It started as an art project and turned into a tourism project.

Growing up in Montgomery County, MD, I attended Chevy Chase Elementary, Our Lady of Victory (DC) and Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School.

Receiving a Studio Art degree from Smith College, I focused primarily on the “book arts”, such as calligraphy, woodcut, lettering and gouache painting.

By graduation, I had completed three different Special Study projects: A Gentlewoman’s Journal: Letters of Edith Sampson Healy, a medieval-inspired Herbal featuring botantical woodcuts, and lastly, a painted children’s bedtime story, (ostensibly written by my father, Tim Healy) "CrossPatch, The Flying Horse".

After college and animation school, I moved to Los Angeles to work in the animation industry. When I moved back to Maryland, I began visiting local places to get a “lay of the land”.  I found really neat places - and I had an idea!

In Wyoming, where my grandparents lived, nearly every public establishment, grocery stores, gasoline stations, diners, hotels, etc., displayed a rack of postcards, featuring local and state attractions, which advertised other nearby places.

To celebrate these places of Montgomery County history, what better way to advertise what Montgomery County, MD has to offer than through note-cards, which people naturally share?

In 2010, I received an Individual Artist Grant by the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County, MD and Montgomery County government to make sketches appropriate for a note-card set.

I named the project “Days Of Yore: Montgomery County”. Pun intended.

It started as an art project and turned into a tourism project.

Presentation at the BCC Rotary

Days Of Yore Art Show

Days Of Yore Art Show, a set on Flickr.

Hanging the Artwork!

Oakley Cabin Heritage Site, Olney, MD

An image suggesting the Oakley Cabin, in Olney, MD is the twelfth image for the Days Of Yore: Montgomery County, MD project.

Save to foursquare The area now known as Olney, was an agricultural area and focused mostly on farms.  Around 1800, artisans, such as blacksmiths, wheelwrights, and potters moved in, turning the area into a center of commerce and trade.  (To read more about the history of former Mechanicsville and Olney, please visit the Sandy Spring Museum's History site).

Oakley Cabin was built as part of a property belonging to a landowner named Colonel Richard Brooke, a Revolutionary War veteran.  This property passed through many hands, each of whom owned human slaves.  There were three cabins in all.  This particular cabin is the only one that is remaining.

Between 1880 and 1920, many different folks claimed to live in this cabin. There were both field hands, laundresses, carpenters, and other artisans or crafters, offering their services to the people on the road.  (To read more about the history of Oakley Cabin, visit the Montgomery Parks site or visit during their open hours and get a tour!

According to the Heritage Montgomery site, "Built in the 1820s as one of three slave dwellings, the cabin was the center of an African American roadside community from Emancipation well into the 20th century."

Neat!
The artist was on her way to a Pick-Your-Own fruit farm in Montgomery County and saw the sign for Oakley Cabin!   Naturally, she had to stop and find out more about this roadside site.

To visit:  3610 Brookeville Road, Olney, MD 20833
Thanks to the Sandy Spring Museum History site, the Montgomery Parks site, and the Heritage Montgomery Site, for their information.

Seneca One-Room Schoolhouse, Poolesville, MD

An image suggesting the Seneca One-Room Schoolhouse, in Poolesville, MD is the eleventh image for the Days Of Yore: Montgomery County, MD project.

Seneca One-Room Schoolhouse, Poolesville, MD

Save to foursquare Built in 1865, this Seneca Schoolhouse had only one room.  Going to school here, a child would be in the same classroom with all of the other children attending school, no matter how old they were or what grade they were in.


The children who did attend here, were often the children of the C&O Canal workers.

The Seneca One-Room Schoolhouse is a museum right now.  Children are also able to visit with their classes.  If you and your class visit, the children can pretend that they are living back in the 1880s and are going to school in that One-Room Schoolhouse.  The teacher for the day dresses in a clothes that he or she would have worn back in 1880 and will teach topics that children learned about back then.  They will learn about the foods that the children ate and the games that they played.

Neat!
This reminded the artist of a one-room schoolhouse, The Stone Schoolhouse, between the towns of Shell and Greybull, Wyoming.   That one-room schoolhouse was old enough to be put on the Historic Registry of Places.  Both of these one-room schoolhouses are now museums.

In order to take a visit to see this Seneca One-Room Schoolhouse yourself, the address and phone number is:

16801 River Road, Poolesville, MD 20837

(301) 972-8588

Open year-round for scheduled school field trips; please see their website or call for details.   http://www.senecaschoolhouse.com/

Glen Echo Park Yurt, Glen Echo, MD

An image suggesting a Pottery Yurt in the Glen Echo Park, in Glen Echo, MD is the tenth image for the Days Of Yore: Montgomery County, MD project.

Pottery Yurt at Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD

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The National Chautauqua Assembly, an adult education movement that was popular in the late 1800s, began a park in Glen Echo, MD in 1891.  They made the sciences, the arts, languages and literature available to rural communities.

The Glen Echo Park had become an amusement part that provided a pool and carousel and many other options for the local residents until 1968.  Then the National Park Service took over and it is currently run by a non-profit organization.

There are many galleries and art studios on the grounds of Glen Echo Park, including the one in this picture.  This structure (one of six) is a permanent yurt.  Yurts are structures that nomads from Central Asia would occupy.  This particular yurt houses a Pottery Studio.

For further historical information on Glen Echo, please visit their website: http://www.glenechopark.org/history-glen-echo-park

To visit Glen Echo, try visiting their site for directions, hours, and events.  Their address to visit by car is: 7300 MacArthur Blvd. | Glen Echo, MD 20812

There is also a walking tour brochure, created by the non-profit organization, "Glen Echo Park for Arts and Culture, Inc."  Find it here.

For more information on the National Chautauqua Assembly, try searching on Google.  My small bit of information, I found here.

Neat!
Not only does the Glen Echo Park have yurts, which is a structure found in Central Asia, but they are also art studios.  I even saw another yurt that had grass growing all over the top of the roof.  As an artist, this would be a dream-come-true!  Secluded, peaceful, but nearby other artists, a yurt studio like this would be terrific!

St. Paul's Community Church, Sugarland Forest Community, Poolesville, MD

An image suggesting The Historical St. Paul Community Church in the Sugarland Forest Community, outside of Poolesville, MD is the ninth image for the Days Of Yore: Montgomery County, MD project.

Part of the Sugarland Ethno History Project

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Where is Sugarland in Montgomery County, MD?  Ever hear of it?

In the 1800s, freed slaves (or former slaves that had found freedom) formed a community of their own.  The Sugarland Community operated as an independent township, with a church, post office, school, and store; a neighbor to the town of Poolesville, MD.

It was and is an important step of the story to what happened after slaves achieved their freedom.  This plot of land was purchased by William Taylor and Patrick Hebron Jr, and John H. Diggs on October 6, 1871.  The price of this land was $25.00

These days, the only real part of Sugarland Forest Community left is the Historical St. Paul's Community Church.  To see a piece of this history, you can visit this church by going to 14730 Sugarland Lane, Poolesville, MD, 20837.

You can find this same information and more from The Sugarland EthnoHistory Project and further writings provided by the Montgomery County Historical Society.

Neat!
The artist found this site through the Heritage Montgomery website.  Pleased to find such a gem of history, she drove out to the church to take some pictures.  It was a windy day and was able to appreciate the wide open fields near Poolesville in peace.

The Underground Railroad Trail, near Sandy Spring, MD

An image suggesting The Underground Railroad Trail near Sandy Spring, MD is the eighth image for the Days Of Yore: Montgomery County, MD project.

Part of the "Underground Railroad" Trail
near Sandy Spring, MD

Save to foursquare The trailhead begins near the Woodlawn Manor Cultural Center, an old manor, home to the Woodlawn family, a Quaker family that ran a boarding school.  This was also a place where Quakers would provide assistance to those seeking freedom around the 1850s, on the Underground Railroad.

You can take a tour of a part of the Underground Railroad.  There is a self-guided tour with a map or you can visit the website and show up on a Saturday when trained volunteer tour-guides will walk the trail with you.  This trail is part of the National Park Service's greater network of trails called The Network To Freedom.

Who are those people needing help?  Formerly known as "escaped slaves", the trained tour-guides on this segment of the Underground Railroad Experience Trail call them "freedom seekers".

It wasn't a real railroad.  Instead, it was a connection of people helping those freedom seekers get to a state, often a state north of the Mason-Dixon Line, where laws allowed them freedom from slavery.  The helpful folks would point them in a good direction, maybe give them a place to stay the night, make sure they had some food, water, medicine (if they needed it), and maybe a jacket or blanket to stay warm.  Many times, part of the trail would be through the wilderness.

While on their journey, these freedom seekers would have to dodge brambles and mud and weather and extreme temperatures.  In addition, they were being chased by people who wanted to take them back from where they had come.  The tour-guides told us that there was never a real "trail" because that would be easily followed.  There couldn't be any real markers or notes or secrets whispered to your friends.  The way through the forest had to be really hidden, otherwise the freedom seekers would be caught!

To Visit: Go to this site and find a good Saturday to go on a Tour with a trained volunteer guide.
By Car: Woodlawn Manor - 16501 Norwood Road, Sandy Spring, MD  20860

Neat:
The artist took her family on a Saturday Tour with a tour guide.  She learned a lot about what it might have been like to travel through the woods.  She tried to imagine what it would be like to run for her life.  It was an incredible experience to have the opportunity to see history in action!

The artist lived in a dorm during college that had a hidden stairway.  The legend of the dorm suggested that that house had been used as part of the Underground Railroad during this time, allowing freedom seekers a place to stay the night in secret.

The Madonna Of The Trails, Bethesda, MD

An image of The Madonna Of The Trails landmark statue in Bethesda, MD is the seventh image for the Days Of Yore: Montgomery County, MD project.

NSDAR Memorial: Madonna Of The Trails, Bethesda, MD

Save to foursquare Right in between the US Post Office in Bethesda, MD and a large hotel, the Madonna Of The Trails statue stands.  It is one of the twelve memorial markers from the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  The title reads, "NSDAR Memorial: Pioneer Women - Covered Wagon Days".  

Sculpted by Auguste Leimbach and dedicated in 1929, one side describes, "This The First Military Road in America Beginning at Rock Creek and Potomac River Georgetown Maryland Leading Our Pioneers Across The Continent to the Pacific."

This and the other eleven memorial markers are placed through-out the United States, along the Old National Trails Road, starting in Bethesda, MD and ending in Upland, CA.

Neat!

The artist was stunned to see, right here in Bethesda, in Montgomery County, stands one of twelve memorial statues peppered across the United States.  The set of statues marked the Ocean-To-Ocean Highway, also known as the National Old Trails Road.  According to the Wikipedia site on the National Old Trails Road, it was a combination of many Native American trails, the Santa Fe Trail, the National Road, and those routes, which we now know of as US Route 40 and US Route 66.  Even better, these monuments were put in place on behalf of the Pioneer Women!  

Don't miss the prickly-pear plant, a native plant to the Americas, at the feet of the Pioneer Mother and her child.

To Visit: Next to the US Post Office on Wisconsin Avenue and East-West Highway.

(approximate address: 7464 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814)

National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
US Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration
US Department of Transportation - Federal Highway Administration History

The B&O Railroad in Silver Spring

An image from the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in Silver Spring, MD is the sixth image for the Days Of Yore: Montgomery County, MD project.

B&O Railroad in Silver Spring, MD

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This is one of the more modern sites that Days Of Yore has chosen for this note-card project.  Built in 1945, this train station from the B&O Railroad is in Silver Spring, MD.  Passengers travelled from Washington, DC to their destinations in the north and the west.  It ceased to be an active station stop in 2000 and now operates as a historical property.  See Montgomery Preservation's website for directions and more information.

Neat!
The artist wanted to have a station of the B&O Railroad in this collection, since a sketch of the C&O Canal's Monocacy Aqueduct already was included.  The B&O Railroad and the C&O Canal were built in the same year.  Their work crews would often feud for resources and food, according to Canalbird.com.

In addition to the history, I enjoy train stations.  If you do, too, make a visit!

To Visit By Car: 8100 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910

The Hyattstown Mill, Hyattstown, MD

An image from the Hyattstown Mill in Hyattstown, MD is the fifth image for the Days Of Yore: Montgomery County, MD project.

The Hyattstown Mill, Hyattstown, MD

Save to foursquare The Hyattstown Mill was a saw mill, located in Hyattstown, MD.

Built in 1798, this mill was dedicated towards being a saw mill, working on lumber.  Passing through many other owners over time, the mill also became a "grist" mill, meaning that it had grinding stones that ground corn or wheat, specifically winter wheat and yellow and white corn.

In 1918, there was a fire and the mill burned.  The owners struggled to rebuild and the community came together and helped.  Many years later, other larger commercial mills overcame this particular mill.  It was purchased by the Montgomery County Parks and Planning Commission in 1970.  It is now an Arts Center and Gallery.

Neat!
The artist enjoyed the travel out to historic Hyattstown.  At first glance, this building looks like a house.  Without even looking inside, the narrow windows in the building and the nearby river gave me clues that suggested that it was a mill.  The stonework at the base of the building suggested its age.

To Visit By Car: 14920 Hyattstown Mill Road, Hyattstown, MD 20871

The Monocacy Aqueduct - Days Of Yore, near Dickerson, MD

An image from the Monocacy Aqueduct near Dickerson, MD the fourth image for the Days Of Yore: Montgomery County, MD project.

The Monocacy Aqueduct, near Dickerson, MD

Save to foursquare The Monocacy Aqueduct is the largest aqueduct on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal system (otherwise known as the C&O Canal) and it crosses the Monacacy River.  Construction started on the C&O Canal in 1828 and the Monocacy Aqueduct was begun in 1829.  The Aqueduct took four years to build.

This Aqueduct was built especially to transport goods and people, using the waterways instead of travelling by land.  The canal boats were operated by families and mules.  Two mules, pulling the boats, would walk on a dirt path alongside the canal and on a stone path over the aqueduct.  The goods that they often transported were: coal, and corn, wheat, and flour, as foodstuffs.  People also transported heavy lumber, limestone, sand and gravel.

Neat!
The Canal's direct competition was the nearby Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O Railroad), which began construction the same year.  According to www.canalbird.com, there were rumored feuds between the construction crews of both the railroad project and the canal project.  It is clear to see now, which project is still in commercial use today.

Resources Used for This Post:
History of the C&O Canal by CanalBird.org
History of the Monocacy Aqueduct by the National Park Service

To Visit By Car: Mouth Of Monocacy Road, Dickerson, MD 20842

Sandy Spring Friends Meetinghouse

An image from the Sandy Spring Friends MeetingHouse in Sandy Spring, MD is the third image for the Days Of Yore: Montgomery County, MD project.

Sandy Spring Meetinghouse
Sandy Spring, MD

Save to foursquare The Sandy Spring Friends Meeting House is located in Sandy Spring, MD.  This is a place where the Religious Society of Friends (aka Quakers) gather in worship today and have done so here since 1753, when this formally became a Meeting.

This particular building, which was the third house on this particular site, was built in 1817.  It has welcomed frequent physical additions ever since then.  This includes some preservation work, done in the style of the building, when I visited this year.

There is a giant pole in the center of the Meeting which is rumored to be an original part of the building.

To visit by car: 17715 Meetinghouse Road, Sandy Spring, MD 20860

Neat!

This locale also has a Community House and a Cemetery with a Memorial Grove, where many can stop and reflect on family members past.  This Memorial Grove has a special significance for me for that reason.  This card is dedicated especially to Susan Norris Rose, 1938-2009.  You are much beloved, Aunt Susan, and you are missed.

Reference/Credits:

Sandy Spring Museum

Sandy Spring Friends Meeting

The Clara Barton National Historical House, Glen Echo, MD

An image from the Clara Barton National Historical Site in Glen Echo, MD is the second image for the Days Of Yore: Montgomery County, MD project.

Save to foursquare The website, run by the National Park Service, has a great deal of history and interactivity with photos and tours and games.  However, nothing replaces a personal visit.  Photos and illustrations cannot convey the intensity of the red glass used in this lamp in the Red Cross Office or the red glass in the Red Cross Office windows.  Shining as a beacon and acting as an example to those who choose a life of service, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross in 1881.  Come and see where she lived and worked and take a tour!

To visit by car: 5801 Oxford Road, Glen Echo, MD 20816
 

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The artist recently discovered that a great-aunt of hers in the New York area, drove trucks for the American Red Cross during World War II.

The John Poole House Poolesville, MD

The John Poole House is the first image for the Days of Yore: Montgomery County, MD project.

The John Poole House, Poolesville, MD

Save to foursquare This log cabin is the oldest structure in Poolesville, MD, originally built in 1793 by John Poole, Jr., according to The Historic Medley website. As a store and trading post, this house connected the local farmers and business owners with traveling merchants. In 1810, the store established the first Poolesville US Post Office. As a museum and gift shop now, visitors can continue to learn more about Poolesville.

For more on Poolesville history, the Poolesville official website has a historical article, written by a Charles Elgin, Sr.

To visit by car: 19923 Fisher Ave, Poolesville, Maryland 20837

Neat!
The E.L. Stock, Jr. Memorial Arboretum is in the backyard. This Arboretum contains the type of plants that were native to Montgomery County, MD before 1850.  Right behind The John Poole House, as part of the Arboretum, is a charming little herb garden.

Reference: The information was taken from Poolesville's historical website, called "Historic Medley District, Inc." Their website is: http://www.historicmedley.org

Days Of Yore: Montgomery County, MD The Souvenir Note-card Project

Uncle Tom's Cabin is located in Bethesda?  Brookeville has a one-room schoolhouse?  There is a working turn-of-the-twentieth century farm in Derwood?  There is much more, like an Underground Railroad Trail and the C&O Canal!

Where’s the gift shop? Where are the souvenir note-cards to
share these neat places in Montgomery County, MD?

Days of Yore is a 12-month, 12 note-card project. A new sketch will be posted on the blog every month, featuring a heritage site in
Montgomery County, MD. This begins July 20th, 2010 and continues
through to June 20th, 2011. These 12 images will be collected into a set of note-cards, and will be made available through MinnieMoonPress.com

Let’s share the treasures of Montgomery County, MD together!
http://daysofyoresketches.blogspot.com




The local Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, MD and the Montgomery County, MD government have awarded grant funds to support the creation of these cards.