photo : montgomery planning
This section of Martinsburg Road , with its stone walls and 1931 concrete pavement , is an exceptional rustic road and designated in the Master Plan for Historic Preservation .
that time strongly and successfully advocated for the Rustic Roads plan , and the County Council created the law and approved the plan . These are historic and scenic roadways that reflect the agricultural character and rural origins of the County . Preservation of rustic roads is achieved by retaining certain physical features of these roads and by certain right-of-way maintenance procedures . Besides winding through the countryside , some of the oldest and narrowest pass through small crossroads communities — vibrant villages of past centuries . Many are instantly recognizable as rustic , but you can also look for the brown street signs that identify them . As Laura Van Etten , Chair of the Rustic Roads Committee says , “ Every road has a story just waiting for visitors to discover !”
According to Sarah Rogers , Executive Director of Heritage Montgomery , River Road ( which navigates most of the westernmost part of the county , beginning in Cabin John and stretching toward the northern edge of the Reserve ) and MD Route 355 ( which also begins near the DC border but reaches further , entering Frederick County ) actually have their roots in well-traveled American Indian pathways . Other roads in the Reserve originated as long driveways leading to large plantations . Some grew out of the need to connect farm grown grains to the mills that could refine them . 93,000 acres in scope , what ’ s truly remarkable about the Reserve is its proximity to Washington , DC . If you were a crow sitting on the roof of the Capitol building and you had an urge to get yourself into the heart of the Ag Reserve , you would only need to fly about 30 miles .
River Road of course follows the Potomac River . The last operating ferry on the river was , until December 2020 carrying hundreds of cars daily between Virginia and
Maryland . The earliest known mention of White ’ s Ferry ( originally known as Conrad Myer ’ s Ferry ) was in 1791 , when the Maryland General Assembly referred to it in a mandate of roads that were to be laid out and built . The ferry carried bicyclists as well as foot traffic , and the experience of floating across the river was yet another unique aspect of the Ag Reserve . Nearly everyone is disappointed in the legal issue that triggered its closure , but there ’ s promising progress in resolving the problem and getting the ferry running again .
Got cabin fever during the pandemic ? Van Etten says , “ No matter the season , a trip in a car to drive some of the smaller , more rustic roads is a chance to lose yourself in a landscape that really is both historic and timeless .” Just remember that key to enjoying these roads is to slow down ! Many have a speed limit of only 25-35 mph — meant to protect not only
22 plenty I Spring sowing 2021