Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1960-08-25

the hitherto disputed location
of a famous 18th century tav-
ern, Dowden's Ordinary.
Another short article in the
same issue details such early
tavern rates as lodging in a
good bed with clean sheets,
Co.'s" and "a hot diet for a
gentleman's servant, with a pint
of beer or cider, 0/2/6.s Other
papers have been written on
subjects ranging all the way
from Sandy Spring and the
Friends Meeting to The Battle
of the Monocacy.
Farquhar Diary Quoted
Showing that the cultural as
opposed to the purely historical
side of county life is not neg
lected, The Montgomery County
Story devoted two issues to ex-
tracts from the diary of Roger
Brooke. Farquhar. A Quaker
living near Olney, Farquhar be-
gan his journal in 1856.
The events he records typify
the life of an educated young
farming man of the day-cut-
ting ice from the pond, wealth
ering a bad cold indoors on a
winters day with Scott's Heart
of Midlothian, taking the canal
barge to Washington to hear
Buchanan's inaugural address.
On the other hand, a brief en-
try for February 20, 1858,
makes it clear that values have
not greatly changed: went to
the Debating Society. Question:
Which is the greater-happi-
ness or possession Decided
for possession"
These projects, the issuing Of
The Montgomery County Story
and the Annual pilgrimage,
were begun only within the past
five years. But they may be
said to have had their true be-
ginning 16 years ago, when the
late Mrs. Lily C. Stone invited
some county residents known
for their interest in civic af-
fairs to meet at her home,
"Glenmore," near Potomac, to
consider the organization of a
historical society.
Mrs. Stone, the founder and
first president of the Society,
envisioned not only the preser-
walton of the county's records
and landmarks, but also the dis
semination of historical infor-
nation. Toward these ends,
various schemes have been
undertaken. Thus in 1854, a
tablet was erected on South
Washington st. in Rockville to
mark the site of Hungerford
Tavern, an inn known from the
time of the Revolutionary War.
In 1947, a plaque was placed on
st. Peters Church in Poolesville
to commemorate the church's
Tooth anniversary and the 200th
anniversary Of the parish it.
self. Each year the Historical
Society awards a prize to a stu
dent of Montgomery County
Junior College for the best es-
say on Maryland history.
Old Photos Shown
These kinds Of activity are
being continued. During the
past spring an exhibition was
assembled in the Rockville
Christ Church parish hall of
SIS irreplaceable old photographs
of Rockville as 1t was go and
more years ago. Some of these
photographs, lent to the Society
by Mrs. Paul Burnett, Mrs. ALI.
son Chaplin, Mr.. Lewis Reed,
Mr.. Harrison England, and the
Rockville Public Library, are
reproduced on the pages of this
special issue of the Montgom-
cry County Sentinel.
The Historical Society, how
ever, has arranged special ex-
hibition of all SIS photographs
in the library of the Rockville
Civic Center. Together with a
selection of documents and arti-
facts assembled In the Societys
room on the second floor of the
Civic Center, they will be on
display each afternoon Of Cen.
tennial Week, August n
through September 8. 1t is
hoped that residents win take
advantage Of this opportunity
to see something of their coun-
TVS past.
Except during July, August
and January, the Historical So
ciety meets at 8 pm. at the
Civic Center on the third Thurs
day of every month. At each
meeting there is a guest speak
er; past speakers have included
Richard Rowland, former presi-
dent Of the National Trust for
Historic Preservation, and
Judge Edward S. Delaplaine, of
the Court Of Appeals Of Mary
land.
The Society is anxious to
have new members to share In
its activities. Its success de-