Berwyn Heights in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Berwyn Heights Association
Historic Berwyn Heights
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 12, 2023
This house was built in 1909 by Elwood J. Taylor (1882-1954), an electrician for the C&P Telephone Company and one-time president of the Berwyn Heights Association (BHA). The BHA was founded on January 28, 1915 by the residents of Berwyn Heights to maintain walks, streets and make any other improvements deemed useful. The first meeting was held at the home of Fred H. Benson (1867-1923), who served as president until 1921. Benson, Taylor and many other BHA members belonged to a generation of D.C. professionals who settled in Berwyn Heights in the 1910s after a streetcar began to service the Town. The BHA was a forerunner of today's Town government, providing essential public services with funds raised from a variety of public entertainments.
The main event was a two-week summer carnival that drew hundreds of visitors. By 1923, the BHA concluded that taxing powers were needed to sustain the community and petitioned the Maryland legislature to re-charter the Town. The new charter was enacted on April 9, 1924 and the first board of commissioners was elected that May.
Erected 2016 by The Berwyn Heights Historical Committee.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is January 28, 1915.
Location. 38° 59.521′ N, 76° 54.909′ W. Marker is in Berwyn Heights, Maryland, in Prince George's County. Marker is on 58th Avenue south of Pontiac Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8516 58th Ave, College Park MD 20740, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Veterans Memorial (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Washington Spa Spring & Gretta Railroad (about 600 feet away); Waugh Avenue (about 600 feet away); Keleher Avenue (approx. 0.2 miles away); Town of Berwyn Heights (approx. ¼ mile away); The Berwyn Heights Company (approx. ¼ mile away); Arrowhead (approx. 0.3 miles away); Schools of Berwyn Heights (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Berwyn Heights.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 12, 2023
Credits. This page was last revised on December 14, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 57 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 14, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.