East Silver Spring's forgotten origin:
Silver Spring Park
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What's in a name? Apparently not much if the Montgomery County government has any say in the matter. |
914 and 916 Thayer Avenue, 2005. These bungalows are rare survivors of the residential neighborhood that once occupied the 900 block of Thayer, Silver Spring, and Sligo avenues during the first half of the 20th century. Both homes were constructed circa 1922. The 1927-1928 Polk's Washington Suburban Directory lists Louis C. Kengla, a meat cutter, as residing at 916. Presently being adaptively reused by businesses, future preservation of these bungalows is uncertain. Express your desire to see these bungalows incorporated into the "revitalized" Silver Spring by contacting the owner, Michael LLC, 801 Wayne Avenue, Suite G-100, Silver Spring, MD, 20910. Photo by Jerry A. McCoy. |
Since 1964 the large residential area radiating in a northeasterly direction from downtown Silver Spring has been generically named "East Silver Spring." Encompassing nearly a dozen unique neighborhoods, from Oakview near the intersection of New Hampshire Avenue and the Capital Beltway to Silver Spring Park, located directly east of downtown Silver Spring, all fall under this rather homogenized and uninspiring moniker.
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900 Block of Sligo Avenue Looking East From Georgia Avenue, Circa Early 1910s. Originally named Blair Road, Sligo Avenue is the oldest road in Silver Spring Park, connecting the Washington and Brookeville Turnpike (Georgia Avenue) to Bladensburg Road (University Boulevard/Route 193). Also called Bluestone Road for its crushed stone paving. Partially visible porch on left was the home of James H. Cissel, first president of the Silver Spring National Bank (1910). Samuel D. Water's house, on the right, burned in 1913. All of the structures visible in this image have been razed and replaced with commercial. Photo courtesy Montgomery County Historical Society. |
It was during the course of researching my book Historic Silver Spring that I discovered with great fascination and delight that my house on Thayer Avenue was located in a neighborhood originally named Silver Spring Park. What a pastoral name I thought, one that evokes visions of trees, water and frolicking children and certainly not of crime, which our real estate agent told my wife and I that East Silver Spring was known for back in 1992 when we were house hunting!
Suspecting that this neighborhood's name fell out of popular use long before the 1960s as the unincorporated community of Silver Spring began to develop further out from the downtown business core, it came to me as no surprise that Silver Spring Park's centennial came and went last year without nearly a notice. As downtown Silver Spring's second oldest bordering neighborhood (Woodside is the oldest, having been established in 1889), the time is now to awaken Silver Spring Park's heritage and pride.
Silver Spring Park's history began in 1905 when real estate developer R. Holt Easley (namesake of Easley Street) commissioned surveyor Charles J. Maddox to plat a new residential subdivision. The boundaries were demarcated by Bonifant Street on the northwest, Cedar Street on the northeast, Carroll Lane on the east, Sligo Avenue on the south, and the Washington and Brookeville Turnpike (Georgia Avenue) on the west. This subdivision was part of a 106-acre parcel that Easley purchased in 1902 from Julia M. Thayer, widow of wealthy Washington, DC, merchant William Thayer (after whom Thayer Avenue takes its name).
By 1907 Easley was advertising, in both the Washington Post and the Evening Star, lots for sale in his new subdivision. Business was probably slow in the beginning with not much commercial development having taken place on the Washington and Brookeville Turnpike, but by the mid 1910s what would become downtown Silver Spring experienced its first building boom and the demand for lots started to increase. A large advertisement in the April 14, 1917, Evening Star announced, "Come out today and select a choice lot at Silver Spring Park. The most beautiful suburb of Washington. Lots 2 1/2 cents to 10 cents a square foot (2005 equivalent: 42 cents to $1.70)." The sales pitch continued. "If you want to live in the ideal neighborhood - with all environments high class - move out to Silver Spring Park. High altitude, insuring pure air and good health; surrounded by homes of the wealthiest people of Washington. Fine spring water. Excellent car service. Property advancing in value every day. Come out today before prices are beyond your reach, and double your money in the next year."
I think it is safe to say that the original owners of lots in Silver Spring Park would be astounded by the values of their property today (as are those of us who purchased before "revitalization" began!). Although I have yet to locate original sales documents pertaining to my property, let's say my 6,000 square foot lot sold for that high end of 10 cents per square foot. That would be $600 (2005 equivalent: $10,171) compared to the $156,000 that the property ALONE is assessed at today!
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The present name of East Silver Spring fails to acknowledge the historic origins of this century-old neighborhood. This neighborhood has proved itself to be a survivor and the "in" place to live today due to its proximity to downtown Silver Spring and public transportation. Let's see to it that the name Silver Spring Park becomes as well known as Woodside or Woodside Park and that within a few years the history and "look" of this neighborhood may be fully preserved. |
902 Thayer Avenue, 1919. William B. Neuman lived here until his death in 1921. His son Alan B. and daughter-in-law Margaret then occupied the home. In 1923 John and Nora Wrenn were residents, after whom the moniker "Wrenn's Nest" was given the house. Roy M. Heiser owned the house in the background. The Wrenn home was replaced in 1958 by a commercial structure occupied by Captain White's Oyster House and later by Captain Jerry's Sea Food Restaurant, the latter closing in 1968. Thai Market occupies 902 Thayer today. Photo courtesy Richard K. Neumann. |
These photos of this "ideal neighborhood" represent but a small sample of the rich documentation that remains to be mined. If any Silver Spring Park home or business owners possess early photographs or documents of their properties or of the neighborhood, please contact me. Who knows? Maybe publication of Historic Silver Spring Park may be coming to a bookstore near you!
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