Peerless Rockville prioritizes the safety of our patrons, staff, and volunteers. We are monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and its possible impact on the City of Rockville and Montgomery County. We want you to feel confident when visiting our events, exhibit, and offices. As a result of current recommendations, Peerless Rockville will be postponing all of our March events for a later date.



Peerless Rockville’s office, research library, gift shop, and exhibit space will also be closed through August 30th. Staff will be available to answer questions and requests via e-mail (info@peerlessrockville.org).

History@Home Events

Rockville’s Historic Gems

September 3, 2020 at noon on Zoom

Free

Register now

Ralph Buglass, the co-author of Peerless Rockville’s pictorial history Images of America: Rockville will showcase our city’s treasures–along with historic gems that have fallen victim to the passage of time. See if you agree with his picks…and see how many of the lost treasures you remember!

Still need your copy? Order today from our website. Buying it from us is a direct way to support heritage education and preservation in your community.

This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.

Register today!

History@Home: The Windows of Jerusalem

September 24, 2020 at noon

Free

Register now

Photo of Jerusalem-Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church (by Dean Evangelista)

Come learn the history of the beautiful stained glass windows of the historic Jerusalem-Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church!

Jerusalem-Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church is one of the oldest active churches in Rockville, MD. Founded in 1835, it will celebrate its 185th anniversary this year. The current structure was built in 1892 and stained glass windows were installed sometime in the early 20th century. These beautiful windows contain panels memorializing individuals or organizations associated with Rockvile’s African American community. See these wonderful windows and learn about those individuals or organizations who are represented in the panels.

This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.

Register today!

Photograph by Malcolm Walter

Gems of the Collection: Malcolm Walter

August 20, 2020 at 12 pm

Free on Zoom!

Register now!

A picture is worth a thousand words! Nothing brings the past to life better than pictures.

Peerless Rockville invites you to a presentation of the photographs of Malcom Walter, a professional photographer who operated from his home in Kensington from 1918-1932. His clients included businesses and individuals, schools and churches. He photographed family events, local fairs, and school portraits. On occasion Mr. Walter covered news stories such as car accidents or gas explosions for local newpapers.

Peerless Rockville is fortunate to own about 1,200 of these photographs which give unique insight to Rockville and the surrounding area in the early 20 th century.

Join Collections Manager Kathie Rogers for this presentation which will explore some of the highlights of this collection.

This is an online presentation through Zoom. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the Zoom broadcast.

Are you, a friend, or family member interested in the presentation but unable to use Zoom? Register for the presentation, then e-mail outreach@peerlessrockville.org or call 301-762-0096 and ask for the telephone number in the days before the start of the event. You can call and listen to the presentation, instead. (Telephone attendees will not be able to view the visual aspect of the presentation.)

Register now!

The Life of Josiah Henson

August 13, 2020 at 7 pm

On-line – FREE!

Register now!

Peerless Rockville and the Glenview Mansion Speaker Series is thrilled to welcome Jamie Ferguson Kuhns, senior historian for Montgomery Parks, as she presents on her book Sharp Flashes of Lightning Come from Black Clouds: The Life of Josiah Henson.

This in-depth biography draws a comprehensive portrait of Reverend Henson as a real person and the 19th-century world in which he lived. It does not shy away from the details of slavery on a Maryland plantation – as told in Henson’s own voice.

Based on Henson’s autobiography, primary source documents, and over 10 years of research, this work looks at Henson beyond his role as an inspiration for Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 19th-century landmark novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

Sharp Flashes of Lightning Come from Black Clouds will complement the visitor experience at the soon-to-open Josiah Henson Museum at Josiah Henson Park in North Bethesda, Maryland. This site is the former Isaac Riley Plantation where Henson was enslaved for more than 30 years.

This is an online presentation through Webex. Upon registration, you will receive the link to the WebEx broadcast. You can register here or through the City of Rockville – you only need to register once!

Register now!

The Community and the Microbrewery

June 11 at 7 pm on WebEx

Register now!

The Peerless Rockville/Glenview Mansion Speaker Series continues on-line!

Join Bailey O’Leary, co-founder of True Respite Brewery, to learn about the historical culture surrounding beer and breweries: from Egypt to Europe to the US, through prohibition and the temperance movement, to Jimmy Carter legalizing home brewing, to current day brewing and beer. Hear how True Respite Brewery came to be part of the community, how they’re managing the challenges of COVID-19, and do a guided sampling of some of their products (Available for pick-up and delivery – purchase on their website).

Order the tasting package from True Respite: “Glenview Mansion/Peerless Rockville Tasting.” Must be 21+ to order.

Order for delivery by 2 pm on Thursday, June 10th. Pick-ups until the event starts!

Register here or at the City – you do not need to register twice!

Thursday, June 4, 2020, 12:00 PM

Free on Zoom! Register now!

Want to help the honeybees and other pollinators, but confused about what plants to put in your garden? Interested in attracting all of those insect “good guys” to your property, so that they’ll do some of the pest management for you? Come find out who all of those beneficial insects are, what services they provide, and how to convince them to set up shop in your yard!

Marie Rojas has been providing Integrated Pest Management services for homeowners, nursery growers and property managers through her company, Borders & Butterflies, for over 20 years. She serves on several boards, including the Professional Grounds Management Society, DC Branch, Montgomery County Beekeepers Association and the Environmental Program Advisory Committee for Montgomery County Public Schools.

Register Now!

History@Home events are digital events held on-line!

History@Home: The History of Baseball in Rockville

Thursday, May 28 at noon

Free on Zoom!

Register now!

Miss Baseball? Join us to learn about Rockville’s rich baseball history from long ago to today.

Take this sports pause as an opportunity to learn about Rockville’s storied connection with both major league and Negro leagues baseball. Bill Hickman will present a rundown of the various players and managers with Rockville associations to the history of the game. You will learn about their performances on the diamond, and in some cases, their impact on the Rockville community. Interested in answers to the following? Why is Walter Johnson buried in Rockville? What Rockville ballplayer was investigated by the Kennedy Assassination Records Review Board? What is the connection between the Red Brick Courthouse and baseball?

Register now

This is an on-line presentation through Zoom. You will receive the link upon registration. All you have to do is download Zoom and follow the link on your computer. Make sure your speakers are turned on! If you have any Zoom difficulties, e-mail outreach@peerlessrockville.org for help prior to the event.

Are you, a friend, or family member interested in the presentation but unable to use Zoom? Register for the presentation, then e-mail outreach@peerlessrockville.org or call 301-762-0096 and ask for the telephone number in the days prior to the start of the event. You can call and listen to the presentation, instead. (Telephone attendees will not be able to view the visual aspect of the presentation.)

Virtual Lunch & Learn: From Farmland to Community

Thursday, April 23, 2020 at noon

FREE

Register to receive Zoom link

A special presentation to look at the unique transition of farmland into five, thriving neighborhoods in Rockville. The neighborhood examples include the first neighborhood of Williamsburgh, historic West End Park, Anderson Farm/College Gardens, Hurley/Carter Farm, and King Farm. A rare collection of historic photographs, drawings, early plans, portraits, buildings and recent neighborhood plans will be presented to describe the transition of family farms into a unique collection of neighborhoods in Rockville.

This is an on-line presentation through Zoom. You will receive the link upon registration. All you have to do is download Zoom and follow the link on your computer. Make sure your speakers are turned on!

Lunch & Learn: “Rockville Women Who Dared”.

Event Postponed and will be rescheduled

Historic Red Brick Courthouse

It’s Women’s History Month! Did you know Rockville has its own remarkable women to brag about? Ann Maria Weems, Frieda Fromm-Reichmann, and Vivian Simpson are just a few of our impressive women in history. In this presentation, Mary van Balgooy, Executive Director of the Society of Women Geographers and former Peerless Rockville Executive Director, will highlight the lives and achievements of Rockville women of different eras and backgrounds and show how these women were so determined to improve their lives that they were willing to step out of a woman’s traditional role and even risk their lives. Bring your lunch! Seating Limited. Contact Peerless Rockville to reserve your spot.

Great Escapes: Journeys on Maryland’s Underground Railroad.

Event Postponed and will be rescheduled

Historic Red Brick Courthouse

FREE

Join Peerless Rockville and historian Anthony Cohen for a lecture and preview of the upcoming book Great Escapes: Journeys on Maryland’s Underground Railroad. A project of The Menare Foundation, Inc. and Heritage Montgomery, the book explores the people, places and social forces the created a pathway to freedom, forged by self-emancipating slaves and their allies from the 1830s to the brink of the Civil War. Q&A session to follow presentation.

Presented in association with Peerless Rockville’s new exhibit, Forging Freedom: Endurance, Escape, and Rockville’s Underground Railroad. Come learn about the brave fugitives who fled slavery in Rockville, the abolitionist network that helped, and the endurance of the enslaved community.

Open Monday through Friday, 10 am – 3 pm in the Historic Red Brick Courthouse, 29 Courthouse Sq, Rockville, MD 20850

Lincoln Park: A Celebration of Community

February 13, 2020 7 pm

Glenview Mansion

Free

RSVP

The Lincoln Park Community Center is celebrating its 50th year in 2020. Join Peerless Rockville, Lincoln Park Community Center Supervisor Yvette Yeboah-Schools, and past and present Lincoln Park residents to learn the history and development of this unique Rockville neighborhood and its community center.

Stolen: The Story of Free African Americans Kidnapped into Slavery March 29, 2020 2 pm Rockville Memorial Library RSVP Co-Sponsored by Friends of the Library – Rockville Memorial Chapter Richard Bell, associate professor of history at the University of Maryland, College Park and the author of Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped Into Slavery and Their Astonishing Odyssey Home, will talk about how the outlawing of the transatlantic slave trade in the early 1800s created a criminal network of human traffickers and slave traders who abducted thousands of free African Americans living in northern states and sold them into slavery. He will describe the true story of five young, free black boys who—lured onto a ship with the promise of food and pay, then smuggled from Philadelphia to the deep South—courageously resisted and were able to escape, eventually initiating a manhunt to bring their captors to justice.

Heroes of the UGRR around Washington, DC February 23, 2020 1 pm Historic Red Brick Courthouse RSVP

Heroes of the UGRR around Washington, DC February 23, 2020 1 pm Historic Red Brick Courthouse RSVP Author Jenny Masur (formerly National Capitol Region Manager for the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom) presents stories from her new book of unsung heroes of the Underground Railroad who lived and worked around Washington, D.C. Men and women, black and white, operatives and freedom seekers—all demonstrated courage, resourcefulness and initiative. Learn about Montgomery County and Rockville stories of flights to freedom on the UGRR. Lunch & Learn: Rockville 1850 January 22, 2020 12 pm Historic Red Brick Courthouse RSVP This lecture will look at a time when slavery was the practice of the day and the community experienced the rising tensions of a nation drifting towards the Civil War. Afterwards, check out the exhibit “Forging Freedom: Endurance, Escape, and Rockville’s Underground Railroad.” Seating is limited; RSVP required. VLOC: Bringing Victorian Operetta Alive in the 21st Century

December 12, 2019 7 pm

LOCATION CHANGE: F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre (Not in the social hall, upstairs in the theatre) Free RSVP

The Peerless Rockville | Glenview Speaker Series continues with a special program by the Victorian Lyric Opera Company, Rockville’s own operetta company. Musical works from a genre developed in the mid 1800s are still performed today. Why? What’s the draw? Are the stories still relevant? This lecture will feature live music and video to discuss how the company balances tradition and modernity every season.

Forging Freedom: Endurance and Escape on Rockville’s Underground Railroad.

December 6, 2019 6 pm

Historic Red Brick Courthouse

FREE

Registration for this event is closed; thank you for your interest!

Attend the offical opening of our new exhibit: Forging Freedom: Endurance and Escape on Rockville’s Underground Railroad. Understand the the story of Rockville in the era of the Underground Railroad, when slavery cast a shadow over life in this farming town, and separatist tensions steadily propelled the nation towards war. Come learn about the brave fugitives who fled slavery in Rockville, the abolitionist network that helped, and the endurance of the enslaved community. Reception at 6, remarks at 7,.

Light Refreshments will be served.

Shadow on the Household

August 10, 2019 10 am

Historic Red Brick Courthouse

Free

Please join Peerless Rockville as we welcome Canadian historians, Bryan and Shannon Prince, who will share the heart wrenching and occasionally heart warming story of the enslaved family of John and Arabella Weems (parents of Ann Maria Weems), who endured the nightmare of being, sold, separated and scattered throughout the south. Their epic story involved extensive webs of slave traders, Underground Railroad operatives and abolitionists from Canada, Great Britain, Jamaica as well as the United States. Inspired by the unprecedented impact of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s masterwork “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” sympathizers donated their money and energies to contribute to the rescue and reunion of the family.

Hidden Gems in the Rockville Park System

June 13, 2019 7 pm

Glenview Mansion

Free

Rockville has 66 parks totaling over 1000 acres. The variety and number makes our Recreation and Parks Department stand out from many other jurisdictions around the country. Learn about hidden gems, unique parks, and special features. This presentation will explore these local secret places.

Presented by Steve Mader – Superintendent of Parks and Facilities.

Light Refreshments will be served

Celebrating Earth Month in Rockville

April 11, 2019 7 pm

Glenview Mansion

FREE

RSVP Here.

Celebrating Earth Month in Rockville – a history of Environmental Protection in the City

Join Peerless Rockville and Mark Charles, Chief of Environmental Management for the City of Rockville as we celebrate Earth Month! Come learn about Rockville’s environmental activities and accomplishments, focusing on highlights of the last twelve years of progress. Hear about the environmental and sustainability awards bestowed on the City, the origins of Earth Day, and what people like you can do to make Rockville a more sustainable community!

Bees, Beneficials, and Blooms

April 12, 2018 7 pm

Glenview Mansion

FREE

Register at Eventbrite.

Want to help the honeybees and other pollinators, but confused about what plants to put in your garden? Interested in attracting all of those insect “good guys” to your property, so that they’ll do some of the pest management for you? Come find out who all of those beneficial insects are, what services they provide, and how to convince them to set up shop in your yard!

Marie Rojas has been providing Integrated Pest Management services for homeowners, nursery growers and property managers through her company, Borders & Butterflies, for over 20 years. She serves on several boards, including the Professional Grounds Management Society, DC Branch, Montgomery County Beekeepers Association and the Environmental Program Advisory Committee for Montgomery County Public Schools.

Skip the line and pre-register!

Rockville: Portrait of City

Thursday, December 14

Glenview Mansion

Free

Register at Eventbrite.

An illustrated journey by Eileen McGuckian in 60 minutes through time presenting Rockville’s evolution from a small colonial crossroads village to today’s vibrant city, a center of commerce, and our home town.

Eileen McGuckian is the author of six books on Rockville history. After a quarter century as executive director of Peerless Rockville, she continues to research local history and advocate for preservation of historic places.

Signed copies of “Portrait of a City” will be available for purchase.

Skip the line and pre-register



History Comes Alive: Rockville Cemetery Tour

Saturday, October 7

$15 Members/$20Non-Members

Presented by Rockville Cemetery Association and Peerless Rockville

Register by calling Peerless office or at Eventbrite.

Join us on Saturday, October 7 for a nighttime tour of Rockville Cemetery and see local historical characters come to life by moonlight in Rockville’s oldest cemetery!

This special tour will feature costumed actors portraying local characters from the 1790s to the 1940s. Experience the historic Upper Cemetery in a new way, and meet cemetery residents who will tell real, haunting, poignant stories of their lives. Refreshments will be served. Don’t pass up this unique opportunity to see this beautiful, historic cemetery at night!

This is an all-terrain tour. Please wear sturdy walking shoes and bring a flashlight for this event. No flash photography, please.

Respond quickly — Participation is limited and advanced reservations are required!

Tickets are $15 for Peerless Rockville members, $20 for non-members.

Rockville: From Farmland to Community

October 12, 2017 7pm

Glenview Mansion A Case Study of Five Neighborhoods

A special presentation to look at the unique transition of farmland into five, thriving neighborhoods in Rockville. The neighborhood examples include the first neighborhood of Williamsburgh, historic West End Park, Anderson Farm/College Gardens, Hurley/Carter Farm, and King Farm. A rare collection of historic photographs, drawings, early plans, portraits, buildings and recent neighborhood plans will be presented to describe the transition of family farms into a unique collection of neighborhoods in Rockville.

Register here.

In Their Steps: Underground Railroad

October 25, 2017 7 pm

Rockville Memorial Library

Free

RSVP at Eventbrite.

Josiah Henson—Rockville native and the inspiration for the title character in Uncle Tom’s Cabin—risked all for freedom on the 19th century Underground Railroad. Learn about his life, and those of other local freedom fighters, such as Ann Maria Weems, who fled slavery in Rockville disguised as a boy. Hear the story of two sisters from a prominent Rockville family, who were divided on the issue of slavery, and exemplified the schisms amongst slaveholders that ignited the fiery Civil War.

Tony Cohen of the Menare Foundation will present an illustrated history of our local Underground Railroad, including documents, photos and artifacts related to slavery and escape in Rockville.

Sponsored by: Friends of the Library – Rockville Chapter

Service Day: Haiti Cemetery Clean-Up

Saturday, October 28 10 am – 2 pm

Haiti Cemetery

Register to volunteer at Eventbrite.

Peerless Rockville is looking for volunteers to help us clean up and beautify Haiti Cemetery on Service Day, October 28 at 10 am.

Join Peerless Rockville, Peerless members, and volunteers from the Montgomery County Police Department and Haiti community as we work to clean up one of Rockville’s historic cemeteries.

This important piece of Rockville heritage is in need of some community attention and hard work to help beautify the property, protect the graves and gravestones, and remove overgrowth, branches, leaves, and other debris.

Dress for the weather and bring gloves, rakes, clippers, and other yard work tools. Individuals with trucks for to haul debris are especially appreciated.

This event has been pre-approved for Montgomery County Student Service Learning hours. (Under 12 years old volunteers accepted with parent/guardian.)

Past Events

Peerless Rockville Annual Meeting

Thursday, June 8, 2017 6:30 pm

Glenview Mansion

FREE

RSVP at Eventbrite

Please join us for light fare and refreshments, as we celebrate the successes of the past year. Members will vote in new directors and officers to the Board. At 7 pm, after the meeting, City of Rockville Horticulturalist Rob Orndorff will provide an illustrated presentation of the mansion’s grounds, followed by tours of its beautiful gardens.

Rosenwald Screening

Wednesday, April 19, 2017 7 pm

The Universities at Shady Grove

$5 (Click here to buy a ticket)

Remembering the Carver Years

Friday, April 21, 2017 6:30 pm

Carver Educational Services Building

Rockville, MD 20850

Free

RSVP via Eventbrite.

During the era of segregation and separate but unequal schools, it took until the beginning of the 20th century to even establish a secondary school for African-American students in Montgomery County. This long, challenging journey from a three-room Rosenwald school, to Lincoln High School culminated in Carver High School and Junior College in 1951, the first modern high school (and first and only junior college). Carver was a beloved institution that provided a quality education and strong community to its students.

Join teachers and alumni in the auditorium of the Carver building, now known as Carver Educational Services Center, to hear why Carver is so significant in Rockville history and so special to those who spent time there. We will also visit the cafeteria, which has been restored to its mid-century condition and features an educational exhibit.

Panel Moderated by Eileen McGuckian

Stories of Desegregation Panel

Tuesday, May 2, 2017 7 pm

Rockville City Hall Mayor & Council Chambers

Rockville, MD 20850

Free

RSVP at Eventbrite.

The Supreme Court decision Brown vs Board of Education in 1954 ordered the desegregation of American public schools, changing the face of American education across the country.

In Maryland, Montgomery County was the first county to desegregate, following the City of Baltimore. Come learn what the experiences of desegregation were like here in Rockville and Montgomery County. Hear the stories of those who lived it as teachers, students and administrators.

Featuring former educator and Congresswoman Connie Morella as panel moderator.

Legal Trailblazers: Maryland’s First Female Lawyers

May 16, 6 pm

Montgomery County Circuit Court Law Library

Rockville, MD 20850

Free; $5 Recommended

RSVP at Eventbrite.

Women were not officially permitted to practice law in Maryland until 1902. However, the history of women acting as lawyers in Maryland dates back to the earliest decades of colonial America. Join Peerless Rockville, the Montgomery County Circuit Court Law Library, and the Montgomery County Women’s Bar Association to listen to Honorable Lynne A. Battaglia, editor of Finding Justice, tell the remarkable story of how women overcame historical obstacles—legal, social, and economic—to enter the legal profession and how their pioneering work has influenced the practice of law and society at large.

Attorneys Rebecca Strandberg and Jo Fogel will speak on recently passed local pioneers Honorable Rosalyn Bell and Master Rita Rosencrantz.

Introduction by Honorable Anne Albright.

Thurgood Marshall and William Gibbs: Civil Rights in Rockville

April 1, 2017 10 am

Grand Courtroom of the Historic Red Brick Courthouse

Rockville, MD 20850

Free

In 1937, renowned Civil Rights attorney and future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall represented William Gibbs, a Rockville principal suing for equal pay for black teachers. Honorable Patrick L. Woodward will discuss the case and Professor Larry S. Gibson will explain how this local civil rights hero helped set the stage for Marshall’s further legal work against discrimination.

The Ecosystem of the Home: Solar and Sustainable

April 8, 2017 10 am

201 West Gude Drive

Pepco WaterShed Sustainability Center

Rockville, MD 20850

Free

Register here.

Join Peerless Rockville and Pepco for a tour of the Pepco WaterShed Sustainability Center for Earth Month!

WaterShed, the University of Maryland’s winning entry into the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011, is a solar-powered home that harvests, recycles, and reuses water. A living classroom and laboratory for sustainable energy and water practices, the visit includes hands-on, interactive displays that educate visitors with energy-saving ideas you can apply in your own home.

The Pepco Watershed Sustainability will be open on a weekend for this special event – take this unique opportunity to visit and learn about cutting-edge technological solutions to achieve high efficiency performance in an affordable manner.

Due to limited space, registration is required.

The Rise of Separate but Unequal Schools

Saturday, March 11

1 pm

Jerusalem – Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church

21 Wood Lane

Rockville, MD

This illustrated presentation will cover the early years of segregated schools in Rockville and Montgomery County after the Civil War through the first high school for African American students in the early 20th century, with a focus on inherent inequalities in supposedly “separate but equal” schools for blacks. The local community worked to provide education until Maryland established segregated public schools in 1872. Later, Rosenwald schools supported the first county high school for blacks in Rockville.

The Experience of Emancipation in Maryland

Friday, February 24, 7 pm

Rockville Memorial Library

February 2017 marks the 150th anniversary of a petition from 20 Rockville men pledging to fund a school and teacher to educate black children in 1867. Learn about these brave men and early efforts in black education with an exhibit and reception at our series kick-off at Rockville Memorial Library.

The 1867 petition occurred only a few years after emancipation under the new State Constitution of 1864 that freed slaves throughout Maryland. What did emancipation actually mean for the newly freed slaves? Morgan State University Professor David Taft Terry, Ph.D, will explain the changes, challenges, and opportunities emancipation brought to daily life in Maryland.



What’s Past is Always Present – A Guided Walk in Rockville Cemetery

Saturday, September 10, 2016 9:30 am – 11:30 am

Rockville Cemetery

1350 Baltimore Rd

Rockville, MD 20851

$10 to Peerless Members, $15 to Non-Members

Discover notable people from the past on a tour guided by historian Eileen McGuckian through beautiful and historic Rockville Cemetery. Names you see on street signs, schools, book covers, and histories have been inscribed here from the 1750s into the 21st century. Buried in Rockville Cemetery are generations of famous and lesser-known people…. all notable. Attitudes about remembrance, grave markers, and burial practices have evolved over the centuries in this colonial, rural, and lawn cemetery.

Co-sponsored by Peerless Rockville and Rockville Cemetery Association, this tour costs $15 for the general public and $10 for Peerless members. As it is limited to 40 people, please reserve your spot with Peerless Rockville at info@peerlessrockville.org or 301-762-0096 or through Eventbrite. Contact Peerless for the member coupon code or to become a member. Confirmation will include parking arrangement and starting point. Wear good walking shoes for paved roads and uneven ground. Tour will go in sunny weather or light sprinkles; in case of storms, tour is postponed to Sunday morning, at the same time. For further information, see www.rockvillecemeterymd.org.

The Struggle for Educational Opportunity: William Gibbs and the Equalization of Teacher Salaries

Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 10:00 am

Grand Courtroom of the Red Brick Courthouse

Presentation by Professor Alonzo Smith

The hard won achievements of advancement in educational equality were accomplished by brave people willing to step forward and take risks. One of these was William Gibbs, Jr, an African-American grade school principal who, with the support of the Rockville black community, filed a court case in 1936. His legal battle to receive the same pay as white teachers was one of Thurgood Marshall’s civil rights cases and started a movement that reverberated throughout Maryland. Come and hear the story of this civil rights pioneer who dared to struggle and win.

Sesquicentennial 1864 Maryland Slave Emancipation Quilt with Dr. Joan M.E. Gaither.

Wednesday, August 31, 2016 7 pm

Grand Courtroom of the Red Brick Courthouse

Free

For the 150th anniversary of emancipation in Maryland, the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC) commissioned a quilt to visualize the stories of people, places, and events in every Maryland county and Baltimore City before, at the time of, or after the ratification of Article 24. The Sesquicentennial 1864 Maryland Slave Emancipation Quilt, designed by Dr. Joan M. E. Gaither, fiber artist and quilt designer, is currently on display at the Red Brick Courthouse. Peerless Rockville welcomes Dr. Gaither as she shares the stories depicted from all over Maryland and discusses how over 400 people and 20 organizations volunteered more than 6,000 hours to create the quilt. Dr. Gaither encourages guests to celebrate their own personal histories and stories as part of a collective narrative and preserve them in quilt formats to live on as human American stories for generations to come.

You Don’t Have to Be an Expert: Genealogical Research and Linking Common Ancestors Through Photos

Saturday, July 30, 2016 10 am

Grand Courtroom of the Red Brick Courthouse

Free to Peerless Members, $5 to Non-Members

Learn about using technology to research your family and analyze family photos. This presentation will highlight free on-line genealogical tools and trial versions of photo software for analyzing historic photos, presented by a researcher who has used these resources to trace seven generations of her Rockville family. A comprehensive list of free resources will be provided. RSVP today!

Heritage Days

Saturday, June 25, 2016 10 am – 4 pm

Red Brick Courthouse,

Exhibit: 10 am-4 pm

Walking Tour at 11 am and 1 pm

Free

A special open house at the Red Brick Courthouse from 10 am to 4 pm. Walking tours of historic Rockville will depart at 11 am and 1 pm. Inside, view a special exhibition of some of Peerless Rockville’s historic collections, including artifacts from Hungerford’s Tavern. Items and pictures in this collection are rarely on exhibit and include objects you can touch!

First Communities of Rockville: Quality Hill

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Grand Courtroom of the Red Brick Courthouse,

Lecture: 9:30 am-12 pm

Walking Tour at 11 am

Admission: $10 Peerless Members/$15 Non-Members

Presented by John Carter and Hannelore Quigley.

A special presentation and walking tour of Quality Hill, one of Rockville’s earliest communities. Concentrated along both sides of West Montgomery Avenue and Adams Street, Quality Hill traces its roots to the 1784 division of 45 acres of land into Rockville’s first streets, lots and blocks. This unique genealogical and historical presentation will trace families from the surrounding farmland as they move in to Rockville during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. These families, their homes, churches, and institutions left a lasting imprint on the city we know today. Join us to uncover the history of early Rockville through the eyes of the descendants of these first families. An hour-long, narrated walking tour will begin at the Red Brick Courthouse and showcase the historic family homes of Quality Hill as well as the churches and institutions that formed the complete community.

Lessons from Leopold: Suburbanization Along Watts Branch

Saturday, April 16, 2016 2:30 pm

Rockville Senior Center,

1150 Carnation Drive, Rockville

Free

April is Earth Month! Peerless Rockville, the City of Rockville Department of Public Works, and guest lecturers from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and College Park will explore the environmental history and modern environmental management of the Watts Branch watershed in Rockville. We’ll learn about the groundbreaking work of geomorphologist and hydrologist Luna Leopold, whose thirty-year study of Watts Branch documented the transformation from farmland to suburbs. Lessons from Leopold continue to inform on today’s environmental policies.

Chamber of Commerce Mix and Mingle

Thursday, February 25, 2016 5-7 pm

Grand Courtroom of the Red Brick Courthouse

29 Courthouse Square, Rockville, MD

Free for Chamber Members/$20 for Non-Members

Enjoy the old courthouse venue while mingling with other business professionals. Food and beverage is being provided by local restaurant Ev & Maddy’s. Click here to register.

Window Restoration Workshop

Saturday October 10, 2015 10 am

Grand Courtroom of the Red Brick Courthouse

29 Courthouse Square, Rockville, MD

Free

Let’s talk old window/door restoration and how to get these architectural gems working, energy efficient, and looking beautiful again. Neil Mozer of Mozer Works, Inc. will share his expertise about how to professionally restore your old windows and doors for another lifetime of service. Besides window removal, jamb preparation and re-hanging other key topics will include stripping, sanding, sash stabilization, weatherstripping, re-glazing, and painting.

Fearless Legal Trailblazer: Vivian Simpson

October 20, 2015 6:00-7:30 pm

Law Library, 50 Maryland Ave, Rockville, MD

Free (RSVP)

In the 1920s, Vivian Simpson (1903-1987) overcame discriminatory obstacles to become the first female attorney in Montgomery County. She practiced in Rockville until her retirement in 1980. Join Peerless Rockville and the Montgomery County Law Library to learn about this remarkable woman, view an exhibit on her life, and hear the remembrances of her colleagues. Wine and cheese will be served. RSVP: info@peerlessrockville.org or call 301-762-0096.

Microcosm of Montgomery County: 200 Years of Education in Rockville

November 10, 2015 7 pm

Richard Montgomery High School

250 Richard Montgomery Drive, Rockville, MD

Free

Join us as Peerless member Ralph Buglass presents an enlightening slideshow on the 200 year history of

education in Rockville – from the earliest days of private education for the wealthy to universal free public education of today. In many ways, education in Rockville mirrors its development throughout the county.

Return to Glenview & Peerless Rockville Awards of Excellence

November 20, 2015

Glenview Mansion

603 Edmonston Dr, Rockville, MD

Members: $40, Non-Members: $50

This fall, Peerless Rockville returns to Glenview Mansion! Join us as we gather together with the Rockville Swing Band for a night of celebration, music, hors d’oeuvres, and adult beverages. We’ll also honor the recipients of our 36th annual Peerless Awards of Excellence that recognize residents, businesses, architects, and others whose work contributes to Rockville’s unique character.

Heritage Bike and Walking Tours

Saturday September 12, Red Brick Courthouse

29 Courthouse Square, Rockville, MD

Free

Join Peerless Rockville and volunteers from the Rockville Bike Advisory Committee for a bike tour of Rockville historical sites. Leaving from the Red Brick Courthouse at 10 am, the tour will visit sites such as Dawson Farm Park, the Beall-Dawson House, and Rockville Cemetery. Riders must wear helmets, bring water bottles, and have bikes in good working order! All skill levels welcome but riders should be age 10 or over.RSVP to info@peerlessrockville.org or call 301-762-0096 by September 9.

Walking tours of the Courthouse Square Historic District will depart from the Red Brick Courthouse at 11 am and 1 pm. (No need to RSVP!)

Lincoln Park: Changes, Challenges, and Conservation

Saturday April 11, Lincoln Park Community Center, 12pm-2pm

357 Frederick Avenue, Rockville, MD

Free

Lincoln Park, a historically black community, was established outside Rockville in 1891 and expanded to its current size in 1924. Rockville annexed Lincoln Park in July 1949, but city services such as streetlights and water mains only arrived in 1956. During segregation, several black schools in the community served black students from both Rockville and Montgomery County. The unique history of this neighborhood can be seen in the modest houses and vernacular architecture of the homes.

On the Go: Rockville Pike and Car Culture

Saturday, April 25, Rockville Senior Center Dining Room, 10am-12pm

1150 Carnation Drive, Rockville, MD

Free

Rockville Pike is booming – growing denser , taller, and more urban. Since the late 19th century, the “Pike” has had periods of growth and development, taking a quantum leap during the 1950s and 1960s when Rockville experienced unprecedented population growth, widespread suburbanization, and commercialization of the roadside strip. Much of Rockville’s impressive postwar growth was driven by the use of the automobile and “car culture” – car dealerships, fast food restaurants, shopping centers, food stores, and a myriad of convenient and easily located related services.

Rockshire: Environmental Planning in Suburbia

Saturday, May 16th, Rockshire Community Room, 10am – 12pm

2351 Wootton Parkway (Rockshire Community Pool), Rockville, MD

Free

Rockshire is an innovative neighborhood of large modern homes that met the environmental challenge of construction in an environmentally sensitive area. Individual subdivisions were clustered to either side of the Watts Branch floodplain and comprise a coherent neighborhood showcasing 1970s era homes along the park spine.

Historic Preservation Tax Credits Workshop

Tuesday, February 24, from 7 pm – 9 pm

Red Brick Courthouse, 29 Courthouse Square, Rockville, MD 20850

Free

Join staff from the Maryland Historical Trust, Montgomery County Planning Department, and the City of Rockville to learn how you can apply for tax credits for renovation work. Featuring presentations by Melissa Archer of MHT, Historic Preservation Supervisor Scott Whipple of the Montgomery Planning Department, and City of Rockville Historic Preservation Planner Sheila Bashiri.

Holiday Open House & Awards Ceremony

Sunday, December 7, from 1 pm – 5 pm

Red Brick Courthouse, 29 Courthouse Square, Rockville, MD 20850

Free

This year’s holiday open house will kick-off with Peerless’ 35th Annual Awards Ceremony at 1 pm. Peerless’ awards program honors individuals, institutions, and organizations that have made an outstanding contribution to Rockville’s heritage. Following the awards, enjoy fellowship with Peerless’ members, performances by the Montgomery College Jazz Combo, and hors d’oeuvres from our sponsors.

Montgomery County Service Day – Old Baptist Cemetery Clean Up

Saturday, October 25, from 9 am – 12pm

115 West Jefferson St

With volunteers from the Montgomery County Police Department and the general community, Peerless raked leaves, trimmed ivy, and cleared a dozen bags of debris from the cemetery grounds. Eileen McGuckian and Fred Bird led a short workshop on cleaning and levelling historic gravestones. Volunteers scrubbed several markers, removing staining and revealing the inscriptions.

Heritage Day Event

Saturday, June 28, from 11 am – 4 pm

Red Brick Courthouse, 29 Courthouse Square, Rockville MD 20850

Free

Dr. B. F. Cooling describes how Gen. Jubal Early spent his days in Montgomery County during the Confederacy’s final invasion of the North in July 1864. This talk will be held in the Grand Courtroom of the Red Brick Courthouse, 29 Courthouse Square, in Rockville. Following the lecture, at 12:30 p.m. join a walking tour of Civil War and Underground Railroad sites in Rockville, and visit the Montgomery County Historical Society for reenactors, music, and family friendly activities.

Annual Meeting and 40th Anniversary Open House

Saturday, June 14 from 11-1 pm

Frieda’s Cottage, 19 Thomas Street, Rockville, MD 20850

Free

On Saturday, June 14, the public is invited to join Peerless friends and supporters for our annual meeting and open house at Frieda’s Cottage on the grounds of Chestnut Lodge. Peerless Rockville restored this 1936 home and office to Frieda Fromm-Reichmann during her years at the sanitarium. The cottage will be open for tours between 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and rumor has it that Frieda will stop by to visit and meet with guests. We will also be serving up light refreshments, musical entertainment and cake in celebration of Peerless’ 40 years.

Holiday Open House

Sunday, December 1 from 1-4 pm

Red Brick Courthouse, 29 Courthouse Square, Rockville, MD 20850

Free

On Sunday, December 1, 2013 from 1-4 pm, Peerless Rockville will host a Holiday Open House at the historic Red Brick Courthouse. Free to all, this event is a wonderful opportunity to socialize with members of the community, enjoy light hors d’oeuvres, hot cider, live music, and holiday decorations. Peerless will also have the gift shop open where guests can find many unique gifts related to Rockville’s heritage.