Montrose School served a small, rural population. Through the 1920s and 1930s, Montgomery County remained largely rural, particularly north of the close-in DC suburbs of Bethesda, Silver Spring, and Takoma Park. The total county population rose slowly from c. 35,000 to c. 84,000 during those decades, while the town of Rockville increased from 1,145 to 2,047.
The 1920s brought more automobiles, a trolley, and even an airport to the Rockville Pike. Trees were planted at Montrose School, which was also used for local gatherings. The 1930s were marked by the Great Depression, when jobs were scarce and wages were low. Many families lost their homes, and most of the students at Montrose School experienced some form of poverty. School funding was reduced, and teachers were forced to operate with fewer resources. Alice Leighton Schmidt (student 1928-1935) remembered that her teacher, Elsie Brooks Bissett, brought her own books, since few were provided by the school system. However, this decade brought electricity with a single lightbulb for each classroom, trees planted, and addition of a small kitchen space where most days student contributions of fresh vegetables produced a hearty soup lunch.
Spring Lake Park was a small community a mile northeast of Montrose School. From here, generations of the Ray family walked along the railroad tracks to attend school. The tracks cut through the Wilkins Estate (now Parklawn Cemetery) to provide guidance and adventure as the children played along the ties and talked with their classmates on their way to and from school. According to Harry Duckworth (1933-1939) he and his siblings Donald, Betty, and Dorothy walked the tracks from Spring Lake Park in all kinds of weather to achieve perfect attendance records. Without cell phones or social media, this was a time to plan their after-school adventures!
Spring Lake Park student Loretta Fae Ray, ready to walk the railroad track to school in the early 40s
Peerless Rockville is currently receiving letters from potential tenants and looks forward to a new future use soon. On Saturday May 3 at 9:30 am, join us and volunteers from the community to rake leaves, trim branches, and clear trash and debris from the grounds of the 1909 Montrose Schoolhouse. Help us keep this historic site a beautiful part of the community as we prepare to renovate and reactivate the building with a new early childhood education facility to serve the community. Wear closed-toe shoes, bring thick gloves, rakes, gardening equipment, and dress for the weather! Individuals with pickup trucks and willingness to operate landscaping equipment needed!
