March 2008 Archives

March 2008

This month's column is being guest written by Sharyn Bowman of the Committee to Save the Watson House, an early 20th century residential structure currently threatened by demolition that is located in the Woodside Forest neighborhood.

Silver Spring has a rich history that spans centuries.  A house sits atop a hill at 9206 Watson Road that represents part of that history.  The Watson House was completed in 1916 for James Angus Watson and his wife, Mary Clement Watson.  It still remains essentially unaltered and is, therefore, an excellent representation of the early 20th century Dutch Colonial Revival architectural style which the Watsons chose for its design.  The house is surrounded by a low stone wall that distinguishes the entire area.

In addition to the house, the grounds on which it sits were also designed with great care by Mr. Watson.  The lot measures approximately 1.4 acres.  A special effort was made to create a natural space which the Watson family could enjoy.  This also remains largely undisturbed with many mature specimens of azalea, American holly, hemlock, Kentucky coffee tree, white pine, poplar, dogwood, and extraordinary examples of southern magnolia and crepe myrtle.