Germantown Historical Society, Maryland

04/21/2026

We are sad to report that you will no longer see the iconic steel and glass Communications Satellite (COMSAT) that graced the east side of I-270 at Clarksburg. Designed by world renown architect Cesar Pelli, and known as a nationally significant historic site, the Montgomery County Council deemed it not worthy of preservation. Not only was it a beautiful example of the mid-century "form following function" architecture, it was where the idea of communication satellites was first conceived and carried out -- and now we all have cell phones. It could have been a national museum dedicated to telling this story. It could have been an artist work and show place like the Torpedo factory in Alexandria. It could have been a school, a theme park -- any number of things. It could have been something that all the residents of Clarksburg could be proud of. And now it is gone. Probably townhouses will be built in its place since that is what makes the most money for developers. And whatever is built on this site, so visible from the main highway traveled by thousands a day, will now be what Clarksburg is know for.

03/09/2026

Many of you have noticed the mural on the new Goodwill building on Wisteria Drive opposite the Sugarloaf shopping center. This is the first of three murals by the well-known artist Yemi (yemiart.com) and the depictions are from the Germantown Historical Society's collection. Shown are: the Germantown train station, a c1890 locomotive, the Waring viaduct, Black Rock Mill, Germantown Methodist Church, Mandy Terry (c1910, credit Harold Hargett)), and in the background the James and Macie King dairy barn -- now the King Barn Dairy Mooseum: https://www.mooseum.org/

01/16/2026

On Wednesday January 21 the fate of the COMSAT Laboratories building in Clarksburg will be decided by the Montgomery County Council meeting at 7pm at the Rocky Hill Middle School. Please add your voice to preserve this iconic National Register site from demolition. Write to the Montgomery County Council or sign up to speak here: https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/CCL_ContactForms/ContactCouncil.aspx, and/or send an email directly to the representative for District 2 Marilyn Balcombe [email protected]
Have you used your cell phone lately? Have you had occasion to employ a GPS (global positioning system) to find your way? You can thank COMSAT (Communication Satellite) laboratories. Established by an act of Congress as a public-private partnership in 1962, it was responsible for launching the first commercial satellite into geostationary orbit. Now there are more than 12,000 of them circling the earth.
What developers and planners call a “White Elephant” could be the Heart of the Community – giving residents from all backgrounds an icon they can all identify with, as well as local employment.
Please do not allow the demolition of the COMSAT Laboratories building. I support the adaptive re-use of the iconic building for the following reasons:
1. It is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A, as the work of master architect Cesar Pelli at the state level of significance, and under Criterion C, in the areas of Science, Engineering, and Communications at the national level of significance.
2. The Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission found that COMSAT Laboratories continues to meet the designation criteria (identified by the Historic Preservation Commission in 2005) as listed in 24A-3(b) of the County Code.
3. COMSAT Laboratories is the only building designed by Cesar Pelli in Montgomery County, and one of only four buildings by Cesar Pelli standing in metropolitan Washington.
4. The United States would not have become the world leader in artificial communication satellites were it not for the work undertaken at COMSAT Laboratories. Real-time international phone communication and international, live television broadcast - aspects of global communication technology that we take for granted today - were pioneered by the scientists, researchers, and technicians at COMSAT Laboratories in the 1960s & 70s. [quoted from the November 2024 Planning staff report on the Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan.]
5. The iconic structure, clearly visible from I-270, can be considered for many adaptive re-uses other than the single one [housing] considered by the company hired by Planning.
6. The preserved building could put Clarksburg on the map and join the diverse community together by giving them a common point of identity. Every time they use a cell phone or a GPS they will be reminded that where they live has a special place in history.
7. Any adaptive reuse would provide employment locally --- something the proposed plan is sorely lacking.
A building is a primary source of evidence of history and cannot be replaced by photos, street names or written descriptions. Once demolished it can never be replaced.
Please do not let this happen. Do not follow in the footsteps of the current U.S. president in tearing down historic government buildings.

12/27/2025

Germantown used to have a community Christmas tree. On a day soon after Thanksgiving there would be caroling around the tree and Santa arriving, often on a horse-drawn wagon, to listen to the children's wishes and give out oranges and candy canes. This began in 1951 and took place at various places until 2009. It was sponsored first by various local businesses, then by the Germantown Lions Club, then by the Montgomery County Historical society at the Waters House. There has not been a community Christmas tree or celebration in the past 16 years.

12/02/2025

Help us to create a Museum of Banking -- teaching financial literacy to all ages though exhibits and hands-on activities. The Historic Germantown Bank has been rehabilitated. Now we need funds to create the exhibits and activity centers inside. You can see our conceptual design at our website: germantownMDhistory.org. You can also donate to the cause on the website or send a check to Germantown Historical Society, PO box 475, Germantown, MD 20875

11/11/2025

“Post Civil War African American Communities of Germantown”Saturday Nov. 22, 3-5pm
19330 Mateny Hill Rd., Germantown
Join us at the newly restored historic Germantown Bank building for a panel discussion with descendants of the Germantown and Clarksburg African American communities established after the Civil War. Maryland State Delegate Greg Wims will moderate.
Exhibits will be on display and refreshments will be served after the discussion.
Come be a part of this special event and help us honor the rich history of these two communities.
The event is FREE but you must register on Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrits.com/e/african-american-communities-of-germantown-and-clarksburg-tickets-1842867409029?aff=oddtdtcreator
or https://www.germantownMDhistory.org

11/02/2025

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 4:30pm, GERMANTOWN LIBRARY, 19840 Century Blvd., Germantown, MD
Germantown Historical Society president, Susan Cooke Soderberg, will be giving a talk on her book, "My Name Is Not Tom": The Life of Reverend Josiah Henson. The title of this book comes from a speech given by Reverend Henson toward the end of his life when he was trying to dispel the myth that he was “the real Uncle Tom” as the publishers of his autobiograophies after 1853 had portrayed him in order to promote the books – books which were also greatly embellished and added to by the publishers in order to increase sales. Other biographies of Henson are based entirely, or almost entirely, on these autobiographies. This author, however, has completed more than ten years of research into Josiah Henson’s life, discovering many new facts and revealing a very different person than that which is depicted in other biographies – a heroic, intelligent and a caring leader in his own right.

10/27/2025

DON'T MISS THE LAST FLEA MARKET OF THE SEASON!
Saturday, Nov. 1, 8am-1pm. MARC parking lot, Germantown Rd. & Bowman Mill Dr., Germantown. More than 90 vendors on a sunny day. Something for everyone.

10/07/2025

Our booth at the Germantown Oktoberfest was a big success. People especially enjoyed donating money into our ATM bank and learning about our future Museum of Banking, a museum teaching financial literacy. See more at https://www.germantownMDhistory.org

09/30/2025

FLEA MARKET THIS SATURDAY!
Germantown Rd and Bowman Mill Rd
8am-1pm

09/09/2025

COMSAT Laboratories in Clarksburg -- A public hearing on the Clarksburg Gateway Sector Plan before the Montgomery County Planning on Board on Thursday, September 25 at 6pm at the Upcounty Regional Service Center, 12900 Middlebrook Rd., Germantown will determine the fate of the COMSAT Laboratories building https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COMSAT . It is in danger of being torn down, even though it has qualified for the National Register of Historic Places, because the County’s Department of Historic Preservation did not support placing of COMSAT laboratories on the County Master Plan for Historic Preservation.

This building is a gem of Montgomery County's fine architecture having been designed by famous architect Cesar Pelli, and an important artifact of the County's History with its connection to our nation's leadership in the creation of communication satellites - now numbering more than 8,000 - and space exploration. There are many uses for the buildings that have not been considered by the County which could bring revenue and positive attention Montgomery County and Clarksburg.

Please write your letters of support for saving this important building, or at least the part of the complex facing I-270, before Sept. 23 to [email protected]. Or better yet, sign up to testify at: https://montgomeryplanningboard.org.
The staff report can be seen here:https://montgomeryplanningboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CGSP-Preliminary-Recommendations-Briefing-to-PB.pdf

09/03/2025

And yet another Flea Market on another beautiful day this Saturday, Sept. 6 8am-1pm. Germantown MARC parking at Germantown Rd. & Bowman Mill Dr. For vendor details see

Unlocking the Past of Germantown, MD