Then & Now: Rockville Garage 102 Years Ago
Reed Brothers Dodge and the surrounding area sure has changed a lot in its almost century-long history. You might not realize how much things have changed until you look back and see what it looked like in the past. For this post, I have used one of Lewis Reed’s original photographs for “then” and a Google Maps street view image from today for “now”.
THEN: The photo below is the Rockville Garage located at its original location at the triangle at Veirs Mill Road and Rockville Pike. In 1917, Reed Brothers became an authorized Texaco Filling Station and sold Texaco gasoline from a single pump. To the right is a Texaco Gasoline Filling Station sign. One very tall Texaco branded fuel pump can be seen in this photo along with two Texaco Petroleum refueling trucks. Parked in front is a line-up of some very early Dodge Brothers Motor Cars.
Note the unpaved dirt road on Rockville Pike and trolley tracks running past the dealership. From 1900-1935, the trolley cars went past Reed Brothers Dodge as they traveled up Rockville Pike. Major stops along the line included Georgetown, Alta Vista, Bethesda, Montrose, Halpine, the Fairgrounds, Courthouse Square, and Chestnut Lodge.
1917 Original Rockville Garage with 2 story addition. Note the Texaco Filling Station signage and the Texaco Petroleum fuel truck refilling the single pump in front. Photo by Lewis Reed
NOW: The “now” photo is a google maps image of the same location… 102 years later. The dealership’s location today is now known as Veterans Park. In the 1970s the site was known as the Francis Scott Key Memorial Park, and later in 1988, it was permanently rededicated as Veterans Park. In the late 1960s, the state of Maryland acquired the land to widen 355 and donated the remaining sliver to the City. The state named the connector street behind the dealership’s location “Dodge Street” because Reed Brothers Dodge dealership was located there for more than 50 years. New pavement has long since replaced the trolley tracks on Rockville Pike in this photo.
Reed Brothers Dodge original location at the triangle today. Google Image, 2019.
Horsemobile?
Early transportation powered by true “horsepower”. Photo taken by Lewis Reed, 1915
This fun and interesting photograph taken by Lewis Reed is one of my favorites. The photo shows William Beall in his 1915 Pullman in front of old St Mary’s Church and his younger brother Vernon on horseback “towing” him to Reed Brothers. The photo was taken from in front of Reed Brothers Dodge which was directly across the street from St Mary’s Church.
Several of the Beall family were original employees at Reed Brothers, including: Leonard Beall (paint/auto body shop), Otis Beall, Walter (Bud) Beall, and Mary Anna (Slater) Beall (Bookkeeper). Bud and Otis Beall were two of Reed Brothers’ original Gulf Gasoline Station attendants.
Then & Now: Wilson Bridge Hagerstown 105 Years Apart
Looking at old photographs is like peering through an open window back into history. Not only do they give you a sense of wonder from traveling back in time, but also a staggering feeling of awe from seeing just how much things have changed. For this post, I have used one of Lewis Reed’s original photographs for “then” and a Google stock image for “now”.
Wilson Bridge (THEN): Built in 1819, this five arch structure named for nearby village was the first stone bridge built by Washington County. Erected by Silas Harry at cost of $12,000, it was a major improvement to the road system between Baltimore and Cumberland, providing continuous smooth surface from eastern seaboard to western wilderness. Wilson Bridge carried traffic until seriously damaged by storm flood in 1972. It was placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Wilson Bridge Hagerstown, Maryland. Photo by Lewis Reed, 1914
Wilson Bridge (NOW): The bridge was beautifully restored in 1984 by LeRoy E. Myers. The bridge is one of numerous still standing stone bridges in central and western Maryland.
Restored Wilson Bridge today
Merry Christmas & Best Wishes for 2019!
Reed Brothers Dodge Showroom, 2007
I would like to wish everyone who finds time in their hectic schedule to visit this blog a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year in 2019. I appreciate all of you for your continued support and making Reed Brothers Dodge History one of the places you visit during the course of your day.
Wherever your holiday celebration takes you, I wish all of you a safe, relaxing time spent with family and friends.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
~Jeanne Gartner
Blog Author
Meet George Waters, One of Reed Brothers’ Longest Tenured Employees
George Raymond Waters holds the distinction of being among one of the longest tenured employees in Reed Brothers Dodge history.
George Raymond Waters worked as a mechanic and auto body repair specialist at Reed Brothers for over 30 years. I do not know the exact dates of his employment, but George’s 30+ years of tenure which started sometime in the early-mid 1940’s, puts him among a handful of employees who worked at both Reed Brothers locations, at the triangle at Veirs Mill Road and Rockville Pike and at the new location at 15955 Frederick Road in Rockville.
George did auto body work and all of the radiator rebuilds (acid dip, pressure wash, repaint and seal). George also drove the Reed Brothers company tow truck. He was on 24-hour call and his personal phone number was listed with the local police departments. Rain or shine, sleet or snow, day or night, George was available 24-7 and always made sure that when people were in need, they were taken care of.
This personnel picture was taken January 15,1946 when Reed Brothers held its annual dinner at the Hungerford Tavern. George Waters, third row, far left.
George’s three-plus decades at Reed Brothers spanned some major and minor bumps in the road for the business. He was with Reed Brothers through three renovations and expansions, including demolition of the 1953 service station to make room for a new free standing Gulf Service Station and a new car showroom.
This 1950 employee group photo was taken inside the new car showroom at its original location in Old Rockville at the triangle at Veirs Mill Road and Rockville Pike. George Waters, second row, 2nd from right
When the state widened the roads in 1970, George relocated with Reed Brothers to its new location at 15955 Frederick Road in Rockville. Turning out to honor the company at their Grand Opening were several hundred dignitaries, officials, businessmen, and friends. The new building marked Reed Brothers 55th year of selling Dodge’s. The gentleman in the hat in the picture below is George Waters.
This photo was taken during the 1970 Grand Opening of Reed Brothers new location at 15955 Frederick Road in Rockville. George Waters is third from right in the hat.
Reed Brothers didn’t just slip and fall into success over the course of almost a century of being in business. We were propelled there by the hard work of our employees. For us to be able to say that we’ve had anyone work for our company for more than 30 years is a milestone that is unsurpassed. We should all aspire to do what we love in our work, and I think George’s long history with Reed Brothers is a testament to that.
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Reed Brothers Dodge History (1915-2012) by Jeanne Gartner is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.
Reed Brothers Dodge History 1915 – 2012 
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