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Some of the earliest general merchandise stores in Montgomery County were located in Rockville, and on the roads leading to it. They were community-oriented businesses: the owners were friendly and knew all the locals. Day books kept by merchants at this time indicate they kept open accounts for their customers, allowing them to buy items on credit, and occasionally accepted payment of items in trade rather than currency. Toward the end of the century, some general stores found it more profitable to stop being “general” and specialized stores (selling only drugs, hardware, or farming equipment) became more common.
Some of the earliest general merchandise stores in Montgomery County were located in Rockville, and on the roads leading to it. They were community-oriented businesses: the owners were friendly and knew all the locals. Day books kept by merchants at this time indicate they kept open accounts for their customers, allowing them to buy items on credit, and occasionally accepted payment of items in trade rather than currency. Toward the end of the century, some general stores found it more profitable to stop being “general” and specialized stores (selling only drugs, hardware, or farming equipment) became more common.
Rockville 1914
Rockville 1914
The heart of Rockville’s business district ran east-west on East Montgomery Avenue and Commerce Lane, spanning approximately eight blocks. Proximity to the courthouse influenced many hotels, professionals, and businesses to locate along East Montgomery Avenue, Commerce Lane (now West Montgomery Avenue), and Washington Street. Craftspeople and merchants often lived on the second story of their building or in a dwelling house next door.
The heart of Rockville’s business district ran east-west on East Montgomery Avenue and Commerce Lane, spanning approximately eight blocks. Proximity to the courthouse influenced many hotels, professionals, and businesses to locate along East Montgomery Avenue, Commerce Lane (now West Montgomery Avenue), and Washington Street. Craftspeople and merchants often lived on the second story of their building or in a dwelling house next door.
Rockville Business District
Rockville Business District
At left: A view of the North side of Commerce Lane near the courthouse. Right to left: H. Reisinger Bakery, W. Hicks General Store, Suburban Electrical Company (SECO), and a two-story dwelling. Note the trolley car approaching from the left.
At left: A view of the North side of Commerce Lane near the courthouse. Right to left: H. Reisinger Bakery, W. Hicks General Store, Suburban Electrical Company (SECO), and a two-story dwelling. Note the trolley car approaching from the left.
W. Hicks General Store
W. Hicks General Store
At left: Washington Hicks operated this dry goods store in Rockville from the late 19th century until 1940. His son W. Guy Hicks continued to run the store until his retirement in the late 1950s. The photo shows the storefront in 1914.
At left: Washington Hicks operated this dry goods store in Rockville from the late 19th century until 1940. His son W. Guy Hicks continued to run the store until his retirement in the late 1950s. The photo shows the storefront in 1914.
H. Reisinger Bakery & Confectionary
H. Reisinger Bakery & Confectionary
Below: H. Reisinger Bakery, Confectionery, Ice Cream and Lunch Room, 5 and 10-cent Bargain Store on Montgomery Avenue, Rockville. Prices were very low-- in 1899 and 1900 Reisinger's regularly advertised bread for 4 cents a loaf-- yet wages were low also.
Below: H. Reisinger Bakery, Confectionery, Ice Cream and Lunch Room, 5 and 10-cent Bargain Store on Montgomery Avenue, Rockville. Prices were very low-- in 1899 and 1900 Reisinger's regularly advertised bread for 4 cents a loaf-- yet wages were low also.
From The Baltimore Sun, 22 Sep 1912, Help Wanted Section:
From The Baltimore Sun, 22 Sep 1912, Help Wanted Section:
"WANTED - A sober, reliable all-around CAKE BAKER and ICE CREAM MAKER for retail trade; $14 per week, board and lodging. H. REISINGER Rockville, Md.”
"WANTED - A sober, reliable all-around CAKE BAKER and ICE CREAM MAKER for retail trade; $14 per week, board and lodging. H. REISINGER Rockville, Md.”
Fearon’s Pharmacy, 1898
Fearon’s Pharmacy, 1898
Here, a group of men play a dice game (known then as "craps") on the sidewalk outside Fearon's Pharmacy.
Here, a group of men play a dice game (known then as "craps") on the sidewalk outside Fearon's Pharmacy.
In 1889, Fearon's was also the location of one of the first telephones to arrive in Rockville, in the form of a public toll station set up by Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company (C&P) in Ernest Fearon’s establishment across from the courthouse. By 1910, there were 1,250 telephones in the county.
In 1889, Fearon's was also the location of one of the first telephones to arrive in Rockville, in the form of a public toll station set up by Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company (C&P) in Ernest Fearon’s establishment across from the courthouse. By 1910, there were 1,250 telephones in the county.
Note: This photo of Fearon's Pharmacy, dated 1898, is the oldest dated photograph in Lewis Reed’s collection. He would have been around 11-12 years old when he took this picture.
Vinson’s Pharmacy, 1906
Vinson’s Pharmacy, 1906
Vinson’s Pharmacy was run by Robert William “Doc” Vinson from 1900 until his death in 1958. Built in the 1880s, the storefront had previously been owned and/or operated by several men, including D.F. Owens and E.T. Fearon (whose business at this location is pictured above left). The drugstore was a popular gathering place for city politicians, and President Woodrow Wilson once personally traveled there to buy Wolfhound tablets.
Vinson’s Pharmacy was run by Robert William “Doc” Vinson from 1900 until his death in 1958. Built in the 1880s, the storefront had previously been owned and/or operated by several men, including D.F. Owens and E.T. Fearon (whose business at this location is pictured above left). The drugstore was a popular gathering place for city politicians, and President Woodrow Wilson once personally traveled there to buy Wolfhound tablets.
Gaithersburg
Gaithersburg
After the arrival of the B&O Railroad in 1873, Gaithersburg’s business district grew exponentially. John A. Belt’s mercantile on Diamond Avenue was reportedly the largest general store in the county. Two upstairs rooms of Etchison’s Drug Store were occupied by Bates Etchison, DDS. The dentist would sometimes throw extracted teeth out his window, to the curious amazement of young boys below.
After the arrival of the B&O Railroad in 1873, Gaithersburg’s business district grew exponentially. John A. Belt’s mercantile on Diamond Avenue was reportedly the largest general store in the county. Two upstairs rooms of Etchison’s Drug Store were occupied by Bates Etchison, DDS. The dentist would sometimes throw extracted teeth out his window, to the curious amazement of young boys below.
Gaithersburg Business District, 1911
Gaithersburg Business District, 1911
Above: Gaithersburg’s Diamond Avenue Business District. On the left side of the street is the newly-rebuilt general store owned by John A. Belt, which had been reconstructed out of brick after a fire destroyed the original building in 1909. On the right side of the street are Charlie Foo's Laundry, Nicholls’s Harness Shop, Etchison’s Drug Store, the First National Bank of Gaithersburg (with the peaked tower), and Jacob Miller’s Livery Stable.
Above: Gaithersburg’s Diamond Avenue Business District. On the left side of the street is the newly-rebuilt general store owned by John A. Belt, which had been reconstructed out of brick after a fire destroyed the original building in 1909. On the right side of the street are Charlie Foo's Laundry, Nicholls’s Harness Shop, Etchison’s Drug Store, the First National Bank of Gaithersburg (with the peaked tower), and Jacob Miller’s Livery Stable.
Thomas Hardware Store, Gaithersburg,
Thomas Hardware Store, Gaithersburg,
Outbreaks of typhoid were a recurring problem throughout the county until the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission installed the first system of water mains and sewers between 1926 and 1928. The building above was Fulks’ Hardware for many years, but housed the Thomas Store at the time of this photograph. The water pipes to be laid are resting by the side of the road. The child on the right in the photograph is Lewis Reed’s daughter, Mary Jane.
Outbreaks of typhoid were a recurring problem throughout the county until the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission installed the first system of water mains and sewers between 1926 and 1928. The building above was Fulks’ Hardware for many years, but housed the Thomas Store at the time of this photograph. The water pipes to be laid are resting by the side of the road. The child on the right in the photograph is Lewis Reed’s daughter, Mary Jane.
Around Montgomery County
Around Montgomery County
General Store at Quince Orchard, 1906
General Store at Quince Orchard, 1906
A small school for white children was established on the northeast corner of Darnestown and Quince Orchard Roads around 1850. It was damaged during the Civil War and eventually burned down in 1873. The school was rebuilt on the same site in 1875. In 1902 the school building was moved across the road next to Pleasant View Methodist Church after a fire destroyed the school for Black children. The General Store at Quince Orchard pictured here was built on that site shortly after the school building was moved.
A small school for white children was established on the northeast corner of Darnestown and Quince Orchard Roads around 1850. It was damaged during the Civil War and eventually burned down in 1873. The school was rebuilt on the same site in 1875. In 1902 the school building was moved across the road next to Pleasant View Methodist Church after a fire destroyed the school for Black children. The General Store at Quince Orchard pictured here was built on that site shortly after the school building was moved.
James S. Windsor Store in Darnestown, early 1900s
James S. Windsor Store in Darnestown, early 1900s
Windsor’s Store and house were constructed around 1879 on the southwest corner of Darnestown and Seneca Roads, one of three country stores in town. In addition to selling goods, the store also served as the post office until 1911. During the late 19th century, mail would arrive three times a week by stagecoach from Rockville. The entire building burned to the ground in 1971.
Windsor’s Store and house were constructed around 1879 on the southwest corner of Darnestown and Seneca Roads, one of three country stores in town. In addition to selling goods, the store also served as the post office until 1911. During the late 19th century, mail would arrive three times a week by stagecoach from Rockville. The entire building burned to the ground in 1971.
Downtown Germantown, c. 1906
Downtown Germantown, c. 1906
The original downtown Germantown was located at the intersection of Route 118 and Clopper Road. At the turn of the 20th century, most of the activity shifted to the railroad station and mill. General stores, a post office, a bank, and houses were constructed in this new downtown area. Everything from lengths of cloth to a medium rare steak could be purchased at the general store and post office on the right. Opposite the store were the mill and various small industries.
The original downtown Germantown was located at the intersection of Route 118 and Clopper Road. At the turn of the 20th century, most of the activity shifted to the railroad station and mill. General stores, a post office, a bank, and houses were constructed in this new downtown area. Everything from lengths of cloth to a medium rare steak could be purchased at the general store and post office on the right. Opposite the store were the mill and various small industries.
Halpine-Lenovitz General Store, 1906
Halpine-Lenovitz General Store, 1906
The Halpine Store, also known as the Lenovitz General Store, was built on Rockville Pike at Halpine Road in 1898, taking advantage of the prime location near the railways and the Pike. The store sold food, gasoline and other items to locals and travelers alike. The nearby Halpine railroad station also brought customers to the area, and the store became the social gathering place for the community.
The Halpine Store, also known as the Lenovitz General Store, was built on Rockville Pike at Halpine Road in 1898, taking advantage of the prime location near the railways and the Pike. The store sold food, gasoline and other items to locals and travelers alike. The nearby Halpine railroad station also brought customers to the area, and the store became the social gathering place for the community.
The man standing just in front of the trolley tracks is James H. Handy (b. 1890) who lived at Halpine and worked for Mr. Copeland on the Wilkins farm. Handy served in the U.S. Army during WWI, as a gunner for the 371st infantry, doing two tours of duty in France. In this photo, he is about 16 years old.
The man standing just in front of the trolley tracks is James H. Handy (b. 1890) who lived at Halpine and worked for Mr. Copeland on the Wilkins farm. Handy served in the U.S. Army during WWI, as a gunner for the 371st infantry, doing two tours of duty in France. In this photo, he is about 16 years old.
Clarksburg Main Street, 1913
Clarksburg Main Street, 1913
In the early 20th century, Clarksburg was the third largest town in Montgomery County, after Rockville and Poolesville. Clarksburg had four general stores, two hotels, and an academy of learning. It also had a blacksmith, a doctor’s office, tanneries, shoemakers, winemakers, tailors, wheelwrights, fertilizer businesses, skilled farmers, master carpenters and two town bands.
In the early 20th century, Clarksburg was the third largest town in Montgomery County, after Rockville and Poolesville. Clarksburg had four general stores, two hotels, and an academy of learning. It also had a blacksmith, a doctor’s office, tanneries, shoemakers, winemakers, tailors, wheelwrights, fertilizer businesses, skilled farmers, master carpenters and two town bands.
Unknown General Store, Early 1900s
Unknown General Store, Early 1900s
While every store was different, there were similarities among them, including a front door that was often decorated by tin signs advertising for tobacco, cigars, shoes, hardware, and more. The sign in front of this unidentified mercantile advertises Battle Axe Shoes, Stephen Putney Shoe Company. Usually, general stores featured double doors that opened inward and lots of barrels that might contain any number of items — from pickles, to crackers, potatoes, flour and candies. The store was usually an unpainted, two- story frame building fronted by a raised porch for convenient loading and unloading.
While every store was different, there were similarities among them, including a front door that was often decorated by tin signs advertising for tobacco, cigars, shoes, hardware, and more. The sign in front of this unidentified mercantile advertises Battle Axe Shoes, Stephen Putney Shoe Company. Usually, general stores featured double doors that opened inward and lots of barrels that might contain any number of items — from pickles, to crackers, potatoes, flour and candies. The store was usually an unpainted, two- story frame building fronted by a raised porch for convenient loading and unloading.
Circa 1900s General Store on a dirt road. The sign prominently advertises "Battle Axe Shoes." Two ladies standing on the porch.
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