School Days
A century ago, most jobs required little formal schooling, and high school graduates were the exception rather than the norm. The majority of the population of Montgomery County did not have more than an elementary school education, which they usually received by attending a one- or two-room schoolhouse.
A century ago, most jobs required little formal schooling, and high school graduates were the exception rather than the norm. The majority of the population of Montgomery County did not have more than an elementary school education, which they usually received by attending a one- or two-room schoolhouse.
The following is a collection of group photographs of school children, some including the teacher, taken between 1906 and 1916. As a well-known local photographer during this time, Lewis Reed often volunteered to take these photographs of each class. Schools represented here are Montgomery County High School (also known as Rockville High School), Darnestown School, Gaithersburg School, Montrose School, Germantown School, and Quince Orchard School.
The following is a collection of group photographs of school children, some including the teacher, taken between 1906 and 1916. As a well-known local photographer during this time, Lewis Reed often volunteered to take these photographs of each class. Schools represented here are Montgomery County High School (also known as Rockville High School), Darnestown School, Gaithersburg School, Montrose School, Germantown School, and Quince Orchard School.
Germantown School
Germantown School
Quince Orchard School
Quince Orchard School
Darnestown School
Darnestown School
This photograph of the Darnestown School (c. 1898) is the only one known to exist. The schoolhouse, now long gone, was located on Thomas Kelley’s Farm at Pleasant Hill, which today would be located in the center of the Spring Meadows community.
This photograph of the Darnestown School (c. 1898) is the only one known to exist. The schoolhouse, now long gone, was located on Thomas Kelley’s Farm at Pleasant Hill, which today would be located in the center of the Spring Meadows community.
This small, one-room schoolhouse was walking distance--meaning, a few miles--from Lewis Reed’s farmhouse. He attended this school with his brother, Edgar (both pictured at right, in a photo from c. 1898). First through sixth grades, which could include 30 or more students, were taught by one teacher. In this photo, teacher Minnie McAtee is standing at right in the back row. Few students went beyond that level; in fact, Lewis Reed’s education stopped after the sixth grade. He would later be home-schooled as an adult by his wife, Ethelene Thomas, who was a teacher in the Maryland public school system.
This small, one-room schoolhouse was walking distance--meaning, a few miles--from Lewis Reed’s farmhouse. He attended this school with his brother, Edgar (both pictured at right, in a photo from c. 1898). First through sixth grades, which could include 30 or more students, were taught by one teacher. In this photo, teacher Minnie McAtee is standing at right in the back row. Few students went beyond that level; in fact, Lewis Reed’s education stopped after the sixth grade. He would later be home-schooled as an adult by his wife, Ethelene Thomas, who was a teacher in the Maryland public school system.
Montrose School
Montrose School
Completed in 1909 on Randolph Rd. in what is now North Bethesda, Montrose School was designed as a two-room schoolhouse and offered instruction for the first through seventh grades. Other modern amenities included kerosene hurricane lamps affixed to the walls and pot-bellied coal burning stoves in each classroom. Outside, a hand pump provided well water, and there were separate boys’ and girls’ outhouses. Increased modernization, including electricity and indoor plumbing were added throughout the early to middle decades of the 20th century.
Completed in 1909 on Randolph Rd. in what is now North Bethesda, Montrose School was designed as a two-room schoolhouse and offered instruction for the first through seventh grades. Other modern amenities included kerosene hurricane lamps affixed to the walls and pot-bellied coal burning stoves in each classroom. Outside, a hand pump provided well water, and there were separate boys’ and girls’ outhouses. Increased modernization, including electricity and indoor plumbing were added throughout the early to middle decades of the 20th century.
Below, is a photo of teacher and students taken by Lewis Reed circa 1909. The children shown in the photograph could quite possibly be the first students to attend Montrose School.
Below, is a photo of teacher and students taken by Lewis Reed circa 1909. The children shown in the photograph could quite possibly be the first students to attend Montrose School.
Gaithersburg School
Gaithersburg School
Gaithersburg was one of the first areas in the county to have a consolidated school--for both elementary and high school students--in one building. Opened in 1904, the Gaithersburg School served elementary grades 1-7, and also offered a three-year high school program. The first graduating class in 1907 had three students. Here, Lewis Reed captures the entire student body in 1910. The following year, an addition was built to accommodate the growing number of students.
Gaithersburg was one of the first areas in the county to have a consolidated school--for both elementary and high school students--in one building. Opened in 1904, the Gaithersburg School served elementary grades 1-7, and also offered a three-year high school program. The first graduating class in 1907 had three students. Here, Lewis Reed captures the entire student body in 1910. The following year, an addition was built to accommodate the growing number of students.
Rockville High School/Montgomery County High School
Rockville High School/Montgomery County High School
Located in Rockville, the school now named Richard Montgomery High School is the oldest public high school in Montgomery County. In 1892, the Board of School Commissioners approved an addition to the existing elementary school in Rockville to create a new “Rockville High School,” serving students from grades one to eleven. The first class of twelve seniors graduated in 1897.
Located in Rockville, the school now named Richard Montgomery High School is the oldest public high school in Montgomery County. In 1892, the Board of School Commissioners approved an addition to the existing elementary school in Rockville to create a new “Rockville High School,” serving students from grades one to eleven. The first class of twelve seniors graduated in 1897.
The high school building at Montgomery Ave. and Monroe St., pictured around the time of completion in 1906.
The building as it appeared in 1911.
In 1904, the Board of Education purchased land at the corner of Montgomery Avenue and Monroe Street for the construction of a new school building, to be renamed Montgomery County High School at Rockville. However, the school and its sports teams continued to be known colloquially as "Rockville High School." In 1928, when the new Rockville Colored High School opened in Lincoln Park, there was frequent confusion over the similarity of the school names. In 1935, the Board of Education officially renamed the school again, as Richard Montgomery High School, the name that continues today. The building pictured above at Montgomery and Monroe was mostly destroyed by fire in 1940, after which the existing campus of RMHS was built on the land formerly used as the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.
In 1904, the Board of Education purchased land at the corner of Montgomery Avenue and Monroe Street for the construction of a new school building, to be renamed Montgomery County High School at Rockville. However, the school and its sports teams continued to be known colloquially as "Rockville High School." In 1928, when the new Rockville Colored High School opened in Lincoln Park, there was frequent confusion over the similarity of the school names. In 1935, the Board of Education officially renamed the school again, as Richard Montgomery High School, the name that continues today. The building pictured above at Montgomery and Monroe was mostly destroyed by fire in 1940, after which the existing campus of RMHS was built on the land formerly used as the Montgomery County Fairgrounds.
Students at Montgomery County High School, c. 1910
Students at Montgomery County High School, c. 1910
Back row: Edward Story, Lena Ricketts, Tom Young, Louise Larcombe, Miss Ford, Fred Hays, Lucius Lamar, [two unknown individuals].
Middle Row: [two unknown individuals], Jesse Wathen, Jesse Higgins, [two unknown individuals], Mary Hyatt, [two unknown individuals].
Front Row: Maude England, Rebecca Lamar, ________ Garrett, Helen Pumphrey, ___________ Lehman.
Graduating seniors from a c. 1910s class
Graduating seniors from a c. 1910s class
Back row: Harry Beall, Katherine Hughes.
Middle row: [unknown]
Front row: Edith Prettyman, ________ Darby
Additional photographs of Montgomery County High School students, c. 1910, without subjects identified.
Rockville High School’s First Baseball Team, 1910
Rockville High School’s First Baseball Team, 1910
Inter-school athletics in Montgomery County began in February, 1910 with a meeting of the principals of the high schools at Rockville, Gaithersburg, Kensington, and Sandy Spring, who formulated plans for a baseball league. Within a month, the athletic association of Rockville High School was formed with Roger J. Whiteford, principal, as manager of the baseball team; Edward Story, teacher, as assistant manager; and Jesse Higgins, student, as captain.
Inter-school athletics in Montgomery County began in February, 1910 with a meeting of the principals of the high schools at Rockville, Gaithersburg, Kensington, and Sandy Spring, who formulated plans for a baseball league. Within a month, the athletic association of Rockville High School was formed with Roger J. Whiteford, principal, as manager of the baseball team; Edward Story, teacher, as assistant manager; and Jesse Higgins, student, as captain.
Front: Billy Beck, Tom Young, Edward Storey, Harry Beall, Roy Warfield.
Back: ________ Hicks, Lucius Lamar, name unknown, name unknown, Jesse Higgins, [two individuals unknown], Fred Hays, Roger Whiteford
Holding pennant: Griffith Warfield
Private Schools
Private Schools
Andrew Small Academy (Darnestown)
Andrew Small Academy (Darnestown)
Some of the earliest schools in Montgomery County were private academies, organized by trustees or churches. Scottish immigrant Andrew Small took an interest in the Darnestown community while working as a contractor on the nearby portion of the C&O Canal. On his deathbed in 1867, he bequeathed $35,000 to the Presbyterian Church, specifically to construct a school. His gift was used to found the Andrew Small Academy, one of the few accredited college preparatory schools in Montgomery County and a rarity for a rural area before the public school system was created.
Some of the earliest schools in Montgomery County were private academies, organized by trustees or churches. Scottish immigrant Andrew Small took an interest in the Darnestown community while working as a contractor on the nearby portion of the C&O Canal. On his deathbed in 1867, he bequeathed $35,000 to the Presbyterian Church, specifically to construct a school. His gift was used to found the Andrew Small Academy, one of the few accredited college preparatory schools in Montgomery County and a rarity for a rural area before the public school system was created.
Above, a young lady poses in front of the Academy building.
At left, Andrew Small Academy as it appeared in 1908.
Below, several classes from Andrew Small Academy, 1911.
Rockville Academy
Rockville Academy
Members of the Rockville Academy Basketball Team, 1915-1916
According to school historian E. Guy Jewell, Rockville High School formed an athletic association among various schools in 1915, organizing teams for baseball, football, and basketball. However Rockville High School "quickly lost their first game of basketball to Rockville Academy, 29 to 26.” Apparently the team pictured here were adept at the game.
According to school historian E. Guy Jewell, Rockville High School formed an athletic association among various schools in 1915, organizing teams for baseball, football, and basketball. However Rockville High School "quickly lost their first game of basketball to Rockville Academy, 29 to 26.” Apparently the team pictured here were adept at the game.
Back row: Roy Hilton, Lester Witherow, Grubb, Hamilton, Edmonds
Middle row: Lawrence Higgins, Joe Dawson, Brownell (Buck) Riggs, J. Vinson Peter, John McDonald
Front: John Dawson