % pupils
and received the startling salary
Of 1859 80. The gentleman must
have been an exceptional teach
err. for the school continued to
grow and had many more pu-
pills than the actual Damascus
area could have provided. In
fact, Mr.. Jewell believes that
Prof. Baker who taught until
1919 was one Of the reasons Da.
mascus grew. Other factors list
ed included the local bank which
was conservative about its re-
serve Of capital and weathered
the depression with no diff.
Guilty; yet was quick to lend for
the building Of new homes in the
area. A third very important fac
tor in the growth of Damascus,
according to Mr.. Jewell, was the
community idea toward things
which developed among the resi-
dents and which led to the crea'
ton Of the local fire department
still supported without public
taxation, the building Of the 10
cal American Legion Post home
and many others.
Mr.. o. z. Williams on behalf
Of the chamber presented Mr.
Jerry Cook a plaque '1n sincere
appreciation Of outstanding
service as president for the
years 1858 inclusive" Mr.
Cook served as first president
OF the organization which was
founded In 1855.
Mrs. Edna Brandenburg enter
tanned Sunday at q buffet supper
for the faculty Of the Damascus
High School
Mr.. Emerson Slacum spenf
the weekend in Richmond.
Court Damascus, Catholic
Daughters of America met Ma,
25. The main business OF thu
evening was the election of new
officers for ensuing year. They
are: Grand Regent, Mrs. Henri
Auth; vice grand regent, Mrs
Robert Hart; prophecies, Mrs
William Gallagher; lecturer
Mrs. Leray Hansberger; histo
rian, Mrs. James Welsh; flnan
cial secretary, Mrs. Donalc