Rockville Cemetery Association DECEMBER 2014 President’s Message Rockville Cemetery continues to pros- McGuckian as secretary; Tim Mertz etery. Fred installs commemorative per as 2014 comes to a close. Gravesite continues as our treasurer. As our only fl ags on all known veteran graves for sales were steady; nearly twenty buri- professional cemeterian, Tom Claxton Memorial and Veterans Day. Let us als occurred this year. Both upper and continues to lend his expertise to the know if there is a veteran who is not lower columbaria had inurnments. board’s decisions. We welcomed a new on our list, which will be added to the Gravestone conservation remains a board member, Ellen Buckingham. website this winter. key priority; our contractor Robert Ellen is already contributing with lead- A big thanks to the Rockville Mosko performed dozens of repairs in ership on the website upgrade project, Rotary Club Foundation for another 2014. Solar Gardens continued their an important priority going forward. generous grant of $5,000, slated for steady quality work maintaining the Check www.rockvillecemeterymd.org additional interior road repairs in the grounds in tidy and attractive condi- to follow our progress. upper section. Th e biggest project on tion. Several large trees in the upper Another board priority, converting our list, the opening of a new section cemetery are in poor condition, re- RCA’s voluminous records to digital for graves on the north side of the up- quiring trimming or removal. A series format continues under the guidance per cemetery, remains on hold pend- of repairs to the 1889 house have kept of volunteer Michael Grant. Mike’s ex- ing availability of funds. it in good shape for our tenant. pertise and diligent work on this proj- As always, donations from friends Th e board went through a sig- ect have been essential. RCA’s eff orts of the Rockville Cemetery are sorely nifi cant transition in 2014. Aft er are much enhanced by an ongoing needed and will be put to good use. thirteen years, President Dr. Stephen partnership with Monocacy Cemetery Please contact me with questions, C. Cromwell stepped down. He was Association, specifi cally Glenn Wallace suggestions, or to volunteer to help. honored for his outstanding service at and Anne Allnutt. I can be reached at (301) 294-6396. our April community meeting. Burt Board member Fred Bird continues Hall was elected as the new president, his research and recognition of U.S. Burt Hall, President, Frank Teti as vice-president and Eileen veterans interred at Rockville Cem- Rockville Cemetery Association VOLUNTEERS WELCOMED! Some Th ings If you would like to become more involved with Rockville Never Cemetery, here are some opportunities for you. Change • Research interred individuals and cemetery topics is ad from a • Write articles for RCA newsletter and website 1939 issue of • Help convert paper records to digital format Th e Montgom- • Fund raising ery County • Landscaping and gardening Sentinel is still • Serve on the Board of Directors correct today. Burial sites and For more information, call 301-468-7331 or columbarium niches in historic Rockville Cemetery email [email protected]. are available for sale. Call 301-294-6396. A N R C A P.O. Box 4318, Rockvılle,MD 20849 • www.RockvılleCemeteryMD.org • rca@RockvılleCemeteryMD.org • 301-309-0191 New Era for Rockville Cemetery Association, Inc. Rockville Cemetery, oldest burial ground in the city, moved into another era of its history in April 2014, when the reins passed to a new generation. At its annual community meeting, the Board of Direc- tors honored the old and elected the new governing body. Th e newly elected board is composed of mostly current members, with many of the board positions chang- ing hands. From May 2001, when a newly-incor- porated nonprofi t organization took title to Rockville Cemetery, to April 2014, Dr. Stephen C. Cromwell led the all- volunteer board to reverse past neglect, Dr. Stephen C. Cromwell (President Emeritus) is surrounded by members of the move operations into the 21st century, Rockville Cemetery Association Board of Directors. Standing from le to right and increase accessibility and usability. are Tim Mertz, new president Burt Hall, Eileen McGuckian, Fred Bird, Tom Claxton, and Frank Teti. Other directors (not pictured) are Phyllis Cromwell and Under his leadership, Rockville Cem- Ellen Buckingham. etery Association organized numerous � this time, more than 100 burials and inurnments took place in historic Rockville Cemetery. Th e Board of Directors meets on the second Tuesday of (almost) every month. You are welcome to join us at Rockville City Hall, 111 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD, from 7 to 9 p.m. RCA always appreciates volunteers…. If you are inter- ested in assisting, please let us know! Call 301-468-7331 or email [email protected]. Rockville Cemetery hosts hooved as well as human visitors. community clean-up sessions, renovated the caretaker’s cottage, made major road repairs in the upper and lower cemeteries, conserved and repaired hundreds of damaged gravestones, obtained nonprofi t status from the Internal Revenue Service, marked veteran graves with appropri- ate fl ags, installed columbaria to provide a new interment option, nominated the cemetery as a Rockville Historic District, took steps to protect and conserve trees in the cemetery, and invited the public to join tours, document the history of the cemetery and the people buried here, Mary Margaret Garrett Abert cleans around her family plots and assist with projects to improve the property. During every autumn in Section I, upper cemetery. 2 � Walter Perry “Big Train” Johnson 1887—1946 • Upper Cemetery, Section M, Lot 18 Walter Perry Johnson was one of the lar pitcher became the county’s most greatest baseball pitchers of all time. sought-aft er bachelor. He signed with the Washington Sena- Johnson served two terms as a tors just out of high school in 1907, Montgomery County commissioner, on condition that the team would pay 1938-46. His time was one of major train fare back to Southern California change in county government. From if he did not make it in the big leagues. 1918 well into the 1930s, the county Within a year, he was nicknamed had been shaped by E. Brooke Lee, a “Big Train” and pitching for a team war hero with a strong vision of the that rarely was in the running for the future. By 1938, the population had American League pennant. shift ed to suburban Bethesda and Johnson was the star pitcher for the Wheaton. Although Democrats still Senators from 1907 to 1927, compiling swept county offi ces that year, one a record of 417 wins and 279 losses. high-profi le Republican was elected He was at his peak in 1913, when he County Commissioner -- Walter pitched 12 shutouts and was 36 and Johnson. A study of Montgomery by 7 to win his fi rst MVP award. His the Brookings Institution, made public second MVP came in the 1924 World Photo courtesy of Henry W. omas. in 1941, recommended fundamental Series, when the Senators beat the New changes in most aspects of county York Giants in seven games. He chalked up 110 shutouts government, on which a referendum was held the follow- in his career, and in 1936 was one of the fi rst fi ve players ing year. Th e Charter Movement allied Republicans and voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ty Cobb wrote about anti-organization Democrats from suburban precincts. Johnson: “His fastball looked about the size of a water- Th e 1942 election upset Lee’s machine and marked the end melon seed and it hissed at you as it passed.” of an era. Walter Johnson stayed for a second term, part of With earnings from the World Series, Walter and the group that worked to develop a new model for Mont- Hazel Lee Johnson bought a large Colonial-style house on gomery County government. 8½ acres at the corner of Old Georgetown Road and Oak- Walter Johnson died of a brain tumor on Decem- mont Avenue near Bethesda. Th ey maintained a fruit or- ber 10, 1946, and was buried next to Hazel at Rockville chard, coops for 2,000 chickens and, Cemetery. Ten years later, a local of course, a baseball fi eld. Th e house high school bearing his name opened still stands at 9100 Old Georgetown on Rock Spring Drive in Bethesda. Road. About eight years ago, a huge tree Johnson was manager for the limb fell and knocked the Johnson Senators in 1930 when Hazel died stone off its base. Now the big tree suddenly and was buried in Rock- stump helps us to easily fi nd the John- ville Cemetery. His mother came to son plot. live in Maryland and to raise the fi ve To visit: Go down the hill, around children. Aft er managing the Cleve- the curve, and start up the hill on the land Indians for a few years, John- north end. Stop at the cable gate where son sold the house and purchased a the new carriage road meets Northern 552-acre farm in Germantown (now Avenue. Walk down the hill toward the site of Seneca Valley High School). woods and look for the ‘big stump.’ e Th ere the family raised chickens, Johnsons are to the le and behind the Henry W. “Hank” omas, author of which he generously made available Walter Johnson: Baseball’s Big Train (1995) stump. Look for baseballs, old hats, and for local fundraisers, and the popu- at his grandfather’s grave, November 2011. baseball gloves. 3 Rockville Cemetery Association P.O. Box 4318, Rockville, Maryland 20849 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED ROCKVILLE CEMETERY ASSOCIATION Join us for M S: Rockville B D the 2015 Cemetery Association is dedicated to the spirit, Burt Hall, President RCA Annual beauty, usability, economic viability, long-term preservation, and enjoyment of historic Rock- Frank Teti, CPA, Vice President Meeting & Tim Mertz, Treasurer ville Cemetery.