Those Versatile Early 'Doers'

Every time, every place produces prominent citizens to whom future generations look back with pride. The greater Sandy Spring area has a rich history of creative, motivated individuals who improved life as they lived it and helped shape a better future.

Much that is known of these early doers is recorded in the Annals of Sandy Spring. Begun in 1863, the Annals constitute a running chronicle of "births, marriages, deaths, and those things most interesting to any community." Five volumes carry the history to 1947, and a sixth will extend it to the centennial year 1963. Information for ensuing volumes is compiled monthly by one of the community's venerable clubs, the Home Interest, founded in 1870. The Annals stand as one of the oldest known community histories.

Benjamin Hallowell

The rich and productive life of Benjamin Hallowell (1799-1887) exemplifies the versatility of Sandy Spring's early figures, and his profound influence as an educator perhaps exalts him above all others. Teaching first at Fair Hill in Olney, he then lectured at his own academy in Alexandria, Virginia, with Robert E. Lee as student. While in Alexandria he helped form The Benevolent Society to help slaves gain freedom, and headed a water company dedicated to affordable water for all. Retiring in 1858 to his Olney home Rockland, the next year he served briefly as first president of Maryland Agricultural College (later the University) before resigning because of health. He turned to farming Rockland, again as an innovator, and helped form the Sandy Spring Farmers' Club, the Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Swarthmore College, and three local Quaker schools. Wrote Rebecca T. Miller: "How like a patriarch he looked with his white hair long upon his shoulders, his massive features, and the dignity of his frame, yet how gentle and approachable to even a small child."