February 22, 2019 A Biweekly Newspaper February 22, 2019 • Volume XIV, Number 23 Study by County Boosts Chances for a New The Old Town Hall Bank Museum was jam-packed. Find out why on page 4. Multiuse Facility By Link Hoewing In December of last year, County Executive Marc Elrich heeded calls from local citizens and came out to a “listening session” in Poolesville. He heard numerous citizens talk about the need for a new high school and about the failure of the county to pro- vide the same level of services for citizens in this area as it does elsewhere. On January 15, Elrich announced his capital and operating budget amend- ments that will be considered by the County Council. Tucked into the memo he sent to the council was a paragraph recommending that a facil- ity planning project be undertaken to The county has begun to seriously analyze various funding streams Village Beer’s Raj Masky beams over “develop options for making county for a multiuse structure that could house a new school. the store having a big lottery winner. services more accessible to the Pooles- We have the info on page 7. ville community…” The proposal also actively considering how to modernize county government. The coalition, recommended that in doing the work Poolesville High School. led by Commissioner Jim Brown and on the project, “colocation options This is just the latest example of the including PTSA leaders Rebecca with Montgomery County Public impact the Fair Access for the Western Schools…” be considered. MCPS is County Coalition has had on the Continued on page 20. The Proud History of Sugarland: Reflections of Life How big was the poms’ victory? By Rande Davis This big! See details on page 12. The origin of Sugarland Forest, an African-American community estab- lished by freed slaves in Poolesville, began with the purchase of land from the local white landowners which in- cluded Jane Pleasants, George Daw- son, the Allnuts, and others during the 1870s and 1880s. They were able to buy land with a small down payment and continued monthly payments, and when the land was paid for, a deed was recorded. These transactions were accomplished by handshake. No mortgage deeds were recorded. By 1900, over forty families lived and worked on the nearly two hun- dred acres of farmland encompassing the community. Their work on nearby farms, the Seneca Quarry, and the The Sugarland Community Well: Children in the background are: C&O Canal was instrumental in the Mary Smith, Marjorie Lee, Sarah Lee, Tilghman Lee, Jr., and Idella Lee. Colin Hammet during an opening The adult in the foreground is Samuel Jackson. tip. More basketball on page 16. Continued on page 18. Page 2 The Monocacy Monocle February 22, 2019 Family Album Maria Briançon, Jerry Klobukowski, and Renata Funk. Was it the Cha Cha Slide or the Electric Boogie? No matter! Line dancing got everyone out of their seats! Cora Coakley, Alice Brooks and Melissa Rose thoroughly enjoyed the Winter Greg and Jennifer Smith of Johnsville Auction House provided Wonderland PASC dance. PASC is so grateful to all their sponsors, those who appraisals for antiques brought to them at the Knights of donated to the silent auction, and everyone who volunteered to help out. Columbus antique show at St. Mary’s in Barnesville. Dr. Norvell V. Coots and his son Max are enthralled by some vintage post cards at St. Mary’s antique show. The crowd at the PASC winter prom was pumped up by Gina Beck and the Souled Out Horns. February 22, 2019 The Monocacy Monocle Page 3 the existing sidewalk configuration Town through out the town; address streets Government that currently have no sidewalks; enhance and bring conformity (e.g., Looking to the Future width) to all sidewalks; and prepare Of Town Sidewalks and coordinate key thoroughfares (Fisher, Wootton, Hughes, Elgin, and Thomas Jamison By Rande Davis Hoskinson) to properly blend with January 21, 2019 The Town of Poolesville commis- future changes in streetscape designs. sioners on February 19 reviewed a As regards the safety aspects of the proposed long-term action-plan for plan, redoing the corner of Elgin maintenance and improvements of the and Wootton, West Willard and Elgin, town’s sidewalks. The presentation Norris Road, and West Willard Road was submitted by Commissioner will be the priorities. In addition, in- Kerri Cook and the Board of Parks, cluded in the plan is improved access Recreation, and Streets (BPRS) chair- to parks, as well as a continuation man Doug McKenny. Cook is the of the sidewalks from Hughes to commissioner’s liaison to the BPRS. Halmos/Bodmer Parks, and from The presentation, the result of Fisher and Budd Road to the Hoewing extensive study and analysis by BPRS, Park intersection. explained how best the town could: Much of the discussion centered on establish the key priorities going for- the extensive and time-consuming ward, set the plan as a line item within process of identification of all gaps the budget to facilitate gaining grant within the sidewalk system, especially money, and consider investing in a at Westerly and the backside of PES simple Geographical Information Sys- (Cattail to Kohlhoss Roads). Another Jamison Real Estate Keeps On Growing tem (GIS) to better manage renovation goal is to have sidewalks on both sides and repair of town infrastructure in of the road on all major roads which Congratulations Lori & Charlie! the future. provide access to the downtown areas. The plan outlined five priorities: The extensiveness of a survey of all 19939 Fisher Avenue ensure and improve the safety and town sidewalk infrastructure was a Poolesville, MD 20837 cause of significant discussion with accessibility of pedestrian routes to Broker/Office-301-428-8200 our schools and parks and to upgrade emphasis on investing in a simple, but ADA ramps; identify in-fill gaps in Continued on page 17. Chase the winter blues away. Are you tired of the long winter? It’s time again to Celebrate our 11th annual St. Patrick’s Party CREATIVE IDEAS TO PROMOTE BUSINESS GROWTH Dinner / Ceili Dance / Irish Entertainment NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS Live Irish Band Serving Poolesville and the Ag Reserve Communities Great Irish Food and Beer Saturday, March 9, 6:00 - 9:30 pm PoolesvilleFamilyPractice.com OUR DOCTORS St. Mary’s Pavilion, Barnesville, MD Board Certified Family Physicians Providing Care for: Adult Medicine Pediatrics $20 per person / $25 at the door Women’s Health Urgent Care DOT Physicals Children 12 & under free Vaccines and Preventive Care Annual and Sport Physicals Reservations: Church Office at [email protected] Dr. Kate Kirksey Dr. Amar Duggirala or 301-972-8660 301-972-7600 19710 Fisher Ave, Suite J , Poolesville, MD Page 4 The Monocacy Monocle February 22, 2019 when that power is fueled by a mob, it 1996, he undertook an epic two-month Rande(m) is exponentially a greater enigma. Local News journey retracing one of the possible Thoughts Many people were very angry that day routes of the Underground Railroad, and, some could argue, rightfully so, the secret network which thousands of Turning a Blind Eye but it wasn’t until that individual Historic Medley slaves traveled on their long road to From a Harsh Past anger drew strength from others that Special Event: freedom—a distance of twelve hun- the real danger emerged. On that day dred miles by foot, boat, and rail. By Rande Davis in 1880, some people in Poolesville lost The Lynching In 2000, Tony founded the Menare I have been thinking about how our all sense of lawfulness determined to Of George Peck Foundation, a nonprofit organization all-too-human emotions can often run take justice into their own hands dedicated to the preservation of the on a dual track and can control our through outraged emotion fed by a By Maureen O’Connell legacy of the Underground Railroad. mob mentality. Its main project is the Button Farm decision-making process, for better On Sunday, February 10, 2019 at One cannot rely solely on this Living History Center, located on forty or worse. the Old Town Hall Bank Museum in horrendous incident in Poolesville in acres inside Seneca State Park in On one track, our emotions can Poolesville, historian Tony Cohen 1880 as a reflection of race relations in Germantown, Maryland. It authenti- express a strong sense of gratitude, addressed a large audience about the the town at the time. Consider this note cally depicts a nineteenth century joy, and peace, bringing with it a grand lynching of George Peck in Poolesville from a January 16, 1885 church meet- plantation and the lives of the slaves and fulfilling sense of purpose for on January 10, 1880. It was the first ing at St. Paul’s, an African-American living there. Its story brings this period living a positive life. On the other presentation in the Historic Medley Church founded by the freed slaves at of history alive as you visit a Recon- track, as individuals or as a group, our District’s Speakers Series. Men and Sugarland. The evening’s discussion struction-era barn, historic outbuild- emotions can rise up from a dark side women of diverse backgrounds from by church members centered on ings, a Museum Garden, heritage to cruelly overrule logic, weaken a the local area, Virginia, Pennsylvania, whether the white people treated them breed animals, and a slave cemetery. well-honed sense of fairness, bringing and Washington, D.C. crowded into better than they treated themselves. It is open annually from April to with it a dreaded shamefulness upon the front room of the museum and us.