Tag Archive | old rockville
February 7, 2017  

Rockville 1912: Vinson’s Drug Store

Vinson's Drug Store 1912 Rockville

1912 – Vinson’s Drug Store, Rockville, Maryland. Photo by Lewis Reed

This 1912 photograph taken by Lewis Reed depicts Vinson’s Drug Store in downtown Rockville. This post is a part of the blog feature called, “Rockville’s Past Through the Lens of Lewis Reed”. Lewis Reed was a well-known photographer in the county and many of his early photographs are now part of the Montgomery County Historical Society photo archives. I wanted to share this photograph, because it offers a visual history of a part of Rockville’s past taken more than 100 years ago.

Previous to Edgar Reed’s enlistment in World War I, he had been employed as a clerk by R.W. Vinson Drug Store for eight years. In 1919, Edgar became a partner with his brother, Lewis Reed, in the firm Reed Brothers Dodge.

The drugstore was built in the 1880s and was run by Robert William “Doc” Vinson from 1900 until his death in 1958. A document on the Rockville website says the drugstore was also a popular gathering place for city politicians, and that President Woodrow Wilson once personally traveled there to buy Wolfhound tablets. The building was torn down in 1962, and replaced with an office building during Rockville’s “urban renewal”.

Source: County Seat to Satellite City of the Nations’ Capital: 1931

 

January 13, 2016  

Lewis Reed Photo: Early 1900s Tabulating Machine Company Delivery Truck

The Tabulating Machine Company Truck 1900s

Early 1900s Tabulating Machine Company Delivery Truck. Photo by Lewis Reed

Before becoming interested in automobiles, Lewis Reed was one of the original employees of the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, a Georgetown-based manufacturing firm that eventually became International Business Machines, Inc. It was created in 1911 by Charles R. Flint through the consolidation of four companies: The Tabulating Machine Company, International Time Recording Company, Computing Scale Company of America, and the Bundy Manufacturing Company. Located in Endicott it was renamed International Business Machines (IBM) in 1924.

Note that the writing on the side of the truck is in reverse.. I have no idea why.

Source: Wikipedia

July 3, 2015  

Lewis Reed Photos: Rockville High School, 1911

Richard Montgomery High School 1911

1911 Originally known as Montgomery County High School, later as Rockville High School. Located at corner of Monroe Street and E. Montgomery Avenue. Photo by Lewis Reed

Rockville High School was established in 1892, when the state Board of Education first allocated funds to local school to educate high school students. In the first State report of school statistics nine years later, the Rockville school was listed as enrolling 47 pupils. The first 12 graduates received their diplomas from “Rockville High School” in 1897.

Rockville High School, 1911. Photo by Lewis Reed

Rockville High School, 1911. Photo by Lewis Reed

A new high school was constructed and opened for use in September 1905 on East Montgomery Avenue and Monroe Street. An addition was built in 1917, expanding the school to 19 classrooms.  The school was renamed Richard Montgomery High School 1935.

Source: Richard Montgomery HS – MSA

March 15, 2015  

Lewis Reed Photo: Rockville Courthouse 1914

 

Rockville Courthouse 1914

Red Brick Courthouse 1914. Photo by Lewis Reed

This special post is a part of a new blog feature called, “Rockville’s Past Through the Lens of Lewis Reed”. It doesn’t have anything to do with Reed Brothers Dodge, but it does have a lot to do with it’s founder, Lewis Reed. With photography for a hobby, one that began even before automobiles were around, Lewis Reed had amassed an extensive collection of photographs from historical locations in Maryland, Washington, DC and Virginia.

This photograph was taken by Lewis Reed circa 1914. The Red Brick Courthouse was constructed in 1891 at a cost of $50,000.

Inscription. Montgomery County’s third courthouse. Built in 1891 the “Old Red Brick Courthouse” has become the symbol and architectural monument of old Rockville. Designated a historic building on July 19, 1965 by the Montgomery County Historical Society, Inc.