Inventing the Scene: Lewis Reed’s Composite Experiment
Not everything in the Reed Collection is what it seems. This early composite by Lewis Reed shows how he experimented with illusion long before Photoshop.
This unusual photograph offers a rare glimpse into the experimental side of early 20th-century photography. Created by Lewis Reed at a time when cameras relied on glass plate negatives and hand-mixed chemicals, the image reflects a period when photographers were not only documentarians, but also inventors; pushing the boundaries of what the medium could achieve.
At first glance, the scene appears to show a peaceful gathering along a wooded stream. Yet the composition quickly reveals signs of careful manipulation. The curved form across the top of the image, resembling the back of a chair or decorative arch, does not belong to the natural landscape. Its texture and sharp edge cut through the sky and treetops, suggesting it was introduced from a separate negative.
The figures also feel slightly detached from their surroundings. Their contrast is stronger, their edges more defined, and the lighting on each does not quite match. Most intriguingly, the woman seated on the ground appears to be the same woman standing between the two men. This repetition is a clear sign that Reed reused the same subject in different positions, further revealing the layered nature of the image and his playful approach to composition.
Such composite images were created through a painstaking darkroom process. Photographers used masking techniques, layered glass plate negatives, and contact printing to merge multiple exposures into a single print. These “trick photographs,” as they were often called, were popular between the late 1890s and the 1920s and were meant to entertain, surprise, and demonstrate technical skill.
This photograph stands as evidence of Lewis Reed’s curiosity and craftsmanship. While he is best known for documenting everyday life and early automotive history, this image reveals another side of his work–one rooted in imagination, experimentation, and the early artistry of the photographic medium.
From Auto Dealer to Bank Director: Edgar Reed’s Legacy of Trust in Rockville History
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.
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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.
How Reed Brothers Looked Forward After the 2009 Auto Crisis
June 9, 2009, remains etched in Montgomery County history as the day an era officially ended. Seventeen years ago today, Reed Brothers Dodge received the fateful letter that abruptly severed its historic relationship with Chrysler; a partnership that had stood unbroken since 1915.
As part of Chrysler’s sweeping nationwide dealership reductions during the height of the 2008-2009 economic crisis, the Rockville mainstay was ordered to cease operating as a franchised Dodge dealer. After nearly 94 years of representing the iconic American brand on the local streets, the signs were forced down, bringing a remarkable, century-old chapter of local automotive history to an unexpected close.
A Historic Stand Captured on National Television
The sudden restructuring sent shockwaves through the community and caught the attention of national media. When FOX News arrived at the dealership to interview the owners amidst the chaos, the message from Reed Brothers wasn’t one of defeat, it was one of quiet resolve.
“We plan on keeping our dealership open, selling pre-owned cars, and we are going to do the best we can to take care of our customers and employees,” leadership told FOX News reporters at the time. “We have officially changed our name to Reed Brothers Automotive and we are not planning on going anywhere.”
True to their word, the dealership chose to look forward, focusing their energy on writing a positive new chapter rather than letting corporate changes define their future.
Last Unsold Dodge Cars Roll Off the Lot
Dodge Brand Signs Come Down
New Reed Brothers Automotive Signs Go Up
Weathering the Storms of a Century
For a resilient family business that had already weathered the Great Depression, two World Wars, and decades of shifting automotive trends, the June 2009 crisis became just another test of endurance.
The dealership rapidly adapted, rebranding itself as Reed Brothers Automotive. By pivoting to pre-owned vehicles and doubling down on its deep-rooted commitment to local drivers, the business managed to keep its doors open and its staff employed, continuing to serve the Rockville community for several more years.
While June 9, 2009, represents one of the most heartbreaking and significant dates in the city’s commercial history, it also stands as a testament to local resilience. It proved that while corporate logos may change, a business built on community trust is not easily erased.
Before Reed Brothers: The Crossroads Where Rockville Garage Began
Long before the name Reed Brothers Dodge became synonymous with automobiles in Montgomery County, the triangular piece of land at the intersection of Rockville Pike and Veirs Mill Road was already emerging as an important crossroads in Rockville’s transportation history.
Today, thousands of vehicles pass through what locals know as the “Mixing Bowl,” but more than a century ago this busy intersection was a rural gateway into town. Dirt roads, trolley tracks, horse-drawn wagons, and a handful of early automobiles shared the landscape. It was here that the story of Reed Brothers Dodge would begin.
The August 1908 Sanborn map below shows the junction of Rockville & Georgetown Turnpike and Washington Road before the Rockville Garage existed. (The future site would be the empty “point” of the triangle formed by the intersecting roads). The map reveals three two-story dwellings further back in the triangle. Letters A, B, and C in front of the dwellings are arbitrary identifications supplied by the Sanborn Map Company, as house numbers were not commonly assigned until later in the century. The fairgrounds of the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair Association (a.k.a. “Rockville Fair”) was located directly across the Rockville & Georgetown Turnpike.
This August 1908 Rockville Sanborn Map (zoomed in) shows the junction of Rockville & Georgetown Turnpike and Washington Road before the Rockville Garage existed.
The arrival of the automobile would soon change everything.
Origins of the Rockville Garage from The Montgomery County Sentinel. May 20, 1914:
Mr. Alva Ricketts has purchased the vacant lot opposite the fair grounds, in this town, from Mr. Benjamin Haney and will in the course of a few days erect upon it a garage, in which will be kept his autos for the accommodation of the traveling public.
By 1914, local businessman Alva Ricketts recognized the growing demand for automobile sales and repair services and constructed a small garage at this important junction near the Montgomery County Fairgrounds. The new business became known as Rockville Garage and initially operated as an agency for Overland automobiles. Leonidas “Lee” Ricketts and sons (Raymond, Emory, and Alva) ran the local Overland Agency at the Veirs Mill Road/Rockville Pike location from 1914-1915. The Overland Agency was short-lived: by July of 1915, Lewis Reed and brothers Robert L. and Griffith Warfield established Rockville Garage after acquiring the building from the Ricketts family. An employee of Rockville Garage in 1915, Lewis Reed purchased a one-third interest from the Warfield brothers in January 1916. Three years later, the Warfield’s conveyed the balance of the property and Lewis became the sole owner. In August of 1919, Lewis Reed’s brother Edgar joined the business, and the name of the company was changed to Reed Brothers Dodge.
Original Rockville Garage building at the intersection of Veirs Mill Rd and Rockville Pike, 1916.
Lewis Reed Enters the Picture
In 1915, 25-year-old Lewis Reed joined Robert L. and Griffith Warfield in acquiring Rockville Garage from Lee Ricketts and Sons. Reed had been working as a machinist and saw opportunity in the rapidly expanding automobile industry. The partnership continued under the Rockville Garage name, but the seeds of a much larger enterprise had been planted.
Only three years later, Lewis Reed purchased the Warfields’ interest in the business. Shortly afterward, the operation became known as Reed Brothers Dodge following the arrival of his brother, Edgar Reed. What began as a modest garage at a rural crossroads would grow into one of the oldest continuously operated Dodge dealerships in the United States.
The original owners of Rockville Garage. L-R: Roy Warfield, Lewis Reed, Griffith Warfield, 1916.
The Crossroads That Shaped A Century
Looking at historic photographs taken by Lewis Reed, it is difficult to imagine that the bustling intersection of today was once little more than a dirt road with a single gasoline pump standing in front of a small garage. Yet that humble location provided the foundation for nearly a century of automotive history.
Then & Now Comparison From Quiet Crossroads to “Mixing Bowl”. The once‑quiet junction has evolved into what locals now refer to as “the mixing bowl,” a complex web of roads, traffic signals, and near‑constant traffic.
Before there was Reed Brothers Dodge, there was Rockville Garage. And before there was Rockville Garage, there was simply a vacant lot at a crossroads where a handful of visionaries saw the future arriving on four wheels.
The story of Reed Brothers Dodge did not begin with a dealership. It began with a garage, a strategic location, and a belief that the automobile was about to change everything.
Rare 1924 Photos Capture the First Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia
Parade participants circle the racetrack as spectators view the parade from a grandstand. There was no caption on this photo, but I’m guessing it might possibly be the VMI Regimental Band. Photo by Lewis Reed, 1924
On May 3, 1924, a new tradition began in Winchester with the very first Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival– an event that would grow into one of the region’s most celebrated annual traditions.
At the time, however, it was simply a one-day community gathering. Its lasting visual record exists largely because of one person: Lewis Reed.
His photographs captured the festival as it happened, unrehearsed and unrefined. Parade units circle the fairgrounds track, spectators fill wooden grandstands, and marching bands move through the grounds with a mix of ceremony and curiosity. There is a sense of immediacy in these images, reflecting a community participating in something entirely new, without yet knowing its future significance.
The B&O Railroad had a float in the Apple Blossom Parade. Photo by Lewis Reed, 1924
A flower-laden parade float glides past the grandstand at the Winchester fairgrounds during the first Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, captured through the lens of Lewis Reed as spectators look on from the shaded pavilion.
Unlike later years, when the festival would be widely promoted and carefully documented, the 1924 celebration left behind only limited records. Reed’s photographs now stand as one of the few surviving firsthand visual accounts. Parade units circle the fairgrounds track, spectators fill the wooden grandstands, and marching bands move through the space with a sense of purpose that suggests both ceremony and curiosity. There is an immediacy to these images, an unpolished authenticity that reflects a community participating in something entirely new, without yet knowing its future significance.
Taken by Lewis Reed, this image features a grand parade float adorned with white drapery and floral garlands, carrying a court of young women in classic 1920s white gowns and wide-brimmed hats.
This photo is believed to show the inaugural Queen, Elizabeth Steck, atop her floral-draped float. This historic moment during the first Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival set the stage for a century of tradition in Winchester, Virginia.
What gives these photographs their enduring value is not simply their age, but their perspective. Lewis Reed approached photography as both a practical necessity and a form of documentation. While his work often centered on automobiles, business life, and everyday scenes, it also captured moments that would later take on deeper historical meaning.
His images of the 1924 festival preserve a fleeting beginning. They offer context for early 20th century civic celebrations and document the material culture of the time, from clothing and transportation to public gathering spaces. Without these photographs, the first Apple Blossom Festival would exist largely as a written account. With them, it becomes something far more tangible; a moment that can still be seen and experienced.
This photograph highlights the equestrian spirit of the event. A group of riders, dressed in formal white attire and matching caps, parades past the grandstands on horseback. Photo taken by Lewis Reed, 1924
This photograph captures the Pennsylvania Railroad float as it passes the grandstands. The float features a large keystone, the railroad’s iconic symbol, emblazoned with the interlocking “RR” logo. Photo by Lewis Reed.
The same rustic grandstands seen in the other photos are visible, filled with spectators watching the pageant unfold on the dirt track. Photo by Lewis Reed
Through Lewis Reed’s photography, the 1924 festival is immortalized in its most foundational form. These images do more than just record a date; they preserve the material culture of the early 20th century, documenting the precise moment when the motorized elegance of the era began to define community life. By capturing the formal attire, the rustic grandstands, and the civic pride of Winchester’s inaugural celebration, Lewis Reed ensured that the festival’s origins were not lost to the fog of memory.
Today, the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival draws thousands each year, but in 1924, it all began right here.
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Copyright Notice
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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