The
historical development of Montgomery
County followed the pattern of other central Maryland counties. Unlike those of
the Eastern Shore and Southern Maryland, the agricultural communities here
consisted of farms rather than large plantations. These farms were not as self-sufficient
and, in response to their needs, many small towns sprang up. By 1879, there
were nineteen villages and towns in the County; Brookeville was one of these.
The census
of 1880 shows that Brookeville had the third
largest population: 206 people, after Rockville's 688 and Poolesville's 287. By
1978, with all the suburban development spreading out from Washington, Brookeville
retains its early flavor with many 19th and some 18th and
20th century buildings and large trees enveloping the town like a
canopy.
The town of
Brookeville is laid out on part of a tract called
Addition to Brooke Grove, one of the many parcels acquired by James Brooke the
Elder, a Quaker, in April 1745. Tradition has set the founding of Brookeville
in 1794 when there were a few houses, notably the Madison House, the Blue
House, and the Valley House. It consisted of fifty-six lots, most of them of
one-quarter acre each, ranged along two principal streets, Market and High
Streets and four side streets North, South, Spring and Race Streets. The town grew and prospered as the nation grew, with demand from Europe for
agricultural exports and other raw materials.
Brookeville is situated in the most fertile land in Maryland
with many farms and plantations
There were
blacksmiths who made agricultural implements, seed
stores, carriage builder and wagon builders, a saddler and harness-maker, two
doctors, a tailor, dressmakers, shoemakers, several stores, an undertaker, and
a post office. Also, two excellent private boarding schools, the Brookeville Academy
for boys and Mrs. Porter's cottage school for the Education of Young Ladies. A
private circulating library and a debating society provided a bit of
intellectual stimulus.
A Quaker
village, the town was touched by war, when on
the night of August 26, 1814, President Madison sought shelter for the night at
the home of Caleb Bentley. Brookeville was full of refugees from the burning of
Washington by the British.
United States Capital for a Day
In the 20th
century, individual artisans working in small
shops gave way to large factories and well-developed transportation.
Brookeville became a residential community. Even though the shops and grist
mills are gone and some of the very old houses have disappeared, the town lives
on with a population mixture of young and old, a viable community conscious of
its heritage and anxious to preserve it. There are currently forty-five buildings in
Brookeville, thirty- three of which are over fifty years old.