1848

Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Montgomery County opens in Sandy Spring; later becomes Montgomery Mutual

1849

Union Turnpike Company established to build and maintain road from Washington to Brookeville (today's Georgia Avenue); Subscription library formed at Brookeville; Pannings along stream on Brooke Meadow farm trigger Sandy Spring's largest gold strike and give name to road 1851 Former Mechanicsville Post Office becomes "Olney", named after poet William Cowper's home in England

1852

Post office established in Stabler home Drayton, Caleb Stabler postmaster; later moves to Spencerville; Post office established in Stabler home Roslyn, Henry Stabler postmaster

1857

Sandy Springers establish Women's Mutual Improvement Association, one of the oldest continuously operating women's clubs in the nation.

1858

Mt. Carmel Church (Methodist) organized in Triadelphia; later moves to Sunshine

1859

Spencerville Post Office opens, William H. Spencer postmaster; Stanmore Boarding School for Boys established across from present Olney Theatre; Sandy Spring Lyceum Company launches educational programs in Lyceum hall next to Meeting House

1860

Sacramental records make first reference to St. Peter's Catholic Chapel, built by parishioners at present-day Mt. Zion

1863

U. S. Emancipation Proclamation becomes law; Lyceum initiates Annals of Sandy Spring, read yearly and ultimately compiled as five volumes covering nearly a century; one of nation's longest-running community records; Horticultural Society established

1864

Confederate troops rob Sandy Spring Store; a posse of locals(including many Quakers) sets out in pursuit, engages the rebels near Rockville in a skirmish known as Battle of Ricketts Run, kills the leader, and recovers stolen goods