Downtown Silver Spring in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

A Downtown is Born

Local Institutions

— Silver Heritage Georgia Avenue —

A Downtown is Born Marker image. Click for full size.

Jerry McCoy, Silver Spring Historical Society

1. A Downtown is Born Marker

Inscription.

A Downtown is Born. Local Institutions. , The Establishment of Silver Spring's first bank and Newspaper, traditional institutions required for a community to grow and prosper, occurred on this corner with the opening of the Silver Spring National Bank in 1910 and publication of The Maryland News in 1928. , Construction of the two-story brick bank cost $4,984 ($117,000 in 2008 dollars). Its opening allowed Silver Spring residents and merchants to conduct financial transactions that benefited the local community instead of customers taking their business to Bethesda, Rockville, Kensington or the District of Columbia where the nearest banks were located. The bank remained in operation at this location until 1925 when it relocated at 8252 Georgia Avenue. , In 1927, Silver Spring businessman E. Brooke Lee and Bethesda Chevy Chase Gazette editor and publisher Robert I. Black established The Maryland News as a bi-weekly, country-wide newspaper whose mission was to report "All the News of Montgomery County." The following year The Maryland News building opened on this corner at 8081 Georgia Avenue where the newspaper was composed and printed until 1953. Publication ceased in 1976. , Sparkling Spring to Community , Welcome to the Silver Spring, Georgia Avenue, one of our two original main streets, was constructed in the 19th century as the Seventh Street Turnpike, a dirt road connecting Washington City to Brookeville, Md. A village named Sligo, was established in the 1830s by Chesapeake and Ohio Canal workers from County Sligo, Ireland, was located at the corner of Georgia and Colesville Road, our other main street. A mica-flecked spring discovered in 1840 by U.S. presidential advisor Francis Preston Blair while riding his horse Selim, inspired the name of Blair's estate Silver Spring, constructed near the spring's site. , Silver Spring's original Baltimore and Ohio Railroad station, built in 1878, formed the nucleus from which today's community radiated. The majority of these early-to-mid century buildings still grace Georgia Avenue and Colesville Road and their many side streets. Explore the area and discover the fascinating history of the pioneering entrepreneurs, businesses, and institutions that developed our vibrant and diverse community. , Learn more about Historic Downtown Silver Spring at www.sshistory.org

The Establishment of Silver Spring's first bank and Newspaper, traditional institutions required for a community to grow and prosper, occurred on this corner with the opening of the Silver Spring National Bank in 1910 and publication of The Maryland News in 1928.

Construction of the two-story brick bank cost $4,984 ($117,000 in 2008 dollars). Its opening allowed Silver Spring residents and merchants to conduct financial transactions that benefited the local community instead of customers taking their business to Bethesda, Rockville, Kensington or the District of Columbia where the nearest banks were located. The bank remained in operation at this location until 1925 when it relocated at 8252 Georgia Avenue.

In 1927, Silver Spring businessman E. Brooke Lee and Bethesda Chevy Chase Gazette editor and publisher Robert I. Black established The Maryland News as a bi-weekly, country-wide newspaper whose mission was to report "All the News of Montgomery County." The following year The Maryland News building opened on this corner at 8081 Georgia Avenue where the newspaper was composed and printed until 1953. Publication ceased in 1976.

Sparkling Spring to Community

Welcome to the Silver Spring, Georgia Avenue, one of our two original main streets, was constructed in the 19th century as

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the Seventh Street Turnpike, a dirt road connecting Washington City to Brookeville, Md. A village named Sligo, was established in the 1830s by Chesapeake and Ohio Canal workers from County Sligo, Ireland, was located at the corner of Georgia and Colesville Road, our other main street. A mica-flecked spring discovered in 1840 by U.S. presidential advisor Francis Preston Blair while riding his horse Selim, inspired the name of Blair's estate Silver Spring, constructed near the spring's site.

Silver Spring's original Baltimore and Ohio Railroad station, built in 1878, formed the nucleus from which today's community radiated. The majority of these early-to-mid century buildings still grace Georgia Avenue and Colesville Road and their many side streets. Explore the area and discover the fascinating history of the pioneering entrepreneurs, businesses, and institutions that developed our vibrant and diverse community.

Learn more about Historic Downtown Silver Spring at www.sshistory.org

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O), and the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.

Location.

You are Here image. Click for full size.

Jerry McCoy, Silver Spring Historical Society

2. You are Here

38° 59.425′ N, 77° 1.583′ W. Marker is in Silver Spring, Maryland, in Montgomery County. It is in Downtown Silver Spring. Marker is at the intersection of Georgia Avenue (Maryland Route 97) and Sligo Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Georgia Avenue. The marker was originally on the southeast corner of Georgia and Sligo near Jackie's Restaurant (formerly Maryland News). Now its on the northeast corner near Quality Time Early learning center (formerly Gifford's Ice Cream). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8101 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring MD 20910, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Heat Up, Cool Down (here, next to this marker); ‘Most Lonesome Spot’ (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Enticing Business (about 400 feet away); Canada Dry Building (about 600 feet away); The 'Mayor' of Silver Spring (about 700 feet away); Visions Realized (about 700 feet away); Finding a Niche (about 700 feet away); The Community of Silver Spring (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Silver Spring.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. These two markers share the same post.

Also see . . . www.sshistory.org. This URL appears on the marker. (Submitted on December 27, 2012, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland.)