President Liz Quinn opened our meeting with the Pledge, and My Country 'Tis of Thee and Rev. John Walker gave the prayer.  A melodious Happy Birthday was sung by 25 attendees for Scott Brewer and John Walker.  Recognition was given to those who participated in the previous weekend activities of the Annual Prayer Breakfast featuring our own Bill Hague, Rebuilding Together, and the District 17 Fundraiser, 1776 at the Olney Theater.  Please check the calendar for other forthcoming events.  It was good to again see Parker Dorman, Sue Kirk, Jim Leder, and Shira Oler. Several guests from the Bethesda community were introduced.  Jason Klippel, Ross Development; Robert Baker, Chase Communities (a residential builder/developer in Bethesda); Ilene Solomon, a special education teacher, Tom Brault, Woodside Ventures (commercial real estate developer/broker) and Ted Goldstock from Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chtd. We encourage our guests to seriously consider joining the Kiwanis Club of Bethesda!  No happy dollars today to allow more time for our speaker William Offutt.

SPEAKER:

Scott Brewer introduced speaker William Offutt who is a native of Bethesda, taught middle school and high school in Montgomery County for years, and has written books about the history of the county. "Bethesda:  A Social History", is available in local libraries.

Offutt focused on history in the THE WOODMONT TRIANGLE.  Old Georgetown Road was originally an Indian Trail and then became a road connecting Rockville to the Port at Georgetown.  Tobacco was one of the main items transported.  By the time of the Civil War there was only one building in Bethesda. In 1890 a streetcar line was built in the middle of what is now Wisconsin Avenue and then passed up Old Georgetown Road. The streetcar ran until 1935.  Charles Wood platted 584 lots in Bethesda in 1894.  Somehow Woods name was incorporated into Woodmont. During the early days the streets had open ditches along the side to carry away the sewage and trash. Most of the residents in early 1900’s were tradesmen - not the wealthy area that it is today. By 1910 a telephone switchboard was set up in the Cunningham home - one lady worked the switchboard and she knew everyone in town who had a phone.  Woodmont Triangle area had three trailer parks in the 1930’s. In 1942 Brooke Lee proposed a commercial district for Woodmont. In the 1950’s Bill Allen (who founded the Bethesda Kiwanis Club) published a paper in Bethesda and he supported the first public parking garage in Bethesda in 1960’s. At the location of the Veterans Park on Woodmont Avenue was the site of protests during the Vietnam war along with illegal drug use.  A fascinating talk. This is the first half and will be continued next week.

Jim Aylor won the 50/50.