Peerless Rockville prioritizes the safety of our patrons, staff, and volunteers. We are monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and its possible impact on the City of Rockville and Montgomery County. We want you to feel confident when visiting our events, exhibit, and offices. As a result of current recommendations, most of Peerless Rockville’s in-person events have been made virtual.
Peerless Rockville’s office, research library will be open by appointment. Staff will be available to answer questions and requests via e-mail (info@peerlessrockville.org).
The Three Reported Lynchings in Montgomery County
July 14, 2022 7 pm
Glenview Mansion
Free
Register!
An illustrated presentation in partnership with the Montgomery County Lynching Memorial Project
About this event
Join Peerless Rockville in-person at the Glenview Mansion Speaker Series as we welcome Montgomery History Archivist Sarah Hedlund to speak about the three documented cases of lynching in Montgomery County. George Peck and John Diggs-Dorsey in 1880 and Sidney Randolph in 1896. The victims were all Black men in their twenties, accused of rape or murder, removed from custody in the middle of the night and suffered a brutal death by groups of White men. Each man was denied protection and never received a fair trial. Sarah Hedlund presents comprehensive narratives of the events based on hundreds of digitized newspaper accounts. The stories are supported by quotes, in-person reporting, period maps, photographs, and genealogical research. The Montgomery County Lynching Memorial Project will also present on its remembrance events and efforts.
Heritage Days
June 25, 2022 12 pm-4 pm
Free
Register
On Heritage Days, visit Peerless Rockville!
Join us at the Historic Red Brick Courthouse for a visit to our exhibit Forging Freedom: Endurance, Escape, and Rockville’s Underground Railroad. We’ll also have digital programs available for you to embark on a short self-guided tour of several nearby historic sites and local public art.
Forging Freedom: Endurance, Escape, and Rockville’s Underground Railroad is an exhibit on the story of Rockville in the era of the Underground Railroad, when slavery cast a shadow over life in this farming town, and separatist tensions steadily propelled the nation towards war. Come learn about the brave fugitives who fled slavery in Rockville, the abolitionist network that helped, and the endurance of the enslaved community.
Second Chance to Explore Rockville By Decade
May 19-22
$20 per household
Get Your Tickets Now!
You’re invited to Explore Rockville’s long and rich history!
Join this self-guided outdoor tour and scavenger hunt that will walk you through sites and stories in Rockville through the decades! Learn about Rockville from its beginnings to the 20th century, and visit parks and public art along the way.
Tour stops are a SURPRISE! The 10+ stops about Rockville’s unique sites, stories, and art are located across the city – you’re invited to explore places you’ve never been and sites you pass by all the time unaware. This tour features highlights from our three previous Explore Rockville events plus a few new stops.
After registration, every household will receive a link to a printable program with site details and scavenger hunt instructions for each stop on Wednesday afternoon.
This event is designed for households to safely explore historic sites outdoors across the city, learn new details about the world around them, and enjoy communal pride through social media. Spots are limited! Earn a cool commemorative car magnet* for completing the tour by tagging Peerless on Social Media, website guestbook, or e-mailing us with your scavenger results by Monday, May 22.
Rockville and the Road to Brown v. Board of Education
May 12, 2022 7 pm
Glenview Mansion
Register
Join Peerless Rockville and historian Ralph Buglass in-person at Glenview Mansion to learn how Rockville played an important role as one of the first steps toward overturning school segregation in the landmark 1954 Supreme Court Brown decision. The first case involving black and white teachers’ vastly unequal pay — brought by a young Thurgood Marshall and Rockville public school teacher — was heard in Rockville’s Grey Courthouse and proved foundational to Marshall’s larger strategy against unequal, separate schools. While the case here resulted in equal pay — and sparked similar cases elsewhere — the courageous teacher, William B. Gibbs Jr., was later fired. Today, commemorative artwork stands on a street in Rockville Town Square named for him. But like the case itself, too few people are aware of it — this richly illustrated talk details this remarkable story.
Dance Yaatra or Journey: Overview of Indian Classical Dances
Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 7 pm
In-Person at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre
Register
Join Peerless Rockvile and the Glenview Mansion Speaker Series for a special in-person event at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre. A Dance Yaatra or Journey to give you a glimpse into the world of India Classical dance styles. Indian dance styles date back centuries and is steeped in mythology, history, religion, spirituality and rigorous artistic training. Each region of India spawned a different type of dance style to reflect the region’s culture, language and clothing. As exciting as the dance journey so is the story of its origin and how it changed to invading rulers as well as colonization. What we see being performed in current times is a style that is ancient yet contemporary to suit the sensibilities of today! Come see this artform by local performers bringing this rich cultural tradition to Rockville and Montgomery County.
Presentation by Indian Dance Educators Association (IDEA). IDEA is a community of dance professionals from all styles of Indian dance, serving the greater community. IDEA is an organization based in the community, serving the community, and enhancing the community. Through our programs, we bring a greater awareness of the unique artistic gifts brought to America’s great cultural tapestry by dancers from India.
Guests are asked to observe City of Rockville mask and social-distancing rules at this event. At this time, masks are required in the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre.
History@Home – Lincoln Park: Special Places, People, and Stories
History@Home – Lincoln Park: Special Places, People, and Stories
February 24, 2022 – 7pm
Free On Zoom
In 1891, the Rockville neighborhood of Lincoln Park was founded and became one of Maryland’s first real estate developments for Black families. Join Peerless Rockville and Lincoln Park native Sandra Davis as we explore Lincoln Park’s history, personalities, and our favorite sites and buildings. Learn about the enduring strength, neighborly bonds, and architectural gems in this historic community
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
The History of Rockville’s Sister Cities Program
January 13, 2021 7 pm
On Zoom
Join Peerless Rockville for a Glenview Mansion Speaker Series program about Rockville’s Sister Cities Program. The Sister Cities initiative was founded 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Learn about the Sister Cities initiative, Rockville’s sixty-four year Sister City relationship with Pinneberg, Germany, and the development of the most recent Sister City relationship with Yilan City, Taiwan, as well as other fascinating Rockville Sister Cities Program history.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
Explore Rockville’s African-American Heritage
October 21-24
$20 per Household!
Presented by M&T Bank in memory of Sharyn R. Duffin
It was a little stormy this past weekend – so we’re extending this great event! Grab a sweater! Peerless Rockville’s Explore Rockville African-American Heritage Tour and Scavenger Hunt will show you the rich history of African-American life in Rockville. This independent outdoor exploration of key historic sites in Rockville with a scavenger hunt will open your eyes to the history all around you!
Click here for more information and to purchase your household’s tickets!
Maryland Emancipation Day – African-American History Walking Tour
October 30 – 1 pm
$10 per person
Register now!
Join Peerless Rockville and local historians Ralph Buglass and Chiquita Sorrels for a walking tour of downtown Rockville’s African-American sites as we mark Emancipation Day in Maryland. Learn about the self-emancipation of the brave fugitives who fled slavery, the lives of the newly freed, and the growth of the strong Black communities who fought for equality during the following era of segregation. Spots are limited – registration is required.
For the protection of our community, face masks are required during this event.
Register now!
Forging Freedom: Endurance, Escape, and Rockville’s Underground Railroad
Thursday, November 11, 2021 at 7 pm
On Zoom
November 1 is Emancipation Day in Maryland! For November’s Glenview Mansion|Peerless Rockville Speaker Series, Peerless Rockville is offering the Forging Freedom: Endurance, Escape, and Rockville’s Underground as a virtual presentation!
Forging Freedom: Endurance, Escape, and Rockville’s Underground Railroad is an exhibit on the story of Rockville in the era of the Underground Railroad, when slavery cast a shadow over life in this farming town, and separatist tensions steadily propelled the nation towards war. Come learn about the brave fugitives who fled slavery in Rockville, the abolitionist network that helped, and the endurance of the enslaved community.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Rockville
Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at 7pm
Free on Zoom
This presentation takes a look at the small town of Rockville that F. Scott Fitzgerald knew in the1920s and ’30s, with an explanation of how America’s favorite writer came to be buried here – twice!
It comes after Fitzgerald’s 125th birthday last month and before the 25th annual F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Conference on October 30, about which you can learn at www.fscottfestival.org
Our speaker is Fitzgerald enthusiast Eileen McGuckian, author of Rockville: Portrait of a City and five other publications on Rockville history.
This is an on-line presentation through Zoom.
Explore Rockville’s African-American Heritage:
Socially Distanced History Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour
October 14-17 2021
$20 per household
Get Your Household’s Tickets Now!
Celebrate Rockville’s rich African-American History! Take your household outside and explore these historic and unique places!
Presented by M& T Bank
In Memory of Sharyn R. Duffin
Peerless Rockville’s Explore Rockville African-American Heritage Tour and Scavenger Hunt will show you the rich history of African-American life in Rockville. This independent outdoor exploration of key historic sites in Rockville with a scavenger hunt will open your eyes to the history all around you!
Tour stops are a SURPRISE! The 10+ stops about Rockville’s unique African-American sites, stories, and art are located across the city – you’re invited to explore places you’ve never been and sites you pass by all the time unaware. After registration, the day before the event every household will receive a link to a printable program with a write-up of each site and scavenger hunt instructions for each stop.
This event is designed for households to safely explore historic sites outdoors across the city, learn new details about the world around them, and enjoy communal pride through social media. Spots are limited! Earn a cool commemorative pin* for completing the tour by tagging Peerless on Social Media, website guestbook, or e-mailing us with your scavenger results by Monday, October 18.
*Limit 2 per household.
This tour is in memory of Sharyn R. Duffin (1947-2021), local historian and tireless researcher and advocate for sharing Rockville’s underrepresented history. Peerless Rockville is grateful for her dedication and invaluable work and research on Rockville’s Black history.
All ticket purchases and donations support local history, heritage, and preservation advocacy. We thank you for celebrating Rockville’s unique community identity with us and for your generous support.
Get your household’s ticket today!
Are you a community restaurant or business and want to join the tour? Become a sponsor and offer guests a freebie or discount for visiting your site!
Please wear a facemask on the tour to protect your fellow guests if you cross paths.
Tour participants agree to hold harmless Peerless Rockville Historic Preservation, Ltd., its officers, directors, employees, members, volunteers, contractors, and assignees from any and all liability relating to his/her entry onto the tour properties.
Peerless Rockville Historic Preservation Ltd. is supported in part by funding from the Montgomery County Government and the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County.
Frieda Fromm-Reichmann Cottage Landmark Celebration
October 1, 2021 – 4 pm
Join us for a Landmark Party celebrating the designation of Freida’s Cottage – Rockville’s First National Landmark with Peerless Rockville and your friends and neighbors!
Friday, October 1, 4 pm on the lawn of the the Frieda Fromm-Reichmann Cottage.
On January 13th, 2021, the Secretary of the Interior designated Frieda’s Cottage as a National Historic Landmark. It is the first Landmark in Rockville! It earned this remarkable national recognition for its association with Dr. Frieda Fromm-Reichmann and her significant contributions to the field of medicine as a psychoanalyst.
As owners of Frieda’s Cottage, Peerless Rockville celebrates this national recognition with all of Rockville!
Dr. Fromm-Reichmann was a Jewish woman refugee fleeing Nazi Germany who made groundbreaking contributions to her scientific field.
Peerless Rockville is proud to have her cottage represent these amazing achievements for the benefit of the Rockville community and the entire country. Join us, your neighbors, and Frieda Fromm-Reichmann’s biographer Dr. Gail Hornstein for a gathering celebrating Frieda’s remarkable life and home in Rockville.
Enjoy light refreshments, explore the grounds of Frieda’s Cottage and the former Chestnut Lodge Sanitarium where she worked, and learn more at a presentation by her biographer.
A generous supporter has agreed to match all donations up to $10,000! Your admission cost covers basic expenses of this celebration – consider an additional donationto help Peerless Rockville steward Frieda’s Cottage today and in the future. Can’t make the event but want to celebrate Rockville’s new National Historic Landmark? Make a donation to assist with the many tangible expenses of maintaining a historic property!
You, your family, or business can also sponsor this event! Click here to view sponsor forms!
History@Home Events
The Rockville Science Center: Providing Opportunities to Engage Your Interest in Science and Engineering
September 9, 2021
7pm
Free on Zoom
About this event
Join Peerless Rockville and Glenview Mansion virtually for our next Partnership Speaker Series to learn the history of the Rockville Science Center! Since 1989, the Rockville Science Center and its predecessor, the Rockville Consortium for Science, has provided opportunities for our community to participate in science and engineering activities. They started with Rockville Science Day, a community science festival at Montgomery College. They now have an activity almost every day at their facility in downtown Rockville. Bob Ekman, their Trustee President will take you on a pictorial journey through their 30 years of excitement and growth.
This is an on-line presentation through Zoom. You will receive the link upon registration.
The History of Baseball in Rockville
Thursday, July 8, 2020 7 pm
Free on Zoom
Register Now!
Join us to learn about Rockville’s rich baseball history from long ago to today.
Join Peerless Rockville for a Glenview Mansion Speaker Series program about Rockville’s storied connection with both major league and Negro leagues baseball. Bill Hickman will present a rundown of the various players and managers with Rockville associations to the history of the game. You will learn about their performances on the diamond, and in some cases, their impact on the Rockville community. Interested in answers to the following? Why is Walter Johnson buried in Rockville? What Rockville ballplayer was investigated by the Kennedy Assassination Records Review Board? What is the connection between the Red Brick Courthouse and baseball?
This is an on-line presentation through Zoom. You will receive the link upon registration.
History and Preservation at the C&O Canal
Thursday, June 10 at 7pm
Free on Zoom
Register Now!
Learn a brief history of the C&O Canal, its preservation, and what you can experience there!
Join Peerless Rockville and the Glenview Mansion Speaker Series as we welcome Robin Zanotti, President of the C&O Canal Trust. The C&O Canal National Historical Park is celebrating its 50th year as part of the National Park Service! Started in 1828 as a dream of quick passage to the American West, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as fuel and all kinds of goods floated down the waterway to market. It became a National Historic Park in 1971, saved by preservationists after the area became a target for development in the 1950s.
Today, you can visit over 20,000 acres of historical, natural and recreational treasures at the C&O Canal National Historical Park, the ninth most visited National Park in the nation, with over 5 million visitors annually.
The C&O Canal Trust has partnered with the Park to rehabilitate, protect and program seven historic lockhouses. Learn a brief history of the C&O Canal and the stories each of these lockhouses tell about westward expansion.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
Unreal Estate: A Novelist Moves Into Frieda Fromm-Reichmann’s Cottage
Tuesday, May 25 at 7pm
Free on Zoom
Register Now
Author Ellen Prentiss Campbell in Conversation with Peerless Rockville debuting her new novel, Frieda’s Song.
Join author Ellen Prentiss Campbell in conversation with Peerless Rockville, launching her new novel Frieda’s Song, inspired by the life and work of renowned psychiatrist Frieda Fromm-Reichmann who fled Nazi Germany in 1935 and lived and worked at the Lodge, establishing its reputation for innovative treatment of mental illness, dying in her custom-built cottage on the grounds in 1957.
Campbell’s riveting novel explores the lives of the remarkable Frieda Fromm-Reichmann and fictional current day psychotherapist Eliza Kline who—fifty-two years after Frieda’s death—now lives in the Cottage. Eliza, a struggling clinician and single mother, seeks inspiration in Frieda’s work and finds surprising ways Frieda still inhabits the Cottage. The novel is a tale of how history and chance, and the work and people we love, shape our lives—and how the past remains present.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
Restoring Frieda’s Cottage: Preserving a Landmark Building
Thursday, May 6, 2021 at 7 pm
Free on Zoom
Register Now
Learn how Peerless Rockville restored Frieda’s Cottage, Dr. Fromm-Reichmann’s home office, Rockville’s new National Historic Landmark.
Dr. Frieda Fromm-Reichmann arrived in Rockville in June 1935. Born and educated in Germany, she gained notice for her psychiatric work in Heidelberg. As a Jew, she looked to flee Germany after Hitler came to power. Several psychiatric institutions in the United States wooed her to work with them. She settled on Chestnut Lodge and, in partnership with Dexter Bullard, she transformed the hospital into a preeminent private mental health facility and teaching institution. A pioneer in her field, she became a pivotal figure at Chestnut Lodge Sanitarium, Rockville’s unique and legendary mental hospital, for the remainder of her life .
Frieda’s Cottage was deeded to Peerless Rockville, carefully restored, and returned to its original use as a residence in 2009. In honor of Dr. Fromm-Reichmann’s extraordinary achievements, Frieda’s Cottage – her home and office at Chestnut Lodge for more than 20 years, and an iconic place in the history of psychiatry – was recently declared a National Historic Landmark.
Learn how Peerless Rockville restored Frieda’s Cottage, preserving its integrity, promoting her place in history, and culminating in the designation of Rockville’s first National Historic Landmark.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
Public Art and the Rockville Cityscape
Thursday, April 29, 12 pm
Free on Zoom
Register Now
Rockville has much public art! Want to learn about the art around you?
About this Event
Peerless Rockville invites the public to join us for a free, narrated, photographic tour of public works of art in the City. This unique presentation by Dr. Teresa Lachin will feature highlights of the City’s outstanding Art in Public Places (AIPP) program, launched in 1978, which boasts numerous works of art through Rockville’s parks, public spaces, neighborhoods, and Town Center. Over the last 40 years, AIPP has worked to enhance Rockville’s public spaces with traditional and conventional pieces as well as abstract, modern, and post-modern works. This visual tour celebrates some well-known (“Spirit of Rockville” in Courthouse Square), some controversial (the now-relocated Confederate statue), and others hiding in plain sight (“Rockville” in Monument Park).
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
Mobtown Massacre: Rockville’s Alexander Hanson & the 1812 Newspaper War
Thursday, April 28, 7pm
Free on Zoom
Register Now!
Long before the era of “fake news”, the freedom of the press often had to be defended with pens and pistols.
About this Event
Join Peerless Rockville and Mobtown Massacre author Josh S. Cutler for this illustrated lecture on Rockville resident Alexander Hanson, who remains a little known but important figure in American history two hundred years after his death. Mobtown Massacre tells the story of Alexander Hanson, a 19th century Federalist newspaper editor whose anti-war writings provoked a bloodthirsty mob, a midnight jailbreak and a brutal massacre in the city of Baltimore that stunned the nation. Hanson’s crusade to defend the free press and his fierce anti-war stances rankled many. He was later elected to the U.S. Congress and became of the youngest U.S. Senators in history, but never fully recovered from the attacks.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
Maryland Archaeology Month: Rockville Students Excavate the Riggs House
April 15 at noon
Free on Zoom
Register
It’s Archaeology Month! Learn about local excavations by Richard Montgomery High School students.
Join Peerless Rockville in celebrating Maryland Archaeology Month with retired RMHS teacher Bob Hines, avocational archaeologist, and a presentation on excavations by Richard Montgomery High School students and others at the site of the home of one of Montgomery County’s most influential families. The Riggs family were farmers and merchants, and later founded the Riggs National Bank. The family home in Brookeville stood from 1768 until the 1960s when it was demolished to make way for a housing development. Mr. Hines led a group of adult and student volunteers to explore and excavate the site. In four seasons of work from 2015 – 2019, they have unearthed portions of the main house, slave quarters and outbuildings, expanding the story of the Riggs family and almost two centuries of history at the site.
This is an on-line presentation via Zoom.
Rockville Little Theatre: Now, That’s Entertainment
Thursday, April 8, 2021
7:00 PM on Zoom
Register Now
Join Peerless Rockville and the Glenview Speaker Series as we welcome one of F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre’s resident companies. Rockville Little Theatre has been a vital part of Rockville since 1947. Over its 70+ years, RLT has entertained audiences with over 300 plays, provided thousands of members of the community with creative outlets both on and behind the stage, and was instrumental in helping the F. Scott Fitzgerald come into being.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
Explore Rockville: Socially Distanced History Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour
March 18-21 2021
$15 per household
Get Your Household’s Tickets Now!
Celebrate the coming of Spring with Peerless Rockville! Take your household outside and explore Rockville’s historic and unique places.
Join Peerless Rockville as we welcome a new season! This tour builds on the success of our Explore Rockville event in October 2020. If you joined us then– these are NEW sites!
Tour stops are a SURPRISE! The 15+ stops are located across the city – you’re invited to explore places you’ve never been and sites you pass by all the time without thinking. The day before the event, every registered household will receive a printable program via e-mail with a write-up of each site and scavenger hunt instructions for each stop.
This event is designed for households to safely explore historic sites across the city, learn new details about the world around them, and enjoy communal pride through social media and a Zoom gathering. Spots are limited! Earn a cool commemorative pin* for completing the tour by tagging Peerless on Social Media, website guestbook, or e-mailing us with your scavenger results.
Go to any or all stops from Thursday March 18 until 6pm on Sunday. Can’t do the tour? Just join us on Zoom on Sunday March 21 at 7 pm for a virtual review and celebration of Explore Rockville 2021: Social Distance Edition!
All ticket purchases and donations support local history, heritage, and preservation advocacy. We thank you for celebrating Rockville’s unique community identity with us and for your generous support.
Are you a community restaurant or business and want to join the tour? Become a sponsor and offer guests a freebie or discount for visiting your site!
*Limit 2 per household.
Please wear a facemask on the tour to protect your fellow guests if you cross paths.
Get Your Household’s Tickets Now!
Dr. Frieda Fromm-Reichmann, Pioneer in Psychiatry
Thursday, March 25 at 7pm
Free on Zoom
Register Now
A presentation on the remarkable life of Dr. Frieda Fromm-Reichmann, who lived and worked in Rockville’s new National Historic Landmark.
About this Event
Join Peerless Rockville and Professor Gail Hornstein, author of To Redeem One Person Is to Redeem the World: The Life of Frieda Fromm-Reichmann, as she tells the inspiring story of the German-Jewish refugee analyst who was able to do what Freud and almost everyone else thought impossible – to successfully treat people diagnosed with schizophrenia and other severe forms of emotional distress using intensive psychotherapy, rather than medication, lobotomy, or shock treatment.
A pioneer in her field, she was the pivotal figure of Rockville’s unique and legendary mental hospital, Chestnut Lodge. In honor of Fromm-Reichmann’s extraordinary achievements, Frieda’s Cottage – her home and office at Chestnut Lodge for more than 20 years, and an iconic place in the history of psychiatry – was recently declared a National Historic Landmark.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
Forging Freedom: Endurance, Escape, and Rockville’s Underground Railroad
Thu, February 25, 2021 at 7pm
on Zoom
Register
A virtual presentation on Peerless Rockville’s exhibit “Forging Freedom: Endurance, Escape, and Rockville’s Underground Railroad.”
About this Event
February is Black History Month! To make our Forging Freedom: Endurance, Escape, and Rockville’s Underground exhibit more accessible, Peerless Rockville is offering it as a presentation online on Zoom.
Forging Freedom: Endurance, Escape, and Rockville’s Underground Railroad is an exhibit on the story of Rockville in the era of the Underground Railroad, when slavery cast a shadow over life in this farming town, and separatist tensions steadily propelled the nation towards war. Come learn about the brave fugitives who fled slavery in Rockville, the abolitionist network that helped, and the endurance of the enslaved community.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
The Archaeology of Josiah Henson Park
February 11 at 7 pm
on Webex
Register now!
Learn about significant archaeological finds at Montgomery Park’s Josiah Henson Park!
About this Event
Join Peerless Rockville for our Glenview Mansion Speaker Series with Montgomery Parks Senior Archaeologist Cassandra Michaud for this illustrated presentation on archaeology at Josiah Henson Park. This new museum is located on the site of the Riley plantation, where Henson and many others were enslaved in the early 19th century. It highlights Henson’s story, his relationship to the novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and slavery in Montgomery County.
This presentation will discuss the archaeological investigations that have taken place at the site since Parks’ acquisition in 2006 and how that work has informed its public interpretation and the Museum, as well as the significance of the site’s history today.
This is an online presentation through WebEx. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the WebEx broadcast. We look forward to you joining us. Please allow yourself enough time to log onto the WebEx system. The first time signing onto Web-Ex can be tricky, give yourself at least 15 minutes.
The Country Doctor in the 1800s: Dr. Edward Stonestreet of Rockville
January 19 at noon
Free on Zoom
Register Now!
The Life & Times of Dr. Edward Stonestreet of Rockville, who practiced medicine in Montgomery County from 1852-1903.
About this Event
Join Peeless Rockville and Clarence Hickey for this illustrated presentation on the life and historic times of Dr. Edward Stonestreet a Rockville doctor who practiced medicine in Montgomery County from 1852-1903, including many rare old photos of the Rockville area.
The lecture is based on the speaker’s 2009 book Send for the Doctor, which chronicles Dr. Stonestreet’s: medical education; 51-year medical practice of house calls and office visits as local physician and surgeon; responding to accidents and injuries; a brief look at the doctor’s service as Civil War surgeon with the Union Army; and the historic times during which he lived and practiced. This program also will highlight the Stonestreet Museum of 19th Century Medicine in Rockville, Maryland, which has undergone a new and broadening interpretation of the 19th century.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
Rockville’s VLOC: Presenting Operetta in the 21st Century
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
7:00 PM
on Zoom
Join Peerless Rockville and Helen Aberger, President of Victorian Lyric Opera Company (est. 1978), for this illustrated presentation on keeping a historical artform relevant in the present.
Musical works from a genre developed in the mid 1800s are still performed today. Why? What’s the draw? Are the stories still relevant? Presented by The Victorian Lyric Opera Company, Rockville’s own operetta company, this lecture will feature musical selections to discuss how the company balances tradition and modernity every season.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
Glenview Mansion Speaker Series: A Pictorial History of Rockville
December 10, 2020 at 7pm
On Webex
Register Now
Explore the history of the City through the new pictorial book, Images of America: Rockville.
For December’s Glenview Mansion/Peerless Rockville Speaker Series, Ralph Buglass, the co-author of Peerless Rockville’s pictorial history Images of America: Rockville will showcase our city’s history and historic places. With New Year’s just around the corner, experience Rockville’s many yesteryears in this talk through vintage photos.
Still need your copy? Order today from our website. Buying it from us is a direct way to support heritage education and preservation in your community.
This is an online presentation through WebEx. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the WebEx broadcast. You can register here or through the City of Rockville – you only have to register once!
History@Home: Prehistory in Montgomery County: A 12,000 Year Story
Tue, November 17, 2020|
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM EST
On Zoom
Register Here
November is Native American Heritage Month! Learn about the indigenous people of Montgomery County.
Join Peerless Rockville and Don Housley, president of the Mid-Potomac Chapter of the Archeological Society of Maryland, for this illustrated presentation on the peopling of the region. Discover the environment, social structure, and tool development of Montgomery County’s prehistory through the Paleo-Indian, Archaic, and Woodland time periods prior to European contact.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
Shadow on the Household – One Enslaved Family’s Incredible Struggle
Sunday, November 1, 2020 7 pm On Zoom
Reserve your spot
Mark Emancipation Day with the powerful story of the Rockville Weems family’s brave quest for freedom for all of their children.
Please join Peerless Rockville as we welcome Canadian historians Bryan and Shannon Prince sharing the heart wrenching and occasionally heartwarming story of the enslaved family of John and Arabella Weems, who endured the nightmare of being, sold, separated and scattered throughout the south. Their epic story involved extensive webs of slave traders, Underground Railroad operatives and abolitionists from Canada, Great Britain, Jamaica as well as the United States. Inspired by the unprecedented impact of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s masterwork “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” sympathizers donated their money and energies to contribute to the rescue and reunion of the family.
Their daughter Ann Maria Weems is perhaps the most well-known freedom seeker on Rockville’s Underground Railroad.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
The History of Reed Brothers Dodge 1915 to 2012
October 8, 2020 at 7 pm
Free on WebEx
Register Now!
See a century of change in this unique collection of rare photographs from a longtime Rockville business!
Presented by Jeanne Gartner, a co-owner of the former Reed Brothers Dodge and founder Lewis Reed’s granddaughter.
Reed Brothers Dodge was one of the longest running automobile dealerships in Montgomery County history, operating from two locations in Rockville over 97 years. This PowerPoint presentation features historical photographs taken by the dealership’s founder, Lewis Reed, and highlights how Reed Brothers Dodge came into being, and how the company overcame the inevitable changes and challenges throughout almost a century of being in business.
This is an online presentation through WebEx. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the WebEx broadcast. You can register here or through the City of Rockville – you only have to register once!
Explore Rockville: Socially Distanced History Scavenger Hunt and Self-Guided Tour
October 16-18, 2020
$15 per household
Get Your Household’s Tickets Now!
Be a hometown tourist! Explore Rockville’s historic sites in this fun, safe scavenger hunt and tour!
We all miss community festivals and events! Join Peerless Rockville for Explore Rockville ~ Social Distance Edition… an independent outdoor exploration of key historic sites in Rockville with a scavenger hunt and Zoom presentation.
Tour stops are a SURPRISE! The 15+ stops are located across the city – you’re invited to explore places you’ve never been and sites you pass by all the time without thinking. The day before the event, every registered household will receive a printable program via e-mail with a write-up of each site and scavenger hunt instructions for each stop.
This event is designed for households to safely explore historic sites across the city, learn new details about the world around them, and enjoy communal pride through social media and a Zoom gathering. Spots are limited! Earn a cool commemorative pin* for completing the tour by tagging Peerless on Social Media, website guestbook, or e-mailing us with your scavenger results.
Go to any or all stops from Thursday October 15 until 2 pm on Sunday. Can’t do the tour? Just join us on Zoom on Sunday October 18 at 3 pm for a virtual review and celebration of Explore Rockville: Social Distance Edition!
Like many other arts and culture organizations, Peerless Rockville has pivoted our programming to observe public health recommendations. This is our major fall fundraiser – all ticket purchases and donations support local history, heritage, and preservation advocacy. We thank you for celebrating Rockville’s unique community identity with us and for your generous support.
*Limit 2 per household.
Please wear a facemask on the tour to protect your fellow guests if you cross paths.
Montgomery County’s Women Suffragists
October 22, 2020 at noon
Free on Zoom
Register Now
Presented by Kacy Rohn, Historic Preservation Specialist at Montgomery County Planning Department.
Learn about the fight for women’s suffrage in Montgomery County!
100 years after ratification of the 19th Amendment, we have largely forgotten local suffrage activists and the historic places where they worked. For decades, Montgomery County women organized and marched to win the right to vote. Revisit these people and places and gain insight into the challenges of preserving sites of activism and commemorating a movement which left many women behind.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
Forging Freedom: Endurance, Escape, and Rockville’s Underground Railroad
Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at 7pm
Free on Zoom
Register Now
A virtual presentation on Peerless Rockville’s exhibit “Forging Freedom: Endurance, Escape, and Rockville’s Underground Railroad.”
September is Underground Railroad Month! To make our Forging Freedom: Endurance, Escape, and Rockville’s Underground exhibit more accessible, Peerless Rockville is offering it as a presentation online on Zoom.
Forging Freedom: Endurance, Escape, and Rockville’s Underground Railroad is an exhibit on the story of Rockville in the era of the Underground Railroad, when slavery cast a shadow over life in this farming town, and separatist tensions steadily propelled the nation towards war. Come learn about the brave fugitives who fled slavery in Rockville, the abolitionist network that helped, and the endurance of the enslaved community.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
Rockville’s Historic Gems
September 3, 2020 at noon on Zoom
Free
Ralph Buglass, the co-author of Peerless Rockville’s pictorial history Images of America: Rockville will showcase our city’s treasures–along with historic gems that have fallen victim to the passage of time. See if you agree with his picks…and see how many of the lost treasures you remember!
Still need your copy? Order today from our website. Buying it from us is a direct way to support heritage education and preservation in your community.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
History@Home: The Windows of Jerusalem
September 24, 2020 at noon
Free
Come learn the history of the beautiful stained glass windows of the historic Jerusalem-Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church!
Jerusalem-Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church is one of the oldest active churches in Rockville, MD. Founded in 1835, it will celebrate its 185th anniversary this year. The current structure was built in 1892 and stained glass windows were installed sometime in the early 20th century. These beautiful windows contain panels memorializing individuals or organizations associated with Rockvile’s African American community. See these wonderful windows and learn about those individuals or organizations who are represented in the panels.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
Register today!
Gems of the Collection: Malcolm Walter
August 20, 2020 at 12 pm
Free on Zoom!
A picture is worth a thousand words! Nothing brings the past to life better than pictures.
Peerless Rockville invites you to a presentation of the photographs of Malcom Walter, a professional photographer who operated from his home in Kensington from 1918-1932. His clients included businesses and individuals, schools and churches. He photographed family events, local fairs, and school portraits. On occasion Mr. Walter covered news stories such as car accidents or gas explosions for local newpapers.
Peerless Rockville is fortunate to own about 1,200 of these photographs which give unique insight to Rockville and the surrounding area in the early 20 th century.
Join Collections Manager Kathie Rogers for this presentation which will explore some of the highlights of this collection.
This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.
Are you, a friend, or family member interested in the presentation but unable to use Zoom? Register for the presentation, then e-mail outreach@peerlessrockville.org or call 301-762-0096 and ask for the telephone number in the days before the start of the event. You can call and listen to the presentation, instead. (Telephone attendees will not be able to view the visual aspect of the presentation.)
The Life of Josiah Henson
August 13, 2020 at 7 pm
On-line – FREE!
Peerless Rockville and the Glenview Mansion Speaker Series is thrilled to welcome Jamie Ferguson Kuhns, senior historian for Montgomery Parks, as she presents on her book Sharp Flashes of Lightning Come from Black Clouds: The Life of Josiah Henson.
This in-depth biography draws a comprehensive portrait of Reverend Henson as a real person and the 19th-century world in which he lived. It does not shy away from the details of slavery on a Maryland plantation – as told in Henson’s own voice.
Based on Henson’s autobiography, primary source documents, and over 10 years of research, this work looks at Henson beyond his role as an inspiration for Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 19th-century landmark novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
Sharp Flashes of Lightning Come from Black Clouds will complement the visitor experience at the soon-to-open Josiah Henson Museum at Josiah Henson Park in North Bethesda, Maryland. This site is the former Isaac Riley Plantation where Henson was enslaved for more than 30 years.
This is an online presentation through Webex. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the WebEx broadcast. You can register here or through the City of Rockville – you only need to register once!
The Community and the Microbrewery
June 11 at 7 pm on WebEx
The Peerless Rockville/Glenview Mansion Speaker Series continues on-line!
Join Bailey O’Leary, co-founder of True Respite Brewery, to learn about the historical culture surrounding beer and breweries: from Egypt to Europe to the US, through prohibition and the temperance movement, to Jimmy Carter legalizing home brewing, to current day brewing and beer. Hear how True Respite Brewery came to be part of the community, how they’re managing the challenges of COVID-19, and do a guided sampling of some of their products (Available for pick-up and delivery – purchase on their website).
Order the tasting package from True Respite: “Glenview Mansion/Peerless Rockville Tasting.” Must be 21+ to order.
Order for delivery by 2 pm on Thursday, June 10th. Pick-ups until the event starts!
Register here or at the City – you do not need to register twice!
Thursday, June 4, 2020, 12:00 PM
Free on Zoom! Register now!
Want to help the honeybees and other pollinators, but confused about what plants to put in your garden? Interested in attracting all of those insect “good guys” to your property, so that they’ll do some of the pest management for you? Come find out who all of those beneficial insects are, what services they provide, and how to convince them to set up shop in your yard!
Marie Rojas has been providing Integrated Pest Management services for homeowners, nursery growers and property managers through her company, Borders & Butterflies, for over 20 years. She serves on several boards, including the Professional Grounds Management Society, DC Branch, Montgomery County Beekeepers Association and the Environmental Program Advisory Committee for Montgomery County Public Schools.
History@Home events are digital events held on-line!
History@Home: The History of Baseball in Rockville
Thursday, May 28 at noon
Free on Zoom!
Miss Baseball? Join us to learn about Rockville’s rich baseball history from long ago to today.
Take this sports pause as an opportunity to learn about Rockville’s storied connection with both major league and Negro leagues baseball. Bill Hickman will present a rundown of the various players and managers with Rockville associations to the history of the game. You will learn about their performances on the diamond, and in some cases, their impact on the Rockville community. Interested in answers to the following? Why is Walter Johnson buried in Rockville? What Rockville ballplayer was investigated by the Kennedy Assassination Records Review Board? What is the connection between the Red Brick Courthouse and baseball?
This is an on-line presentation through Zoom. You will receive the link upon registration. All you have to do is download Zoom and follow the link on your computer. Make sure your speakers are turned on! If you have any Zoom difficulties, e-mail outreach@peerlessrockville.org for help prior to the event.
Are you, a friend, or family member interested in the presentation but unable to use Zoom? Register for the presentation, then e-mail outreach@peerlessrockville.org or call 301-762-0096 and ask for the telephone number in the days prior to the start of the event. You can call and listen to the presentation, instead. (Telephone attendees will not be able to view the visual aspect of the presentation.)
Virtual Lunch & Learn: From Farmland to Community
Thursday, April 23, 2020 at noon
FREE
A special presentation to look at the unique transition of farmland into five, thriving neighborhoods in Rockville. The neighborhood examples include the first neighborhood of Williamsburgh, historic West End Park, Anderson Farm/College Gardens, Hurley/Carter Farm, and King Farm. A rare collection of historic photographs, drawings, early plans, portraits, buildings and recent neighborhood plans will be presented to describe the transition of family farms into a unique collection of neighborhoods in Rockville.
This is an on-line presentation through Zoom. You will receive the link upon registration. All you have to do is download Zoom and follow the link on your computer. Make sure your speakers are turned on!
Lunch & Learn: “Rockville Women Who Dared”.
Event Postponed and will be rescheduled
Historic Red Brick Courthouse
It’s Women’s History Month! Did you know Rockville has its own remarkable women to brag about? Ann Maria Weems, Frieda Fromm-Reichmann, and Vivian Simpson are just a few of our impressive women in history. In this presentation, Mary van Balgooy, Executive Director of the Society of Women Geographers and former Peerless Rockville Executive Director, will highlight the lives and achievements of Rockville women of different eras and backgrounds and show how these women were so determined to improve their lives that they were willing to step out of a woman’s traditional role and even risk their lives. Bring your lunch! Seating Limited. Contact Peerless Rockville to reserve your spot.
Great Escapes: Journeys on Maryland’s Underground Railroad.
Event Postponed and will be rescheduled
Historic Red Brick Courthouse
FREE
Join Peerless Rockville and historian Anthony Cohen for a lecture and preview of the upcoming book Great Escapes: Journeys on Maryland’s Underground Railroad. A project of The Menare Foundation, Inc. and Heritage Montgomery, the book explores the people, places and social forces the created a pathway to freedom, forged by self-emancipating slaves and their allies from the 1830s to the brink of the Civil War. Q&A session to follow presentation.
Presented in association with Peerless Rockville’s new exhibit, Forging Freedom: Endurance, Escape, and Rockville’s Underground Railroad. Come learn about the brave fugitives who fled slavery in Rockville, the abolitionist network that helped, and the endurance of the enslaved community.
Open Monday through Friday, 10 am – 3 pm in the Historic Red Brick Courthouse, 29 Courthouse Sq, Rockville, MD 20850
Lincoln Park: A Celebration of Community
February 13, 2020 7 pm
Glenview Mansion
Free
The Lincoln Park Community Center is celebrating its 50th year in 2020. Join Peerless Rockville, Lincoln Park Community Center Supervisor Yvette Yeboah-Schools, and past and present Lincoln Park residents to learn the history and development of this unique Rockville neighborhood and its community center.
Stolen: The Story of Free African Americans Kidnapped into Slavery
March 29, 2020 2 pm
Rockville Memorial Library
Co-Sponsored by Friends of the Library – Rockville Memorial Chapter
Richard Bell, associate professor of history at the University of Maryland, College Park and the author of Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped Into Slavery and Their Astonishing Odyssey Home, will talk about how the outlawing of the transatlantic slave trade in the early 1800s created a criminal network of human traffickers and slave traders who abducted thousands of free African Americans living in northern states and sold them into slavery. He will describe the true story of five young, free black boys who—lured onto a ship with the promise of food and pay, then smuggled from Philadelphia to the deep South—courageously resisted and were able to escape, eventually initiating a manhunt to bring their captors to justice.
December 12, 2019 7 pm
LOCATION CHANGE: F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre (Not in the social hall, upstairs in the theatre)
December 6, 2019 6 pm
Historic Red Brick Courthouse
Shadow on the Household
August 10, 2019 10 am
Historic Red Brick Courthouse
Free
Please join Peerless Rockville as we welcome Canadian historians, Bryan and Shannon Prince, who will share the heart wrenching and occasionally heart warming story of the enslaved family of John and Arabella Weems (parents of Ann Maria Weems), who endured the nightmare of being, sold, separated and scattered throughout the south. Their epic story involved extensive webs of slave traders, Underground Railroad operatives and abolitionists from Canada, Great Britain, Jamaica as well as the United States. Inspired by the unprecedented impact of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s masterwork “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” sympathizers donated their money and energies to contribute to the rescue and reunion of the family.
Hidden Gems in the Rockville Park System
June 13, 2019 7 pm
Glenview Mansion
Free
Rockville has 66 parks totaling over 1000 acres. The variety and number makes our Recreation and Parks Department stand out from many other jurisdictions around the country. Learn about hidden gems, unique parks, and special features. This presentation will explore these local secret places.
Presented by Steve Mader – Superintendent of Parks and Facilities.
Light Refreshments will be served
Celebrating Earth Month in Rockville
April 11, 2019 7 pm
Glenview Mansion
FREE
RSVP Here.
Celebrating Earth Month in Rockville – a history of Environmental Protection in the City
Join Peerless Rockville and Mark Charles, Chief of Environmental Management for the City of Rockville as we celebrate Earth Month! Come learn about Rockville’s environmental activities and accomplishments, focusing on highlights of the last twelve years of progress. Hear about the environmental and sustainability awards bestowed on the City, the origins of Earth Day, and what people like you can do to make Rockville a more sustainable community!
Bees, Beneficials, and Blooms
April 12, 2018 7 pm
Glenview Mansion
FREE
Register at Eventbrite.
Want to help the honeybees and other pollinators, but confused about what plants to put in your garden? Interested in attracting all of those insect “good guys” to your property, so that they’ll do some of the pest management for you? Come find out who all of those beneficial insects are, what services they provide, and how to convince them to set up shop in your yard!
Marie Rojas has been providing Integrated Pest Management services for homeowners, nursery growers and property managers through her company, Borders & Butterflies, for over 20 years. She serves on several boards, including the Professional Grounds Management Society, DC Branch, Montgomery County Beekeepers Association and the Environmental Program Advisory Committee for Montgomery County Public Schools.
Skip the line and pre-register!
Rockville: Portrait of City
Thursday, December 14
Glenview Mansion
Free
Register at Eventbrite.
An illustrated journey by Eileen McGuckian in 60 minutes through time presenting Rockville’s evolution from a small colonial crossroads village to today’s vibrant city, a center of commerce, and our home town.
Eileen McGuckian is the author of six books on Rockville history. After a quarter century as executive director of Peerless Rockville, she continues to research local history and advocate for preservation of historic places.
Signed copies of “Portrait of a City” will be available for purchase.
Skip the line and pre-register
History Comes Alive: Rockville Cemetery Tour
Saturday, October 7
$15 Members/$20Non-Members
Presented by Rockville Cemetery Association and Peerless Rockville
Register by calling Peerless office or at Eventbrite.
Join us on Saturday, October 7 for a nighttime tour of Rockville Cemetery and see local historical characters come to life by moonlight in Rockville’s oldest cemetery!
This special tour will feature costumed actors portraying local characters from the 1790s to the 1940s. Experience the historic Upper Cemetery in a new way, and meet cemetery residents who will tell real, haunting, poignant stories of their lives. Refreshments will be served. Don’t pass up this unique opportunity to see this beautiful, historic cemetery at night!
This is an all-terrain tour. Please wear sturdy walking shoes and bring a flashlight for this event. No flash photography, please.
Respond quickly — Participation is limited and advanced reservations are required!
Tickets are $15 for Peerless Rockville members, $20 for non-members.
Rockville: From Farmland to Community
October 12, 2017 7pm
Glenview Mansion
A Case Study of Five Neighborhoods
A special presentation to look at the unique transition of farmland into five, thriving neighborhoods in Rockville. The neighborhood examples include the first neighborhood of Williamsburgh, historic West End Park, Anderson Farm/College Gardens, Hurley/Carter Farm, and King Farm. A rare collection of historic photographs, drawings, early plans, portraits, buildings and recent neighborhood plans will be presented to describe the transition of family farms into a unique collection of neighborhoods in Rockville.
Register here.
In Their Steps: Underground Railroad
October 25, 2017 7 pm
Rockville Memorial Library
Free
RSVP at Eventbrite.
Josiah Henson—Rockville native and the inspiration for the title character in Uncle Tom’s Cabin—risked all for freedom on the 19th century Underground Railroad. Learn about his life, and those of other local freedom fighters, such as Ann Maria Weems, who fled slavery in Rockville disguised as a boy. Hear the story of two sisters from a prominent Rockville family, who were divided on the issue of slavery, and exemplified the schisms amongst slaveholders that ignited the fiery Civil War.
Tony Cohen of the Menare Foundation will present an illustrated history of our local Underground Railroad, including documents, photos and artifacts related to slavery and escape in Rockville.
Sponsored by: Friends of the Library – Rockville Chapter
Service Day: Haiti Cemetery Clean-Up
Saturday, October 28 10 am – 2 pm
Haiti Cemetery
Register to volunteer at Eventbrite.
Peerless Rockville is looking for volunteers to help us clean up and beautify Haiti Cemetery on Service Day, October 28 at 10 am.
Join Peerless Rockville, Peerless members, and volunteers from the Montgomery County Police Department and Haiti community as we work to clean up one of Rockville’s historic cemeteries.
This important piece of Rockville heritage is in need of some community attention and hard work to help beautify the property, protect the graves and gravestones, and remove overgrowth, branches, leaves, and other debris.
Dress for the weather and bring gloves, rakes, clippers, and other yard work tools. Individuals with trucks for to haul debris are especially appreciated.
This event has been pre-approved for Montgomery County Student Service Learning hours. (Under 12 years old volunteers accepted with parent/guardian.)
Past Events
Peerless Rockville Annual Meeting
Thursday, June 8, 2017 6:30 pm
Glenview Mansion
FREE
RSVP at Eventbrite
Please join us for light fare and refreshments, as we celebrate the successes of the past year. Members will vote in new directors and officers to the Board. At 7 pm, after the meeting, City of Rockville Horticulturalist Rob Orndorff will provide an illustrated presentation of the mansion’s grounds, followed by tours of its beautiful gardens.
Rosenwald Screening
Wednesday, April 19, 2017 7 pm
The Universities at Shady Grove
$5 (Click here to buy a ticket)
Remembering the Carver Years
Friday, April 21, 2017 6:30 pm
Carver Educational Services Building
Rockville, MD 20850
Free
RSVP via Eventbrite.
During the era of segregation and separate but unequal schools, it took until the beginning of the 20th century to even establish a secondary school for African-American students in Montgomery County. This long, challenging journey from a three-room Rosenwald school, to Lincoln High School culminated in Carver High School and Junior College in 1951, the first modern high school (and first and only junior college). Carver was a beloved institution that provided a quality education and strong community to its students.
Join teachers and alumni in the auditorium of the Carver building, now known as Carver Educational Services Center, to hear why Carver is so significant in Rockville history and so special to those who spent time there. We will also visit the cafeteria, which has been restored to its mid-century condition and features an educational exhibit.
Panel Moderated by Eileen McGuckian
Stories of Desegregation Panel
Tuesday, May 2, 2017 7 pm
Rockville City Hall Mayor & Council Chambers
Rockville, MD 20850
Free
RSVP at Eventbrite.
The Supreme Court decision Brown vs Board of Education in 1954 ordered the desegregation of American public schools, changing the face of American education across the country.
In Maryland, Montgomery County was the first county to desegregate, following the City of Baltimore. Come learn what the experiences of desegregation were like here in Rockville and Montgomery County. Hear the stories of those who lived it as teachers, students and administrators.
Featuring former educator and Congresswoman Connie Morella as panel moderator.
Legal Trailblazers: Maryland’s First Female Lawyers
May 16, 6 pm
Montgomery County Circuit Court Law Library
Rockville, MD 20850
Free; $5 Recommended
RSVP at Eventbrite.
Women were not officially permitted to practice law in Maryland until 1902. However, the history of women acting as lawyers in Maryland dates back to the earliest decades of colonial America. Join Peerless Rockville, the Montgomery County Circuit Court Law Library, and the Montgomery County Women’s Bar Association to listen to Honorable Lynne A. Battaglia, editor of Finding Justice, tell the remarkable story of how women overcame historical obstacles—legal, social, and economic—to enter the legal profession and how their pioneering work has influenced the practice of law and society at large.
Attorneys Rebecca Strandberg and Jo Fogel will speak on recently passed local pioneers Honorable Rosalyn Bell and Master Rita Rosencrantz.
Introduction by Honorable Anne Albright.
Thurgood Marshall and William Gibbs: Civil Rights in Rockville
April 1, 2017 10 am
Grand Courtroom of the Historic Red Brick Courthouse
Rockville, MD 20850
Free
In 1937, renowned Civil Rights attorney and future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall represented William Gibbs, a Rockville principal suing for equal pay for black teachers. Honorable Patrick L. Woodward will discuss the case and Professor Larry S. Gibson will explain how this local civil rights hero helped set the stage for Marshall’s further legal work against discrimination.
The Ecosystem of the Home: Solar and Sustainable
April 8, 2017 10 am
201 West Gude Drive
Pepco WaterShed Sustainability Center
Rockville, MD 20850
Free
Register here.
Join Peerless Rockville and Pepco for a tour of the Pepco WaterShed Sustainability Center for Earth Month!
WaterShed, the University of Maryland’s winning entry into the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011, is a solar-powered home that harvests, recycles, and reuses water. A living classroom and laboratory for sustainable energy and water practices, the visit includes hands-on, interactive displays that educate visitors with energy-saving ideas you can apply in your own home.
The Pepco Watershed Sustainability will be open on a weekend for this special event – take this unique opportunity to visit and learn about cutting-edge technological solutions to achieve high efficiency performance in an affordable manner.
Due to limited space, registration is required.
The Rise of Separate but Unequal Schools
Saturday, March 11
1 pm
Jerusalem – Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church
21 Wood Lane
Rockville, MD
This illustrated presentation will cover the early years of segregated schools in Rockville and Montgomery County after the Civil War through the first high school for African American students in the early 20th century, with a focus on inherent inequalities in supposedly “separate but equal” schools for blacks. The local community worked to provide education until Maryland established segregated public schools in 1872. Later, Rosenwald schools supported the first county high school for blacks in Rockville.
The Experience of Emancipation in Maryland
Friday, February 24, 7 pm
Rockville Memorial Library
February 2017 marks the 150th anniversary of a petition from 20 Rockville men pledging to fund a school and teacher to educate black children in 1867. Learn about these brave men and early efforts in black education with an exhibit and reception at our series kick-off at Rockville Memorial Library.
The 1867 petition occurred only a few years after emancipation under the new State Constitution of 1864 that freed slaves throughout Maryland. What did emancipation actually mean for the newly freed slaves? Morgan State University Professor David Taft Terry, Ph.D, will explain the changes, challenges, and opportunities emancipation brought to daily life in Maryland.
What’s Past is Always Present – A Guided Walk in Rockville Cemetery
Saturday, September 10, 2016 9:30 am – 11:30 am
Rockville Cemetery
1350 Baltimore Rd
Rockville, MD 20851
$10 to Peerless Members, $15 to Non-Members
Discover notable people from the past on a tour guided by historian Eileen McGuckian through beautiful and historic Rockville Cemetery. Names you see on street signs, schools, book covers, and histories have been inscribed here from the 1750s into the 21st century. Buried in Rockville Cemetery are generations of famous and lesser-known people…. all notable. Attitudes about remembrance, grave markers, and burial practices have evolved over the centuries in this colonial, rural, and lawn cemetery.
Co-sponsored by Peerless Rockville and Rockville Cemetery Association, this tour costs $15 for the general public and $10 for Peerless members. As it is limited to 40 people, please reserve your spot with Peerless Rockville at info@peerlessrockville.org or 301-762-0096 or through Eventbrite. Contact Peerless for the member coupon code or to become a member. Confirmation will include parking arrangement and starting point. Wear good walking shoes for paved roads and uneven ground. Tour will go in sunny weather or light sprinkles; in case of storms, tour is postponed to Sunday morning, at the same time. For further information, see www.rockvillecemeterymd.org.
The Struggle for Educational Opportunity: William Gibbs and the Equalization of Teacher Salaries
Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 10:00 am
Grand Courtroom of the Red Brick Courthouse
Presentation by Professor Alonzo Smith
The hard won achievements of advancement in educational equality were accomplished by brave people willing to step forward and take risks. One of these was William Gibbs, Jr, an African-American grade school principal who, with the support of the Rockville black community, filed a court case in 1936. His legal battle to receive the same pay as white teachers was one of Thurgood Marshall’s civil rights cases and started a movement that reverberated throughout Maryland. Come and hear the story of this civil rights pioneer who dared to struggle and win.
Sesquicentennial 1864 Maryland Slave Emancipation Quilt with Dr. Joan M.E. Gaither.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016 7 pm
Grand Courtroom of the Red Brick Courthouse
Free
For the 150th anniversary of emancipation in Maryland, the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC) commissioned a quilt to visualize the stories of people, places, and events in every Maryland county and Baltimore City before, at the time of, or after the ratification of Article 24. The Sesquicentennial 1864 Maryland Slave Emancipation Quilt, designed by Dr. Joan M. E. Gaither, fiber artist and quilt designer, is currently on display at the Red Brick Courthouse. Peerless Rockville welcomes Dr. Gaither as she shares the stories depicted from all over Maryland and discusses how over 400 people and 20 organizations volunteered more than 6,000 hours to create the quilt. Dr. Gaither encourages guests to celebrate their own personal histories and stories as part of a collective narrative and preserve them in quilt formats to live on as human American stories for generations to come.
You Don’t Have to Be an Expert: Genealogical Research and Linking Common Ancestors Through Photos
Saturday, July 30, 2016 10 am
Grand Courtroom of the Red Brick Courthouse
Free to Peerless Members, $5 to Non-Members
Learn about using technology to research your family and analyze family photos. This presentation will highlight free on-line genealogical tools and trial versions of photo software for analyzing historic photos, presented by a researcher who has used these resources to trace seven generations of her Rockville family. A comprehensive list of free resources will be provided. RSVP today!
Heritage Days
Saturday, June 25, 2016 10 am – 4 pm
Red Brick Courthouse,
Exhibit: 10 am-4 pm
Walking Tour at 11 am and 1 pm
Free
A special open house at the Red Brick Courthouse from 10 am to 4 pm. Walking tours of historic Rockville will depart at 11 am and 1 pm. Inside, view a special exhibition of some of Peerless Rockville’s historic collections, including artifacts from Hungerford’s Tavern. Items and pictures in this collection are rarely on exhibit and include objects you can touch!
First Communities of Rockville: Quality Hill
Saturday, May 7, 2016
Grand Courtroom of the Red Brick Courthouse,
Lecture: 9:30 am-12 pm
Walking Tour at 11 am
Admission: $10 Peerless Members/$15 Non-Members
Presented by John Carter and Hannelore Quigley.
A special presentation and walking tour of Quality Hill, one of Rockville’s earliest communities. Concentrated along both sides of West Montgomery Avenue and Adams Street, Quality Hill traces its roots to the 1784 division of 45 acres of land into Rockville’s first streets, lots and blocks. This unique genealogical and historical presentation will trace families from the surrounding farmland as they move in to Rockville during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. These families, their homes, churches, and institutions left a lasting imprint on the city we know today. Join us to uncover the history of early Rockville through the eyes of the descendants of these first families. An hour-long, narrated walking tour will begin at the Red Brick Courthouse and showcase the historic family homes of Quality Hill as well as the churches and institutions that formed the complete community.
Lessons from Leopold: Suburbanization Along Watts Branch
Saturday, April 16, 2016 2:30 pm
Rockville Senior Center,
1150 Carnation Drive, Rockville
Free
April is Earth Month! Peerless Rockville, the City of Rockville Department of Public Works, and guest lecturers from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and College Park will explore the environmental history and modern environmental management of the Watts Branch watershed in Rockville. We’ll learn about the groundbreaking work of geomorphologist and hydrologist Luna Leopold, whose thirty-year study of Watts Branch documented the transformation from farmland to suburbs. Lessons from Leopold continue to inform on today’s environmental policies.
Chamber of Commerce Mix and Mingle
Thursday, February 25, 2016 5-7 pm
Grand Courtroom of the Red Brick Courthouse
29 Courthouse Square, Rockville, MD
Free for Chamber Members/$20 for Non-Members
Enjoy the old courthouse venue while mingling with other business professionals. Food and beverage is being provided by local restaurant Ev & Maddy’s. Click here to register.
Window Restoration Workshop
Saturday October 10, 2015 10 am
Grand Courtroom of the Red Brick Courthouse
29 Courthouse Square, Rockville, MD
Free
Let’s talk old window/door restoration and how to get these architectural gems working, energy efficient, and looking beautiful again. Neil Mozer of Mozer Works, Inc. will share his expertise about how to professionally restore your old windows and doors for another lifetime of service. Besides window removal, jamb preparation and re-hanging other key topics will include stripping, sanding, sash stabilization, weatherstripping, re-glazing, and painting.
Fearless Legal Trailblazer: Vivian Simpson
October 20, 2015 6:00-7:30 pm
Law Library, 50 Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD
Free (RSVP)
In the 1920s, Vivian Simpson (1903-1987) overcame discriminatory obstacles to become the first female attorney in Montgomery County. She practiced in Rockville until her retirement in 1980. Join Peerless Rockville and the Montgomery County Law Library to learn about this remarkable woman, view an exhibit on her life, and hear the remembrances of her colleagues. Wine and cheese will be served. RSVP: info@peerlessrockville.org or call 301-762-0096.
Microcosm of Montgomery County: 200 Years of Education in Rockville
November 10, 2015 7 pm
Richard Montgomery High School
250 Richard Montgomery Drive, Rockville, MD
Free
Join us as Peerless member Ralph Buglass presents an enlightening slideshow on the 200 year history of
education in Rockville – from the earliest days of private education for the wealthy to universal free public education of today. In many ways, education in Rockville mirrors its development throughout the county.
Return to Glenview & Peerless Rockville Awards of Excellence
November 20, 2015
Glenview Mansion
603 Edmonston Dr, Rockville, MD
Members: $40, Non-Members: $50
This fall, Peerless Rockville returns to Glenview Mansion! Join us as we gather together with the Rockville Swing Band for a night of celebration, music, hors d’oeuvres, and adult beverages. We’ll also honor the recipients of our 36th annual Peerless Awards of Excellence that recognize residents, businesses, architects, and others whose work contributes to Rockville’s unique character.
Heritage Bike and Walking Tours
Saturday September 12, Red Brick Courthouse
29 Courthouse Square, Rockville, MD
Free
Join Peerless Rockville and volunteers from the Rockville Bike Advisory Committee for a bike tour of Rockville historical sites. Leaving from the Red Brick Courthouse at 10 am, the tour will visit sites such as Dawson Farm Park, the Beall-Dawson House, and Rockville Cemetery. Riders must wear helmets, bring water bottles, and have bikes in good working order! All skill levels welcome but riders should be age 10 or over.RSVP to info@peerlessrockville.org or call 301-762-0096 by September 9.
Walking tours of the Courthouse Square Historic District will depart from the Red Brick Courthouse at 11 am and 1 pm. (No need to RSVP!)
Lincoln Park: Changes, Challenges, and Conservation
Saturday April 11, Lincoln Park Community Center, 12pm-2pm
357 Frederick Avenue, Rockville, MD
Free
Lincoln Park, a historically black community, was established outside Rockville in 1891 and expanded to its current size in 1924. Rockville annexed Lincoln Park in July 1949, but city services such as streetlights and water mains only arrived in 1956. During segregation, several black schools in the community served black students from both Rockville and Montgomery County. The unique history of this neighborhood can be seen in the modest houses and vernacular architecture of the homes.
On the Go: Rockville Pike and Car Culture
Saturday, April 25, Rockville Senior Center Dining Room, 10am-12pm
1150 Carnation Drive, Rockville, MD
Free
Rockville Pike is booming – growing denser , taller, and more urban. Since the late 19th century, the “Pike” has had periods of growth and development, taking a quantum leap during the 1950s and 1960s when Rockville experienced unprecedented population growth, widespread suburbanization, and commercialization of the roadside strip. Much of Rockville’s impressive postwar growth was driven by the use of the automobile and “car culture” – car dealerships, fast food restaurants, shopping centers, food stores, and a myriad of convenient and easily located related services.
Rockshire: Environmental Planning in Suburbia
Saturday, May 16th, Rockshire Community Room, 10am – 12pm
2351 Wootton Parkway (Rockshire Community Pool), Rockville, MD
Free
Rockshire is an innovative neighborhood of large modern homes that met the environmental challenge of construction in an environmentally sensitive area. Individual subdivisions were clustered to either side of the Watts Branch floodplain and comprise a coherent neighborhood showcasing 1970s era homes along the park spine.
Historic Preservation Tax Credits Workshop
Tuesday, February 24, from 7 pm – 9 pm
Red Brick Courthouse, 29 Courthouse Square, Rockville, MD 20850
Free
Join staff from the Maryland Historical Trust, Montgomery County Planning Department, and the City of Rockville to learn how you can apply for tax credits for renovation work. Featuring presentations by Melissa Archer of MHT, Historic Preservation Supervisor Scott Whipple of the Montgomery Planning Department, and City of Rockville Historic Preservation Planner Sheila Bashiri.
Holiday Open House & Awards Ceremony
Sunday, December 7, from 1 pm – 5 pm
Red Brick Courthouse, 29 Courthouse Square, Rockville, MD 20850
Free
This year’s holiday open house will kick-off with Peerless’ 35th Annual Awards Ceremony at 1 pm. Peerless’ awards program honors individuals, institutions, and organizations that have made an outstanding contribution to Rockville’s heritage. Following the awards, enjoy fellowship with Peerless’ members, performances by the Montgomery College Jazz Combo, and hors d’oeuvres from our sponsors.
Montgomery County Service Day – Old Baptist Cemetery Clean Up
Saturday, October 25, from 9 am – 12pm
115 West Jefferson St
With volunteers from the Montgomery County Police Department and the general community, Peerless raked leaves, trimmed ivy, and cleared a dozen bags of debris from the cemetery grounds. Eileen McGuckian and Fred Bird led a short workshop on cleaning and levelling historic gravestones. Volunteers scrubbed several markers, removing staining and revealing the inscriptions.
Heritage Day Event
Saturday, June 28, from 11 am – 4 pm
Red Brick Courthouse, 29 Courthouse Square, Rockville MD 20850
Free
Dr. B. F. Cooling describes how Gen. Jubal Early spent his days in Montgomery County during the Confederacy’s final invasion of the North in July 1864. This talk will be held in the Grand Courtroom of the Red Brick Courthouse, 29 Courthouse Square, in Rockville. Following the lecture, at 12:30 p.m. join a walking tour of Civil War and Underground Railroad sites in Rockville, and visit the Montgomery County Historical Society for reenactors, music, and family friendly activities.
Annual Meeting and 40th Anniversary Open House
Saturday, June 14 from 11-1 pm
Frieda’s Cottage, 19 Thomas Street, Rockville, MD 20850
Free
On Saturday, June 14, the public is invited to join Peerless friends and supporters for our annual meeting and open house at Frieda’s Cottage on the grounds of Chestnut Lodge. Peerless Rockville restored this 1936 home and office to Frieda Fromm-Reichmann during her years at the sanitarium. The cottage will be open for tours between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and rumor has it that Frieda will stop by to visit and meet with guests. We will also be serving up light refreshments, musical entertainment and cake in celebration of Peerless’ 40 years.
Holiday Open House
Sunday, December 1 from 1-4 pm
Red Brick Courthouse, 29 Courthouse Square, Rockville, MD 20850
Free
On Sunday, December 1, 2013 from 1-4 pm, Peerless Rockville will host a Holiday Open House at the historic Red Brick Courthouse. Free to all, this event is a wonderful opportunity to socialize with members of the community, enjoy light hors d’oeuvres, hot cider, live music, and holiday decorations. Peerless will also have the gift shop open where guests can find many unique gifts related to Rockville’s heritage.