March 2009
by Jerry McCoy
Dear Mr. Leggett,
Lately there have been discussions in the county regarding whom the currently-under-construction Silver Spring civic building should be named after. The Silver Spring Historical Society would like to suggest Frank L. Hewitt, Sr. (1877-1944), a true Silver Spring "pioneer" whose life-long role as both a Silver Spring and Montgomery County civic leader contributed to the growth and vibrancy of our community today.Hewitt's story reads like a Horatio Alger story. A young man leaves his Montgomery County home in Brinklow at the dawn of the 20th century and walks the dozen miles to Rockville where he catches a train bound for Silver Spring. Arriving with only 35 cents in his pocket he described the community as no more than "a place by the side of the road," the road being the Seventh Street Pike - today's Georgia Avenue.
On the same day that he arrived Hewitt bought a grocery store -
entirely on credit - that was located on the west side of the Pike
(where today's new Silver Spring Volunteer Fire Dept. #1 is located)
and commenced business. From there he established on March 1, 1903
Hewitt Real Estate and Insurance, which remained in business for nearly
a century.
By 1906 Hewitt was named the growing community's second postmaster, remaining in this position until 1914. His home The Elms stood on the Pike and was eventually replaced by the 1936 Silver Spring Post Office, a historically designated building that still stands at 8412 Georgia Avenue.
In 1916 Hewitt was in the Army serving with Company K of the First Maryland Infantry and was assigned to Eagle Pass, TX. With the gathering of war clouds over Europe, Hewitt and fellow Silver Spring resident E. Brooke Lee reorganized the Maryland National Guard's Company K in 1917 by conducting drills in the 1914 Silver Spring Armory, another historically designated building still standing at the corner of Georgia and Silver Spring Avenue (this building was the original home of the SSVFD #1). Hewitt was among the group of men mustered into the 115th Infantry and he served admirably during World War I in France with the American Expeditionary Forces, obtaining the rank of captain.
In the 1920s Hewitt was actively engaged in real estate and building, having developed Silver Spring's Seven Oaks and Argyle Park subdivisions and being responsible for the construction of many of the fine homes that still grace Sligo Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. He also played a major role in the construction of the 1927 Masonic Temple, the prominent three-story brick building (the tallest in Silver Spring at the time!) located at 8435 Georgia Avenue.
In 1925 Hewitt was co-vice president of the Silver Spring National Bank, Silver Spring's first bank founded in 1910. This building still stands at 8252 Georgia Avenue. Three years later Hewitt was a founder of the Citizens' Building and Loan Association, which operated out of 8408 Georgia Avenue. Hewitt served as president of the association from its establishment until his death in 1944, when he passed away in his home at 8712 Colesville Road.
The legacy of Mr. Hewitt's incredible energy and devotion to Silver Spring is imbued in these many Georgia Avenue buildings constructed in the early 20th century and still occupied by small independent businesses. His service to our community, county and nation should be honored by naming Silver Spring's newest landmark the Frank L. Hewitt, Sr. Civic Building.
Silver Spring Historical Society
PO Box 1160
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-1160
301-537-1253
www.sshistory.org
Please support designation of the Frank L. Hewitt Sr. Civic Building by contacting Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett:
The Honorable Isiah Leggett
101 Monroe St.
Rockville, MD 20850-2503
ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov
240-777-2500
240-777-2544 (TTY)
240-777-2517 (f
By 1906 Hewitt was named the growing community's second postmaster, remaining in this position until 1914. His home The Elms stood on the Pike and was eventually replaced by the 1936 Silver Spring Post Office, a historically designated building that still stands at 8412 Georgia Avenue.
In 1916 Hewitt was in the Army serving with Company K of the First Maryland Infantry and was assigned to Eagle Pass, TX. With the gathering of war clouds over Europe, Hewitt and fellow Silver Spring resident E. Brooke Lee reorganized the Maryland National Guard's Company K in 1917 by conducting drills in the 1914 Silver Spring Armory, another historically designated building still standing at the corner of Georgia and Silver Spring Avenue (this building was the original home of the SSVFD #1). Hewitt was among the group of men mustered into the 115th Infantry and he served admirably during World War I in France with the American Expeditionary Forces, obtaining the rank of captain.
Members
of Co. K, Maryland National Guard perform drills in the middle of
Georgia Avenue. The 1914 Spring Armory appears in the background. The
facade shown was replaced in 1932 with the current facade of Colonial
Revival design. Photographed June 21, 1917 by Willard R. Ross
(1860-1940). Courtesy of SSHS.
In the 1920s Hewitt was actively engaged in real estate and building, having developed Silver Spring's Seven Oaks and Argyle Park subdivisions and being responsible for the construction of many of the fine homes that still grace Sligo Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. He also played a major role in the construction of the 1927 Masonic Temple, the prominent three-story brick building (the tallest in Silver Spring at the time!) located at 8435 Georgia Avenue.
In 1925 Hewitt was co-vice president of the Silver Spring National Bank, Silver Spring's first bank founded in 1910. This building still stands at 8252 Georgia Avenue. Three years later Hewitt was a founder of the Citizens' Building and Loan Association, which operated out of 8408 Georgia Avenue. Hewitt served as president of the association from its establishment until his death in 1944, when he passed away in his home at 8712 Colesville Road.
Masonic
Temple located at the corner of Georgia and Wayne Avenues. note the two
gravity feed gas pumps in front of the building. Photographed March 28,
1928 by Willard R. Ross (1860-1940) Courtesy of SSHS.
The legacy of Mr. Hewitt's incredible energy and devotion to Silver Spring is imbued in these many Georgia Avenue buildings constructed in the early 20th century and still occupied by small independent businesses. His service to our community, county and nation should be honored by naming Silver Spring's newest landmark the Frank L. Hewitt, Sr. Civic Building.
Silver Spring Historical Society
PO Box 1160
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-1160
301-537-1253
www.sshistory.org
Please support designation of the Frank L. Hewitt Sr. Civic Building by contacting Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett:
The Honorable Isiah Leggett
101 Monroe St.
Rockville, MD 20850-2503
ocemail@montgomerycountymd.gov
240-777-2500
240-777-2544 (TTY)
240-777-2517 (f
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