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Montgomery History Online Exhibit: Montgomery County, Then and Now

Montgomery County Then & Now

Montgomery County, Then and Now: Photography of Lewis Reed and Barry Gartner

Opened December 6, 2023
Curated by Jeanne Gartner and Sarah Hedlund

Montgomery History’s newest online exhibit, “Montgomery County, Then and Now: Photography of Lewis Reed and Barry Gartner” is now live! In the early 1900s, photographer and business owner Lewis Reed captured hundreds of images throughout Montgomery County, featuring iconic structures, streetscapes, homes, and towns. Over one hundred years later, Reed’s grandson Barry Gartner has recreated dozens of his grandfather’s pictures, working in the county’s modern-day landscape. Regions represented include Rockville, Gaithersburg, Darnestown, Germantown, C&O Canal, and Barnesville & Clarksburg. The exhibit presents the pairs of photos side by side, with historical context and Google maps location pins for reference, illustrating in some cases timeless constancy and in many cases radical change.

I am immensely proud of my brother for the exceptional job he did recreating the photos that appear in this exhibit. Lewis Reed would be proud to know that his legacy continues on through his grandson today.

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About Reed Brothers

I am a co-owner of the former Reed Brothers Dodge in Rockville, Maryland. Lewis Reed, the founder of Reed Brothers Dodge was my grandfather. We were a family-owned and operated car dealership in Rockville for almost a century. I served in the United States Air Force for 30 years before retiring in the top enlisted grade of Chief Master Sergeant in July 2006. In 2016, I received the Arthur M. Wagman Award for Historic Preservation Communication from Peerless Rockville for documenting the history of Reed Brothers Dodge in both blog and book format. This distinguished honor recognizes outstanding achievement by writers, educators, and historians whose work has heightened public awareness of Rockville’s architectural and cultural heritage, growth and development.

2 responses to “Montgomery History Online Exhibit: Montgomery County, Then and Now”

  1. Jonathan B. (Jack) Richards II says :

    I wish to compliment you and your brother for juxtaposing the photo images of “then and now” in the four communities which you chose to present. My overall reaction is one of sorrow when I am forced to realize the extreme changes wrought over the last century plus. As always thanks to you for preserving and nicely presenting the history of Montgomery County, Maryland.

    Reply
    • Reed Brothers says :

      Hello Jonathan! I always enjoy looking back at the past and seeing how everything we know today once was. Some locations have been substantially modified; some have, for the most part remained the same, and others are gone entirely. Pretty fascinating. As always, thank you for reading and leaving your very kind comment.

      My very best wishes to you and yours for a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year!

      Best Regards,
      Jeanne

      Reply

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