Snowden Funeral Home
Location: 246 North Washington Street
| | Rockville's African American Heritage Walking Tour | |
A hearse drawn by four white horses was a hallmark of the Snowden Funeral Home, the first African-American owned funeral service in Montgomery County.
George Russell Snowden started the family business in 1918 in Howard County. In 1926, he brought it to Rockville. His son Robert and wife Alma took over operations in 1936. The second generation of the family demolished the original frame structure and built the current brick building in 1947.
Robert and Alma's children, Irene and George, took over the business from their parents in the 1970s. Today, the fourth generation of Snowdens operates the business. In 1985, the Snowden family received a NAACP award for "community awareness, citizenship and human kindness."
Erected by City of Rockville, Historic District Commission, Department of Community Planning and Development Services. (Marker Number 13.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Animals • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Maryland, Rockville's African American Heritage Walking Tour series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1918.
Location. 39° 5.246′ N,
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Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Rockville's First Colored School / Rockville's Second Colored School (within shouting distance of this marker); Of By For (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Clinton A.M.E. Zion Church (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Mr. T's (about 400 feet away); Rockville Town Square (about 500 feet away); Galilean Temple
Other markers no longer nearby. Snowden Funeral Home (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Rockville's First Colored School / Rockville's Second Colored School (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Mr. Ts (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Rockville Methodist Episcopal Church - Jerusalem / Mount Pleasant (was about 500 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Galilean Temple (was about 600 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has replaced the linked marker.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 700 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 6, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
