Garrett Park, Garrett Park, Montgomery County, MD

2000 Charles E. Peterson Prize, Entry
Significance: Garrett Park, platted in 1887 by the Metropolitan Investment and Building Company, originated as a railroad suburb. The houses built were intended to fulfill the American ideals of home ownership and nature away from the "noise and grime of the city, yet remain accessible to the scene of man's labor." Garrett Park, named for John W. Garrett, then president of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, is situated approximately 11 miles from downtown Washington, D.C. on the B&O line. Laid out by engineer John T. Freeman and horticulturalist William Saunders, Garrett Park was modeled after "an old English village," emphasizing the tasteful integration of home and nature. Street names were intended to harken to British sylvan ideals with names like Argyle, Albemarle, Strathmore, Surrey, and Waverly. Rock Creek Park, forming the eastern boundary of the town, added to the charm of the rustic setting.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N622
Survey number: HABS MD-1130
Building/structure dates: 1891 Initial Construction