Silver Spring Historical Society

Happy first day of autumn!

The 1956 First Baptist Church of Silver Spring as viewed through the branches of a 70+ year-old red oak on the corner Fenton Street and Wayne Avenue. Both church and tree have been destroyed.

Photo by Jerry A. McCoy 2015.

Today I gave a PowerPoint presentation on the history of the 1946 Canada Dry Bottling Plant to about 50 owners of condos that comprise a portion of the historic structure.

The SSHS was instrumental in getting a portion of the Streamline Modern landmark historically designated in 2001, mainly the main entrance elevation and it’s stunning lobby.

Thank you to the condo board (pictured here) and for the T-shirt. It will be added to the Silver Spring T-shirt Collection (yes, we have one!).

A superb article worth reposting.

The historic structure has sadly been empty since 2020…

https://www.zeroto180.org/track-recorders-silver-spring-ii/?fbclid=IwcGRvZgRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA80Mzc2MjYzMTY5NzM3ODgAAR6RsrRMo97LHtORg0MRnlPhcKD1O6hbjCIzWp-rniJ_1CfYvlzXMqQ1ueeuzA_aem_2rxifJyb_Bg2Pg8jwPol5w

Track Recorders: Silver Spring II - Zero to 180 - Three Minute Magic NOTICE! This is a majorly revamped and updated version of a piece from the summer of 2016 – now with enhanced content – that will be followed in close succession by a suitably elaborate history of Gene Rosenthal and Adelphi Records, although sandwiched in between will be a history spotlight .....

I obtained this Metro transfer (even though I didn’t use transfers on my work commute) at 11:44 am on September 11, 2001, at the 9th Street entrance to Metro Center.

For the previous hour I was in a car being driven by my DC Public Library Washingtoniana Division colleague Faye Haskins. We both lived in Silver Spring and she had driven to work, having parked under the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library at 901 G Street, NW. She asked if I wanted a ride home after staff was told to leave.

It took what seemed like forever just to get up the parking garage ramp that exited onto 9th Street. Upon getting to the corner of 9th and G, we could see that both streets were gridlocked with cars. After an hour we got to 11th and G. At that point I figured I could walk the seven miles home faster and told Faye I was getting out.

Walking the two blocks east back to 9th and G, I didn't know if Metro was running and decided to go down the escalator to see. As I approached the fare gate, I heard a Silver Spring/Glenmont train arriving. The station was empty as I ran for the open gates, grabbing this transfer as I passed through.

I knew it would become an important piece of ephemera.

The car I entered had about a dozen people on it. No one said a word. As we approached the Rhode Island Metro Station where the track bed is elevated, someone shouted out, "Look at the smoke!" Everyone jumped up and looked out and back through the left (facing west) windows.

There, in the distance beyond the Washington Monument, we could see a black plume of smoke rising from the Pentagon. I wrote the notation on the transfer while on the train, not knowing about the Pennsylvania crash.

It was a moment I shall never forget.

Jerry A. McCoy