In searching for our next neighborhood visit, we turned once again to Montgomery County. Catching my eye was Carderock Springs, which is on the National Register for Historic Places with 275 modernist homes.
Situated about a mile north of the Legion Bridge and nestled between the Beltway and Congressional Country Club, Carderock Springs is a counterpart to Tauxemont. The developer placed the homes (built in the 1960s) within the sloping and forested landscape. Also like Tauxemont, streets are not as wide as normal, and are without sidewalks and telephone poles.
Brief History
Although Carderock Springs is part of Bethesda, G.M. Hopkins map of 1878 shows it within the Rockville District. One sees dwelling markers for Philip Stone and Harriet Stone, as well as John Saunders and a few others.
Maps from 1945 show a few of those remaining as well as Gibson Grove Church. A fire damaged it several years ago, but the wooden white structure still stands in the southeast corner of the neighborhood. The congregation plans to refurbish and move back in.
On the 1945 map one can also see the footprint of suburban homes had reached Cabin John near Seven Locks and McArthur Boulevard. Maps from 1966 show the Capital Beltway and the new neighborhood of Carderock Springs.
A woman to whom much is owed in this story is Lilly Coltman Moore Stone (1861-1960). Author Judith Welles wonderfully tells the story of Stone in her book. She is also the author of "Cabin John: Legends and Life of an Uncommon Place." Both are available at the Bethesda Co-Op in Cabin John, and via her website.
Facing the major obstacles of sexism and ageism, she gracefully conquered them both. Among Stone's achievements were leading the Stoneyhurst Rock Quarry for thirty years and founding the Montgomery County Historical Society. Proving age is just a number, she did the former at age 63, and the latter at age 82.
Carderock Springs first made The Washington Post news in May 1962. Real Estate Editor John B. Willman noted the sales market was brisk. Bennett & Matthews Construction touted 50 of their contemporary homes in “its new Carderock Springs section of Bethesda” where 314 homes were to be built as an “architecturally controlled community” with varied terrain and abundant woods.”
Willmann also wrote about builder Edmund J. Bennett and his homes at Carderock Springs. Along with his partner John L. Matthews, they conducted research to “fit a Bethesda family profile.”
Bennett collaborated with architects Keyes, Lethbridge and Condon KLC. According to the nomination form, Bennett was described as the “Eichler of the East.” Joseph Eichler (1900-1974) earned acclaim for his Mid-Century Modern homes in California.
The neighborhood received National Register of Historic Places status in 2009. The anchor is the Carderock Springs Swimming and Tennis Club. Their website points out they have a wide range of activities including tennis, swimming, a playground, exercise classes, a summer fun program, and community activities throughout the year.
These are the highlights of our visit.
The Hermon Presbyterian Church
We started in the northwest corner where two churches stand next to a couple of holes at Congressional. The out of bounds wall is just steps away (resists joke about “Amen Corner…”).
The Hermon Presbyterian Church is a jewel. The Maryland Historic Trust tells us this clapboard country church, built in 1874, is one of the finest and earliest examples of ecclesiastical Gothic Revival in the county. Features are the tower with a wooden bull's-eye medallion, long arrow stained glass windows with peaked mouldings, and a hood supported by brackets over the entrance.
Church members were “tired of long journeys to churches in Rockville, Bethesda, and Georgetown.” Instead of building a new church in 1930, the congregation decided to repair the existing one. Among the founding members were Stone's mother and father. Welles tells us Lilly and Frank Pelham Stone were married there in 1892.
Adat Shalom Reconstructionist
This wonderful next door neighbor to the Harmon Church offers a more modern look and landscape.
First Agape AME Zion Church
As noted by their website, this church moved from Silver Spring to 7700 Seven Locks Road. The Gibson Grove church was named after Sarah Gibson, a former slave from Virginia. In October of 2003, a fire damaged the church due to a leak in the oil heating system. First Agape AME Zion Church succeeded Gibson Church. The congregation worships here near the golf course until their church is rebuilt.
According to a Cabin John newsletter (2003), Gibson migrated from Virginia during the Civil War. She and her family purchased 4 and 1/2 acres of land on Seven Locks Road. She donated a portion of her land for a church in 1889.
Magruder’s Blacksmith Shop
Montgomery County tells us this uncoursed rubblestone building is one of the oldest in the county. Evidence suggests the structure was a blacksmith shop and dwelling built for Ninian Magruder around 1751. River Road was a rolling road to Georgetown. Ninian Magruder gave the property to his son Samuel, who built Stoneyhurst.
As you can see from the photo we took, the structure is being rehabilitated. The workman on the roof dutifully informed the inquisitive man that he could not take photos inside.
We understand the new owner of this beauty plans to move in and make it their home. Sounds like a great example of living history.
Stoneyhurst
The Maryland Historic Trust tell us this property was originally part of Ninian Magruder’s tract, “Honesty.” Samuel Magruder built this house with uncoursed rubble stone about 1767 as a one-room two and a half story structure. The manor home remained in the family until 1853. In 1906, Lilly Stone paid for an extensive “Victorian renovation” and a frame addition.
Glenmore
Welles also devotes a chapter to Glenmore, the home of Lilly Moore Stone. Unlike Stoneyhurst, it lies within the neighborhood. Lilly moved into this home in 1937, with her son Dunbar and his wife, and their three children. Frank, Lilly's grandson, was killed in action in World War II.
Bethesda Co-Op
We’re not sure how many residents of Carderock Springs head north to Potomac or south to Cabin John for their coffee and morning chats, but we partook of the latter. Welles graciously offered to meet me there.
I bought two of her books which she signed and personalized. Although the mystery remains unsolved, those who can't get enough of the Alexandria's Female Stranger story will want to read the pair of pages she devotes to it in her Cabin John book. She points out the 1912 publication of the novel, "The Legend of the Female Stranger, A Tale of Cabin John Bridge and Old Alexandria," "aroused romantic images about Cabin John."
All in all, another wonderful visit to Montgomery County. Don’t be surprised if we return there soon.
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