eccentric entrepreneur of the County , made a fortune doing this , part of his legacy being the land for the Agricultural Fair in Gaithersburg .
The poultry business was also given a boost . In 1919 the County produced just under a million eggs and a quarter million chickens . Grain was still an important product of the County farms with 53,000 acres planted in wheat in 1919 . The steam-powered grist mills next to the railroad tracks in Boyds , Germantown and Gaithersburg turned good profits , but spelled an end to the slower weather dependent water-powered mills .
The coming of the railroad brought a new era of prosperity to Montgomery County , making changes to the land , the agriculture , the society and the economy that are still evident today . Unfortunately , dairy farming fell to the industrial producers with only two operating in the County today . But there are currently many orchards in the upcounty to enjoy , some handed down through generations of the same family — a living legacy of the coming of the railroad .
Susan Cooke Soderberg is an independent historian and writer living in Germantown , Maryland . After achieving a Master ’ s degree in American Studies from George Washington University she worked for ten years for Montgomery County Parks and Planning as a public historian . She has written several books and articles on local and state history and will have a biography of Josiah Henson coming out next year .
....................................... farm market
Savoring MoCo ’ s Agricultural Reserve
Dr .’ s Peter Eeg , Ashley Young , Marianne Van Doorn and the entire staff are dedicated to providing the highest quality veterinary care with a personal touch .
Hours of Operation Monday through Friday 7:30am - 7:00pm Saturday 8:00am - 3:00pm • Closed Sunday local food . community 19929 Fisher Avenue , Poolesville ’ s Historic West End www . LocalsFarmMarket . com
19621 Fisher Ave • Poolesville MD 20837 P : 301-972-7705 • F : 301-972-7706 Info @ poolesvilleveterinaryclinic . com www . poolesvilleveterinaryclinic . com
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