Glenridge Rd

Digging into Neighborhood History

/ Anna White

On February 16, 2022, many neighbors tuned into an online training by Kirsten L. Crase, PhD, University of Maryland, on how to research the history of their homes. The training inspired a search of historic newspaper digital archives for articles related to the neighborhood. Among many fascinating finds, neighbors uncovered a plethora of original advertisements for North Woodside homes. Can you find these homes today?

Source: Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. Dates/Pages (left to right): September 15, 1928, Page 23; August 21, 1936, Page 16; September 6, 1930, Page B2; April 25, 1931, Page B2.

Many of the old North Woodside advertisements, such as the large one above, tout the
“exclusive” nature of the community and “the protection of its sensible restrictions,” not-so-subtle allusions to racially restrictive deed covenants.

For more information on researching the history of your home:

And if you discover your home has a racist deed covenant:

New Neighborhood Street Trees

/ Anna White
A new street tree on Lanier Dr

Casey Trees was in the neighborhood last month, planting our latest batch of street trees in cooperation with the county, courtesy of a Chesapeake Bay Foundation grant.

You’ll see new trees on 2nd, 3rd, Elkhart, Luzerne, Lanier, Louis, Glen Ross, Glenridge, Hanover, Rookwood, and Stratton. Some less-common species we are getting this year include a black willow on Hanover St and a bald cypress on Glen Ross near the 5-way intersection.

The Tree Committee is starting to collect names for the next round of plantings to go in this fall or next spring. If you want a new street tree or trees and think you have the space, contact the Tree Committee.

Special thanks to Casey Trees and county arborist Jack Pond. Jack inspects, chooses species, and coordinates with Casey Trees. Casey Trees applied for the grant and does the planting.

Inauguration Eve Luminary Display

/ Anna White

Luminaries line 2nd Avenue on January 19, 2021

In response to the U.S. Capitol attacks and the Inauguration Committee’s Nationwide COVID-19 Memorial, Scott Vicary organized a neighborhood display of luminaries (brown paper bags with LED tea light candles inside). He envisioned them as a symbol of community solidarity in honoring lives lost, a lighted path to a better era, and a step toward healing.

Well over 50 households participated, including all those along Glenridge Rd. and Rookwood Rd. As neighbors lit their luminaries, 400 lights were lit along the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to represent the 400,000 lives lost in the U.S., a grim number reached that day.