Farmers Banking and Trust building, 1930. From the collections of Peerless Rockville (Malcolm Walter collection)

For decades, Edgar Reed wore two hats that helped shape the future of Rockville. Best known as the co-founder of Reed Brothers Dodge, he was also a longtime Director of Farmers Banking and Trust Company, providing steady leadership to one of the community’s most important financial institutions while helping build Maryland’s oldest family-owned Dodge dealership.

A Timeline of Trust in the Montgomery County Sentinel

Beyond putting Montgomery County on wheels, Edgar Reed was a foundational figure in Rockville’s financial sector and civic life. In addition to his formidable 18-year tenure as a Director of Farmers Banking and Trust, he served as acting mayor of Rockville, President of the Montgomery County Municipal League, and was a charter member of both the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department and the Rockville Rotary Club.

Archival accounts from the Montgomery County Sentinel offer a vivid window into how Reed’s 18-year tenure began during one of the most volatile eras in American banking, maintaining an unbroken line of stewardship through mid-century:

• May 4, 1933 — “Richard F. Green Elected President of Farmers Bank”: Following the historic federal banking holidays of that spring, the Sentinel recorded the vital restructuring of the institution. Under the newly elected leadership of President Richard F. Green, Farmers Banking and Trust positioned itself as a bedrock of regional commerce. Edgar Reed’s appointment to this resilient board of directors signaled to local farmers and merchants that their capital was guarded by hands thoroughly invested in the community’s future.
• July 12, 1934 — Annual Meeting Updates: As the federal government rolled out stringent New Deal regulations to patch the holes in the American financial system, the newspaper reaffirmed the bank’s steady, prosperous course, detailing Reed’s ongoing, active oversight at the annual meetings.
• January 10, 1935 — “Report of Condition of Farmers’ Banking and Trust Company”: Published statements of condition from this era routinely listed the directors responsible for the bank’s assets. Reed’s name on these public reports stood as a symbol of accountability as the institution steadily rebuilt local consumer confidence during the later years of the Depression.
• January 27, 1938 — “Upper County Banks Elect 1938 Officers and Directors”: On the eve of World War II, the Sentinel highlighted the continuity of Rockville’s financial leadership, noting Reed’s steady re-election to the board as the county seat began transitioning from an agricultural hub into a modern center.
• January 13, 1944 — “Report of Condition of Farmers’ Banking and Trust Company”: In the thick of wartime home-front financing, official bank reports continued to list Reed as a vital director, steering institutional support toward war bonds and keeping local credit fluid despite strict wartime supply controls.

• November 1, 1951 — “Edgar Reed” (Obituary): Following his passing on October 24, 1951, the Sentinel paid final tribute to Reed’s life of service. His obituary cemented his legacy not just as a pioneering auto dealer, but as an unwavering financial steward who gave nearly two decades of continuous devotion to the stability of Rockville.

A New Chapter: The Montgomery History Center

The historic Art Deco building at 4 Courthouse Square in Rockville, captured during its years operating as an M&T Bank branch prior to its acquisition by Montgomery History. (Image source: Google Street View)

In January 2025, Montgomery History purchased the historic 4 Courthouse Square building with a grand vision for its future. The organization is currently transforming the historic Art Deco structure into its permanent headquarters: the Montgomery History Center.

Scheduled to open in 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of Montgomery County, the newly renovated space will serve as a vibrant community hub. The center will feature spaces for historical exhibits, lectures, and community receptions, as well as the new home of the Jane Sween Research Library and Special Collections.

Though the day-to-day records of Edgar Reed’s era are gone, the building’s legacy of serving Montgomery County endures. By adaptive reuse of this architectural landmark, the stories of early 20th-century leaders like Edgar Reed will live on, anchoring the community’s past directly into its future.

Sources of Information:
“Richard F. Green Elected President of Farmers Bank.” Montgomery County Sentinel, May 04, 1933
“Report of Condition of Farmers’ Banking and Trust Company.” Montgomery County Sentinel, Thursday, January 10, 1935
“Upper County Banks Elect 1938 Officers and Directors.” Montgomery County Sentinel, Thursday, January 27, 1938
“Report of Condition of Farmers’ Banking and Trust Company.” Montgomery County Sentinel, Thursday, January 13, 1944
“Edgar Reed.” Montgomery County Sentinel, November 01, 1951
Hedlund, Sarah. “History of the Farmers Banking and Trust Company building” February 2026.