TOWN COUNCIL NEWS
Next meeting: Monday, July 11, 2016; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. The public is invited to attend. Actions at the June meeting included:
- approval of Resolution No. 2016-09; Budget Transfers Resolution
- approval of draft Records Retention Plan
From the Mayor…
Summer in Washington Grove
Many thanks of appreciation to the Recreation Committee and additional volunteers for putting together another fantastic Music Weekend. Thanks also to those who shared their talent! Each event was wonderful and the “Mariachi Breakfast” was innovative, entertaining, and exciting. A great weekend was had by all!
July is a wonderful month to be a child in Washington Grove! Summer In The Parks and swimming lessons begin in July. Thanks go out to Emily Brown, Ali Faupel, and Joey Fones for pulling Summer In The Parks staff together. Thanks to Emily Brown and the Maple Lake Committee for spearheading the swimming lessons this summer.
The District 39 Maryland State Delegation was to attend the June meeting of the Town Council. Since County vigils were scheduled as a result of the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, the visit of Senator Nancy King, Delegate Charles Barkley, Delegate Kirill Reznik, and Delegate Shane Robinson is rescheduled for the next Town Council meeting on July 11, 2016. It is my goal to publically acknowledge the work our representatives did for us in seeing out Maple Lake legislation come to fruition. I am deeply appreciative of their work. All are welcome to attend.
Pepco Important Contact and Numbers:
With summer storms happening, it is always advisable to keep contact information for Pepco at hand. Pepco also provides a “Storm Preparation Handbook” for new customers, and makes it available online at pepco.com/storm. You can call Customer Care at 202-833-7500 to request a copy via mail. The number to report an outage is 877-737-2662. I suggest adding this number to a cell phone so you can have access if there is power outage. Below are a few helpful links so we can all be ready to weather the storm.
- Pepco Storm Preparation Handbook: https://pepco.com/storm
- Report an outage online: https://pepco.com/reportoutage
- Track the restoration process with our Outage Map: https://pepco.com/outagemap
Planning Commission News…
Next meeting: Wed., July 6, 2016; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. The public is invited to attend.
If you are considering any renovation or building project at your house, be sure to get a copy of the revised procedures to apply for a Town Building Permit which will help you through the Town’s process. The procedures are available from the Town Clerk or from the Town’s website. In addition, the house files in the Town Hall, another resource when planning home modifications, may have some helpful information on your property. The Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Commission are here to help you with your project.
Permits up for approval on July 6, 2016:
- 407 Acorn Lane Fence
Historic Preservation Commission News…
Next meeting: Tuesday, July 19, 2016; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. All meetings are open to the public.
If you are considering changes to your home, we would welcome the opportunity to speak with you, most preferably early in your planning process, at one of our monthly meetings, which are scheduled on the third Tuesday of each month, at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room.
FROM THE TOWN ARCHIVES
By Patricia Patula, Town Archivist
News Dispatches from Other Centuries
A series devoted to describing Washington Grove’s earliest days based on historic newspapers (appearing as written) and original records in the Grove’s archives.
“Tents and Cottages”
The Washington Post issue of August 6, 1879 announced the opening of the annual Methodist Camp Meeting to begin the next day “at Washington Grove, on the Metropolitan branch of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, a few miles above Rockville.”
The writer (unknown) predicts that this gathering would be “marked by greater success than any of the previous meetings.” Perhaps the reason for this optimism was that there were 175 families camped upon the ground and many transient visitors were expected. The writer continues to describe the environment: “Besides the cottages which have been erected during the year, a neat and commodious home has been built for the convenience of the preachers, containing a study, sleeping apartments, wash-rooms, etc.”
Unexpectedly, at least to a modern news reader, the writer then launches into a list of almost a hundred people who have cottages and tents, their names compressed into small print to make them fit in the allotted news print space. The 16 cottage owners were:
“E. F. Simpson, Thos. P. Morgan, Wm. Burris, R. H. Willet, Robert Cohen, W. R. Woodward, H. W.
Frankland, W. H. Hess, Baltimore; Geo. H. H. Hall, Thos. Somerville, J. W. Wade, L. W.
Worthington, J. W. Sinclair, Alfred Wood, Henry C. Craig, and Miss Sallie Kilgour, of Montgomery
county;”
Those using tents, about 80 in number but not able to be listed here, had additional details attached to their names. Preserving the writing style of the reporter, some examples are: Mrs. Bird, Metropolitan church; George Emmons, Twelfth street church; Mr. Higgins (deputy sheriff); and Mrs. Kilgour, of the county. Several personalities rated even more coverage: “Rev. B. Peyton Brown, presiding elder, will also have a tent on the ground. Maj. Morgan yesterday waited upon Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, who signified their intention to visit the camp meeting.”
The Camp Association charged fees for the rental of the tent lots: lots 12’ x 16’ cost $10.25 whereas 10’ x 10’ cost $7.50. An exception to the fee was made for Mr. Murphy who brought his own tent and paid $3.00. However, Mr. Bennett paid $13 for the larger lot sized 14’ x 20’. These fees are presumed to be for a full camp meeting period.
The Post article concludes: “The following has been issued as the schedule time of trains running between the camp-ground and this city: Leave Washington 8:10, 8:35 A.M.; 4:35; 6:30; 8:15 P.M. Leave camp—7:00, 7:24, 8:38 A.M; 3:36, 7:19 P.M.”
Sources: Newspaper quotes are from The Washington Post (1887-1992); Aug. 6, 1897; Proquest Historical Newspapers.
References to Washington Grove Camp Meeting Association (WGCMA) are from the Board of Trustees Minutes 1880.
Outstanding Renovation Award
Congratulations to Ryan Young and Emily Brown who were awarded the 2016 Renovation Award for the addition to their ca. 1890-95 house that retains the original form and character as viewed from the avenue, while balancing the scale and character of the added forms at the rear. This project well illustrates the challenges faced when adding to Grove cottages and retaining the impression of a modest scale and unique detailing. Well done!
Maple Lake News…
Next Meeting: Thurs., July 21, 2016; 7:30 p.m.; Council Room.
Maple Lake Party Permits
https://goo.gl/forms/r6Iae3efIY
Make sure your party is official! Complete the online registration form and inquire at the Town Office for an alcohol permit at 301-926-2256.
SWIM LESSONS SCHEDULE 2016
GOLDFISH (A) 12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
STARFISH 1:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. STINGRAYS 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
2:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. LAINEY’S BREAK
DOLPHINS 3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. SHARKS 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. GOLDFISH (B) 4:45 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Forestry & Beautification News…
Next Meeting: Wed., August 25, 2016; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. This meeting is open to the public.
Woods Group
Next Meeting: Monday, August 1, 2016; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room.
Recreation Committee News…
Next Meeting: Wed., July 13, 2016; 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room.
July 4th Festivities Schedule
Saturday, July 2nd; 4:00 p.m.: Potluck supper at Maple Lake. Hot Dogs and paper products provided. BYOB and a side to share.
Monday, July 4th:
- 11:00 a.m., Costume Judging in Woodward Park
- Noon, Flag Raising and Parade to McCathran Hall; prizes, popsicles, bell-ringing, singing
- 2:00 p.m., THE GAME in Woodward Park. Annual pickup softball game for all-ages.
Summer In The Parks
The Summer In The Parks program runs Monday – Friday from July 5th – July 29th. Residents are reminded to be aware of children in the streets around McCathran Hall.
Woman’s Club News…
July 23rd is the Club’s 90th Anniversary Party and Silent Auction
This July is a very special month for the Woman’s Club! It’s our 90th Anniversary, and we’re celebrating it with a Wine & Cheese Party, a Porch Talk about the early days of Washington Grove by Phil Winter, and an incredible Silent Auction. All will take place on July 23rd. Proceeds from the Silent Auction will go towards repairing and restoring five of the original solid walnut benches that were handed down to the Washington Grove Camp Meeting in the 1870’s and which are still used in our Clubhouse today. So please, invite your friends and neighbors and join us on Saturday evening, July 23, 2016, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., at the Clubhouse. We’re hoping to have a huge turnout for this very special occasion!
Many thanks to Liz Robertson, Arlene & Jeff McCrehan and the Appleby family for hosting our June Progressive Porch party.
Don’t forget, as you travel around this summer, to collect those little bottles of shampoo, bars of soap, etc. to contribute to our Fall Outreach Program, where we will be filling bags with needed toiletry items for the residents of the Gude Men’s Shelter. These donations can be dropped off at any time in the cans on Wendy Weisbard’s porch at 119 Grove Avenue.
WGUMC News…
Back To School Bash
Sunday, August 28th, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.; on the church lawn. This event will include a school supply drive (benefiting Washington Grove Elementary School), blessing of the backpacks at 5:30 p.m., Ice Cream Social and lots of fun and games.
General Information
Vacant Homes Task Force
The next meeting of this Task Force will be on July 18, 2016, at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. This meeting is open to the public.
Emergency Preparedness Committee
The Washington Grove Emergency Preparedness Task Force will meet in the Town Council Room at McCathran Hall on Thursday, July 7th at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome to attend the meetings.
DRIVE 15
ENJOY THE SCENE !