Chevy Chase in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Belmont, 1906

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 14, 2024

1. Belmont, 1906 Marker

Inscription. Black businessmen Alexander Satterwhite, Michel Dumas, James Neill,and Charles Cuney purchased 31 acres along Wisconsin Avenue to build a "high-class" suburb for African Americans in 1906. Despite threats of violence, at least 28 people bought lots. The development collapsed in 1909 when the Chevy Chase Land Company refused to release title. Belmont exemplified the ambition of Washington's early-20th century Black community and foreshadowed the coming struggle over housing segregation.

Erected 2024 by Maryland Department of Transportation; Maryland Historical Trust.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Maryland Historical Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.

Location. 38° 57.664′ N, 77° 5.164′ W. Marker is in Chevy Chase, Maryland, in Montgomery County. It is on Wisconsin Avenue (Maryland Route 355) north of Western Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5402 Wisconsin Avenue, Chevy Chase MD 20815, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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: "Oh, It's You, Welcome!" (approx. 0.2 miles away); Exploring Our Neighborhood: Black Broad Branch & Belmont

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(approx. ¼ mile away in District of Columbia); Original Federal Boundary Stone, District of Columbia, Northwest 7 (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fort Bayard (approx. 0.4 miles away in District of Columbia); The District of Columbia Boundary Stones (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Washington and Glen Echo Railroad (approx. 0.6 miles away); Chevy Chase Theatre (approx. 0.6 miles away in District of Columbia); Rock Creek Railway Streetcar (approx. 0.6 miles away in District of Columbia). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chevy Chase.

More about this marker. The marker's location on the west side of Wisconsin Avenue is odd, insofar as it sits outside the 31-acre Belmont parcel, which was bounded by Wisconsin to the west, today's Western Avenue to the southeast, and a streetcar line to the north.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), November 14, 2024

2. Belmont, 1906 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 463 times since then and 40 times this year. Last updated on March 13, 2025, by Bradley Peniston of Washington, District of Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 14, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.