Black Rock Mill and Seneca Creek Trail

October 16th, 2012 Categories: Darnestown, Parks

The Black Rock Mill was built in the early 1800s and was powered by Seneca Creek. The mill was in working operation for over a hundred years until a flood in 1920 destroyed a dam on Seneca Creek and damaged the mill.

The Black Rock Mill sits on the banks of the meandering Seneca Creek and is a point on the Seneca Creek Trail. This trail follows Seneca Creek for miles from the Potomac River up to Damascus. This gorgeous – and hilly – trail is a fantastic natural setting which is ideal for a nature walk or trail run. Seneca Creek State Park is another stop on the trail.  Here’s a map showing the section of the trail from the Potomac River to I-270.

Here’s a couple more pictures of the Mill Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Bruce Lemieux | Leave A Comment

Bethesda Meeting House

October 14th, 2012 Categories: Bethesda, Churches

Bethesda – before it was called Bethesda – was a small crossroads village through most of the nineteenth century.  It was a sleepy stopover with a school, blacksmith shop, post office, a few homes and a Presbyterian church — the Bethesda Meeting House.  In 1871 the local post office was named ‘Bethesda’ after the historic church.

Here’s a few pictures of the church.  The original church was built in 1820, burned down, and rebuilt in 1850.  Learn more about interesting churches in Montgomery County.

Here’s a couple more pictures Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Bruce Lemieux | Leave A Comment

Fall and Butler’s Orchard: A Perfect Pair

October 11th, 2012 Categories: AgReserve, Germantown

Fall is the very best time of the year to enjoy the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve.  And the best way to enjoy the Ag Reserve is to visit family farms like Butlers Orchard.  Take a quick tour with this video, then plan a visit in person.  Get a current list of events at their website, and learn more about the Ag Reserve.

Posted by Bruce Lemieux | Leave A Comment

Stylish Potomac Chase Townhome

October 5th, 2012 Categories: North Potomac, Our Homes

Posted by Bruce Lemieux | Leave A Comment

Casey Barn

October 3rd, 2012 Categories: Barns, Gaithersburg

The Casey Barn was built in 1938 and was the centerpiece of Eugene Casey’s 191 acre dairy farm.  With sixty cows, this farm had a daily production of 300 gallons of milk.  Maybe not so impressive today, but that was a lot of milk in the 1940s.  Casey was quite the land baron owning up to six farms at one time giving him the largest holding of property in Montgomery County by an individual.  Here’s a great historical picture of the barn from Shaun Curtis’ Gaithersburg history website.

The Casey Barn was donated to the City of Gaithersburg in the 1970s and is now the Casey Community Center.  Located on busy MD-355 at  I-370, it’s easy to miss.  It offers several types of rooms for rental, so it’s a great place to host events.  Check out more barns in Montgomery County.

Here’s a couple more pics: Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Bruce Lemieux | Leave A Comment

Real Estate Market Update for September

September 26th, 2012 Categories: Market Updates

How’s the Market?

Month-to-month contract activity for the June through August of 2012 compared to last year continues to head downward which is a typical this time of year.   Compared to this time last year, the number of contracts is up 15% with a big jump in August. Like we’ve seen over the last couple of reports, very low inventory for entry level homes continues to constrain activity for homes priced $300K and less.  The most robust segment of the market is for homes priced $300K to $500K which is up 35%.  And like last month’s report, Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Bruce Lemieux | Leave A Comment

King Farm MOOseum

September 26th, 2012 Categories: Barns, Germantown, Parks

The King Barn Diary MOOseum may be the best spot to see Montgomery County’s agricultural past and its “suburban present” in one place. In the early 1900s, this was a thriving dairy farm covering 350 acres of farmland. Now, on the crest of the Agricultural Reserve, it’s surrounded by soccer fields at the Maryland SoccerPlex and modern, high-density housing developments.

Check out the MOOseum’s website, more barns and more sights in the Agricultural Reserve.

Here’s a couple more pics Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Bruce Lemieux | Leave A Comment

Starry Night in Bethesda

September 23rd, 2012 Categories: Arts, Bethesda

Can you tell how this interpretation of Van Gogh’s Starry Night was constructed?

Think you’ve figured it out? Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Bruce Lemieux | Leave A Comment

Grace United Methodist Church

September 23rd, 2012 Categories: Churches, Gaithersburg

Methodist churches were founded in Gaithersburg in the mid-1800s.  Built in 1905, the Grace United Methodist Church is distinctive for its bell tower with cedar shake siding.  The building is impressive with large stained-glass windows, intricate brick masonry and a slate roof.  The area around the church has changed a lot over the last 100 years. Now, it’s located on a very busy section of MD-355 and is surrounded by fast food restaurants, strip shops and a pawn shop next door. This is a solid structure.  I expect it will be around for another hundred years.

Here’s a few pictures.  Learn more at their website and see more interesting churches in Montgomery County.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Bruce Lemieux | Leave A Comment

Saint Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral

September 16th, 2012 Categories: Churches, Silver Spring

With its gold domes, this church on New Hampshire Avenue at the ICC is hard to miss.  The St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox parish was founded in 1949 shortly after World War II when immigrants arrived here from the Ukraine after World War II.  The church sponsors the Washington Ukrainian Festival which is an ideal opportunity to sample Ukrainian food, beer, entertainment and culture. Learn more at their website and see more churches in Montgomery County.

Posted by Bruce Lemieux | Leave A Comment

Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown

September 13th, 2012 Categories: Germantown, Parks

The Maryland SoccerPlex is a public-private partnership that set out to deliver the largest, premier recreational facility in the Washington DC metro area.  I can’t speak for other similar parks in the area, but I can confirm this is park is pretty fantastic.  Here’s a summary of what’s here and available homes in the area.  Click here for a big map that has everything offered.

Walk, Run and Bike

The SocccerPlex is surrounded by paved trails which are ideal for a walk, run or family bike ride. You’ll find residents of all fitness levels enjoying the rolling hills and scenery.  This is also an ideal meeting place for serious road cycling in the Agricultural Reserve.

Soccer, Soccer, Soccer

This isn’t called the SoccerPlex for nothing.  This is home to  Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Bruce Lemieux | 2 Comments »

Episcopal Church of the Ascension

September 9th, 2012 Categories: Churches, Gaithersburg

You may have noticed this small church in Gaithersburg on MD-355 at Summit Avenue.  This chapel was was built in 1882, but the Ascension’s earliest history traces back to 1695 when the Church of England came to the New World. Now this chapel is part of a larger campus and is one of the largest Episcopal churches in the metro D.C. area. Learn more at their website and see more churches in Montgomery County.

Posted by Bruce Lemieux | Leave A Comment