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Community Corner

Did You Know?

Little known facts about where we live and the people who live here.

Today we are introducing a new feature "Did You Know"? In this article we will feature some little known facts about our area and the people who contribute to our community identity... whether historical or current.  

Did you know that Darnestown was a regular stop on the stagecoach route between Georgetown and Poolesville? 

The intersection of Darnestown Road and Seneca Road has long been considered the center of Darnestown.  This intersection was a large wooded area that was crossed by an old Indian trail (one of the oldest in Montgomery County) which we now refer to as Darnestown Road (Rt. 28). 

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This wooded tract of land was first settled around 1750 and, by 1758, Darnestown Road was referred to as “the main road that goes from the Montgomery County Court House to the Mouth of the Monocacy.” 

By the 1820, the intersection of Darnestown Road and Seneca Road had become quite a hub where you could find a postmaster, merchant, tavernkeeper, blacksmith and wheelwright. 

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But it was the construction of the C&O canal at Seneca in the late 1800’s that made this intersection a truly thriving commercial crossroads.  The canal provided easy transport of grain from neighboring farms, and shipment of stone from the stone mill on Seneca Road.    

Still, the stagecoach provided one of the primary modes of transportation for passengers in and out of Darnestown through the 1800’s along this all-important Rt. 28 trail. Mail was brought by stagecoach from Rockville three times a week…which was always a main social event where the women dressed up and the people of the neighborhood rode in on horseback to be there when it arrived.

The stagecoach then continued on to Dawsonville and Poolesville.  The rest is history.

(www.darnestown.net/about and the Darnestown Civic Association)

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