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Historic Takoma, Inc.
Preserving the Heritage of Takoma Park–MD & Takoma–DC Celebrating 25 Years of Service to the Community 1979–2004. |
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Historic Takoma, Inc.
Preserving the Heritage of Takoma Park–MD & Takoma–DC Celebrating 25 Years of Service to the Community 1979–2004. |
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Historic Significance of Takoma Park
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Reprinted with permission of the Takoma Voice, printed April, 2000. Famous Springs of Takoma Park
By Elizabeth Bentley Before B. F. Gilbert took his grand
plunge and began developing the suburb of Takoma Park, others recognized
the attractive, natural advantages of its terrain. In addition to the
well-known Preston Blair family of Silver Spring, property owners before
1883 included the Riggs, Bladens, Cockerilles, Jones, Naughton, Hodges,
King, Carroll, and Rapley families.
These early homesteaders appreciated the somewhat hilly geological configuration
that provided for a high water table, plentiful springs, and fresh breezes
that set the area apart from the Potomac River lowlands. Residents of
the new suburb took advantage of easily reached water, and for many years,
even after the city water system was built, relied on wells and windmills
or pumps for water.
Founder Gilbert further promoted two pure, fresh water springs as part
of Takoma Park's heritage, and reportedly implied they would always belong
to its citizens. When he abruptly sold the land around the springs to
the Takoma Park Springs Company, who limited access to the water they
bottle and sold as far north as New York, citizens were outraged.
Used by many families for potable water, the spring was located close
to the old Takoma Park Station on the northwest side of the tracks behind
what later became Feldman's department store. Today's Spring Place off
Chestnut Street in the District is the only remaining evidence of its
existence. A small portion of the former park, where tall tulip poplars
and large boulders surrounded the spring, was usurped when Metro rails
were laid in the 1970's, and the remaining land was buried beneath old
tires and scrapped vehicles, including an old streetcar.
At the time of Takoma Park's 75th anniversary, an unsuccessful effort
was made to locate Little Spring.
This spring occurred in a rocky outcrop at the bottom of the hillside
near the corner of Poplar and Elm Avenues in Maryland. Gilbert dedicated
an acre to preserve and beautify the Spring. Above the bottling works
there was a bandstand. When Gilbert sold the spring and the new owners
attempted to limit access to it, heated dissension from Takoma citizens
arose.
Water rights were eventually settled in the citizens' favor, and the city bought the land. Frank Skinner reported in the Takoma Enterprise the town's use of the water during a drought in 1929. Legend reports the spring was well known to American Indians for its excellent water, and this is corroborated by a discovery of Indian relics around the Spring. As recently as 1948 artifacts were found near the spring. Other, and once well known, springs in the area include Foster's Spring, found approximately at the corner of Fifth and Aspen Streets, and of course, Silver Spring just off East West Highway between Georgia and Colesville Roads. More of Elizabeth Bentley's history of Takoma Park, with a walking tour, will be in next month's House and Garden issue of the Takoma Voice.
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