A Century in Contrast: Then & Now at the Conowingo Dam
As part of our ongoing “Then & Now” series, we’re journeying through time using photographs from Lewis Reed’s remarkable photo collection. These powerful comparisons highlight how much, and sometimes how little, the world around us has changed. In this installment, we turn our lens to the Conowingo Dam, where echoes of the past still linger in the present. Step back in time and see how this historic site has evolved over the past 100 years.
Conowingo Dam (THEN): The Conowingo Dam, completed in 1928, is a large hydroelectric dam on the Susquehanna River in Maryland, known for its role in power generation and its impact on the Chesapeake Bay. When completed, it was the second-largest hydroelectric project by power output in the United States, after Niagara Falls.
Power House and entrance to driveway crossing Conowingo Dam, Conowingo, Maryland. Photo by Lewis Reed, ca. 1928.
Conowingo Dam (NOW): Today, the Conowingo Dam is operated by the Susquehanna Electric Company, a part of Constellation Energy. The dam is one of the most popular destinations in the United States for seeing bald eagles. While the surrounding area is home to dozens of the eagles year-round, upwards of 200 more will migrate from places like New York and Canada, where lakes and rivers freeze over in the winter and limit fishing opportunities. Their numbers typically peak from November to January, with the eagles taking advantage of the dam’s turbines stunning fish swimming downriver to make for easy hunting. Once a fish is caught, eagles will often battle midair for it, and the spectacle attracts bird photographers from all over the world.
Conowingo Dam today. Google stock image
Source of Information: Conowingo Dam – Wikipedia
The Rockville VFD Firemen’s Carnival Revisited
Reed Brothers Dodge can be seen across the Pike in the top right corner.
Ninety-three years ago today, the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department held its very first annual carnival. The article above, from the August 20, 1953 edition of the Montgomery County Sentinel, offers a bird’s-eye view of the bustling carnival midway. Based on what I’ve uncovered from newspaper archives, the carnival got its start in 1932 and appears to have ended sometime in the early 1970s.
From The Daily News, Frederick Maryland, August 10, 1932:
At a special meeting of the department August 5 it was unanimously voted that a carnival should be held on the Fairgrounds from September 3 to 10, inclusive. The first event will be a fireman’s parade and hook-up contests with three cups being offered as prizes. Other items of interest will be the baby show, the old-fashioned square dance, and the public wedding. An automobile and fifteen cash prizes are to be given away during the carnival.
The RVFD Carnival typically ran for eight nights during the month of August, becoming the primary fundraising event for the volunteer fire department for several decades. Locals eagerly anticipated the carnival each year, drawn by the promise of rides, raffle prizes, live music, and, of course, the food. It was a place where friends reconnected, families made memories, and many local children even held their first jobs.
The Carnival Parade
The carnival parade always kicked off the celebrations and were held on the first day, with the intent of drawing the spectators to the carnival grounds. There were always a few high school bands in the lineup, and most of the floats were simple, many being your average flatbed farm wagons decorated with yards of colored crepe paper and sponsored by a local business. Following the procession, teams of 10 men each, engaged in a tug-of-war contests in front of the dancing pavilion at the fair ground.
All of the buildings, including flood lights, fencing and metal frames for carnival stands, on the 10-acre site on the Rockville Pike were permanent fixtures all year long and remained unused until the carnival. Photo credit: RVFD Photo Archives, ca. 1960s.
The Music and Performances
Music was a significant draw, with big-name country acts performing nightly at the fairgrounds. Artists such as Conway Twitty & the Twittybirds, Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens, Jimmy Dean, and Patsy Cline graced the stage. Beyond country music, the carnival offered a variety of floor shows, including trapeze artists, hillbilly comedy, Punch and Judy shows, old-fashioned hoedowns, and performances by the Jamboree Boys of television fame. Local talent, such as the Rockville Municipal Band and the Tune Twisters, also contributed to the entertainment.
Not One, Not Two, but Three…
It is exciting to note that for many years, a car was the grand prize given away at the carnival. Three spanking new automobiles were awarded to lucky ticket holders.
Automobiles were given away as Grand Awards. Photo credit: RVFD Photo Archives.
The Games
“Dime to play, dime to win, come on in!” The carnival featured classic games that offered prizes and excitement. Popular options included the Duck Pond, Dunk Tank, Rifle Range, Hoop-la, Balloon Pitch, and Teddy Bear Toss. For those seeking a challenge, there was the “High Striker” strength test and ring toss games like Lamps and Panda Bear Stand. A unique, albeit short-lived, attraction was a “guess-which-hole” mouse game, which was discontinued after a mouse escaped. Bingo was a favorite among older attendees. In 1935, county residents voted in a special referendum to allow the Fire Department and other non-profit groups to hold raffles and bingo games.
Calling Bingo at RVFD Carnival, August 1961. Photo credit: RVFD Photo Archives.
The Rides
The heart of the carnival experience was its rides. Attendees could enjoy the Ferris Wheel, Merry-Go-Round, and various “Kiddy” rides like automobiles, aeroplanes, trains, and boats. More thrilling options included the Scrambler, Octopus, Paratrooper, Tilt-a-Whirl, Loop-O-Plane, and Round Up. One of the most entertaining rides that you can go on at any carnival is called The Octopus. The arms go up and down multiple times during the ride, but it is the spinning action of the ride itself which causes the carts to automatically spin, making this one of the most fun rides ever created.
The Octopus
The Public Weddings
A unique and popular feature of the carnival was the public wedding, a tradition originated by Chief W. Valentine Wilson in 1932. These ceremonies were solemn affairs, with couples speaking their vows over a loudspeaker in view of the merry-go-round, often before thousands of onlookers. The fire department provided a $500 furniture set, wedding license, ring, minister, bridal gown, and attire for the groom and ushers. Remarkably, all 17 couples married at the carnival between 1932 and 1949 remained married, leading Fire Department General Counsel David E. Betts to suggest that the public nature of the ceremony fostered enduring love.
The Evening Star., August 17, 1949
The Food
Did I mention the food? Carnivals are a feast for the senses. The smells of food floods the air with the toasty, oily, salty smell of french fried potatoes mingled with scents of buttered popcorn, spicy pizza, burgers, hot dogs, and other tasty treats. Those french fries in a paper cone with vinegar… didn’t you just love those french fries? There was fried chicken so good it could give Colonel Sanders a run for his money. And just when you thought you couldn’t eat another bite, it was snack time. No carnival night was complete without cotton candy spun into pastel clouds or a sticky caramel apple on a stick. And of course, I can’t leave out the legendary funnel cake… golden, crispy, dusted in powdered sugar. You either loved it or you didn’t. There was no in-between.
RVFD’s Broader History and Impact
The RVFD has long been part of a broader network of volunteer fire departments across Montgomery County. Like many of its counterparts, the department depended heavily on community support and fundraising efforts to sustain its operations. Annual events such as the RVFD Carnival played a major role in raising funds and strengthening ties with the community. These carnivals were not only vital financially, but they also served as social gatherings that brought residents together.
Though the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department Carnival ended in the early 1970s, it lives on in the memories of those who experienced it. More than just a fundraiser, it was a symbol of community spirit and a tribute to the dedicated volunteers who have protected Rockville for over a century.
Sources of Information:
Library of Congress digital collection of Sanborn maps
Chronicling America digitized newspapers
Newspapers.com historical newspapers
Kensington’s First Fire Truck Turns 100
A fully restored 1925 Dodge‑Graham Brothers chemical pumper—nearly identical to Kensington’s original fire truck, delivered by Reed Brothers Dodge in August 1925.
One hundred years ago, on August 16, 1925, the Kensington (Maryland) Volunteer Fire Department received its first fire truck from Reed Brothers Dodge at a cost of $5,000, marking a pivotal step forward in the town’s public safety infrastructure. The truck itself wasn’t off-the-shelf—it was built using an innovative system known as the “Truck Builder”, a basic passenger-car platform that allowed customers to custom-design a truck to suit their needs. This approach, pioneered by the Graham Brothers and marketed by the Dodge Brothers, helped revolutionize utility vehicle manufacturing in the 1920s.
From the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department’s history webpage:
1922 was the birth of the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department. With little money, a Dodge truck was purchased from Reed Brothers Dodge in Rockville. A custom fire body was then built and fitted on the truck by Jacobs Brothers in Gaithersburg who ran the Wheelwright Shop on East Diamond Avenue. To raise money, the volunteers held carnivals. The Fire Department incorporated in 1925, and two years later moved into a permanent home in the basement of the National Guard Armory.
This article in the Evening Star, August 16, 1925, describes the fire engine ordered by Kensington.
This milestone reflects not only a key advancement in firefighting capability, but also the essential role of Reed Brothers Dodge, one of the oldest Dodge dealerships in the United States. Founded in 1915 by Lewis Reed, the dealership became a trusted name in Montgomery County for nearly a century.
As we reflect on this centennial anniversary, it’s a testament to how innovation, public service, and family-run enterprise helped shape the heart of small-town America—one custom-built fire truck at a time.
Now Available: Portrait Of An Automobile Dealer, 4th Edition
After nearly a decade in the making, the Fourth and final edition of “Portrait Of An Automobile Dealer” is now officially available through Blurb.com print-on-demand bookstore.
The journey began back in September 2012 with the release of the first edition. Self-publishing has offered the unique opportunity to continuously update and refine the book over the years, each edition building upon the last with new content, images, and historical discoveries. With complete creative control, I’ve been able to add important new research and give the book a fresh visual identity with each release.
The Second Edition was published in 2013, followed by the Third Edition in 2016, which was recognized by Peerless Rockville with the Arthur M. Wagman Award for Historic Preservation Communication. This recognition acknowledged both the book and its author for documenting and preserving the history of Reed Brothers Dodge and celebrating Rockville’s cultural heritage.
The newly released Fourth Edition marks the culmination of this project and features:
- More than 70 new images
- A new cover image and dust jacket color to distinguish it from previous editions
- Updated and confirmed historical dates and events
- Freshly uncovered material from the now-digitized Montgomery County Sentinel
These new additions make this final edition the most complete and definitive account of Reed Brothers Dodge to date. Whether you’re a returning reader or discovering the story for the first time, this edition offers a rich, visual, and thoroughly researched journey through one of Montgomery County’s most enduring automotive legacies.
The book “Portrait Of An Automobile Dealer, Fourth Edition” is available through Blurb.com print-on-demand bookstore. If you would like to check out the hard copy book or purchase a copy, please visit: https://www.blurb.com/b/12491295-portrait-of-an-automobile-dealer-fourth-edition
You can preview the entire book on the site, just click the “Preview” button under the cover image. It looks best full screen, and you can flip through the pages by clicking the bottom corners.
A Note About Pricing: You’ll notice that the price of the book is higher than usual. That’s because it’s printed using “print on demand” technology. This means each book is made one at a time, only when someone places an order. Unlike traditional printing it’s a more flexible option, especially for smaller projects like this one; but it does make the cost per book higher. The book is not priced for profit; it’s sold strictly at its base production cost, with no markup or additional fees.
ChatGPT Reviews This Blog
Preface: When I set out to ask ChatGPT to read and review the Reed Brothers Dodge History blog, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But what I actually got in return was something far more thoughtful and insightful than I ever imagined. To say I was surprised would be an understatement. Note: It took ChatGPT about 3 seconds to do both read and write!
What follows is the review straight from the AI:
In a quiet corner of the internet, nestled among the usual sea of car reviews and dealership promotions, exists a gem of a blog that tells a story few others can. Reed Brothers Dodge History 1915–2012 isn’t just about cars—it’s about legacy, resilience, and the remarkable transformation of one family’s business over the course of nearly a century.
The blog is the work of Jeanne Gartner, granddaughter of Lewis Reed, the founder of Reed Brothers Dodge in Rockville, Maryland. With every post, Jeanne breathes life into a history that could have easily faded with time. Instead, she has curated a living archive—one that not only honors her family’s deep ties to the community but also reflects a changing America.
From the moment you begin reading, it becomes clear that this is more than a timeline. It’s a chronicle that starts in 1915 when Lewis Reed opened one of the first Dodge dealerships in the state of Maryland. Through two World Wars, the Great Depression, and the dawn of the digital age, the dealership evolved, grew, and weathered every storm. Jeanne captures this journey with a historian’s care and a granddaughter’s heart.
Each post is a window into the past. The blog is richly illustrated with historic photographs, vintage advertisements, Sanborn maps, and newspaper clippings. You’ll find Gulf gas stations with beautifully Art Deco styling, early car wash innovations called “Auto Wash Bowls,” and stories of Reed Brothers selling not just Dodge automobiles but motorcycles, school buses, and even farming equipment. There’s a real joy in seeing the dealership’s evolving showroom floor over the decades and the ways in which the business stayed ahead of the curve.
But what makes this blog stand out is its humanity. Jeanne doesn’t just post facts; she shares memories. She writes about her own experiences, her family’s milestones, and even the emotional goodbye when the dealership closed in 2012 after 97 years. There’s a warmth in her words that invites readers to not only learn but to feel—to understand what it meant to be part of something bigger than just selling cars.
Beyond the walls of the dealership, Jeanne explores the broader story of Rockville, Maryland. She uncovers how a small connector road behind the business, once known as “Cadiz Alley,” was renamed “Dodge Street” in 1941 in honor of Reed Brothers. She documents how women were hired to manage wartime gasoline rations and how a community came together for events sponsored by the dealership. It’s a local history blog as much as it is a business chronicle.
The impact of Reed Brothers Dodge History hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2016, Jeanne received the Arthur M. Wagman Award for Historic Preservation Communication, a well-earned recognition of her dedication to keeping this story alive for future generations.
Of course, no blog is without room to grow. A built-in search function or an interactive timeline could make navigating the vast content a bit easier. But these are minor considerations compared to the depth and quality of the storytelling.
In the end, Reed Brothers Dodge History 1915–2012 isn’t just for car enthusiasts or historians. It’s for anyone who believes that history lives in the details—that stories matter—and that honoring the past helps shape our understanding of the present.
Whether you’re a longtime Rockville resident, a fan of vintage automobiles, or simply someone who loves a good American story, this blog is well worth a read. It’s not just a tribute to a business—it’s a celebration of a life’s work, a family’s legacy, and the enduring power of memory.
Closing thoughts: Using ChatGPT to review this blog was a leap into the unknown and turned out to be more insightful than I expected. It not only understood the heart of the story, but recognized the legacy behind it. For me, having the story appreciated by both human readers and AI feels like a meaningful tribute to both the past and the present… and that’s pretty amazing.
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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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