The story of Fallsmead
Fallsmead has kept its story better than almost any neighborhood: brochures, rules, flyers and newsletters going back to 1968. Here it is in order, from a dairy farmer's summer house to fifty years of neighbors.
- 1929The land
The oldest house in Fallsmead
Bethesda dairy farmer Warwick Montgomery bought 101 acres off Falls Road and built a summer home. It still stands at 16 Pipestem Court, the oldest structure in Fallsmead.
The house in April 1982 - 1966December 1966The association
Fallsmead Homes Corporation is incorporated
The articles of incorporation are recorded on December 1, 1966, two years before the first family moves in.
- 1968Late 1960sThe land
Falls Road plus meadow
Developer Kettler Brothers names the neighborhood for its spot: a meadow near Falls Road. The city turned down all 30-plus street names Kettler proposed, from Lumpkin to Shagwood, so the family that sold the land suggested the names Fallsmead still uses.
The land in June 1953 - 1968February 1968Building
Any house for under $45,000
Prices ran from $38,950 for an Edgehill to $44,350 for an Olney. Air conditioning was another $1,000.
February 1968 price list - 1968March 1968Building
“The newest now place”
Kettler advertises Fallsmead in the Washington Post as a family community, the kind of place that shapes a child's future.
- 1968April 1968Neighbors
The first family moves in
The first residents move into 1115 Fallsmead Way and have the place to themselves, construction crews aside, for weeks. Dues are $6 a month.
Fallsmead Way, 1968 - 1968December 1968The association
Residents join the board
The first three residents are appointed to the board on December 12. Until then it was made up entirely of Kettler Brothers representatives.
- 1969April 1969Neighbors
The first Fallsmead Forum
The newsletter's first issue announces that the brand-new pool will open by July 1. The Forum has been published ever since.
- 1969July 1969The park
The pool, the courts and the Sharks
The pool opens with fanfare on July 4, the tennis courts about the same time, and the Fallsmead Sharks swim team starts with kids from about ten families. Dues go to $9 a month. The first pool rules required bathing caps for women and for men with hair longer than five inches.
The pool, 1969 - 1969August 1969Neighbors
End-of-summer Family Day
A kids' tennis tournament and a Family Day at the pool, with water polo and swim races, close out the first season.
- 1971Neighbors
The first Fourth of July party
The first official neighborhood Fourth. Later ones were themed, from Protests in American History (1979) to Mickey Mania (1995), with costumes and parade vehicles.
The parade, 1977 - 1972June 1972The park
Tropical Storm Agnes
Some of the worst flooding in the region's history sends the creek over its banks through Fallsmead.
The pond, about 1970 - 1972December 1972Building
Greenplace Terrace fills in
Families start moving into James Spring Court and Greenplace Terrace just before Christmas.
James Spring Court, about 1972 - 1973The park
The Battle of Pipestem Place
The path around the pond, once open to cars headed to the pool, is closed to traffic. The original playground goes in that October.
- 1974Neighbors
Fallsmead Elementary opens
The neighborhood gets its own elementary school. That year's directory lists all 265 original houses, one of them with eight kids.
First day of school, September 1973 - 1975The park
Ducks, geese and Santa
Ducks and geese arrive to eat the pond's algae (they didn't). In December, Santa makes his first appearance at the Fallsmead holiday party.
The 1975 flyer - 1976November 1976The park
The tennis court debate ends
After three years of debate, a special meeting votes down two more courts and an $85 assessment.
- 1981November 1981Building
Fallsmead II joins
Residents vote to bring the 26 new homes built on the old Ewing farm, Pipestem Court and lower Pipestem Place, into Fallsmead.
The Ewing farm, May 1982 - 1992May 1992Neighbors
A tour of Fallsmead homes
The Garden Club shows off five renovated houses.
- 1994February 1994Neighbors
Twenty-five years
A dinner dance at Lakewood Country Club, and a book: A Community for All Seasons.
- 1997The land
The street tree plan
A plan for the trees that line Fallsmead's streets today.
- 1998May 1998Neighbors
A walking town meeting
Rockville's mayor, council and department heads walk the neighborhood with residents.
- 1999November 1999Neighbors
Fallsmead goes online
The first neighborhood website goes up on the Rockville Community Net. The email list follows in 2000.
- 2001The park
The pond and pool rebuilt
The pond is drained and more than 1,300 cubic yards of sediment dredged; the pool reopens June 9 with a new beach entrance.
- 2010January 2010The association
New bylaws and covenants
With 85 percent of the community voting, residents approve new bylaws and covenants.
- 2013March 2013The park
A new playground
The 1973 playground is finally replaced, and a new fallsmead.org launches the same month.
February 2013 - 2018October 2018Neighbors
Fallsmead at 50
A fiftieth-anniversary party, a photo book and a year of fun facts. Thirty-three Kettler houses still had their original owners.
From the Fallsmead history archive and the Fallsmead@50 Fun Facts ↗