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Long before it was
designed as a “New Urbanism” development, King Farm was prized for
its strategic location on Frederick Road. Hopefully, key remnants
of King Farm's 200-year history will survive the transformation from
productive farmland to a thriving community.
Its early history is
full of gaps, but one thing is certain – King Farm was occupied by a
variety of colorful characters. In addition to long-time Rockville
families, such as the Veirs and Magruders, former tenants and owners
included Shadrach Nugent, son of an Irish indentured servant and an
African-born slave, and Rebecca Fields, widow of the founder of the
Montgomery County Sentinel. In 1822, Andrew Graff purchased the 122
acres along Frederick Road where he had lived since 1814; his family
farmed this land over a century. A description from 1877 notes that
"the property has a frontage of about a third of a mile on the
Frederick Road … in full view of the Metropolitan Branch of the B&O
RR and is located convenient to three railroad stations, the county
seat, churches [and] schools." Then, as now, the farm's location
along major transit routes made it desirable and convenient.
The Graff family sold the
property, including a large farmhouse, to W. Lawson King in 1925.
King subsequently purchased three neighboring farms, which he
consolidated into Irvington Farm, a successful dairy business. At
its peak, Irvington Farm boasted the world's largest Holstein herd
and sold cows from its champion stock internationally. It was also
the largest milk producer in the area, much of which was processed
by Thompson's Dairy. The roof sign was recently repainted by the
City to keep it visible from Frederick Road.
At the time of Lawson
King's death in 1985, there was considerable speculation about the
fate of King Farm, long considered a prime target for planned
development. Following a decade of legal and financial
difficulties, the bank foreclosed and sold the 430-acre estate to
developers. The City of Rockville annexed the property in 1995.
Touted in the press as a "Field of Dreams," King Farm was
transformed into a large-scale mixed use community, inspired by "New
Urbanism," a comprehensive design philosophy that advocates, among
other principles, pedestrian-friendly communities with a variety of
housing types, interconnected networks of streets, accessible retail
and recreational facilities, and civic buildings that promote
communal identity – all prime characteristics of the new King Farm.
Also emphasized are the preservation of historic structures for
community use and a respect for local architectural traditions.
Today, King Farm is home
to new residents and businesses, and its population may reach 19,000
by 2006. As construction continues, the City of Rockville is
considering alternatives for the farmhouse, dairy barns, and
outbuildings clustered on the 5-acre site that it owns. Proposed
uses may include a museum, theatre, a recreation facility, or
others. Peerless will continue to work with King Farm residents and
City officials to help ensure that the history of this noteworthy
property is available to future generations.
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