Talk:Hermitage
From Aspen Hill, Maryland, USA
Location
The new section on Location is great, very helpful. I hadn't realized how far south the tract went nor did I understand that it wasn't more rectangular. Did the next to last line follow Veirs Mill Road? Gfc62 19:19, 5 December 2009 (EST)
I think so, more or less. If you start researching addresses on the other side of Veirs Mill, the land tracts tend to be things like "Prevention". See also Goodman Tract, note that a plot of land near Veirs's Mill is show in Prevention as well as Hermitage. Thardman 21:45, 5 December 2009 (EST)
Identifying Roads and Landmarks
Can others help identify landmarks mentioned in this description? I'll break out the places mentioned with the text from description, just add your comments with signature.
Hermitage. Granted to William Joseph, May 2nd. 1689, for three thousand eight hundred and sixty-six acres. This grant lies on the east side of Rock Creek and adjoins "Joseph's Park" on the north, and extending from Vier's Mill to the intersection of the Rockville and Washington Turnpike with the Union Turnpike Company's road. The Brookeville and Washington Turnpike passes through it from the Watery Branch to one-fourth of a mile south of Mitchell's Cross Roads. The City road, from Rockville to Washington passes through it, from Graves' farm to Aug. Burgdorf's farm, at the intersection of the Brookville and Washington Turnpike. The Norwood Turnpike traverses the tract from Kemp's store to Lyddane's farm, or its intersection with the Brookville and Washington Turnpike. It embraces many fine farms and elegant residences. Lying to the east of "Hermitage" is St. Winexburg..."
Joseph's Park
adjoins "Joseph's Park" on the north
Kensington? The original Joseph's Park was 4220 acres, what was the northern border of this grant? Gfc62
Veir's Mill
extending from Vier's Mill
Check, this is easy, we all know where Veir's Mill was Gfc62
Rockville and Washington Turnpike
to the intersection of the Rockville and Washington Turnpike with the Union Turnpike Company's road.
Is this Rockville Pike? Wikipedia seems to indicate no modern road exists along this route... Seems more likely this was Viers Mill Road since Rockville Pike goes to Georgetown and wouldn't intersect Union Tpke Gfc62
I'm also a bit confused here. I'm looking at the Google Books copy of T. H. S. Boyd History Of Montgomery County, Maryland, From Its Earliest Settlement... and it does indeed say "Rockville and Washington Turnpike". I do believe that this is in fact a typo at the printer. If we assume that this should say "Brookeville and Washington Turnpike", then every bit of that line makes sense; it would be the modern-day intersection of Georgia Avenue and Veirs Mill Road.
Maybe it's a typo but isn't the Union Turnpike the same road as the Brookeville and Washington Turnpike? How could these intersect?
There apparently was a Rockville and Washington Turnpike company but I can't be sure if they ever built a road.
Gfc62 14:09, 5 December 2009 (EST)
I think you might be right. Searching the net I see various references to various turnpike but the one that's unnamed as a turnpike, but definitely laid out and traveled at least of the Civil War times, is Veirs Mill Road. A turnpike company did in fact operate what is now MD-355 as a plank road, not-surprisingly known as Rockville Pike.
Excellent research may be found on a history of the Civil War marches through Montgomery County where Veirs Mill Road is referred to as "the New Cut road".
As Rockville Pike and "the old Georgetown Road" all exist, and this isn't the Union Turnpike, call it the City Road from Rockville to Washington. ;)
Thardman 18:06, 5 December 2009 (EST)
the Union Turnpike Company's road
to the intersection of the Rockville and Washington Turnpike with the Union Turnpike Company's road.
How is the Union Turnpike different from Georgia Ave? The above Wikipedia ariticle identifies it running along present 92, 108 & 182 Does this mean Layhill Rd? Gfc62
The original Brookeville Turnpike (usually referred to as the Brookeville to Washington or Washington to Brookeville turnpike) was later renamed the Union Turnpike. It seems to have followed approximately the alignment of MD-97 north to Old Baltimore Road, which itself went thence through Sandy Spring, Ashton, etc, thence eventually to Baltimore. The Brookeville Pike itself went straight on through Olney into Brookeville (wikipedia).
Brookeville and Washington Turnpike
The Brookeville and Washington Turnpike passes through it
Check, this is Georgia Ave. Gfc62
Watery Branch
from the Watery Branch to...
Check, Identified in the article as Turkey Branch. Gfc62
Mitchell's Cross Roads
Mitchell's Cross Roads.
Check, Identified in the article as Wheaton. Gfc62
The City road from Rockville to Washington
The City road, from Rockville to Washington
Is this Viers Mill Rd? Rockville Pike? Or something else? Gfc62
Graves' farm
from Graves' farm to
Aug. Burgdorf's farm
Aug. Burgdorf's farm, at the intersection of the Brookville and Washington Turnpike.
In 1897 Augustus Bergdorf is said to live in Kensington Heights according to article in social page of Washington Times newspaper. Gfc62 14:43, 5 December 2009 (EST)
Ah, the cited source is the history to 1879, in 1897 Mr Bergdorf may have retired and relocated. See also ... liber JA6 folio 268, August 29, 1887, T L Schmit and wife to Augustus Burgdorf... ref line 11 of Earle Tract II (Hermitage). That places it in southern-eastern Aspen Hill.
The Norwood Turnpike
The Norwood Turnpike traverses the tract
Is this the same as present Norwood Road which goes from New Hampshire Ave to Layhill Rd? Gfc62
I'm actually pretty certain that this would be more-or-less the route of modern Layhill Road.
Norwood, after all, is pretty much the modern-day intersection of Norwood Road (from Olney/Sandy Spring) and Layhill Road. MD-182 follows that route, I believe. Thardman 12:51, 5 December 2009 (EST)
Makes sense, here's a source:
"Even road names have changed during the past century. ... Layhill Road was known as the Norwood Pike and it intersected the Old Baltimore Road at Holland’s Corner (present site of the Red Door Store)." (from www.oakchapel.com/about-oak-chapel/history)
Gfc62 13:15, 5 December 2009 (EST)
Kemp's Store
from Kemp's store to
Would this be near Kemp Mill/Glenmont? Just a guess...Gfc62
"There was a store where Atwood Road meets Layhill Road, first operated by Mr. Kemp in the building that is now the Anderson house" (from www.oakchapel.com/about-oak-chapel/history)
Atwood doesn't cross Layhill road now but one can imagine that present-day Sullivan Lane and Layhill Road was the site since Atwood extended west would be located near this spot. Gfc62 13:12, 5 December 2009 (EST)
Lyddane's farm
Lyddane's farm, or its intersection with the Brookville and Washington Turnpike. It embraces many fine farms and elegant residences.
Isn't Lyddane Farm's barn now on Country club grounds? Where would that farm intersect with GA Ave? Gfc62
St. Winexburg
Lying to the east of "Hermitage" is St. Winexburg..."
Basically Glenmont east of Layhill Road/Glenallan Road down to the Northwest Branch.
Thardman 13:34, 5 December 2009 (EST)
