Gaithersburg And Its Environs In Images Of America
The City of Gaithersburg is located in Montgomery County, Maryland about 30 miles from Washington, D.C. and is noted for its vibrant community and social and economic diversity. During my years in Washington, D.C. I have visited the Gaithersburg area frequently and have fond memories of many places. The past several years, I haven't seen much of Gaithersburg, and so I was grateful for the opportunity to revisit the community in this recent photographic history, "Around Gaithersburg" (2020) by the Gaithersburg native and historian, Shawn Curtis. The book is part of the extensive series of local American photographic histories published by Images of America and Arcadia Publishing.
The book offers a photographic history of Gaithersburg and of small surrounding communities including Darnestown, Quince Orchard, Germantown, Hunting Hill, and others from the late 18th century to the present. The book includes many rare photographs, including places that have been destroyed by fire or by bulldozer or that have been transformed over the years and lost their original character. I learned much about this local community from Curtis' book.
For much of its history, the Gaithersburg area was predominantly rural. The first three chapters of this history show old houses, farms, and flour mills from the community's past. The images are enhanced by Curtis' commentary on the sites shown. The author knowledge and love for his community are as important to the book as the images and the commentary.
The final three chapters of the book gradually develop the changing character of the area to a more urban environment. Thus chapter four "Along the Road" is a tour through time of the main highway running through the area. The fifth chapter, "Along the Tracks" is the pivotal section of the book. In 1873, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad began regular service to the area and prepared the way for its extensive economic development. Trains and railroads are among my passions. I enjoyed seeing the many images of old steam engines, of railroad stations and crossings, and of areas in the towns affected by the coming of the rails. The final chapter of the book "In the Community" shows current or recent development of the area. I saw places that brought back memories including "Roy's Place" which for many years was famous for its creative menu of over 200 types of sandwich. Unfortunately, the restaurant closed in 2013. I remembered visits to the fair grounds and to Lake Forest Mall, and I enjoyed the visit with the immigrant developer and philanthropist, Samuel Eig who said just before his death in 1982 that "he never lost faith in the United States and kept going." There are wonderful images of a men's clothing store which closed a few years ago after serving the community for nearly a century. The book closes with images of the author and his restoration of an old farmhouse. Curtis personalizes the book throughout with recollections from his experiences.
Readers lacking a familiarity with the area may find it difficult to get a sense of the locations that are discussed and their relationships. Still, a good sense of the area comes through even for readers with no ties to Gaithersburg. The book offers a particularized look at an American community over time informed by the author's love. I was glad to revisit the Gaithersburg environs through this book and to increase my understanding of one of the countless unique places in the United States.
